Room of the Day: Waterside Views Inspire a Soothing Palette

When designing this Marin County, California, living room, Jeff and Tray Schlarb of Green Couch Interior Design looked no further than the view for inspiration. The blues and greens in the San Francisco Bay and the weathered driftwood and sand by this shoreline house provided a color and material palette for this room.

The colors come together in the wallpaper — Jeff’s favorite thing about the space. The print, almost like an oversized Ikat, brings a new spirit to a room he says was once stodgy.

Wallpaper: Kandy, Elitis


When the homeowners entertain, the room fills up with guests. The design challenge: how to have plenty of seating but not obstruct the view. The Schlarbs solved the problem for the clients by creating custom L-shaped sofas with low backs that sit under the banks of windows. “You can sit there and take in two epic views — Mount Tamalpais or the Golden Gate Bridge, your pick,” he says. The ottomans provide more seating, of course, but the most flexible perch is the round rope ball. “You can roll it around and sit anywhere,” Jeff says.


A row of columns defines a through passage at the back of the room. Jeff placed furniture along the passage to further demarcate it. A large, moon-like artwork hangs behind the sofa.

“The round and organic shapes help break up the boxiness of the room,” says Jeff. Besides, what is better than moonlight on the water?

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