Our Queen Village Contemporary family was eager to get back to their pre-pandemic lifestyle of hosting gatherings and being social. They had a generous amount of space to entertain, but it didn't feel properly utilized. There were many good features to take advantage of - the industrial vibe, the sprawling open concept layout, and the level changes that were used to delineate spaces.
We saw these good bones and envisioned an inviting space that flowed; luxurious, but not so pristine that any space feels off-limits. In our dream version of the space, guests meandered freely through the entire floor; trying out every seat - including the stairs! - and enjoying all of the spaces as the night wore on.
One of our clients' big laments was that no one used the big raised lounge. As you entered the condo, the lounge was on your left side, a bit more remote than the rest of the space. In theory, it was a perfect space to achieve their hosting goal, but our clients didn't find it very inviting. We wanted to make this space a destination - not only as a bonus space for entertaining, but as a cozy spot for the family. Since it was on the far end of the kitchen & slightly removed, it could be perfect for a quiet spot to read or have coffee. And as far as parties were concerned, its proximity to the bar made it a perfect spot to host guests.
Floor Plan: From left to right, the living room and lounge offer generous space for relaxing & entertaining
BEFORE: The emptiness of the space is a hint to how often it was used.
BEFORE: The few furnishings that did make it in clearly show our clients have sophisticated taste!
The lounge wanted a different feel than the living room - a different color story, leaning more gentle & neutral. The earth tones here were a bit more soft and feminine, with blushy neutrals accented with rust. It was fun to select a graphic rug accented with black - more contemporary than our usual floor coverings, which tend to be more traditional. The walls were wrapped in a cozy neutral grass cloth, carried from the entryway into the lounge to further unite the spaces. We were really "anti-drywall" in this project - we wanted each space to feel more finished, and the grass cloth brings a texture and warmth that paint could not do.
Mood Board: The vibe of this space called for cozier, more feminine vibes
with gentle colors and soft furnishings.
Rendering
AFTER
The goal here was to provide many seating options, each just as comfortable as the last. The room was anchored by a pair of rounded nesting coffee tables, around which the rest of the furniture orbited. A sleek femme sofa, gently curved, was upholstered in a chunky basket weave to look plush and inviting. The coordinating fireplace chair - a sister, not a twin! - is a fresh take on a traditional tub chair, with exaggerated depth for drama and comfort. Solid wood legs intersect sheepskin upholstery for clean contrast and scale - another enviable seat.
Our clients had existing pieces that were curvy and midcentury, and this inspired our vibe for the furniture frames in this space. This is most apparent in the pair of side chairs we selected: MCM-inspired, with handsome tapered birch frames and curvy arms ending in brass caps. The rust color pulled from the accents in the kitchen, and we made sure the chairs looked inviting with plush feather/down cushions and matching ottomans to put up your feet. And, as always, we selected durable performance fabrics to make sure each piece could hold up well to heavy traffic.
AFTER: New motorized window shades give privacy while letting in light.
Through the sheer material, the buildings outside become dreamy, diffused silhouettes.
The condo is dominated by vast walls of windows, most obviously in the lounge. Of course, the light it brings is lovely, but a city setting it's important to have privacy. Large draperies didn't feel right, and who wants to pull huge curtains all the way across the room? Looking for a non-obtrusive solution, we sourced minimal translucent shades, motorized for convenience, that allowed light to come through but added juuuust enough privacy.
A few steps down from the lounge is the bar.
BEFORE - The bar area
This area used to be a freight elevator, and you could tell - the space was compact and dark with no windows. It was the perfect size for a generous bar, but the black granite made the space feel dated and cramped. We envisioned a warm, cozy spot that celebrated the snugness of the space while bringing some light in to alleviate the claustrophobia. Our original imagining of this space was more neutral - but when our clients said they were game for more color, we knew exactly what the space called for.
Mood Board: We used deep colors in a nod to the original bar, in thoughtful doses to keep it feeling open. Travertine sconces, a black granite counter, and a sedimentary wallpaper pattern all add to the earthy vibe.
Rendering: Sultry red cabinetry anchors the space, with glamorous accents from knurled brass hardware
AFTER: The bar's arched mirror is a callback to the shape of the kitchen cabinetry
The red from the lounge deepens here into a rich brick color, highlighting the subtle veining in the sexy black granite. Although the color of the cabinetry is bold, we used it sparingly, allowing the walls and ceiling to stay light to keep the space from feeling boxed in. We used an arched mirror to reflect more light around and selected a soft, abstract wallpaper with a subtle metallic sheen that makes the whole space glow.
We wanted the space to not only be beautiful, but functional - the cabinetry holds a sink, dish drawer, and a wine fridge, plus thoughtful storage for their liquor and glasses of all varieties. Everything is tucked away for a visually clean and serene space, with all drink materials within arms reach.
Two storage areas flank the stairs - one is for extra liquor & glassware and the second is a bonus wine fridge!
"Subtle" is not the quite the right word for this project, but it was an exercise in restraint and softness compared to what we usually do. We took great pains to make sure each space functioned well, and that everything felt clean and simple while having thoughtful moments of richness and texture. We wanted the overall vibe to be of a warm, sexy, cozy, sophisticated house, one where the color did not dominate.
Above all, we wanted every space to feel connected. The beauty of a well designed space is that you can move things around and it still looks great because the spaces were designed to blend. In fact, we’ve come back to visit the condo and found that pillows intended for the lounge found their way to the living room, and it worked just fine.
On another visit, a friend said “You really designed it!", pointing out our repeated themes like curves, arches, and earth tones. Even if most people wouldn't point it out so astutely, we wanted every visitor to feel that the home was in harmony, without being matchy. If the home is an album, each space is a song, with motifs that repeat, build on each other, and evolve into something new but complementary. Each space has its own vibe, but there’s no dissonance; in the open space, it’s lovely to stand on one end and regard everything as a whole.
And that's our Queen Village Contemporary - a dream of a space in harmony, fostering community and togetherness. Each room is now comfortable for gathering, for socializing, for moving about freely and trying out every seat. We're wishing our clients many happy, crowded gathering with big trays of little plates and the plentiful pouring of drinks. Here, there's certainly room for everyone. ❤️
Queen Village Contemporary
Photography by Rebecca McAlpin
