Home Tour - Modern, Moody and Minimalist

INTRODUCTION

One of my favorite things about this business, is that each project is completely unique and different. Some of our projects are light and bright…some are moody and dark. This project is the perfect combination of each, with a balance of crisp, white, airy spaces and bold, black accent walls. Our team had so much fun with this project and loved bringing the clients edgy, bold and sophisticated style to life in their new home. The clients had family visiting from around the world shortly after moving in, so they prioritized getting the main living areas and the guest rooms set up to create the perfect space for entertaining.

We have two moodboards for this project…one for each phase. This first moodboard was for the first floor, including the dining, living and entryways. We wanted a bold, high-contrast and sculptural aesthetic with abstract graphic accents and luxurious, warm materials.

The second phase focused on all the guest rooms. We carried in a lot of the characteristics of the first phase, but added some softer touches to create comfortable sleeping areas.

BEFORE

We had a blank slate for this project. The clients moved from a small condo into a newly constructed house in West Town with modern, clean lines and rich, wood paneled walls throughout adding some bold contrast. We were tasked to bring in all new furniture, lighting, window treatments and wallpaper, in addition to building out a fireplace in the living room (note: there was no existing chimney or gas-line…challenge accepted!)

The dining room before had wonderful bones. Rich, dark floors, beautiful modern windows and high, modern ceilings. However, the walls were all white, and it felt a little sterile and sharp. Our goal was to add drama, warm it up and make it feel more personalized.

Between the dining and living rooms, a crisp white kitchen adds a contemporary, minimalist aesthetic. In the back, the living room was very similar to the dining room with crisp white walls, modern large windows and rich dark floors.

THE DESIGN PROCESS

You guys know the drill, we always present 3D renderings to our clients so they can visualize our design before we move forward with anything. This is especially important when dealing with custom built-ins and other big investment pieces.

Our design for the living room incorporates a custom built-in with an ethanol fireplace and a combination of open and closed storage.

To add some drama to the space, we incorporated a moody, textural wallcovering in the entryway and dining room.

In the dining room, we studied several chair options, which made the renderings even more valuable.

Each guest bedroom got a unique design with a cohesive palette tying them all together, incorporating moody dark accents, warm brass detailing and light textiles to balance things out.

THE REVEAL

Ready to see how this translated to real life?

This black fabric wallcovering is even more dramatic and moody than we dreamed! This front entryway creates a strong first impression and sets the tone for the rest of the home.

Simple styling adds texture and personality to the space while still keeping it clean and impactful.

Stepping into the home from the front entryway, the same wallcovering greets you in the dining room, creating a balanced and cohesive effect.

A round dining table for eight fits the room perfectly and creates the perfect spot for entertaining. Custom sheer drapes soften the crisp clean lines throughout the house and provide privacy when needed.

To balance out the black wallcovering, we pulled in warm brass accents and reflective light fixtures and mirrors. The espresso wood tone of the furniture ties in with the custom accent walls that were existing. A subtle pop of navy in the chairs adds some character to the room while still keeping things subdued.

In the living room, we kept the furniture low to maintain the open aesthetic throughout the home. A modular sectional provides ample seating with unique cutouts to add sculptural interest. A warm brass coffee table brightens the space and balances out the cool gray tones.

The same sheer drapes in the dining room are carried into the living room, creating a soft backdrop for the sectional. Wood C-tables provide additional drink or work surfaces that can move flexibly around the room and tie in with the accent walls and dining furniture.

If you follow DGI, you’ve seen this move before. When creating a rounded seating area, sometimes you need to pull a hide rug in to tie additional chairs in with the rest of the space. Every piece of furniture should land on a rug in order to be “stitched together”. By layering a hide atop a standard area rug, you can create custom layout options and extend the seating area further.

These clients wanted a fireplace in the living room but did not have a chimney/fireplace. We designed and built a custom built-in with an ethanol fireplace which can burn cleanly with no need for a chimney, and a full stone slab to add a dramatic focal point in the room and create a real fire on demand! To balance it out, we built-in a combination of open and closed storage on the side to allow for curated styling and texture, as well as functional storage as needed.

Every detail matters! Throughout this home, we incorporated cohesive details including abstract black and white art, greenery, and warm stone and brass details.

Coffee tables should always be layered with pieces that add height to the space and introduce some personality to the room.

Off of the living room, there is a small hallway leading to the mudroom and powder room. We celebrated this space with a graphic wallcovering and piece of art. To create a cohesive look with the rest of the home, we pulled in a brass sculptural console table and black marble candle holders.

Each guest room ties together with a core cohesive palette, yet still has its own unique palette.

Dark accents make this basement guestroom extra moody.

The next guestroom has a bold, faux-shagreen wallcovering to add texture and tie in with the darker accents throughout the home.

Opposite the moody shagreen wallcovering, a crisp white wall is contrasted with a bold graphic piece of art and a sculptural brass bench for guests to set their suitcases on.

The last guest room has crisp white walls with bold black and brass accents. Mustard yellow pillows pull the brass coloring in further and add a playful twist to the room.

Believe it or not, these clients prioritized their guest rooms over their own bedroom, so we’ll have more coming on this project over the next few months. Stay tuned!

-dgw

Project Team: Devon Wegman, Courtney Esch, Emily Boyd and Michael Wegman

Photos: Dustin Halleck