Newlyweds, New Life, Shared Space

This week I had the pleasure and fun of working with a couple that are tying the knot in two weeks and just closed escrow on their first major purchase together- their new home! They called on me to help them plan their next space, but, being on a newlywed budget, were hoping to start the process of their potential remodel slowly!

One of the hottest trends for my company is the introduction of our D-I-Y Design Consultation. With this $350.00 consult I spend up to three hours in a client's home learning about them and how they use their space, assisting them with design questions and dilemmas, educating them about the proper ways to use scale, furnishings, layout, colors, fabrics, window, wall and floor ideas and decor. For those who hope to take a more active role in their remodel or those just getting started, this has become a great way to save money on the potential costly mistakes made when homeowners go it alone. For Nicole and Andrew, who needed to focus their money on their wedding, this was the perfect way to help them understand how to tackle "the meeting of the things!" You know... her things meeting his things and trying to blend them in their brand new space. For couples embarking on their first home together, this is the most common dilemma to address and often ends up in an argument about what should stay and what should go.

Since Nicole and Andrew were closing on their home a few days after our first phone consult, I asked them to both take pictures of their current living spaces. We discussed their likes, dislikes and things they hoped to keep and incorporate in their new adjoined space. This is the best first step and should be done WAY in advance of your move. Most couples "just do it" and then get a mish mash of clutter and chaos with two styles of decor that are completely different and often tacky together.

We then met together at their new space and began with the most important room of the home- the family room. (Aha, I bet you thought I was going to say the kitchen? Totally different perspective here). When planning a new interior room by room, I begin with the place that is most visited by your guests. Yes, kitchens are often the "hub" of the home, but you usually have to pass through the family room to get there and you don't often have new friends or visitors in your kitchen. When starting with your family room and then working outward, eliminating the rooms that guests will focus on most upon entry to your home, it takes away a lot of the "new home stress" and allows you to later plan the rooms that are more intimate and private, like your master suite.

Nicole is more of a Pottery Barn, easy living girl. She likes a combination of transitional, plush and comfy  furnishings and soft, lighter colors. Andrew prefers sleek, contemporary pieces but likes dark, masculine shades (of course). One would think there is not common ground to two styles that are such polar opposites, but that's what I'm there for.
Since Pottery Barn is Nicole's favorite haunt, I began there. This is her sofa- the Charleston...
It has a loose pillow back with rolled arms and a slip-covered body. It's soft and delicate and very, very beige. She has a few colored throw pillows on it for (my least favorite designer catch phrase...((wait for it))).... pops of color. Andrew has a sofa he bought at a contemporary furniture store in Seattle. It has a low back and chunky boxed arms. It's more structured and a medium charcoal gray color- very industrial feeling and not the most comfortable in the world, but he seems to sit in the same spot A LOT, because there is a massive dip on the right side of the seat cushion.

From room to room, their looks were distinctly night and day, except for the bedroom, where they both liked the same calming and simple mission style slat bed and plain side tables. Their aim was to focus on the family room, living room (which is not the same), kitchen and powder room (which was easy for them since they bought my new E-book ((shameless, but true plug))). Now, back to a few tricks they learned in their family room...

To create a good compromise between her love of plush sofas and his love of all things structured and sleek, I suggested they still purchase at Pottery Barn, but go for the PB Comfort Square Grand. For the color, I suggested Twill Seagrass. It's a great median between her soft color palette and his manly grays.
 This sofa has a loose cushion back but more structured arm in a box style and short tapered legs, making it a more modern transitional piece, but still comfortable. For a coffee table, I suggested this wooden Rhys table with apothecary style bottom drawers.
Again, it's sort of sleek but also warm wood, so it's a great mix, but to get a more industrial feel, I suggested these end tables to compliment the look.
Note: Your coffee table and end tables do not have to match, they just need to coordinate in a manner that is pleasing to the eye and doesn't throw off the balance of good scale in the room.

For paint colors for this room, I went with warm neutrals that were a combination of gray and green. They are soft, but also gender-less so they appeal to both of them. Here are a few examples that can work.


For an accent rug, I am loving this selection from www.homedecorators.com.
It has subdued gray green tones and a modern twist on branches that can appeal to both his and her style. Once the basics are done, selecting wall art and decor is easy. One of the largest problems that couples face is editing because they are use to having too many decorations or, in Andrew's case, adding, because he had too little. When adding decor, there really is no "less is more or more is better" routine. It depends on the individual space, the wall it's on and the quality and scale of the pieces you are incorporating. For some reason homeowners are under the impression that they must line every available area with decor? While you don't want bald spaces appearing in your home, you can pair down to less, more high quality pieces to showcase, rather than multiples of stuff everywhere!

After giving them a list of places to shop, selecting color schemes, a change in flooring, helping them measure and understand the "why" behind a lot of what us designers do when planning a room, Nicole and Andrew were set free to explore taking on their new home. I'm excited to see what they do and look forward to the pictures. Congratulations to Nicole and Andrew S. of Chandler, AZ on your new life together and your new stylish space! If you need a bit of designer help to create your perfect space, contact me for your D-I-Y Design Consultation. Live outside of AZ? I have a plan for your too!