With its dramatic sandstone fireplace and sleek Samsung Frame TV, (see my story about it here) our living room is, without a doubt, the heart of our home. However after several years with our charcoal modular sofas, it felt time for a change. While practical and comfortable, they weren’t quite cutting it for our family movie nights. With the TV positioned on the wall to the right, the kids were constantly at war for the best viewing spot.
BEFORE
AFTER
Choosing the Perfect Deep Sofa
In a bid for some peace, I started dreaming about an extra-deep couch. I wanted enough space to stretch out together, two of us, side by side. After researching for months, I realised the answer was staring me right in the face… The James Lane Como in Deep – which we already had upstairs in sitting room. Its depth was perfect, and I've always loved how versatile it is with the washable slipcovers – so I decided to bring the style into our downstairs living space, too. The challenge? Choosing the right colour. I toyed with a white, but with kids and pets, that felt a bit too risky. I was tempted by Wheat and Cocoa shades, but ultimately, I settled on the Oatmeal shade. This colour perfectly complements the warm sandstone tones around our fireplace and my beloved vintage travertine coffee table. And I love that with the removable slipcovers I can switch things up when the mood takes me. Not only are they durable and washable, slipcovers allow you to restyle on a whim. To enhance the coziness, I styled the sofas with knitted Cotswold cushions and a soft throw in Saffron from James Lane. I also found a gorgeous Pia bowl with simple, elegant lines for the coffee table that adds a touch of sophistication. Since the back of the couch is visible upon entering the room, I decided to incorporate the Clemence Hall Table from James Lane to create visual interest, topped with whatever coffee table book I'm obsessed with right now (ATM it's Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone).
Refreshing the Dining Room
In the adjacent dining room, we faced another dilemma: our old wishbone dining chairs had succumbed to our cat Rebel’s claws. After much deliberation, I chose beautiful Pablo chairs from James Lane with a curved architectural form that are both stylish and durable, no more tempting rattan for Rebel to sharpen his claws. As an accent I chose the Pontu floor lamp with a zig-zag black base, which perfectly complements the chic Pigalle candle holder, also featuring a black base. To tie everything together, I added a new artwork from Olive Et Oriel and hung it over a side table that features the Adora Bowl from James Lane and we dressed the windows with Oakbank Linen curtains from 5 Minute Blinds. A key component of our living room's ambiance is the lighting. The Belvedere concrete lamp, reminiscent of Chinese water jars, adds a touch of elegance and warmth, enhancing the cozy atmosphere.
The Final Result
The result? A living room that feels fresh, clean, and inviting.
The cream and russet tones, along with natural textures and fibers, create a soothing, earthy atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxation.
Styling the Space for the Shoot
For the shoot I had my friend Kristin Rawson come and help me zhush the space. As usual she took almost everything I had styled the space with out and then made it look chic with a few of her own silk-covered Euro cushions, a couple of coffee table books and a vase of white ranunculus. We added my favourite Diptyque Feu De Bois candle and were good to go. I’m so happy with the result. Our living space feels so much more calming in neutral tones and we can snuggle and watch TV together as a family now – it may seem like a small thing but its those moments of togethrness that mean so much.
In partnership with James Lane. Story by Sigourney Cantelo. Styling by Kristin Rawson Interior Design. Photography by Camilla Quiddington. Sigourney’s hair and makeup by Kerrie Gentle. Sigourney wears Bondi Born and Bianca Spender.
