Ahhh the ubiquitous open floor plan. It’s what everyone wants, but figuring out a cohesive design can sometimes be a challenge. The past few months I’ve been working closely on this fun project (which I’ve dubbed #SoonerFarmhouse on Instagram – remember the fabby modern screened-in porch?!) with my clients and the reveal today is their fun family room & kitchen.
THE BEFORE
This incredible home was built within the past year, and after making alllll the choices when it came to building their house, these clients had Decision Burn-Out. The main goal was for me to design the entire space around the existing kitchen and flooring to make it feel harmonious and comfy. They didn’t love their existing furniture from their old home, and they felt like it didn’t reflect their style.
In the walk-out basement (a rarity in Oklahoma), the family of four spends the majority of their time in an open floor plan arrangement consisting of kitchen, dining and living areas. They’ve got two small boys and love to host family and friends to watch OU football on the weekends. It’s no surprise then that the kitchen in this space is bold University of Oklahoma crimson and it’s an absolute showstopper. The floors were all stained concrete, and there’s an incredible glass garage door that opens up onto a covered patio. When I first saw the space, it was around Christmas, and they had a couple of leather sofas in there but not much else. At that particular moment, with all the modern finishes and concrete floors, the first thing I thought was “We need to soften and warm up this space up a bit.”
OPEN FLOOR PLAN CHALLENGES
There were a few challenges with this space to tackle: first, how to work with the bold kitchen and general modern vibe (ie., integrate some of that crimson throughout without overwhelming the room); second, everything had to be kid-friendly and durable (speaking my language over here! #ArcherBryce), and finally, work in several different functional zones into the open floor plan concept. Creating boundaries in an open floor plan can be tricky but it’s absolutely necessary; you need to define where one space ends and another begins or else you run the risk of having everything floating in a seemingly random arrangement.
We went through several different rounds before we came to the final look, but the main idea was to create a dedicated living space in front of the 3 televisions (remember – big sports fans!) and to balance it out on the bottom with a console or two. They wanted a midcentury style without going full-tilt theme-y and they also needed a dining table, chairs, and some new barstools (more on the dining space later).
THE LIVING ROOM REVEAL
This is the view when you first come down the stairs, and I literally clap my hands with glee every time I see it. It’s SUCH a
Because we mix-and-matched lots of textures and wood finishes, it allowed the room overall to feel more layered and cozy. And like I said, they definitely weren’t afraid of a little color and pattern-mixing and that Annie Selke Marco jute rug (SALE ALERT: 60% OFF!) was the clincher that brought the whole design together. It’s definitely bold, but it’s such a great chunky texture and with all those angles and hard surfaces in the room overall, it’s the thing that softened up the whole room.
I asked Grace Allen Design to help us out and create something light and happy but still clean and simple for the window treatments. I love how the ripplefold drapes turned out; they’re blackout lined in case the glare is too extreme for the TVs on the wall next to them. We also did the most gorgeous textured roller shade. I wish I had a better picture of it. It’s perfection for allowing light to filter in while still allowing for some privacy.
But I think my absolute favorite part of the room are the pair of Thatcher Chairs from Rowe Furniture. I’m obsessed with that windowpane check fabric and the way these sit is nothing short of perfection. The sectional is the Townsend (also by Rowe) and for this piece, we did it in an ecru Crypton fabric with a black contrast welt to give a nod to the chairs.
Underneath the TVs, we did two CB2 Suspend II walnut credenzas to hide all the cords and stuff and to also bring in some of that nod to midcentury style. The Anthropologie round marble-topped coffee table has the prettiest brass legs, and we also did the small side table in between the chairs. Love love LOVE.
Delavan floor lamp from Target. Which, btw, is such a versatile piece. It’s such a great price point for a whole lotta high-end look.
Every time I walk into this room, it’s like a breath of fresh air. It’s such a happy, comfortable space — and beyond its beauty, it’s so functional for this great family. I never get tired of creating a visual, functional representation of who people are and how they want to live. I hope that this family in particular can make a lifetime’s worth of memories. Fearlessness in design is something that seems to be few and far between, especially when it comes to clients. But I’m grateful when someone is willing to trust me and take a few risks.
