• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

S·B Long Interiors

Award-Winning Residential Interior Design Firm in Dallas

  • About
    • S·B LONG INTERIORS
    • ABOUT SUSAN
    • Inspirations
  • Projects
    • Country
    • City
    • Water
    • Commercial
    • Before/After
    • Special Projects
  • Services
    • Turnkey Interior Design
    • Designer For A Day
  • Press
    • Magazines
    • Books
    • Web
    • Awards
  • Blog
  • Contact

Before & After: Shades of Grey

December 10, 2012 by Susan Bednar Long 1 Comment

My hometown of New Canaan is a modernist mecca, home to the Philip Johnson Glass House and the Harvard Five.  This progressive spirit also made it an appealing choice for my clients, a cosmopolitan family recently relocated from Europe.  Their directive: create a more modern, urban living space within the traditional setting of their Georgian Colonial home.

Perhaps in tribute to their London roots, the client was having a grey moment and provided ample inspiration from tear sheets of cool, monochromatic rooms.  These images below chart the transformation of four timeworn spaces to make them more edgy and fun:

Living Room: Before

Living Room: After

This space really took off from the client’s love of tonal spaces. The palette of soft grey and taupe is balanced by sexy, tactile materials like the glossy white lacquer & Zebrawood coffee table, custom crocodile skin ottomans, and textured accessories – and the graphic contrast of black and cream.  The stripe theme, seen here in the coffee table, Roman shades and drapes, is echoed throughout the interior.

Office: Before

 Office: After

I updated the office with more graphic contrast of darks and lights.  The Massoni striped rug and custom striped Roman shades give the cool space vitality and visual depth.  The cream leather and Mahogany armchairs are a surprising a fresh take on the typical Fairfield County home office.  I love the way the polished nickel picture lights pop on off the dark walnut stained millwork and the gloss-stained Rosewood desk reflects the graphic rug.  Instead of a tabletop lamp, we opted for modern pendant light which anchors the desk in the bay window.

Butler’s Pantry: Before

  Butler’s Pantry: After 

The classic Connecticut Butler’s Pantry had a nice layout but needed a dash of drama.  I started with deep slate wallpaper against eggshell white moldings and cabinetry, unified with polished nickel hardware and fixtures in clean, modern lines.  These playful, glamorous black & white Marilyn Monroe photographs along with sleek additions like the mirrored backsplash and the polished nickel industrial pendants elevate the space from its utilitarian origins.

Breakfast Room: Before

Breakfast Room: After

My client loved the British furniture house Andrew Martin and the cool crispness of  European design.  For this Breakfast Room, I introduced bold geometric shapes – like the rectangular linen ceiling fixture and the oval dining table, striking  contrast like the nickel base and the black ebonized wood top table and the ebony & ivory leather dining chairs, and chic accents like color blocked custom pillows to give the traditional space a more defined, polished look.

To see more Before & After shots from my portfolio, check out my Projects page – and do share your thoughts on this Connecticut transformation!

sues-signature3-300x1841

Photos by Susan Bednar Long

Filed Under: Design Solutions, Featured Tagged With: Connecticut interior designer, interior design before & after, luxury interior design New England, modern traditional interior design, monochromatic rooms, S.B. Long Interiors, S.B. Long Interiors blog, Susan Bednar Long, tonal spaces

Comments

  1. Betty Calhoun says

    December 10, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    AWESOME!!!

    Having been to our home, you KNOW that we could use your expertise/advice/talent, etc.

    Am looking forward to seeing the results of the “magic” you will be creating for your new home on Beverly Drive.

    Best to you all. B.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by design and the subtle impact of our surroundings. Some of my earliest influences still resonate – I think of the dark woods and textured lodens of my father’s shooting club, the smell of fresh paint on a new canvas, and the bold symmetry of the Philip Johnson Glass house just down the street. For me, it was a natural path to become an Interior Designer. I love what I do. I’ve created this Blog to share my thoughts, finds and design inspirations. I hope you enjoy it!

Categories

  • Artists I Love
  • Cool Things
  • Design Solutions
  • Events
  • Featured
  • Finds
  • Inspirations
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Works in Progress

Search this website

LET’S GET SOCIAL

LET’S GET SOCIAL

CONTACT US

972.803.6304
info@sblonginteriors.com

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SBLONGINTERIORS

#FrançaisFriday One of my favorite design element #FrançaisFriday One of my favorite design elements we did @provencepoiriers was painting the interior doors that connect all the ground floor rooms a muted blue. This shot is from the Dining Room looking into the Living Room.
.
.
.
#sblonginteriors #lemasdespoiriers #provence #decor #classic #frenchstyle #countryhouse #onlyprovence #interiors #classicinteriordesign #frenchinteriors #verandamag
A shot of our #SBLHighlandParkSpanish Living Room A shot of our #SBLHighlandParkSpanish Living Room at the accessory install last week. I can’t wait to have this project photographed!
.
.
.
#sblonginteriors #livingroomdesign #dallasdesign #dallasdesigner #decor #accessoryinstall #decoration #design #highendinteriordesigners #highlandparkdesigner #accessories #highlandparkrealestate #highlandparktx #homedecor #homedesign #instadecor #interioraccessories #interiordecoration #interiordesign #interiordesigninspiration #interiorinspiration #interiors #luxuryhomes #luxuryinteriors #luxurylifestyle #luxuryrealestate #moderntraditional #renovationproject #transitionaldesign
#WallpaperWednesday this @osborneandlittle wallpap #WallpaperWednesday this @osborneandlittle wallpaper is the finishing touch to the Dining Room at our #SBLModernTraditionalGeorgian
.
.
.
#sblonginteriors #dallasdesign #diningroomdesign #dallasdesigner #decor #wallpaperceiling #decoration #design #highendinteriordesigners #highlandparkdesigner #highlandparkrealestate #highlandparktx #homedecor #homedesign #instadecor #interioraccessories #interiordecoration #interiordesign #interiordesigninspiration #interiorinspiration #interiors #luxuryhomes #luxuryinteriors #luxurylifestyle #luxuryrealestate #moderntraditional #renovationproject #transitionaldesign
#TransformationTuesday The kitchen at our #SBLHigh #TransformationTuesday The kitchen at our #SBLHighlandParkSpanish went from very green to serene! Swipe to see the before 
.
.
.
#sblonginteriors #dallasdesign #dallasdesigner #decor #decoration #kitchendesign #design #highendinteriordesigners #highlandparkdesigner #highlandparkrealestate #highlandparktx #homedecor #homedesign #instadecor #interioraccessories #interiordecoration #interiordesign #interiordesigninspiration #interiorinspiration #interiors #luxuryhomes #luxuryinteriors #luxurylifestyle #luxuryrealestate #moderntraditional #renovationproject #transitionaldesign
Looking back at my trip to Palm Beach and feeling Looking back at my trip to Palm Beach and feeling inspired today by the architecture and gardens 💚
.
.
.
#sblonginteriors #sbltravels #dallasdesigner #palmbeach #designerslife #designresourcing #architecture #funfinds #interiordesignerslife #interiordesignresourcing #interiorinspiration #travelinspiration #landscapinginspiration
  • Privacy Policy
  • Photography Policy
  • Copyright © 2020 – S·B Long Interiors – All Rights Reserved
  • SITE CREDITS

Copyright © 2021 · Copyright © SB Long Interiors · SITE CREDITS

Copyright © 2021 · SB Long Interiors Theme by FGD on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in