When we take on a historic renovation, we start by surveying the home for the character that is worth enhancing. With a new build, we essentially start with a blank canvas and are the ones who bring the character in. In this case, we did so with bold and brilliant furnishings, which infuse life and personality into the home.
Our smart cookie client reached out to us long before the build was done. We were able to work off of the builder’s floor plans to design the home before it was finished construction, getting all of the furniture on order ASAP to provide the earliest move-in date possible!
We find our most exciting and successful projects to be the ones where the clients are very trusting of our design vision. This was one of those projects. Our stylish and driven client was in need of a home that reflected her personality and gave her an outlet to unwind after a long day at work. Enter Michelle Gage Interiors, with our efficient process, exclusive access to incredible furnishings and dedication to delivering one-of-a-kind designs.
When you enter the home, be it through the garage or the front door, you are met with this layered living room. Since the walls were freshly painted, we didn’t want our client to incur the cost of a new hue, so we opted to bring the color and pattern in through the furnishings. The eye naturally gravitates to the jewel-toned printed velvet sofa. Stunning and durable, this upholstered leg sofa was the catalyst for the room’s design. To ensure that the design felt cohesive, we pulled colors out from the fabric – sprinkling them into other items in the room. You’ll find ochre in the armchairs and teal tones in the rug, window treatments and side table. In order to break up the stark white walls, we installed a climbing art gallery, which flanks both sides of the custom fireplace mantel. The fireplace mantel, designed by Michelle Gage Interiors, is one way in which we brought the character into this blank canvas of a home.
The dining room is a small – but mighty – space off the kitchen. We love to design smaller spaces that pack a punch; size should not keep your room from feeling special! To deliver on our promise of extraordinary furnishings, we installed this ethereal chandelier over a round marble table. We added cane chairs, quirky artwork and a green faux horn credenza to round out the room.
Hardworking homeowners deserve an inspiring office. We had so much fun with this design – features floral wallpaper, a glass chandelier, a walnut burl desk and printed drapery panels. We selected an oxblood paint color for the trim and ceiling, which pulls from a corresponding color in the wallpaper. As you work, you look out to calm waters in the artwork over the credenza. Behind the desk is a hot pink velvet daybed, perfect for cuddling up with a good book.
On the same floor as the office is the guest bedroom. Knowing that our client often hosts family and friends, we wanted to create a sweet space for them to relax and unwind. We painted the walls a moody but bright blue. The design employs a mix of textures, like a wool rug, linen drapes, a rattan pendant and a faux shearling chair. The bedding we selected adds the perfect swirl of pattern mixing to this space. These pieces, paired with the homeowner’s charming vintage nightstand and wrought iron bed, make for a room guests will never want to leave.
Our entire office has voted that the primary bedroom is their favorite. We’re all so thrilled with the results. The design started with this gorgeous wallpaper. It’s an incredible flora and fauna scene that we just can’t get enough of. It’s feminine but moody and also optimistic – we’re obsessed! We paired it with a patterned rug, rich velvet touches and bits of burl. The custom bed is a rich burgundy shade with an apricot contrast piping. Beside the bed, we have a set of sculptural table lamps with pleated patterned shades. The drapery panels are both beautiful and functional – with their blush paisley print and blackout lining.
Opposite the bed is a dreamy lounge. The scalloped burl coffee table harkens back to the burl nightstands beside the bed. We love to layer art over wallpaper; selecting the proper piece is an art in itself. We loved the mood created by this wallpaper and artwork combination. The room’s central chandelier ties both spaces together, while also bringing in a sophisticated touch of unlacquered brass.
In less than a year, we totally transformed this generic new build into one that is anything but boring. The mark of a successful project is when the client offers to leave us a glowing review, speak to any prospective clients on our behalf and adds to their scope of work.
“Michelle, Nicole, Miuriel, and Alex exceeded every expectation I could have imagined having when I started out on this journey. Prior to moving into my new house, I realized that I needed help. I was moving into a blank slate of a home with very little of my own furniture or art to fill it. The team took a process that would have completely overwhelmed and frustrated me and made it fun. I am now able to work from my beautiful home office or relax in my art filled living room and not feel like I should be doing something to “work” on the space. The whole house is fun and fancy without being stuffy.”
“One of the things that was really important to me was the idea that I wanted people to feel like they were in a curated, special space, but didn’t want them to feel like they couldn’t relax. The team’s creativity and dedication to making sure my thoughts and ideas were interpreted correctly and then elevated to a new level with the help of their expertise made me feel like I was working with a group who truly cared that I was 100% happy with the results. This helped me trust the team enough to take some of their ideas that, had they been suggested by someone else, I would have hesitated and just go with them. Those ideas turned out to be some of my favorite things about the house. I can’t recommend Michelle and her team enough. From creation to execution, they are the very best in the business.” – Our Client
Our approach to full-service design ensures that each element of your home receives thoughtful consideration, tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Bespoke and intuitive design is at the forefront of each project we execute. Our mission is to deliver curated designs that uniquely reflect our clients’ personality and lifestyle while elevating the beauty and performance of their homes. If this interests you, we’d love to hear from you, contact us to get started!
We’re in the press! Want more helpful tips and tricks? Stay up to date on all things design by exploring our recent features:
House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, HGTV, Main Line Today, Living Etc. and Architectural Digest.
"*" indicates required fields
We typically send these fun little nuggets of info out once per month. We love sharing design tips, travel ideas and our favorite local spots!
"*" indicates required fields