Lived In

A Newtown Square family gets settled—one room at a time.

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The initial excitement of moving into a new home can lead to hasty decisions when it comes to renovations and interior design. So it’s often more practical to live there awhile to determine what truly suits one’s needs.

Such was the case for a family of four who moved into a Newtown Square Colonial almost a decade ago. “A lot of times, people want to start changing things right away,” says the owner.

And as tempting as it was to go new with everything, this family learned the virtues of patience—and that some things were worth the wait. Renovations were tackled one room at a time from a wish list that included the kitchen, living room and family room.

Wayne interior designer Lisa Furey —a neighbor at the time—was hired for the job. For Furey, the focus is always on “style, simplicity, minimal fuss and accessible design.” Since she’d never worked with an interior designer before, the client had some misconceptions about the process.

“Many people assume you have to hire an interior designer to design your whole house at the same time,” says Furey. “That’s not the case. A project can be taken in stages.”

In this instance, Furey worked with the homeowner for six years. First to get revamped: the living room, an area mainly used for reading and entertaining. “Very few people want traditional—even for formal living rooms,” says Furey. “[The owners] wanted a comfortable space the whole family could use. They didn’t want it to be a pass-by room anymore.”

So Furey created an inviting atmosphere, with furniture that’s sophisticated yet comfortable, soothing soft-yellow walls, and chic balloon valances. Replacing the heavy floor-length window treatments brightens up the room and allows for beautiful views of the spacious back yard.

Furey exchanged the glass coffee table for a round, tufted ottoman. Other new additions include a practical writing desk behind the sofa, and a corner built-in with lighted display shelves and cabinets. Furey generally recommends that clients go with a solid color for the couch. “It’s easier and cheaper to change other pieces of furniture or accessories,” she says. “It gives you more flexibility.”

The addition of sconces on either side of the fireplace provides extra light, and a demilune table set against the wall is a nice, useful touch. “A rectangular side table wouldn’t fit, so this was the perfect compromise,” says Furey. “It gives you a surface to place things on, but it doesn’t take up much valuable floor space.”
 

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