Brass Forest Family Room

Ah, the virtues of leather and heavy wood. Sturdy, durable, easy to clean — but not our favorite pairing with traditional décor. Yet we embraced the challenge of blending the more classical and elevated vibe of the adjacent brass-laden kitchen and breakfast room with this earthy, casual family hangout designed for games, movie watching, and dog cuddling.

‍

The Selection

From the start, our main priority was to soften the fist-knocking wood surfaces and contemporary leather sheen. First, we pulled the ivory armchairs from other parts of the home to re-employ them as a pair flanking the sectional. While adding seating for guests, the swivel option beautifully facilitates movie night.

We further softened the space with linen striped panels and a large traditional rug, in keeping with the Cowtan & Tout Richmond wallpaper color scheme used in the Brass Forest Kitchen. The custom-cut brushed-champagne drapery rods and rings are similar in finish to the sconces and kitchen cabinetry hardware. To add a little punch of contemporary contrast with respect to the sectional, the rods were bookended with modern acrylic finials. Transitional elements are always a good move when it comes to marrying purpose and style in adjacent spaces.

Equally important, our next task was to elevate the fireplace mantel by installing a custom series of colonial frame moldings laid over a thick wooden base mounted against the upper wall. We adorned it with newly wired sconces — transitional in style but elegant in presence and purpose — bringing just enough formality into the room’s atmosphere to intersect with the kitchen in personality, with a little more brass to boot.

We were truly excited to find the Wyatt Lichen-covered throw pillows — a stunning floral reminiscent of the kitchen wallpaper without being “matchy.” We purchased the largest size available, knowing it would solve our dilemma of extending the lovely botanical nature into the space, helping to unite the otherwise competing design styles. We featured chevron and striped patterns and the softness of plush, shimmery velvet over down cushions on the remaining custom pillows. Lastly, we extended the ambiance from the sconces with a perfectly warm arc floor lamp supported by a base combining elegant brass and earthy wood.

The cozy forest den is fully surrounded by a woodland setting that is stunningly visible through a series of large windows — such an apropos view to enchant the eye further when taking in the beauty of the finished space.

For more stunning images of this home, sink into the Brass Forest Kitchen and Traditional Bosque Library and Dining projects on our portfolio page.

‍