House Tours
Take A Look At These Fabulous Family Rooms
Photography, Lauren Miller.
House Tours
Take A Look At These Fabulous Family Rooms
From fabulous bars and fun games rooms to sleek home cinemas, rooms made for gathering are making the scene.
1. Bar keep
Photography, Lauren Miller. DESIGNER, Sabrina Albanese Interiors. SCONCE, Dimore Milano. LAMPS, The Urban Electric Co. Pavoni BARSTOOLS, Soane Britain. Martin Brudnizki RUG, The Rug Company. SIDE TABLE, Jamb.
This once-formal living room is ready for entertaining thanks to designer Sabrina Albanese. “The owners wanted a more usable space for gathering, and they wanted it to feel like a stately English hotel bar,” says Sabrina, who took inspiration from The Connaught Bar in London. Deep colours, plush textures and layers of moody lighting are inviting. “The space has something for everyone,” she says, from comfy lounge-like seating to an onyx-topped bar for hanging out. The Murano glass chandelier and mirror are very “more is more.”
2. Talking points
PHOTOGRAPHY, Valerie Wilcox. FURNITURE, LIGHTING RETAILER, Aspen & Ivy.
Designer Catherine Staples’s savvy placement of furniture promotes conversation. A sculptural chandelier defines the room’s centre, which is encircled by swivel chairs with comforting high backs and down-filled cushions. Side tables offer easy spots to place drinks and nibblies. Catherine says, “The space is sophisticated yet comfortable – a perfect spot to settle in.”
“A sitting area should be a part of the action while still allowing for great conversations with friends and family.”
– Catherine Staples, Principal Designer/Owner of Aspen & Ivy.
3. Party time
PHOTOGRAPHY, Valerie Wilcox. DESIGN, Catherine Staples, Aspen & Ivy. CHAIRS, Wesley Hall. CHANDELIER, PENDANT LIGHTS, Hubbardton Forge. Quartz COUNTERTOPS, Cambria. STOOLS, Lee Industries. MILLWORK, Lindsay Schultz Kitchen & Cabinetry. FURNITURE, LIGHTING RETAILER, Aspen & Ivy.
In the same home, a media area extends the hospitality with an impressive quartz-topped bar complete with 10 custom barstools (the owners love to throw parties here). “Our goal was to ensure that the bar could be used well for making food and drinks, all while allowing guests and the owners to sit and enjoy the space,” Catherine says. Metal shelves let the quartz backsplash show through.
4. In the zone
PHOTOGRAPHY, Valerie Wilcox. DESIGN, Catherine Staples, Aspen & Ivy. TV WALL QUARTZ, Cambria. FURNITURE, Lee Industries. MILLWORK, Lindsay Schultz Kitchen & Cabinetry. FURNITURE, LIGHTING RETAILER, Aspen & Ivy.
Catherine Staples’s design of this TV room (which is adjacent to the space shown on the previous page) signals gathering together. “It draws you in and makes you want to curl up,” she says. Custom oak shelving, a soft sectional and a handmade rug add warmth, while the TV’s attention-to-detail quartz frame imparts personality.
“We designed this room with the TV as a focal point, but dressed it up with a bold quartz surround.” – Catherine Staples
5. Dream team
PHOTOGRAPHY, Valerie Wilcox. DESIGN, Ali Budd Interiors.
This home cinema is not just a place to watch the team play on the big screen. Designer Ali Budd gives it aesthetic heft with dramatically dark walls, ample seating options and bold, clubby tables.
6. Family friendly
PHOTOGRAPHY, Mike Chajeck. DESIGN, Michelle Berwick Design. PENDANT LIGHT, Niche Decor. WALL-MOUNTED GAMES, Etsy. TABLE, CB2. Orange CHAIRS, Article. RUG, Loloi Rugs.
“Our clients wanted a space for their kids to have fun, both with parents on games night and with their friends on weekends,” says designer Michelle Berwick. She and her team sourced a large burled wood table that acts as command central for card games, crafts and board games. It’s enlivened by the orange chairs. Oversized wall-mounted board games are added fun. Says Michelle, “They take advantage of the wall area and allow for folks to move around and really make use of the space.” The whimsical light fixture layers in cool.
“Games rooms are the new walk-in pantry. Everyone wants a fun landing spot for a rainy day or evening in.” – Michelle Berwick
7. Chalk it up
PHOTOGRAPHY, Valerie Wilcox. DESIGN, Cian Design. CHALK ARTIST, Lauren Hall. CHAIRS, Article.
Designer Shannon Cian turned a dark basement with low ceilings into an appealing play space where the homeowners welcome their kids and grandchildren for together time. “We painted the walls with chalkboard paint and hired a local artist to hand-draw vintage billiards accessories on them,” says Shannon. “The antique sign added some whimsy and an element of character.” A weighty pool table with turned solid-oak legs feels right under the low ceilings and makes the room more intimate and cozy.
8. Colour play
PHOTOGRAPHY, Eymeric Wilding. DESIGN, Louis Duncan-He Designs. SOFA, OTTOMANS, EQ3. RUG, FLOR. MURAL, Hovia; INSTALLATION, Modern Wall Design. PENDANTS, Light House Co. METAL RACK, Treehouse Developments.
The owners of this property list it as a luxury rental when they’re not there, so it had to be spectacular. This new, deluxe hangout zone was originally a second garage, but designer Louis Duncan-He transformed it into a spot for games and unwinding. “I took inspiration from gyms, entertainment rooms and coffee shops to get the perfect mix of elements that hit just the right tone,” says Louis. Imaginative colours and a mural add exuberance. Hammered black and brass pendants upgrade the original spotlights and a custom rack is softened with greenery.
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