Decatur Sunrise: A Sitting Room for the Fancy Guests

This lovely formal living room was part of phase one for this home. The dining room faced it, both rooms flanking the front entryway, so I wanted them to be similar in style but distinct. Before I tackled the room, it was unused, collecting furniture and other random items, so turning it into a functional and gorgeous space was my top priority.

Collaborating with my clients, we agreed that the living room should have more life and color. Our overall goal—like the rest of the house—was to lighten it up. To this end, we took down the dark bamboo shades, painted the walls white, and put up simple white linen window treatments that let the abundant natural light pour in.

Photo Credit: Cati Teague Photography for Gina Sims Designs

We took the same blue shade we painted the dining room wainscoting and covered the living room’s ceiling with it. This is one of my favorite design tricks, putting a different-colored paint or wallpaper on the ceiling in a room that is otherwise calm. It adds unexpected whimsy and energy to a space that I just love.

Photo Credit: Cati Teague Photography for Gina Sims Designs

I also love to use one key piece in a room to set the color stage for the rest of the room, and here this soft, colorful rug played that role perfectly. Drawing from the soft blue and coral shades there, I added pillows in the same hues to the sofa our clients already had. The leggy armchairs were also original to the room, so I added a skirted table between them in a soft flax shade to balance them visually.

Accessories included new art with light, bright colors that spoke to my client, a stunning light fixture, a classy bar cart, and upholstered stools in front of the fireplace that offer extra seating. On the coffee table lay my client’s collection of gorgeous books, plants, and bowls. 

But perhaps my favorite part of this room’s story is the fact that my client envisioned it as an adults-only room. In fact, she even told her three little girls that they were not allowed in the room “unless you have all your teeth”. Now my client regularly checks her daughters’ mouths to see if they’d earned entrance, but until then, it is a special, set-apart space of her own.