Guest Post: Nicole's So Haute Living Room

Remember way back in July when I had a fabulous line up of guest posters filling in for me while I was in Kenya? Yea, well about that - there were a few wonderful women who were so kind to write a post and I somehow ended up losing it! I promise, I'm not usually such a scatterbrain but I have to plead guilty on this one. By the time I realized it, I had already announced the line up. I didn't want to just tack them on as an afterthought. Instead I asked their permission to hold off on posting until "later". Well the time has come! I'm going to share two of them with you this week so let's get to it.



Today's guest post comes from the uber chic Nicole of So Haute. She has her finger on the pulse of all that is new and hot in the decor world - and kindly shares all her knowledge with us via her blog. Her own words say it best - "the friend you'd call when you need great design advice". So no more holding out on you, let's sneak a peek at her fabulous living room redo.




Hi! It's Nicole from So Haute! I'm super excited to be guest blogging here at Brooklyn Limestone! I've been following Stefanie's blog for a couple of years now and it's truly one of my favorites! Stefanie has such great style and she never ceases to amaze and inspire me with her fabulous room makeovers and DIY decorating projects! So in the spirit of Brooklyn Limestone, I'd thought I'd share a little makeover of my own...a before and after of my living room.



Here's what my living room looked like when I moved into my apartment three years ago. The challenge? How to take a boring white rectangular box, infuse it with character and personality plus make this small space function as a living room, dining room and an office. It was also important for me to really transform the space into a room that was reflective of who I am and how I live.


I came up with a floor plan that has three separate zones for relaxing, working and dining. Since I entertain a lot I made sure that all of the zones flowed together so that each could offer versatility when I have guests over. For example, I usually clear off my desk and use it to serve drinks so my desk zone also functions as a bar when I'm entertaining which allows my guests to utilize the entire room and not just one zone.


This was my design inspiration. Calm and relaxed with a neutral gray backdrop, pops of pink and a mix of modern and vintage furnishings. I referenced images from Domino magazine as well as the general design aesthetics of Windsor Smith, Ruthie Sommers and Nate Berkus...three talented interior designers whom I adore!


This is the end result. I defined the living space with the use of area rugs and chose layered a natural colored cowhide on top of a sisal room to add texture. My modern sofa from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams mixes perfectly with more traditional elements including a vintage brass coffee table, mahogany faux bamboo end tables, a french Louis XV style armchair and a fabulous pair of mid-century upholstered X-benches that I picked up from the Brimfield Antiques Show a few years ago. The bright pink lamps add a pop of color as do the flowers which also add life to the space.


Pretty dramatic transformation huh? Here are a few more photos so you can get a better sense of the space:

My skirted TV console is actually a Ikea expedit bookcase that I had my upholsterer make a custom slipcover for out of a linen-like fabric (also from Ikea!) that cost $6 a yard! I chose an ivory colored grosgrain ribbon for contrast. This piece provides lots of storage underneath and is where I keep things like CDs, DVDs, large books, etc. To the right is my desk area where I do most of my blogging.


This is my little dining area. The table is from Ikea, the chairs were a Craigslist find that I painted a blue-ish gray color from Benjamin Moore called Boothbay Gray and the seats are upholstered in a Suzanne Rheinstein for Lee Jofa linen. The buffet is also a Craigslist find which has the most amazing brass lionhead door pulls. I got this for a steal and it's one of my favorite pieces. I use it to store all of my serveware, wine glasses, liquor and table linens. My chandelier is a recent purchase that I just had installed a couple of weeks ago...Thomas O'Brien's Bryant Small Chandelier. I love its aged brass finish and delicate silhouette. Below are a few more detail shots from my living room and a few pieces from my collection of Buddhas which really infuse my personality into the space. I hope you enjoyed this before and after tour of my living room and thanks Stefanie for having me!

xoxo

Nicole





30 comments:

  1. A job well done Nicole...From the gray paint, to the layered rugs, and the dining room chairs. I'd seen your space before, but never with the before pictures. What an awesome transformation!

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  2. LOVE nicole's living room! Definitely needs to be featured in a magazine - the before and after transformation is amazing!

    Having had the pleasure of meeting Nicole it's totally reflective of her - job VERY well done :)

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  3. Nicole did an outstanding job! It's not only lovely but well balanced.

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  4. It's gorgeous...I love the grey area rugs, makes me want to hang out there and read decor magazines on the floor!

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  5. Anonymous9:08 AM

    nice colors - but I don't believe in totchka who needs all that dust hold and clutter.

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  6. I just love how it turned out! I love the layered rug.Also, the skirted bookcase is a great idea to hide all that nasty clutter we all have!

    Great job!

    Cindy

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  7. Beautiful rooms! I love the dining room chairs with the Ikea table, great mix.

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  8. I love this room! And I am especially in love with the coffee table!!

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  9. I absolutely LOVE it. SO gorgeous. I love the subtle wall color too! Everything looks amazing.

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  10. I adore your space and love the splashes of pink!

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  11. Gorg!
    What is the wall paint color???

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  12. Love the room! The coffee table and the pink lamps are tdf :)

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  13. Beautifully put together. What is the wall colour? Love it!

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  14. The fuschia lamps make the room for me!

    http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/

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  15. Beautiful! I love the new Thomas O'Brien chandelier.

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  16. I love that coffee table! It looks very similar to yours?

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  17. Gor-jus! It's an absolutely fabulous space!

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  18. Love this color scheme and how she utilized the small space.

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  19. PhillyLass4:21 PM

    Love it. Info on the pink lamps, please!

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  20. a beautiful beautiful job, extremely inspiring!

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  21. None of the photos will load for me. Is it something I'm doing, or is anyone else having problems?

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  22. congrats on a job well done... that is an amazing design job!

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  23. love it nicole..

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  24. Thanks again Stefanie for featuring me as a guest blogger and thanks to everyone for all of your great feedback and positive comments! To all who inquired about the paint...the color is Forde Abbey by Ralph Lauren Paints. The lamps are the "Genie Lamp" in plum from Robbert Abbey that I purchased from LampsPlus.com. Here's the link:

    http://www.lampsplus.com/products/Robert-Abbey-Genie-Brass-and-Plum-Ceramic-Table-Lamp__J1726.html

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  25. I LOVE your space! Can I ask what the dimensions of the room are? It looks so spacious, but I suspect it's actually smaller than it appears.

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  26. Anna-thanks so much! The dimensions are roughly 18'x 17'8"x 9'7"...so not very big at all! Cheers!

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  27. I love the idea of placing those x-benches in front of the tv. It pushes the tv into the background, making the space more inviting for guests to chat. I don't like how the tv takes over in a lot of people's living rooms! Beautifully done!

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  28. Lindsay4:20 PM

    Hey Nicole! Where is the bird fabric from the pillows and the throw I also love! I have similar look and wanted to freshen up my house. Love the blog! Your design work is amazing and thanks for all the helpful info!

    lindsaycoletta@hotmail.com

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  29. Djaclyn10:46 AM

    Beautiful job, Nichole. You are a great space planner. I love your coffee table and was going to ask where you purchased it. You mentioned that it was a vintage one so I am assuming that it too was a craigslist find.

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