Room For Improvement: Hanover living room

"The living room was just the one room in the house that just didn't come together," Homeowner John Trahan says.

Hanover homeowner John Trahan says this room became the catch-all for odds and ends that didn't fit anywhere else. The result: an overly formal, uncomfortable room where no one wanted to spend time. We sent Designer Robin Pelissier of Robin's Nest in Hingham to the rescue.

"She has an unbelievable reputation!" John says when he finds out Robin is the designer he'll be working with.

Robin Pelissier says, "the minute we walked into the room, I think the idea was, how can we breathe some space into this room and cheer it up?"

The goal: make the room modern, inviting, and fit for entertaining.

"We kept the walls the same, which we really debated about in the beginning," Robin explains.

But it doesn't take fresh paint to create a fresh look. The heavy drapes, stuffy seating, and traditional rug get replaced.

Robin details the changes: "things like the fresh white of the shutters, and the texture of the woven chairs, and the raffia rug, and some deep chocolate pieces, and the reds really enlivened and crisped up the space."

Another bold change, the wall art. It goes from drab to fab. A sleek new coffee table, console table, and plant stand add sophistication.

"Little bit of light," Robin's assistant Suzanne says as she places a lamp on the console table.

Contemporary lighting is an instant update, and for instant fun: a mini-bar.

Robin Pelissier says, "sometimes setting up a bar in a room that's used for socializing makes it feel very welcoming and warm, and 'come on in and sit down and have a drink' kind of a feel."

Accessories add even more warmth to the room. And the finishing touch is sure to be a conversation piece.

Robin Pelissier explains, "we found the pig in the kitchen."

It's a copper pig that Robin found in another part of the house that fits perfectly in the living room.

When John sees it, he's nearly speechless.

"This is amazing!" John says as he checks out the room for the first time.

Robin asks, "do you like it?"

John says, "it is fabulous! Yes! Thank you!"

The budget for this project was $5000 and our design team came in with 2 dollars left to spare to create a living room that you can really live in.

DESIGNER:
Robin Pelissier
Robin's Nest
28 North St
Hingham, MA 02043
781.740.4843
www.robinpelissier.com

Are you looking to redesign or improve a room in your home or office? The 7News Design Team will work within your budget to help you transform that space into your ideal area. We'll provide you with the professional design service and labor.

Send photos of your space along with your budget to RoomForImprovement@whdh.com and tell us why your home has "Room For Improvement."