I know I have shared tidbits of this room many times over the last few years (including the paint colors, built-in styling and window treatments), but haven’t actually put everything in one place. So here we are – the official Garden Green Family Room! One of the most loved and used rooms in our home, just bursting with color, history + life. We love this space so incredibly much and are so happy with how all the layers have come together over time.
Initial Design
I’m often asked if we worked with an Interior Designer on this home. While we didn’t work with one on the entire home + interiors (I have done the majority myself), we did hire local Designer Jennifer of Terra Designs, on the recommendation of a friend, to initially assist with most of our renovation selections (paint, tile work, tile + design, lighting placement, etc). Which was truly extremely helpful. If you’ve been through a full home renovation, you know that decision fatigue is oh so very real. Having a professional help guide us in certain aspects of such a large project was invaluable. She also came up with this tonal green on green space with my feedback in mind. I’ve added in a ton of layers and our own personality over time, but the base was all her (must give credit where it’s due), and we absolutely adore it! It’s the perfect combination of layered, comfortable, functional and sophisticated.
Paint Selections
All stemming from my desire for a ‘very green’ room. I knew I wanted it to be fresh + crisp, not too sage or grey-green. The selection of Central Park by Benjamin Moore for the built-ins was spot on. I was nervous when it was initially painted, but once all my years of collecting antique + vintage items were layered onto the shelves, it all came together. The complimenting pale green walls took a little longer to land on. We ended up painting the walls not once, but THREE times to land on the perfect wisp of green that I ultimately selected as Green Frappe by Benjamin Moore.
Furniture + Main Layers
This Annie Selke custom wool rug provides the perfect ground for our cozy green family room. It adds such a traditional aspect and really softens the entire space. It’s held up SO well these last 3 weeks. We just got it professionally cleaned for the first time recently and she’s good as new!
From there, we sourced two custom sofas in a beautiful performance, green fabric from CR Laine. Along with a coordinating swivel with contrast pipe. North Carolina based furniture at its finest. The quality of these pieces is incredible and have held up so well. The coated grasscloth coffee table was sourced by Jennifer, but here’s a very similar option. Our storage ottomans are sadly old from One King’s Lane. The functionality of these is so good, I’ve considered having them recovered in a repeating fabric in the room. We store everything from toys to extra pillows to blankets in them.
Bookcase Styling
This all came together very late/early morning one night a couple weeks after we moved in. It was a project I was not neseccarily dreading, but rather waiting for the right time to be in the best creative headspace to tackle it. And one evening, it just hit me. I unpacked years + years of collected treasures I had found, separated them by color, and spent literal hours up and down a ladder placing bits + bobs here and there. So much rearranging, but shockingly I was happy with how it all came together in one evening. It hasn’t been tinkering with much since! All thanks to that spark of inspiration, with the help of some good ‘ol take-out + playlist of course.
I shared more of my Bookcase Styling Tips previously on my blog, but here are also some additional more recent sources for plates + objects that I love. I of course prefer to find unique, vintage + antique items when we travel, but mixing in some new here and there never hurts – especially if you’re just starting to collect and layer!
Art
Art is so personal, and I’ve always been of the mindset – purchase what you love and it will work! Artwork to me comes in so many forms, whether it be an 18th century plate, your grandmother’s china set, an oil painting you picked up at a thrift shop, fine art photography, you name it. In this space we have a mix of lots of vintage + antique art sprinkled around the room, as well as several modern pieces from local artists Whitney Stoddard and Studio Betsy.
However, my favorite collection we have showcased in this room is our incredible antique botanical set framed by local frame studio A Simple Tree. When we first moved into this home, I install envisioned anchoring both walls surrounding the main sofa with loads of botanicals. It was actually one of the very first projects I tackled in this space. I knew it would be an investment to execute, but something that would really pack a punch in this space. Not to mention, be a collection we could re-work in other spaces down the road. Like many a savvy antique hunter, I turned to Etsy to source a good amount of botanical book plates. As luck would have it, I stumbled across this incredible shop that had a beautiful selection of botanical prints from a book published in 1925 – the same year the home was built! The coloring was absolutely perfect for the space, and the date just sealed the deal.
I then worked closely with A Simple Tree to come up with the perfect framing solution. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable and helped guide me to our ultimate selection of a thin, dark, burl wood frame. I went back and forth on mat options, but ultimately ended up doing a float mount so you could appreciate the aging and imperfections of the stained edges. Could not be happier with the result.
Quick Sources
Jude Dove Grey Woven Wool Custom Rug | c/o Annie Selke
Couches | sourced through Jennifer via CR Laine
Contrast Pipe Swivel Chair | sourced through Jennifer via CR Laine
Throw Pillows | Sister Parish Dolly in Lettuce Green, Kerry Joyce + Coley Home (seen in action)
Coffee Table | sourced through Jennifer; similar here + here
Scalloped Rattan Side Table/Tray
Scalloped Wooden Corner Side Table | FB Marketplace | similar
Small Round Rattan Side Table
Green Table Lamp | Visual Comfort
Bookcase Lights | Circa Lighting
Bamboo Main Light | sourced through Jennifer
Built-In Hardware | Classic Brass
images by Marni Rothschild Durlach
BEFORE
