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Situated in the Seattle suburb of Magnolia, this picturesque home once featured a dark interior with little character. The young family of four, who would call the space home, was looking to implement a brighter aesthetic to reflect their personal style. Armed with the help of interior designer Heidi Caillier, the trio set out to give the home a major redesign. Sticking to a whitewashed palette as the backbone of the scheme, they brought in bright pops of color and
to elevate the design, all the while maintaining a sophisticated yet kid-friendly feel. We chatted with Caillier to get the lowdown on the project. Take a look!
What was the vision behind the design scheme of the living room? Was it styled for form or function?
With a family room located upstairs, we wanted to keep the living room a bit more formal, while still maintaining the modern-bohemian vibe we had in mind for the home. The rug was the starting point for everything. The soft blue really help set the tone for the space and complemented the beachy-esque print on the two chairs. We replaced the old mantel with a simple wooden beam and whitewashed the exposed brick of the fireplace to blend in with the surround. We opted for a light and airy look with bohemian elements and clean lines.
“Built-in bookshelves conveniently housed the television set along with a curated selection of books, updating the look and feel of the room. Finally, the coffee table, a custom-design piece, contributed a worldly element to the decor.”
What was your favorite aspect of this project?
Seeing the vision come to life. I love how it all pulled together and felt so cohesive. It was incredibly rewarding to see months of hard work come to life.
The kitchen is stunning! What was the process like in designing the space?
The kitchen was so disjointed when I began this project. The cabinets were mismatched and the space featured a lengthy and awkward wall, which had been left empty. We added a bank of lower cabinets along that wall, as I really wanted it to have the feel of a buffet or piece of free-standing furniture with art on top – in lieu of just another section of cabinets.
“We added the built-in
at the end of the room, and brought in a little color back there to balance out the stark whiteness of the kitchen.”
“A cosmetic update really transformed the powder room, which sits right off of the kitchen. It was so dated when I started – I had wanted to bring in a tiled accent somewhere and this felt like the perfect space to do that. It carries out to the mudroom and makes for a fun pop that catches your eye when you enter the kitchen. We kept the existing sink and toilet and added a new mirror, sconce, and faucet. But the tile is clearly the show-stopper here.”
Describe your vision for the dining room.
I wanted the room to feel light and airy, as it had previously been quite sparse, furnished with only a wood Parsons table and two benches. I liked the minimalist vibes and wanted to keep that feeling while also integrating a more well-rounded finish. The existing table is custom and is reminiscent of a family heirloom. The couple love it and hope to keep it in the family for generations. The chandelier feels weightless and that tree contributes a lively touch.
What is your favorite spot in the home?
I love the living room, but I have a serious soft spot for this little nook, in the family room. We upholstered the cushion in a vintage Kantha and I love it.
Was there one room that was particularly more difficult to design versus another?
The family room was one of the more challenging spaces to design. It all came down to compromise! We had originally settled on a super cozy, bohemian den with a delicate olive green on the walls and layered Kilim rugs, but things took a different turn. We swapped out the wall-to-wall 80s carpeting and brought in a jute landing pad to add a clean base. It instantly transformed the feel of that room. Keeping in line with the whitewashed aesthetic of the home, we decided to keep the walls white, and opted for color in the form of furnishings. The blue sofa was the perfect accent piece for this room, it pops and feels fun. The family spends a lot of time in the family room so we wanted it be comfortable and a place they could looked forward to coming.
What is one thing you scrimped on when it came to the redesign?
The console in the family room is comprised of two IKEA consoles pushed together. I think it was $200 total and it looks perfect in that space!
Splurged?
The living room chairs were a splurge and we all loved how they turned out.
What is one thing you learned from this project?
There were a lot of changes throughout the design process. My biggest lesson learned from this project was compromise. I was in love with my original vision for the home and wanted the clients to be on board with every single detail. While, for the most part, we managed to stick to my original vision, we did change out several elements, which I had felt quite attached to. That being said, I love the project and the way it turned out. I think it shows that compromise can be a good thing, and also that design is a collaborative process.