A Preschooler, Dogs – and Beautiful Design

Does that seem like an oxymoron? Designer Liz Levin was asked to design a front parlor and back room of a home in Alexandria, VA, that would do several things:

• Use a baby grand piano as a focal point
• Incorporate an existing art collection, in addition to a newly commissioned piece that takes up almost the entire wall of the front parlor
• Accommodate the couple’s 4-year-old daughter
• And stand up to the family’s two dogs.

Before, the front room had dated, oversized maroon furniture in it, and the back room “had a dangling chandelier and a lot of toys in it,” Levin says. “They wanted it to be adult- and entertaining-friendly but still safe for a 4-year-old.” The answer: use the piano to turn the front room into a parlor, with chairs for adults to listen to music and/or enjoy cocktails, while saving the back room as a place for the child to play and the husband to watch TV. The home already has a family room, so this back area would be an alternative hang out spot.

The piano enjoys top billing in the revamped area. Levin used Ultrasuede on the chairs that can stand up to stains, and Roman shades on the windows that can stay safely out of reach from small hands and dog paws.

… And in case you are looking for a fabulous cocktail table, this one is Liz’s “secret table.” She gets this Catalina table, which is available in 20 finishes, from Hickory Business Furniture,  “I love that it has a shelf underneath.”

The rug from Galbraith & Paul (whose textiles we blogged about in May), is a nod to the adults. The wool pile on a cream silk loop background isn’t made for lots of heavy traffic, but the Cool Zinnia colorway beautifully incorporates the piano, chairs, and commissioned artwork.

The family’s existing artwork, along with the new chair and ottoman, help blend the two spaces. The rug is a nylon blend, so it cleans easily.

The rooms flow from a pale green and blue in front to a tan color scheme in the back, but the furniture in each area ties the spaces together. Benjamin Moore’s Celery Salt covers the walls in the front (the commissioned artwork is at the right), while Moore’s Golden Hills covers the back walls.