5 WAYS TO ELEVATE YOUR SPACE
One of the greatest compliments the team at Manlove and Company Interiors can receive is to be invited back by former clients to design a second home. It tells us we’ve not only created a space they loved living in, but we've also earned their trust to do it all over again. So, when a couple we had previously worked with asked us to remodel and furnish their new Rosslyn penthouse (way up on the 25th floor!), we couldn’t wait to get started!
With sweeping views of the Potomac River and Georgetown, their modern condo provided a luxurious, centrally located retreat that was perfect for their transition to single-level living.
Photos by: Robert Radifera Photography
Inspired by the open layout and dramatic vistas, we designed a space that feels both contemporary and inviting. We thought this was the perfect project to showcase 5 ways you can elevate your space.
1.) Personal Collections:
One of the best ways to elevate your home is to make room for the activities and interests that bring you joy by giving them a dedicated space. For example, our penthouse client has a life-long passion for automobiles and has been collecting miniature cars since he was a child. We helped him celebrate his passion by designing a custom-built mahogany display cabinet as a part of his media wall so he can enjoy his collection every day.
2.) Statement Lighting:
You know how you have that one favorite piece of statement jewelry? Maybe it’s a stunning necklace or a fabulous pair of earrings–it pulls together everything you’re wearing. You can do the same thing with your living space with the right light fixture.
Lighting does more than just brighten a room – it creates atmosphere and can create a focal point. It directs the eye and can define a particular area in a large open floor plan, in this case, the dining area in the penthouse project. This graceful hand-blown glass and brass “candles” draw the viewer’s eye up to enjoy the sights, without blocking the view.
3.) Dramatic Wallpaper
We’re wallpaper superfans! It’s such an easy way to bring in texture, drama, and a little extra personality to a space. For this project, we added a dramatic focal wall to keep the TV from stealing the show. This handsome, geometric wallcovering, crafted from natural fibers, adds both dimension and weight to the space. BONUS FEATURE: Look closer and see that it also conceals a fully integrated “secret” pocket door to a private den.
4.) Dedicated Workspace
Working from home shouldn’t mean plopping your laptop down on the kitchen counter or taking over your dining room table with a desktop computer or placing a makeshift desk in your bedroom (we’ve seen these and way too many times!). These makeshift options do not support productivity or inspire creativity. You need a workspace that’s functional, enjoyable, sophisticated and reflects the design and comfort of the rest of your home.
For this project, we carved out a stylish workplace in an underutilized nook (with an amazing view!) by adding a desk, a handsome office chair and a custom built-in to seamlessly integrate the workspace with the adjacent media room.
5.) Area Rugs
Under-sized or wrong-sized rugs are something we see a lot in homes. We like placing furnishings on rugs and easy transitions from area to area. Often a large area rug is the solution.
For this project, we chose to supersize the area rug to run under both the dining room and living room furniture to complement the beautiful lite wood floors and to connect the spaces, so they are unified and calm. No jarring transitions here from area to area.
We hope we’ve inspired you to imagine how just a couple of changes can transform your space into a warm, welcoming spot where everyone loves to gather and unwind.
If you need help getting started, take the first step by completing our short Design Survey to schedule a Complimentary Discovery Call to chat with Suzanne about and how we can help.
Visit our Portfolio page for more photos from this project.