Room of the Day: Traditional Living Room Gets a Contemporary Spin

Dallas bachelor Steve Menna originally contacted designer Traci Connell about giving a facelift to the two-story rental home he owned in the Lakewood Heights neighborhood. But after meeting with Connell, he realized key changes could drastically transform the traditional-style property into a more contemporary and inviting home.

A fresh look for the living room was a top priority. Upgrading a standard ceiling fan, changing the trim and giving the fireplace a makeover were just the start. Bold design details, modern seating and a custom wine storage unit created the perfect spot for hosting guests and relaxing after a long day at work. “My plan was to sell the house,” Menna says. “But I enjoyed the changes and results, and I’m living here now.”

BEFORE: The living room previously had gold walls with white trim, a medium-toned oak floor and a traditional-style ceiling fan. There was also a fireplace that felt too small for the room and a large, vacant wall, seen at the right, between the living room and the adjacent kitchen.


“After” photos by Michael Hunter

AFTER: The existing oak floor was refinished with a rich antique brown stain and a subtle scrape that added character and texture. Beige walls with custom espresso trim keep things light without being too stark. A contemporary brushed-steel ceiling fan replaced the traditional fan.

The once-blank wall now has a custom built-in wine unit designed by Connell. “I felt it was important, because we had a space that was unused and the living room was begging for storage,” she says. The unit has open cubbies for Menna’s wine collection, drawers with large-scale pulls for napkins and linens, and cabinets for wineglasses and entertaining supplies. It features a dark gray quartz counter with a block edge and a random glass mosaic backsplash with light and dark taupe and gray tiles for a contemporary look.

Menna took a hands-on approach to the backsplash. After it was installed with a few granite tiles that he thought didn’t look right, he personally removed them, re-sorted the remaining glass tiles and glued them back on. “It was a crazy thing to do,” he says, “but I love it now.”

Wall paint: Kilim Beige, Sherwin-Williams; trim stain: custom espresso; ceiling fan: 60-inch Emerson Loft in brushed steel, Lamps Plus; built-in wine storage unit: custom cabinetry by KraftMaid with a Silestone quartz counter in Marengo and a custom glass tile backsplash



A console table with a glass top from Karoo, South Africa, and a chrome base acts as a divider for the open floor plan and gives Menna a place to display accessories.

The fireplace now has more prominence in the room, thanks to a new carved maple wood surround with an espresso finish that increases the scale of the hearth. Vertical mosaic tiles added inside the surround give the fireplace a more contemporary edge. “When you compare it to what was there before, there’s no comparison,” says Menna. “The dimension it adds is wonderful.”

Painted speakers were built into the wall and almost disappear. Custom artwork on each side of the hearth has a soft, contemporary design with bold colors and silver-finished wood frames. “I wanted to create balance,” says Connell. “The artwork was placed lower than the TV and completes that wall.”

Console table: Cantoni; ottomans: homeowner’s, re-covered in Vanguard Furniture’s Nova Slate upholstery; TV above fireplace: Pioneer Elite 60-inch; wall speakers: Martin Logan



The inviting modern sectional sofa with individual flip-up backs features baseball stitching on steel gray leather. “Finding a gray leather sofa is actually pretty hard,” Menna says. “I wanted something that was medium to dark gray and had to pay a bit of a premium to get that leather, but it’s beautiful and gives the room a sophisticated and masculine look.”

The straight-lined, heavy square cocktail table with steel accents has four drawers for storing remotes and other living room essentials. Both the sofa and table sit low to reinforce the contemporary look that Menna wanted.

He and Connell went to a local showroom to pick out the hand-knotted area rug. It has a gray taupe background with black striping. The grommet drapes have horizontal stripes that contrast the vertical lines on the rug.

Sectional sofa: Outback, Gamma; coffee table: Cantoni; area rug: Feizy Rugs; drapery panels: Stark Carpet; drapery hardware: Design Elements Group



Two sleek but comfortable angled chairs covered in a cozy, textured fabric provide extra seating.

The abstract twisted-metal C. Jere–inspired artwork above creates a bit of an industrial feel.

Angled chairs: Contempo Designs; side table between chairs: Bernhardt; metal artwork: vintage; table lamp: Koleman, Robert Abbey



Since there was no space for an end table, a versatile C-table with a dark gray metal finish can be used in the front or side of the sofa, giving Menna a handy place on which to put down a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

A backdrop of organic florals in contemporary vases fills a previously empty corner of the living room.

C-table: Contempo Designs


This floor plan shows how the placement of the seating area allows for good flow between the 25-foot by 18-foot living room and the adjacent dining area. Now Menna has the space he needs for relaxing and entertaining guests.

“Steve has really good taste,” Connell says. “This living room gives him that edgy feel he loves, but it’s also very comfortable.”

See more Rooms of the Day

URL: Room of the Day: Traditional Living Room Gets a Contemporary Spin http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-24904.html