In the doldrums of winter, when our skies take on those lovely shades of grey, there can be an anticipation for the coming spring, when color and warmth reinvigorate our lives. It is a season for reflection and turning inward, when we spend more time nestled in our homes than the rest of the year. For local interior designer, Jonathan O’Brien, this is the perfect time to be thinking about a redesign. “When winter is lagging on, consider fresh colors, sumptuous rugs, fabulous patterns for furniture or drapery,” he says. “All these things that can lighten up a room can brighten up our lives.”
A redesign generally takes from four to six weeks, and in that time the excitement and anticipation of a new project can displace the feelings of winter stagnation. “When there is a fan of color swatches laid out against the wall and fabric samples to touch, my clients are involved in and excited about the process. It really gets them looking forward to April,” O’Brien relates.
The process starts with a consultation, discussing with O’Brien about the project, how they feel about color and furniture, what their inspirations are, and so on. Jonathan then presents a scope work for the project that meets their budget, and firmly stays within the client’s boundaries. “There’s never any surprises in that department,” he explains. “I want my clients to be surprised by how beautiful their room is, not by the bill.”
When working with a client, Jonathan listens for subtleties in their discussions that could be the key to finding a direction for their project. “I had a client who had a page from a magazine on the counter in her kitchen,” O’Brien recalled. “She told me she didn’t know why she was so drawn to keeping it. It was a simple picture of a bouquet of flowers being held by a child and, in the end, the colors of those flowers became the palette for the whole house.”
When it comes to spring, color is the sense that seems to dominate. Think of the vibrancy of freshly opened spring bulbs outside a kitchen window. If someone has put time into their garden, Jonathan can often look out the window to get a gauge on their color preferences and personal style. Are their hedges tightly pruned and flower beds neatly edged? Or is their garden more laissez-fair, with rustic beds and a meandering design? “If someone has had their garden done, it’s easy to see what colors and textures they’re drawn to,” says Jonathan.
Textures can be equally as refreshing as color when it comes to a redesign for spring. Crisp linen or cotton muslin come across as clean and fresh. “A cotton muslin sofa with some colorful or patterned pillows is very chic, and all you have to do to change the mood is rotate out the pillows when you want a seasonal update,” he suggests.
For many of the clients O’Brien sees, it’s common to be drawn to neutral shades of latte, grey and taupe. Grey walls are very popular but they don’t have to come across as dark or moody. A silver grey can feel warmer when paired with butter yellow in the kitchen or in a well-placed rug. “There’s nothing wrong with the typical, restrained palettes,” O’Brien reflects. “Our work together then becomes how to build upon that neutral backdrop. We can add color through the more inexpensive accents, like throw pillows and rugs, and if over time they tire of that color, it’s easily switched out.”
While moving furniture and freshening the wall color can be the extent of the scope of some projects, bringing in custom art is another way Jonathan livens up spaces. “Replacing mass-produced art work can really update a room. We can commission individualized pieces and add a painting with colors from the home’s palette in a size that balances the space.” O’Brien turns to several regional artists when looking for new artwork, including Victoria Adams, who specializes in water and sky scenes.
For the clients that O’Brien works with, the transformation of a single room extends beyond the home. “When someone has gone from having a scattered design without much consciously selected color to having a new, stylish living room, they feel more compelled to invite friends over and open their home to others. That makes me proud of the work we’ve done.”
When considering how to brighten up the end of your winter, Jonathan O’Brien is quick in his suggestion. “I firmly believe that for the price, redesigning your home is better than a vacation. It’s still fun, the experience lasts and it’s something you come home to every day and will be delighted by for years to come.”
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