Colorful Living Room
This mid-century modern living room doubles as a guest room and features an underwater theme with coral-inspired mural, sand-colored sofa with pullout bed, turquoise sling chairs with boomerang legs, driftwood-colored velvet chaise lounges flanking a mirrored end table, key-lime lamps and accents of watermelon pink.
Design Challenges
There were several challenges with this space:
- The living room is directly off the kitchen
- Two large closets take up one wall
- They loved the feel of a house they rented in the Cayman Islands, with a water-related theme
- They requested that this space double as a guest room
- They also requested lots of seating for those who don’t want to watch TV in the attached game room
Creative Solutions
The clients really weren’t sure what to do with this space, because it’s not very large, and it’s open to the kitchen and the stairwell. My first impression was that it would make a great lounge because, really, who doesn’t love a lounge? They agreed and we were on our way. Taking into account the large blank wall, I wanted something big and dramatic to set the tone. We found the perfect solution in this colorful mural evocative of an underwater coral reef. Adding a pullout sofa in a tightly woven fabric the color of bleached sand, topped with colorful silk pillows, sitting behind a lightweight espresso-stained cocktail table topped with black shagreen leather, met the requirement for an easy conversion to a guest room when needed.
Flanking the sofa with key lime lamps and Caribbean blue mid-century modern sling chairs with a boomerang-inspired arm and leg combination adds whimsy and fun to the lounge-y vibe we wanted. But our most luxurious addition was the pair of driftwood-colored velvet chaises perched on chrome bases that hug your body when recline. Heaven! An oversized, mirrored end table sits between them for a great spot to place a drink. Soft sandy-colored carpet underfoot is cozy and sound absorbing, which is great for these rooms above the garage.
The entire family tells me that they love their new lounge and that it’s used constantly, including as an extra guest bedroom, and that they feel like they’re on vacation when they do. Mission accomplished!
