A Living Room Area Designed For Conversation
Name: Ariel and Ruby the dog
Location: Simsbury, Connecticut
The basics: 5 months, owned — 1,200 square feet
Sometimes what you’ve been looking for has been right under your nose the entire time. In true rom-com fashion, Ariel realized after looking elsewhere that her hometown was in fact the perfect place in which to settle down. After finding a home that had the right feel and flow, she set about filling the space with warmly modern pieces that set off the features she found most charming.
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My lovely abode sits in my childhood hometown. Growing up, I never would have pictured myself settling down here. As kids, we nicknamed this place – Sims-boring. It’s amazing the appreciation you gain, as you grow older, every experience adds to the gratitude you grow for your roots. The farmers markets, Flower Bridge, family-owned shops and cafes that line the downtown area and close friends and family are what drew me back here.
My house hunt started in surrounding towns and when I didn’t find anything that fit my needs, I opened my search to Simsbury. Shortly after I clicked the plus sign on the map; Ruby (my pup) and I found the perfect place – something that was move-in ready with small budget projects waiting for us to tackle! Aside from my newfound love for this town, there were three things that sold me on this particular space – the 16 foot exposed brick fireplace, the natural light, and the open floor plan. All factors accounted for; I knew it this was home.
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room / dining room. I love how the open floor plan lends itself to open conversation and an abundance of seating. My design was intentional in this small space with the goal of being able to fit as many friends and family members as possible, comfortably. I knew the statement pieces were in the architecture of the space — the brick fireplace and floor to ceiling windows. By emphasizing the openness with clean furniture, a mix of tailored and collected décor, and a light palette — a group relaxing on the couch can easily converse with another sitting at the dining table.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I love this space! It’s hard to think about what I would change because I really fell in love with how this space works for me and my life now. Though if I had to change something, I would rework my front door/entryway area. My front door opens to the entire bottom floor living space, talk about a warm welcome! I would expand this space in size. Enlarging the entryway would leave more room for welcoming guests and storing belongings.
Ariel’s words of wisdom: Create a space that works for you! Design is about feelings, mood and preference! While there are design principles to help create a functional space, one should focus on what feels right for them in a particular space. Think about pieces that work for your routine and your lifestyle.
Thanks, Ariel!
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