An Updated Belmont Living Room

A family moved from a Cambridge condo into a Belmont single-family home, and were faced with furnishing an empty formal living room. The room boasted a fireplace with a stunning wood surround, but the walls were a pale gold, which combined with original stained ceiling coffers was a bit too warm and weighty.

The family of four wanted the space to feel bright and cozy without painting the original woodwork — envisioning evenings around the fire with books and music, and afternoons with piano lessons and window-seat reading. Refreshing the wall color and bringing in a comfortable and durable collection of furnishings would create a transitional look that is both tailored and comfortable.

Living Room: BEFORE

Living Room: AFTER

A soft neutral white paint color balances the woodwork without leaning too cool (the clients hoped to avoid gray or blue walls) and offers the most light reflective value to maximize sunlight from south-facing windows.

We centered the seating around the fireplace but chose furnishings at a scale that would still allow plenty of room to access the generous window seat, adding pillows for comfort. The family invested in a new piano which defines the opposite third of the room.

A palette of blues and rust/corral and mix of textile patterns and textures creates a soft, peaceful, and welcoming space. The sofa and swivel chairs have a modern silhouette, but a vintage faux bamboo coffee table and traditional flatweave rug keep the space from feeling too contemporary. Using both faux and live greenery brings life to a room without being too needy of a green thumb. A mix of custom textiles (window seat cushions) and off-the-shelf (throw pillows) puts finishing touches on a unique room without breaking the bank.