We swapped in blue and white accents to keep close to the overall color palette of blue, gray, and purple; the bowls and vessels also served as a crisp, bright contrast to the stone fireplace.

Everything is bold but traditional. And I think that's what the house reflects in itself because this house is an old historic home, a brownstone in Hoboken, NJ. You want to keep that sense of character but at the same time add a little bit more flair and pop.

— Natalie Morales

BEFORE: The Front of the Living Room

“Originally what I had in here were great pieces, but it just didn’t work as a mom with two kids—the coffee table had sharp edges, which is not a good thing to have, and it also was disorganized, and there wasn’t a place for the kids to put their stuff.”

The front area felt like a forgotten space broken out from the rest of the living room. Our goal was to turn it into an open yet cozy spot that works for Natalie as well as her kids and family.

We made Natalie’s favorite midcentury chair the centerpiece here for an instant reading nook. Then we added color through artwork, pattern with the pillow and the rug, and texture with a cashmere throw and a wooden side table—pieces that all recall the seating area in the back of the living room. “I love what we’ve created here. This feels like a much warmer and more inviting place, like a little bit of luxury in the middle of chaos.”

“That chair really represents my style, ” Natalie says about her favorite seat in the house. The decision was clear from the beginning that this would be a spot just for her.

In Her Style

The chair represents Natalie’s style, but it had been tucked away in the back of the room. So we moved it to the front, warmed it up with a wood side table and a pillow, and added a shimmering cowhide for a luxe look that still feels inviting.

To warm up the spare wall, which featured only a large family portrait, we layered in a mix of paintings, photographs, and other artwork for a backdrop that instantly captivates in the entry.