Kelly Parkinson
About a year after we brought Kelly (pictured above) on board as my personal and design assistant, she and her husband Mike purchased a new home.
They undertook a renovation similar to what I did in my own house—replacing floors, trim, and the kitchen. You’ll see the complete before-and-after reveal in the new year, but we already shared the original photos of the space when they first bought it.
Once Kelly had spent time working with me and began grasping the nuances of color trends, she admitted she wasn’t thrilled that they had recently invested in an espresso brown leather sofa, loveseat, and chair.
I reassured her we could make everything feel fresh in her new home!
Here are four strategies to achieve that, featuring a holiday tour of Kelly’s entryway and living room:
When selecting new flooring, keep it uniform throughout the house and opt for a classic, enduring shade
Kelly’s father and brothers handled the renovation contracting. Her dad had leftover simple black spindles from another job, which they repurposed for the new modern staircase. Kelly also chose a pale engineered wood floor that is both timeless and neutral, with no grey undertones—exactly as it should be.
Related post: The New Timeless Hardwood Floor
This is the entry table positioned across from the staircase. Kelly mentioned that this cutting from a Laurel shrub outside has been in the urn for three months!
Swap outdated area rugs for seagrass to achieve a light, airy feel without breaking the bank
Kelly admired my flocked tree, so she purchased one for herself. After the renovation, their decorating budget was tight, so I advised her to buy seagrass rugs, layer a cowhide on top, and add leopard-print pillows along with off-white cushions to maintain a clean and fresh aesthetic.
The wall color is SW Shoji White.
I recommended the herringbone subway tile for her fireplace surround (see the before image here).
After watching me put together many vignettes, Kelly visited a used bookstore and grabbed several coffee table books to use as pedestals. I adored her penguin decorations!
Leopard prints complement existing gold, beige, and earthy tones, so even if you can’t repaint dark Tuscan walls, adding these prints along with white pillows can create a refreshed look.
Kelly added an oval mirror and other wooden accents to echo the warm hues of the leopard pillows. We also incorporated fresh eucalyptus into the faux garland around the fireplace to make it appear more realistic!
The dyed cream poinsettia repeats the turquoise accents.
Curtains don’t have to be costly
Kelly hung inexpensive off-white IKEA drapes to soften the windows across the main floor. Remember, when using grommet curtains, they should not puddle. The style is contemporary, so hem them to fit your space perfectly.
Photos by Maria Killam
Achieving a fresh look with your espresso brown furniture is simple. Here are the links again:
source: 1, 2, 3 4
Hope you enjoyed the tour! Christmas is nearly here—have you finished your shopping yet?
PS. I have a favor to ask! If you’ve worked with Maria Killam Inc in the past, I’d love it if you could leave a review on Houzz here. That would be a wonderful Christmas gift! Thank you so much!
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The post Four Ways to Achieve a Crisp Christmas Look (Even with Dark Brown Furniture) appeared first on Maria Killam – The True Colour Expert.
