Beautiful transformation! It's better than a hotel... Caribbean themed resorts have ridiculous color schemes. This is well done.

Actually, "As long as they like it, that's all that matters... but I'd never do that in my home." is exactly what I would say about this room, thanks almost entirely to the big seahorses on the wall. Also not diggin' the artwork above the fireplace. Still, a very nice transformation. Fantastic throw pillows!

can you source the desk?

I like everything about this transformation except for the seahorses. I like the artwork above the mantel, but I think that's the wrong location for it. Overall though, the new look is mature and sophisticated and lovely.

Great job of bringing in the flavor while being mindful one is in the city. And yes, there is always the things clients like that may not happen elsewhere.

I'd lose the seahorses and the artwork, they seem very out of place. The rest of it, thumbs up in a big way. That wall treatment in the room with the fireplace is lovely, and keeping the fireplace white, instead of matching it to the dark doors, was very smart.

I agree with tmoore, not loving the seahorses or the art above the fireplace.

I do think everything else is great!

I agree wtih dimsum...yuk...those seahorses and the 'tacky' looking painting over the fireplace..so out of place.

Seahorses = Caribbean? That is about the only connection I can see here, what with all the dark wood furniture. Whoah. Like her Kosher kitchen this space is a total miss. I can't see anything interesting here. It might be exactly what the client wanted (and in that case, she delivered on what she was asked to do), but in design terms I don't see anything innovative or original here.

Sure, the desk is from Pierre Deux and is called the Campaign Desk.

The link is as follows:
http://www.pierredeux.com/french-country/francois-campaign-desk

That is the client's own artwork, so it was sentimental/personal. The seahorses are driftwood from an old seaside resort in San Diego and have a great texture to them.

Enjoy!

This really underscores the challenges presented by clients. Hilary is to be commended for talking them out of a Caribbean color scheme and theme.

I imagine the seahorses look better in person... they'd probably be adorable in another setting. Again, credit to Hilary for listening to the client’s wishes and translating them into something more appropriate and livable. That cannot be easy. Major improvement.

I absolutely LOVE this room. Well done!

I gotta say too... Everything in the room really came together nicely. Warm and comfy AND sophisticated, but the wall hangings need some reconsideration. If you like seascapes or sea horses, what about some some drawings or scientific illustrations or 'black and white' prints or photos of them, set in some nice wide creamy mats in a metallic finish frame... It's looks like two totally differnet desingers worked on this room.

Ditch the seahorses and paintings and you got a nice looking room. I also want to steal the couches from the before picture and recover them myself.

Those couches look so much better being covered in chocolate and saved from that stripped pattern that looks best on Christmas wrapping paper.

I like how the chair in the dining room is looking forlorn at its ottoman in the living room. Poor chair, stuck with the haughty dining room set.

I love the wall treatment. And the french doors reminded me I need to add french doors to my list of things we need to find in a better apartment.

Well, it's easier on the eye but, 'Caribbean'? My memory of Caribbean interiors is of white-walled rooms, or pale greens, blues, anything that gave those rooms a light, airy coolness to them! As lovely as this room is, nothing about it invokes a sense of the Caribbean to me. Those colours would seem too stuffy and cloying in that climate! Otherwise, it's an improvement (I'd lose the painting and the giant seahorses though - they look a bit, well, tacky!)

not seeing the Caribbean...

The tulips looks like they are wilting in the heat so, I suppose that much could look 'authentic'..... ;)

In many parts of the Caribbean (french west indies) they use dark woods as their decor not whites.

The wallcovering is used to great effect here, and art really is (and should be) so personal and subjective. I immediately got the colonial Caribbean thing, dark wood can be VERY Caribbean. I love the way the sofas look, very sophisticated. My only quibble would be that I'd prefer another punch of color somewhere.
Ooph, really can't wait till my sister buys a place, this is so strongly to her taste that i better bookmark it!