The pandemic has made us take a second look at every nook and cranny of our homes. With all that time spent inside, we need to make every space usable, and we have the anxious energy to make it happen. That long-neglected mudroom? Suddenly it’s an opportunity for a sunny day room. And that long, awkward, not-quite-a-hallway along the side of the house? Well, just check out the photos above and below to see what’s possible.
This lounge area was created in a formerly relatively unused space of the house, the kind of place where you store the exercise bike because its layout can’t get any more awkward anyway. But the room had a ton of potential for that signature pandemic activity, home entertaining. The turn-of-the-century home featured a large brick fireplace and a lovely wall of windows, but didn’t seem to know what to do with them.
The home was redesigned by TriVistaUSA, a design/build firm in Arlington. The first step was emphasizing good bones, making the room a stopping point rather than a space to hurry through. The aging fireplace and staircase were redone using materials that matched the century-old originals. The newly exposed beams in the ceiling gave the room a homey, slightly rustic feel. And a window seat opened up the space, widening the seating area so it didn’t feel so linear.
Color completed the vibe. A blue-and-gold color scheme created an interplay of light and dark that made the room feel comfortable without being dim.
But that’s not to neglect the all-important addition of a home bar. The awkward staircase-adjacent space suddenly became tidy and elegant with the addition of refrigeration units, shelving, and a small sink. The bar conveniently frames the light source and provides a parallel source of brightness with an eye-catching backsplash. A record player in the corner and a leather couch make the space feel nostalgic and timeless at the same time, a space for cocktails at night and lazing in the sun during the day.
Feature image by Angela Newton Roy
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