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Houzz Tour: Saturated in Color and Pattern
An interior designer found on Houzz works with clients remotely to make their traditional St. Louis home move-in ready
When this family of five needed to move from Colorado to a suburb outside St. Louis, it chose a 1980s central hall Colonial house it didn’t love because the home was close to the schools it did love. Education won out over aesthetics. Besides, the homeowners knew that with the right professional help, they could improve the aesthetics, so they searched Houzz and found interior designer Joni Spear. They hired her to get the home move-in ready before they arrived.
Spear wound up meeting them in person only once during the entire design process. The rest of the time she worked remotely, with full access to the empty house. Her clients would share things like colors or an item they really loved, and Spear would send three mood board options for each room for them to choose from. “They really gave me free range,” the designer says. “An empty house, clients who loved bold color and gave me free range. Hello! This was my dream project,” she says with a laugh.
Spear wound up meeting them in person only once during the entire design process. The rest of the time she worked remotely, with full access to the empty house. Her clients would share things like colors or an item they really loved, and Spear would send three mood board options for each room for them to choose from. “They really gave me free range,” the designer says. “An empty house, clients who loved bold color and gave me free range. Hello! This was my dream project,” she says with a laugh.
The next room Spear tackled was the dining room. A special wallcovering was also the jumping-off point here. This is a flocked velvet wallpaper with an ombre effect to it. From there, Spear looked to the ceiling, where she used Sherwin-Williams’ Quaint Peche to match a color in the wallcovering. Another dramatic chandelier draws the eye, and wall sconces add ambient lighting.
The antique table and chairs were a local find and a bargain at that. Spear had them refinished and had the seats upholstered in durable, washable velvet. She found drapes in a larger pattern that worked well with the wallpaper and the rug. A large mirror helps bounce light around the room. Details on the mirror match the room’s original dentil moldings.
The antique table and chairs were a local find and a bargain at that. Spear had them refinished and had the seats upholstered in durable, washable velvet. She found drapes in a larger pattern that worked well with the wallpaper and the rug. A large mirror helps bounce light around the room. Details on the mirror match the room’s original dentil moldings.
Creating a look in the entry that set the tone for all this color and drama was Spear’s next project. The wallcovering is by Phillip Jefferies. “I wanted the foyer to be as dramatic as the office,” Spear says. “This is horsehair, and each panel has gold leafing hand-applied to it. It’s spectacular.”
The homeowner had fallen in love with this mirror and wanted it used somewhere in the house. Spear knew it would be a great fit in the foyer. Like the mirror in the dining room, it helps lighten the space. She added a marble-topped, Art Deco-inspired brass console table beneath it. The chandelier is also Art Deco-inspired.
“My client really likes Art Deco, and she really likes the work of Mary McDonald,” Spear says. McDonald is a prominent Los Angeles designer known to many from Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, which is currently enjoying renewed popularity on Netflix. She has a knack for adding drama and fun flair to traditional styles.
The homeowner had fallen in love with this mirror and wanted it used somewhere in the house. Spear knew it would be a great fit in the foyer. Like the mirror in the dining room, it helps lighten the space. She added a marble-topped, Art Deco-inspired brass console table beneath it. The chandelier is also Art Deco-inspired.
“My client really likes Art Deco, and she really likes the work of Mary McDonald,” Spear says. McDonald is a prominent Los Angeles designer known to many from Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, which is currently enjoying renewed popularity on Netflix. She has a knack for adding drama and fun flair to traditional styles.
The built-ins, moldings and fireplace in the living room were existing, and most of this room was white. “It looked very generic in here,” Spear says. “We wanted it to be moody.” She decided to go for it and paint everything — the walls, the trim, the moldings, the fireplace and even the fireplace bricks — the same saturated shade of peacock blue in a high-gloss finish. The shade is bold yet soothing, and Spear played off it by adding a few peacocks to the shelves. With so much color in here, the ceiling was left white.
The homeowners had a no-TV-on-the-main-floor rule, so Spear was able to set up the furniture for conversation rather than TV watching. “I’ve always wanted to put trim like this on a sofa,” she says. In addition to the welting along the cushion edges, there’s a braided detail on the seats and backs. She brought cut velvet into the room on the French Bergère chairs, then upholstered another pair of armchairs in a plaid fabric for contrast. The peacock-inspired hues tie the two pairs of chairs together.
Spear also found all the art for the house and presented it to her clients for approval. “This was a long, juried search, and we looked at tons of artwork,” she says. In here, the abstract park painting has lots of depth that draws the eye. Over the sofa is a triptych of a horse that breaks up the large expanse of peacock blue on that wall.
Paint: Surf Green, Sherwin-Williams
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The homeowners had a no-TV-on-the-main-floor rule, so Spear was able to set up the furniture for conversation rather than TV watching. “I’ve always wanted to put trim like this on a sofa,” she says. In addition to the welting along the cushion edges, there’s a braided detail on the seats and backs. She brought cut velvet into the room on the French Bergère chairs, then upholstered another pair of armchairs in a plaid fabric for contrast. The peacock-inspired hues tie the two pairs of chairs together.
Spear also found all the art for the house and presented it to her clients for approval. “This was a long, juried search, and we looked at tons of artwork,” she says. In here, the abstract park painting has lots of depth that draws the eye. Over the sofa is a triptych of a horse that breaks up the large expanse of peacock blue on that wall.
