When my clients first reached out, they described their home in three words: dim, tight, boring. As a St. Louis interior designer, I hear this more often than you’d think. They’d raised their four children in this house since the 1990s, and over the years had accumulated furniture piece by piece—always with practicality in mind, never with a master plan. As they told me, “We kept buying neutral because it felt safe. Until one day, we looked around and realized everything was brown.”
They wanted something fresh. Something fun. Something that would finally reflect their personalities and give them a space where they could entertain friends for cocktails, host their now-grown children and grandkids for holidays, and feel proud of every room. The challenge? They weren’t quite sure what their style was. They called it “trad-emporary”: traditional with a touch of contemporary flair.
Step One: Discovering Their Style with a St. Louis Interior Designer
We started the process with a design questionnaire, but I quickly realized this project would require something deeper. So we met at a local St. Louis interior design showroom, where we explored furniture shapes, fabric textures, and room layouts. I also brought a stack of interior design books and we sat down together to flip through each one, tagging pages that sparked a reaction. We literally spent hours doing this.
At first, they weren’t drawn to anything, and I mean anything. It wasn’t that they didn’t have taste, it’s just that they hadn’t been exposed to enough. It took flipping through hundreds of images and talking through what they liked (and didn’t like) for their preferences to finally click into focus.
Then came the turning point: while walking the showroom floor, the wife spotted a colorful chinoiserie-print chair and exclaimed, “I love this piece.” It was a huge surprise, both to me and to her husband! But that moment was the spark we needed. It opened the door to bolder color and more adventurous design choices.
Later, I sent them a chair online with an orange chinoiserie pattern featuring a cobalt blue ginger jar and vibrant floral motifs. I thought it might be too bold. But the husband shocked me again, saying, “I don’t know if that’s going to be bold enough.” That moment told me everything I needed to know. They were all in.
Step Two: Building the Vision, Room by Room
Once we had a strong design direction for the family room, anchored by that bold orange chair, and believe-it-or-not: a kelly green sofa, the rest of the home began to fall into place. We developed layouts for the living room, dining room, and breakfast nook, identifying what could stay (a few cherished heirlooms) and what needed to go. While the dining room and breakfast nook were originally going to be lighter touch-ups, they evolved into full-scale makeovers once the clients started to see how transformative this process could be.
Every room got a fresh start:
- New hardwood flooring
- Fresh paint in cohesive but distinct palettes
- New light fixtures
- Custom window treatments and wallpaper
We leaned heavily into pattern, color, and textures and layered florals, stripes, chinoiserie prints, velvets, and classic shapes in modern tones. We made sure each space could stand alone and feel like part of a greater whole.
Step Three: The Materials Board
As the design started coming together, we created a comprehensive materials board to visualize how all four rooms would relate. Here’s how it broke down:
- Top Left: Breakfast Room — Whimsical and light with playful fabrics and a window bench seat with durable fabric that will be a napping spot for their four (yes four!) dogs.
- Top Right: Family Room — Anchored by our bold chinoiserie chair, this space is filled with saturated tones and cozy textures.
- Bottom Right: Living Room — Elegant and relaxed with a mix of traditional and modern silhouettes and updated upholstery. A curvy blue velvet sofa will be the star.
- Bottom Left: Dining Room — Moody wallpaper, striking lighting, and just enough edge to feel unexpected.
Where We Are Now
We’re in the final stages of sourcing. New paint and hardwood flooring has already transformed the space, and the clients can’t believe how much brighter and bigger the home feels—even without any new furniture installed yet. We’re currently finalizing custom cushions, hiring wallpaper installers, and waiting on delivery of key pieces. We are scheduled for a wrap up right before they host their family for Thanksgiving!
Watching this couple evolve throughout the process has been the best part. They keep surprising themselves with the risks they’re willing to take, and they keep saying yes. They’re dream clients in every sense.
Takeaway
If your home has become a patchwork of practical pieces and “safe” neutrals, it may be time for a fresh perspective. Design doesn’t just change your space—it changes how you live in it. This custom St. Louis interior design project is proof that bold choices, made with intention, can turn a decades-old house into a forever home.
Looking for a St. Louis interior designer who can help you rediscover your home? Let’s start the conversation. Fill out this contact form, or follow along on Instagram @bonbonistl for more design stories and transformations.
Comments