A Striking Style

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CHALLENGE: To transform a plain living room in a charming late nineteenth-century Central West End home into a comfortable, inviting yet elegant space with a fresh, updated look.

SOLUTION: Desiring a living room with traditional décor and Old World touches, a Central West End couple called on Lisa Davis, interior designer for Heirlooms in Clayton, to achieve the look they desired for their urban home. To create a fabulous focal point in the space, significant architectural molding was used to elevate the height of the fireplace mantel and provide depth for accessories. Lisa used soft baby blue vases with a crackle finish to punctuate the setting. A deep chocolate wall adds a dramatic punch to the space and is a backdrop for an arrangement of antiqued mirrors and custom-framed Italian art. “The soft white woodwork pops off the deep wall color,” says Lisa.

The artistically styled niche with display space for keepsakes and newer accessories is complemented by a round iron side table with a black stone top. Together, they lend a fresh, transitional slant to the space.

Lisa mixed furnishings with interesting shapes, detailing and trims, and while most of the fabrics were selected with durability in mind, a solid copper-colored silk fabric on the back of a French traditional settee helped to appoint the room's color palette. An ottoman top is distinguished with an aqua blue background, coral flowers and touches of green and chocolate. The piece adds seating or doubles as a cocktail table in the exquisitely designed space.

“I’ve loved the bold color on the wall from day one.”
– homeowner