Designer: Glenna Stone Interior Design
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Size: 255 square feet (24 square meters); 15 by 17 feet

Homeowners’ request. “Our design keywords for the project were ‘tailored’ and ‘light,’ the latter pertaining to maximizing natural light throughout,” says designer Glenna Stone, who collaborated with her clients through Houzz ideabooks. “In the living room, the clients requested a fresh, airy palette as a change from the heavier, more traditional style they’d had for many years.”

Seating mix. Sofa. Two club chairs. Side chair. Two upholstered footstools. “It was key to not only create a functional seating arrangement, but also to maintain a flow from the entry through the living room and into the dining room for a couple who enjoys entertaining,” Stone says. “To achieve this, we put the sofa against the longer wall. Two upholstered chairs sit opposite in front of the windows. We added a fun patterned accent chair to complete the feeling of a conversation area, without obstructing that easy flow. The corner felt a bit bare, so a small custom upholstered stool that could double as extra seating for guests is a practical and stylish touch.”

Other special features. “We centered our design on a mix of creamy neutrals, crisp pops of white and shades of blue,” Stone says. “Patterns and solids in the furnishings combine for visual interest, while glass lamps and a large mirror create a sense of openness.

“Working with a blue-and-white palette can often edge into a coastal vibe, but we (and the clients) wanted elegance in this space along with those colors. Mixing shades of blue and patterns along with refined silhouettes allowed us to create more of an upscale salon. In addition, the gallery wall with custom vintage maps creates a unique focal point. Each map has a personal connection to the clients, whether it’s a place they lived together or where they grew up.”

“Uh-oh” moment. “There were two tricky moments in the design,” Stone says. “The first was that there was a large return vent on the wall above the sofa, so we needed to relocate that to accommodate the gallery wall. Another was marrying the updated aesthetic that they wanted while incorporating a few existing, much-loved pieces, including the coffee table. By drawing on a fresh, light palette of blues and neutrals, we made the space feel bright and the rich woods act as anchors.”

Wall paint: White Sand, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: White Flour, Sherwin-Williams