From Blank to Swank

A blank canvas is easy, right? Unlimited opportunity and boundless palette options… Now where do you start?

Contrary to the general assumption, new build homes can often be more difficult to design. Modern touches start to feel a little too clean. The ever-popular open floor plan begins to lack definition. And who doesn’t love move-in ready? But now you’re overwhelmed by opportunity.

In other words, the personality of the place is fresh but blank.  It has yet to reflect the style and needs of the homeowners.  Where does the design decision-making launch in the face of infinite possibilities?  This is the joy and challenge of the art of design. 

Let’s take a walk through how we transformed a town home's vacant main floor space into an entertainer's dream, taking it from blank to swank...

In all things, we strive for balance. This is true especially when curating design - when presented with straight lines, we prefer to soften and soothe. Significant negative space can leave a room feeling as if it’s floating so we ground it by balancing colors, textures, or adding a strong focal point as with this colorful yet muted wall mural. In this modern Denver town home, color in particular became a strong source of inspiration.

We selected a modern black and white palette while incorporating strategic color so as to not overwhelm the fragile white space. Moments of deep blue and rich clay provide an earthy play against otherwise clean metallic lines and grayscale foundational pieces. Blues and greens are carried through to tie in our exhilarating mural wall. It was also important that our design allowed for direct and functional access to the outdoor living area. 

The indoor/outdoor nature of this layout inspired us to lure guests into the backyard sanctuary. Sticking with a similar palette and leaving plenty of room for cocktails, we oriented 2 loveseats across from each other for comfortable conversation. Pops of tropical color invoke energy and vitality taking dinner parties well into a firelit evening.  

Once the primary spaces were designed, it was time to seek out undiscovered opportunities to further amplify the style and function of the home.  It’s all in the details! Layered textures and monochromatic accessories let the eye rest providing intervals of serenity within a maze of color.  Easily overlooked nooks, such as this corner bar, were curated to maximize utility while remaining in harmony with the space.

One of the first visuals you’d catch when entering this home is the powder bathroom. Instead of ignoring it, we lent appreciation to the existing finishes. A small space contains its own challenges as adding significant pieces can become quickly overwhelming. To lessen the impact, we selected white frames and a natural palette to blend into the wall and offer interest without dominating this tiny room. 

All of this adds up to a main living floor balanced through color, texture, focal points, and the definition of spaces.  What was once too open has become settled and useful.  Options are now clarified for gathering and relaxing in a sublime yet grounded environment that invites you to stay a while.  

Need more inspiration? Check us out Instagram or email sarah@sarahnoelinteriors.com to inquire about customizing your own space. We’d love to hear from you!