Paint: Surf Green, Sherwin-Williams
Browse coffee tables in the Houzz Shop
Because the kitchen was well-appointed and in good shape, it was important to the homeowners to save as much as possible. This included the cabinets, countertops, backsplash and appliances. This sustainable choice meant the room got a cosmetic refresh. “My goal was to calm the busyness of the granite countertops,” Spear says. Using mood boards, she presented her client with new lighting, hardware, faucets, counter stools and cabinet colors.
Spear had the cabinets repainted in Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray. She also preserved all the oak floors in the house but had them refinished to take out the orange-red tones.
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Spear had the cabinets repainted in Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray. She also preserved all the oak floors in the house but had them refinished to take out the orange-red tones.
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The homeowner loved this marble-topped table and French cafe chairs from Serena & Lily, so Spear placed them in the eat-in area of the kitchen. She added a beautiful brass lantern with a botanical motif overhead. It ties in with the new brass pendant lights above the kitchen island.
Beyond the kitchen is a cozy sun porch. “This room has beautiful views of the garden, a waterfall and the pool,” Spear says. Again, conversation was the goal in here. The first thing Spear found was a fun zebra fabric, which she used on the ottoman. She used welting on the armchair upholstery to add pops of contrast. Drama comes in via the chandelier, which is composed of angled brass arms and handblown orbs.
Wall color: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
Beyond the kitchen is a cozy sun porch. “This room has beautiful views of the garden, a waterfall and the pool,” Spear says. Again, conversation was the goal in here. The first thing Spear found was a fun zebra fabric, which she used on the ottoman. She used welting on the armchair upholstery to add pops of contrast. Drama comes in via the chandelier, which is composed of angled brass arms and handblown orbs.
Wall color: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
The powder room’s sink and toilet were in good shape, so Spear kept them and gave the space an impactful refresh. “I mailed my client lots and lots of wallpaper samples to choose from and she selected this one,” Spear says. The large-scale pattern packs a delightful punch in the small room.
From there, the designer found the new mirror, light fixture and faucet. “The light fixture and faucet are Art Deco-inspired,” she says. “My client liked these faucets so much that she had me use them in the primary bathroom too.”
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From there, the designer found the new mirror, light fixture and faucet. “The light fixture and faucet are Art Deco-inspired,” she says. “My client liked these faucets so much that she had me use them in the primary bathroom too.”
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The primary bedroom was another spot where Spear didn’t have to start from scratch. Her clients already had the bed and linens. They also knew they wanted to use their dining room sideboard somewhere in the house. They sent photos of these items to Spear so she could integrate them into her design. She proposed using the sideboard as a dresser in the bedroom and they were on board.
Finding just the right wallpaper to work with her client’s furniture was the biggest task. “This wallpaper is super soft and subtle. More so than it appears in this photo,” Spear says of the damask-patterned paper. From there, she had draperies with a Greek key pattern trim made and chose a soft textural rug that echoes the wallpaper.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
Finding just the right wallpaper to work with her client’s furniture was the biggest task. “This wallpaper is super soft and subtle. More so than it appears in this photo,” Spear says of the damask-patterned paper. From there, she had draperies with a Greek key pattern trim made and chose a soft textural rug that echoes the wallpaper.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
“Their bathroom is very French-inspired,” Spear says. Its update included the crystal-and-brass chandelier, mirrors, double sconces under single shades, the Art Deco-inspired faucets, artwork, ornate cabinet hardware and the soothing color on the walls. The changes gave the space a fresh, new look. “The chandelier is the crown jewel of this bathroom,” Spear says.
The couple and their three children were able to move into the house with everything ready for them. The changes Spear made took it from a house they weren’t that fond of to a home they love.
Wall color: Pale Powder, Farrow & Ball
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The couple and their three children were able to move into the house with everything ready for them. The changes Spear made took it from a house they weren’t that fond of to a home they love.
Wall color: Pale Powder, Farrow & Ball
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: St. Louis area
Size: 3,540 square feet (329 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designer: Joni Spear
The reason the clients weren’t so keen on the house was that it was north-facing and therefore rather dark. Also not helping was a coating on the windows, which Spear removed.
“I started with the wife’s office,” Spear says. “She told me she is CEO of this family and keeps it running.” The wife also managed the remote design process with Spear. Originally, the built-ins seen here were a reddish-orange oak that made the room feel dark and dreary, which didn’t work for the client, whose favorite color is pink. The jumping-off point was the ceiling. “The ceiling was crying out for attention, so I sent her three wallpaper options that would make a bold statement,” Spear says.
The client chose Phillip Jeffries’ Blossom, a bold, oversize floral pattern. “This wallpaper was expensive, so we saved on the walls,” Spear says. “I had the painter use a technique that made them look like they were covered in pink grasscloth. He even painted in faux wallpaper seams.” She also had him paint the once-dark built-ins a coordinating pink.
Lighting was key throughout the project. “My goal was drama, and, again, she gave me free range,” Spear says. The chandelier is composed of swirled glass orbs and the sconces have a botanical motif. Other details include a marble sculpture on the wall and a marble desk. The rug is acid-dyed and was the perfect match for the ceiling. The designer found the clover-shaped ottomans in the Houzz Shop.
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