One of my absolute favorite blogs
Desire to Inspire has a reoccurring feature they call "Design Crew" where a reader will write in asking for design advice. They will post photos and a description of the problem the reader is having and then ask everyone to take a crack at fixing it up.
This week Mish wrote in asking for an update for her home. She is bored of her space and says she loves modern, hates try hard and suburban. Her home already has great bones, an amazing view, high ceilings and beautiful architectural beams. Now it just needs a style update.
The biggest problem I see in this space is that the cabinets and floor blend together. I think Mish would lose value by painting those cabinets so rather than changing them, I would change the flooring and wall color. I would flip that great charcoal color currently on her walls (or even a darker grey or black) onto the floor either by painting or tiling it. Kim from Desire to Inspire did a great post on black floors so if your having reservations check it out here:
Desire to Inspire - Black Floors Post
Here are some additional examples of kitchens with dark floors and light wood cabinets.
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| Union Square West Kitchen via Decor Fellow |
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| By Kitchen Distributors |
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| Additional shot of previous kitchen - by Kitchen Distributors |
Similar to the above photo, I would paint either a very light grey or white on the walls. That will help the architectural beams and cabinetry to stand out. I would also consider tiling the little wall area behind the espresso maker - that small amount of tile would be inexpensive and it would create a nice focal point to draw your eye on that back wall. Here are a few options that would look nice with either white or grey walls.
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| Daltile - Wedge Polished Contempo White |
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| Daltile - Oval Polished Contempo White |
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| Daltile - Basketweave Honed Contempo White |
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| Tileshop - Hampton Carrara 1 x 1 in Hex |
The dining table and chairs are great but I would change the pendant lights in that area. I like the modern style of the current light but the shape and scale make it very heavy. I would do something a little more fun or funky with some negative space in it's design to add some movement and pop to that area. Depending on Mish's personal taste something like the Ten Tales, Asparagus, or Opuim pendant lights would add huge impact. I look at lighting as the jewelry of a house so I tend to go for statement lighting that has some pizazz. If these are too much for Mish, she can stick to finding something that is more simple but still has an open design.
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| Ten Tales Suspension Lamp via Lightology.com |
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| Asparagus Pendant via Lightology.com |
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| Opium Pendant via Lightology.com |
In the living area Mish has some nice accent pieces but most of the larger elements in the space are very boxy. Since she said she wants to throw some money at this project I would suggest a new couch and two non-matching side chairs for the seating area. The chairs she has now look super comfortable but they are traditional in style and I think she would be happier with something that has clean lines. Here are some options for seating:
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| Carmichael Sofa by Gus via 2Modern.com |
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| Sabine Sofa by Room and Board |
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| Luna Sofa by TrueModern via 2Modern.com |
Below are some chair options. I would get two different chairs (non-matching) for each side of the sofa. When there is a lot of clean lined furniture I think this adds a more homey feel, like the pieces have been collected or salvaged over the years. A non-symmetrical/non-matching grouping will also add visual interest and draw more attention to the seating area.
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| Larsen Chair by Room and Board |
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| Ryder Rocking Chair - West Elm |
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| GT Rocker - Gus via 2Modern |
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| Bliss Chair-and-a-Half by West Elm |
Then I would add a new rug, colorful pillows, and a throw for the couch. In my experience rug selection can be polarizing and depends a lot on personal taste. So here are some modern options to mix and match with.
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| Istanbul Rug by West Elm |
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| Griffith Park by Thom Filicia |
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| Beckett Rug by Lauren RL |
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| I almost didn't include this one. Ikat is really in right now but Mish said she doesn't like anything trying too hard so trendy might not be her thing. I decided to add it because the colors are wonderful (especially for her space) and I like the movement in the pattern. The rug is called Ikat Blue Oushak via Horchow |
Here are some pillow ideas for the couch and chairs. Bold, graphic, and geometric.
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| Pillows via the Square Feathers Geometric collection from Horchow |
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| Since When Pillow by Inhabit via 2Modern |
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| Whole Baby Fish Pillow by Emma at Home via 2Modern |
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| Analog Nights Pillow by Aimee Wilder |
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| Yellow and Gray pillow collection via Horchow |
She might also want to get some felt baskets or similar storage solution to put in the open spaces of the entertainment/shelving unit. For a modern space it's especially important to keep clutter to a minimum and there are some great options for storage bins.
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| Example of boxes used as a storage solution from CB2 |
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| Format Storage Box in Smoke by CB2 (seen in previous photo also in red) |
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| Felt File Box by CB2 |
Lastly, for the bedroom I would recommend updating her linens. There are a lot of great options available. Below is one collection by West Elm that I think integrates well with the rest of the apartment. Its simple, clean, and relaxing.
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| Dark Luxe Linen collection by West Elm |
