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I recently had an e-design client reach out and ask me for a living room redecoration plan, so I thought I would share with you the design mock-up that I put together for her. I will be sharing more and more of these projects over the next few months, and I thought I would start off with an easy modern bohemian living room to get you more familiar with my interior design style.
The Design Ask
Her (and her husband’s) style is similar to mine. They want a ‘globally collected’ feel of textures and fabrics, but also have a penchant for mid century modern. They entertain frequently, and want a space that feels unique but approachable. Something that isn’t overdesigned or precious, but still shows their individuality. The modern bohemian living room that I designed for them incorporates the layered and lived-in vibe of bohemian living, but uses sleek wood and brass elements for polish. Let’s dig into it!
Here are some of the inspiration shots for this room that the client liked:
In all of them you can see that the rooms have incorporated texture and pattern in the rug and pillows, while a nice light couch provides comfort and airiness. There is also a touch of masculinity- especially in the last photo- with the use of the black. Iron details and black elements ground the look, and the contrast makes the resulting pieces in the room look even brighter and lighter.
How We Spent the Money
This client had a fairly substantial budget (~$8k) which allowed me to invest in some key pieces while saving on plenty of others. I firmly believe that a great rug and sofa should be the 2 most expensive and analyzed items you can afford, because a crappy version of either will drive you nuts in 6 months. Then, we were able to save money on the lamps, shelving, and decor pieces that aren’t used as much. It’s important to buy the best quality you can afford for the things you are using everyday, like a couch, rug, coffee table. Then save on the rest!
The Design
The living room is fairly odd shaped, so we included a separate reading nook off to the left where we were able to incorporate this very affordable mid century inspired bookshelf. There is also an attached dining room with ceiling light, but that design plan will be shared in a separate post. Ample shelving for books and souvenirs from traveling ensures there is room to display treasures without it looking cluttered. We have also added a touch of brass to the space through the coffee table and floor lamp for a little shine.
Let’s talk about my favorite pieces. I am IN LOVE with that bone inlay coffee table and have dying to find a place to use it since it won’t fit in my own home. And those waterfall side tables! They are vintage and its rare to find a set of 2 tables like this with the curved wood in such fantastic condition. I also love a bit of pink in the room which adds a little femininity against the black- perfect for a couple.
Modern Bohemian Living Room Inventory List
1. 6 x 9 Safavieh Rug $1295
2. ABC Carpet & Home club chair $450
3. Black leather vintage Mid Century side chair $275
4. Bone Inlay Coffee Table $800
5. Brass 3 Head Globe Floor Lamp $105
6. Walnut Wood Mid Century inspired Book Shelf $280
7. Set of 2 Black/White Throw Pillows $135
8. Palm Polaroid Print $80
9. Tightback 84″ Beige Sofa $1395
10. Mudcloth pillow $80
11. Ikat Pillow $36
12. Stonewashed lumbar pillow $40
13. Tassel Trim Pillow $58
14. Pair of Bent Wood Waterfall side tables $800/2
What do you think of my modern bohemian living room design? If I could design my own space over again there are definitely a few items I would steal from this home. Would you?
