This 1894 Victorian on the North Shore of Massachusetts gets a total decorating redo by a young family who spent years living around the world surrounded by lots of color.
It was important to the homeowners, who did most of the interior decorating themselves, with advice from a local architectural color decider Kimberly Collins Jermain, to infuse their new (permanent) home with pieces of their global past.
That included plenty of bold color, like the turquoise in their family room, a color they first used in a bathroom in Bangkok, back in 1998.
The living room sits off the home’s gracious foyer, which is done in a soft gray with a contemporary chandelier, introducing visitors to sparkle from the get go. In the living room, a polished chrome drum pendant hangs in the center of the seating area, echoed by other silvery touches, like a side table with a lattice design. A similar geometric patterned black and white rug is underfoot, anchoring the room.
A series of circular mirrors found at a flea market hangs between the windows, providing not just extra shine, but a nice juxtaposition to all the angular geometrics. Rich jewel toned art and accessories are layered against the turquoise paneled walls. The collection of colored glass vases is comprised of pieces from their travels. Lastly, the painting, “Under the Sea” is by a Parisian artist.
It’s a bold and happy room that reflects the homeowners’ desire that their place is “enduring, and alive, joyful, and fresh.”
Putting together a bright, bold room is easier than you think, especially if you follow the formula used here.
Start with a dark, patterned rug, like the Comden Collection Westover Area Rug (5). Add lighting with a shimmery finish, like the tailored Eurofase Jura Silver Pendant (1) or the more dramatic Possini Euro Lucille Icicle Pendant (2). Add a series of mirrors, like the hammered metal Cooper Classics Cavallo Wall Mirrors (4) and a reflective accent piece, like the Clarence Textured Metal Nickel Stool (9), to bounce around light in the lower portion of the room.
Use a color on the walls that make you happy, and don’t be afraid to go bold, whether it’s a small space or extra large. Add vibrant artwork, such as We Think We Know II Limited Edition Giclee (3) and dramatic accessories in multiples. Collections can be built over time. Start yours off with the likes of Red Lacquer Flame Vase, (6), Brin Glass Vase (7), a Turin Glass Vase (8) and the Blythe Silver Glass Decanters (10).
Image: James R. Salomon for Boston Globe Magazine