The blank slate of a newly built property presents an interesting array of opportunities to any design team. For this Graduate Hospital home, our clients’ main goal was to have a home that reflected their love of color, individual quirks and shared interests. As busy and stylish young professionals, they knew their limited free time would be challenging for these goals so they reached out to Michelle Gage Interiors to make the most of our efficient processes, exclusive access to statement goods and love of all things patterned, colorful and whimsical! We quickly got to work ideating on all the possibilities for the living room, dining area, his and hers home offices, powder room and primary bedroom in order to create a Kaleidoscope of Color in Graduate Hospital!
Our first step was to assess just how much color we could imbue while keeping each space defined yet cohesive with the overall home. A vivid rug pattern laid the groundwork for the living room to become their entertaining epicenter. These hues were carried through in the custom upholstery featuring high-performance velvets to meet the durability needs of this pet-filled home. The palette was complimented by an eclectic assortment of sculptural, art-like side tables like this bright brass lotus leaf design.
The funky selections continue through to the adjacent dining area. Balanced by a sculptural yet delicate rice paper wrapped chandelier, we collaborated with our custom woodworker to create an expandable one-of-a-kind dining table featuring a mid-century inspired, tambour wrapped pedestal base. The round top perfectly fits the space for everyday use and can be transformed to a larger oval surface with the addition of a leaf when entertaining. This bespoke introduction is complemented by a high-quality art diptych that pulls in the pink, teal and yellow tones found in the living room below.
The dining table is just the first of several custom elements we introduced to this newly built home. Given that we had a blank slate to work with, we were strategic in focusing the abilities of our trade partners to deliver big impact in deliberate doses. In the powder room, we went big on style by selecting a wild avian-inspired wallpaper further highlighted by complimentary teal trim and a petrified wooden mirror.
Like most homes today, a major need was personalized offices for each of our clients. One client spends his days on Zoom meetings while the other needs a serene space from which to author her many novels. We dove head first into creating them distinct spaces to meet their professional needs and celebrate their individual aesthetics in all their glory.
In his office, we pulled inspiration from the iconic sets of Mad Men with sculptural lighting, timeless silhouettes and the introduction of a custom walnut tambour wall treatment. What once was an unsightly wall devoted to storage is now a bespoke, professional background fit for Don Draper.
Down the hall is a tropical oasis tailored to a queen of the written word. This successful novelist requested lush, garden-like vibes with a dose of millennial pink for her home office. We shared the banana leaf print wallpaper with her early on and the other design elements quickly fell into place with the addition of the frond-like statement chandelier, biophilic woven wood custom window treatments and sculptural furnishings.
However, the true star of this room is the wall of custom built-in bookcases to highlight our client’s love of storytelling, complete with a playful rolling library ladder – a dream come true for any booklover who grew up with Beauty and the Beast. We pulled the soft green tone straight from the wallpaper to ensure that her vast library and very own titles felt right at home in this tropical sanctuary.
Our clients’ individual aesthetics melded perfectly for the creation of a serene yet colorful primary bedroom. Once again, we took our cues from an excellent rug pattern replete with soft pinks and gentle aquas balanced by calming neutrals. The cool tones were carried through in the paint color, while the warmer tones were pulled into the joyful custom window treatments that double as blackout shades for restful nights. We curated an eclectic assortment of art throughout the home, including this unexpected photography piece which ties the room’s palette together. These quirkier elements are well-balanced by the neutral upholstery chosen for the enveloping bed frame and tonal inlaid nightstands. Funky light fixtures like the bubbly chandelier, floating bedside sconces and butterfly-accented floor lamp are the ideal combination of form and function for these whimsical homeowners.
One year from their project kick-off, these Graduate Hospital clients are left with a colorful, eclectic and quirky home befit for entertaining, productive work days and quality time spent together. Long lead times left over from the pandemic were still a factor, but we were able to make meaningful impacts to tailor this blank slate into a bespoke abode representative of their unique style. This was achievable with the aide of our trusted local trade partners who helped us introduce multiple pieces of custom woodwork, window treatments, curated artworks, wild wallpaper and unexpected light fixtures in a timely fashion. Thanks to them and the trust of our wonderful clients, we are thrilled to share a Kaleidoscope of Color in Graduate Hospital with you!