One of the first things we do on every project is ask a simple question:
How will this room actually be used?
Before we think about furniture, fabrics, or paint colors, we focus on space planning. A beautiful room is important, but if a room doesn’t support the way a family lives, it often ends up sitting empty.
That was especially true in this formal living room in Tenafly, New Jersey.
The room sits within a stunning stone French château-inspired home. The family room, complete with a television, is directly adjacent, so creating another media space was never the goal. But that left us with a question we often ask ourselves when designing formal living rooms: Why would anyone come in here? The reality is that most families no longer use formal entertaining spaces the way they once did, and rooms without a clear purpose can quickly become overlooked. Our job was to give this room a reason to exist – and, more importantly, a reason for the family to use it every day.
Designing a Formal Living Room That Actually Gets Used
The architecture of the room provided an important clue.
There was a natural recessed nook that immediately caught our attention. We explored several possibilities for how to use it. We considered built-ins for storage and display. We discussed the possibility of incorporating a television. We even explored turning the area into a cozy banquette.
Ultimately, we landed on an idea that felt perfect for both the family and the architecture of the room: a custom dry bar.
Once the dry bar became part of the plan, the rest of the room started to fall into place. We paired the bar with a game table, creating a destination within the room that encourages everyday use as well as entertaining.
In fact, the last time we visited the project, a game of chess was already set up and waiting for the next round.
That’s exactly the kind of moment we hope for when designing a space. The room isn’t just beautiful – it’s being lived in.
A Colorful Living Room That Still Feels Calm
One of our favorite aspects of this room is the balance between color and restraint.
The architectural envelope is intentionally light and neutral, creating a calm backdrop for the furnishings and decorative details. Against that neutral framework, we introduced colorful layers that bring energy and personality to the space without overwhelming it.
The palette includes:
- Lavender
- Hot pink
- Sky blue
- Tailored plaids
- Classic stripes
- A touch of unexpected animal print
While those elements might sound bold on paper, the result feels fresh, happy, and collected rather than busy. By grounding everything with a neutral foundation, each colorful moment has room to shine.
This balance is something we often strive for in our projects: creating colorful and patterned interiors that feel timeless rather than trendy.
The Custom Dry Bar: Traditional Details with a Modern Twist
The dry bar quickly became one of our favorite features in the room.
The cabinetry is painted a soft lavender and features mesh wire doors with fabric panels behind them. While fabric-backed cabinet doors are traditionally associated with classic furniture pieces, we interpreted the detail in a cleaner, more contemporary way.
Additional details include:
- Brass metal shelving
- A slab marble backsplash
- Custom panel detailing within the stone
- Furniture-inspired cabinetry doors (that looks like drawers) with unique hardware
One of our guiding principles is that built-ins in a living space should often feel more like furniture than kitchen cabinetry. That distinction helps custom millwork feel integrated into a room rather than appearing overly utilitarian.
The finished bar feels elegant, collected, and perfectly at home within the architecture.
Balancing Modern Architecture with Traditional Furnishings
The before photos tell an interesting story.
While the home’s architecture has beautiful French château influences, there are also many clean-lined and contemporary elements throughout the house. Left untouched, the room naturally leaned more modern than the homeowners preferred.
Our goal was to create balance.
We introduced traditional furnishings and collected pieces that help soften the architecture while still respecting the home’s more modern qualities.
Some of our favorite elements include:
- A traditional dark wood chest with a modern (and personally meaningful) art installation above
- Vintage chairs reupholstered in a modern tiger-print fabric
- Burl wood accents
- A tailored table skirt
- A classic conversational furniture arrangement
The result feels layered and established rather than overly formal or overly modern.
This blend of traditional and contemporary influences is a hallmark of many of our projects. We love creating homes that feel connected to their architecture while still reflecting the personalities of the families who live there.
Before and After: A Living Room Transformation
One of the most dramatic aspects of this project is seeing how purposeful space planning transformed the room.
By identifying a reason for people to gather, creating a destination with the custom dry bar, and layering color and personality into the furnishings, the room evolved from a beautiful but underutilized space into one of the home’s most inviting destinations.
Watch the Full Room Tour
Want to see the entire space come to life?
Watch the full room reveal on our YouTube channel and take a closer look at the custom dry bar, colorful furnishings, and thoughtful design details throughout the room.
Shop the Look
Love the furnishings, lighting, and accessories featured in this project?
Browse our curated sources and similar finds in our ShopMy collection.
More Before & After Transformations
If you enjoyed this living room reveal, you may also like:
- Franklin Lakes Bathroom Before & After
- Sparta Tudor Foyer Transformation
- Space Planning Is Our Love Language
- The Bathroom that Used 10 Slabs of Marble
FAQ:
How do you make a formal living room more functional?
By giving it a purpose beyond additional seating. Game tables, bars, reading nooks, and conversation areas encourage everyday use.
Can a colorful living room still feel sophisticated?
Absolutely. A neutral architectural envelope allows bold colors and patterns to feel balanced rather than overwhelming.
What is modern traditional interior design?
Modern traditional design combines classic furnishings and architectural details with cleaner lines, updated materials, and fresh color palettes.
