A Midtown Home Refresh: From Beautiful Bones to Fully Lived-In Spaces
This project was extra special to me for a lot of reasons—but one of my favorites is that it came full circle.
My dad actually built a home for this client years ago, so when they called me to help with their new home in
Midtown, it felt like such a full-circle moment. And once I saw the house, I was all in.
The home had already been beautifully remodeled and truly had gorgeous bones. Think incredible woodwork, an original fireplace mantel, and so much character throughout. But like a lot of homes I walk into, it just wasn’t being fully lived in yet.
Furniture was sparse and disconnected—one couch in one room, a couple of chairs in another—and there wasn’t a clear sense of how each space was meant to function.
So that’s where we started.
Building a Cohesive Vision
After taking measurements, we sat down and pulled together a palette that felt rich, layered, and intentional.
The homeowners were drawn to:
Deep blues and greens
Velvet textures
A mix of materials that felt elevated but still comfortable
One of the biggest goals was making sure all of those new elements worked with the original features of the home—not against them. That fireplace mantel and the woodwork? Those were non-negotiables to highlight, not compete with.
Reworking the Living Room
The living room became a more formal, intentional space—while still feeling welcoming.
We designed:
Two beautiful sofas
Two custom blue velvet swivel chairs perfect for conversational seating and watching televion
A custom green velvet piece that really anchors the room
One of the biggest transformations here was correcting an awkward opening that led into a secondary space. It had this arched doorway that just didn’t quite make sense—and beyond it was a long, narrow room that wasn’t being used at all.
We closed that off, reworked the layout, and added built-ins with lighting to create symmetry on both sides of the fireplace. It completely changed how the space feels—now it’s balanced, intentional, and actually functional.
Creating a Functional Dining + Breakfast SpaceThe kitchen and dining area had so much potential—but it wasn’t being used to it’s full potential spatially.
There was a bench… and that was about it.
So we completely reimagined the space:
Designed a built-in breakfast nook
Added a custom Roman shade to soften the room
Layered in sconces and lighting
Brought in custom velvet dining chairs
Now it actually functions for everyday life—but still feels elevated and finished.
BEFORE: Breakfast Nook
BEFORE: Breakfast Nook
Turning an Awkward Room Into the Favorite Space in the House
This might be my favorite part of the entire project.
Off the main living area was this long, narrow room that used to be a porch. It had been enclosed, but the layout made it really hard to use. There were a couple of chairs and a TV, but no one naturally gathered there.
So we leaned all the way in and gave it a purpose: a den + movie room.
This home already had the character. It already had the story.
It just needed someone to come in and connect the dots—layer in the right materials, define the spaces, and make it actually work for the way this family lives.
Now every room has a purpose. Every space feels intentional. And most importantly—it finally feels like home.
