The Brief
Tina asked for a moody Victorian sitting room that could flex for real family life: lounging, reading, welcoming guests, a little TV. She wanted to honor a few beloved pieces: an antique secretary, a pair of purple chairs, and her gold-framed portraits. The wish list included seating for five, a rebuilt fireplace with the TV above, and help taming the heavy L-shaped traffic that cuts from entry to stairs. Palette notes: deep, cool hues with brass and bronze glints, and a wink to House of Hackney’s Plantasia.
Before: Quiet Bones, Big Light
The room was a luminous blank slate with a pale shell, crisp millwork, and a broad 73-inch square front window asking for privacy and glare control.
Michelle’s Direction
Designer Michelle kept the architecture calm and let color, texture, and glow do the storytelling. Two paths explored how the space could live.
Design Highlights
A mantel that glows at dusk
The rebuilt fireplace carries gentle period detailing with brass sconces flanking the TV. Candlelight elements keep the mood warm when the screen is off.
Purple, deepened
Tina’s own chairs set the key: saturated violets echoed in a tailored sofa and patterned pillows. The portraits and floral still life feel at home rather than precious.
Victorian romance, family-proofed
A tufted ottoman with no sharp corners sits over a dense flourish-patterned rug. Both are beautiful and forgiving for kids and the dog.
Window poetry with real privacy
The wide front window gets a tailored Roman shade, which filters light for reading and reduces TV glare without overwhelming the trim.
Solving the Space
Flow first. Seating pulls off the diagonal path so circulation stays clear from entry to stair. The modular sectional reconfigures and extra units slide to the TV room if needed, giving five comfortable seats without crowding the secretary wall. client-profile
Light and sightlines. The shade options address that 73-inch span, delivering privacy and glare control while framing the view. This matters with the TV above the mantel. client-comms
Budget-savvy curation. From ottomans to side tables to mini chandeliers, Michelle assembled an elegant yet attainable shortlist across brands, all harmonizing with Tina’s heirlooms.
The After: Velvet Evenings, Lively Mornings
By day, the room is a reader’s salon with periwinkle walls, lacey light through the Roman shade, and walnut glints from the secretary. By night, sconces and chandelier wash the mantel in a soft Victorian glow. The ottoman gathers books and cocoa. Portraits in gold smile back. It is gracious without fuss and ready for homework, dogs, and guests with equal charm.