An almost century-old Florida craftsman goes from dated to daring. Color, pattern and lots of personality required!
Lisa Gilmore knows that dramatic design choices aren’t for everyone. So when the homeowner of this 1,200-square-foot St. Petersburg, Florida craftsman didn’t just agree to but enthusiastically embraced some of her most colorful and inspired concepts, Gilmore knew she had a unique opportunity to transform the dated space into a true, one-of-a-kind jewel box.
“This client is a lover of art who already had a fun, bold collection for us to work with, and then add more to as the design evolved,” says Gilmore, the Florida-based designer known for her signature style of glamourous design that elevates the everyday through art, color, pattern and lots of personality.
And while Gilmore often works in large estates and penthouse-size projects, here she modulated her grand vision for a more modest size home without skimping on style. Here are the keys to channeling luxury without huge square footage.
The Bold-Color Balancing Act
“Gilmore anchored the smallish living room with a huge hit of color in the form of a curved Verellen sofa that she covered in a custom hot-pink fabric from JAB. “The best part is there is an underlying weave of orange,” says Gilmore. “So it kind of changes colors from different angles of the room!” Gilmore punctuated the room with small hits of pink in other hues, while offsetting the fully saturated sofa with crisp white walls to keep the two from visually competing.”
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The Dining Room Redux in the Florida Craftsman
“The table is a marble beauty from Sunpan, but the chairs were her existing ones, which were distressed and a bit French Country in my opinion. We had them freshened up with fresh coat white paint — no chippy paint chairs for this chic look! We then had our local workroom reupholster them. I knew I wanted to do something really bold on the backs, so they would act a bit like art as well. I am a huge fan of color blocking when it’s appropriate, so we pulled the blue, green and raspberry tones from the custom Pierre Frey drapery to really make a statement.”
Color Play: Moody vs Broody
“In the dining room, we really needed an intense color on the walls to compliment and create a mood, but not make it too dark. This vibrant blue was the perfect choice and I love how the art pops off the wall and all the elements play so beautifully together.”
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Curtain Calling
“In the study, I knew from the beginning I wanted to make this room a cozy jewel box. I went deep into inspiration mode and channeled the late Dorothy Drapery with our elaborate drapery design, which I was so pleased the homeowner agreed to. We wanted to make a huge impact in this small space, and doing simple panels would not have made the cut. The way my workroom connected the corner valance and they gracefully wrapped the room is truly perfection! In the other spaces, we went for a simpler approach and let the Pierre Frey pattern do all the talking.”
All the Rage: Window Art
“This is a fun trick when you don’t have a lot of wall space or you have a view that you don’t care for. Before you think about hanging that frame to the window, however, it’s important to think about scale: you don’t want to overpower the window but you also don’t want it to be teeny tiny and get lost. Lastly, make sure it is secured well, especially if you plan to operate the window treatments at all!”
Everyday Opulence
“The tortoise shell wallpaper on the ceiling really gave the room such a sophisticated, luxe feel, as well as the antique French chandelier. I love to use vintage/antique lighting when possible. I feel it add such a wonderful layer of soul to your home.”
Follow Lisa at @lisagilmoredesign for more ideas and inspiration.
For another transformation of a historic yet bold home, read on about the Villas at Spanish Court. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!
