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For many clients, a “second home” serves a specific purpose. To be closer to their children, our clients bought a home in Durham, NC and now split their time between California and Durham. This project’s goal was all about creating a warm, cozy home for intentional family time. A place where the design does the work of slowing you down. We wanted to translate their relaxed California lifestyle to Durham, and did so by creating a transitional, functional home with pops of modern pieces to add personality.
Creating a design proposal from the initial concept, one of the main things we wanted to focus on was creating opportunities for color through texture, to create an earthy, grounded vibe. Many homeowners are hesitant to go bold with color choices, for fear that they will get tired of it over time, or that trends will change and it won’t age well.
At the Bittern Lane project, we took a more nuanced approach to incorporating color. Instead of our typical use of bold, bright colors, we opted to layer color in more subtly through the use of warm fabric choices and textural pieces. This helped to create that effortless, California look. We used earthy tones to bridge the gap between east and west coast lifestyles. The color feels like you want to reach out and touch it, making the space feel welcoming, approachable, and the kind of space you actually want to live in, not just look at.
Color can be incorporated through sensory textures, not just visually. Some ways we created color opportunities using texture were:
In large open spaces, homes can feel cold and overwhelming if not handled with care. To make Bittern Lane feel more lived-in, we focused on visual zoning. We used rugs, color, and furniture grouping to help visually define zones to create distinct separate spaces within the floor plan. This helped to make a large room less overwhelming and give that homey, inviting feel.
The Power of Rugs: Using rugs as a base to anchor the “living” zone versus the “dining” zone.
Lighting as a Boundary: We used lighting to create separate”ceilings” within the space, making large rooms feel like a collection of cozy nooks.
One of the most common mistakes we see (and corrected at Bittern Lane!) is improper light fixture scale. Lighting is the jewelry of the home, but it has to be the right size and placement for the outfit. Scale is everything, and getting it right changes the entire room.
When we first came to Bittern Lane, we noticed the light fixtures in the dining area were too small, while the sitting room’s fixtures were too low and looked like more of a dining fixture. In the dining room, we replaced the fixture with a long, linear fixture that becomes a focal point for the area and adds some interest and movement for your eye. For the sitting room, we used a wide pendant to add texture and softness.
TEW Design Studio is a full-service interior design firm serving Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding North Carolina communities, specializing in residential, commercial, and hospitality interiors.
Our work blends durability, beauty, and livability because great design should last.
Let’s talk about how we can transform your space to better meet your needs. It all starts with a 15-minute Discovery Call so we can understand your design needs.
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