By Stephanie Graham Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Apr 24, 2017 at 2:00 PM

We love hearing the stories behind our decorators’ redesign projects. No project is the same, and a lot of time and planning go into each one. That’s why every month we like to highlight a project, and take a closer look at a designer’s vision and the beautiful results.

This month, we’re featuring Steinhafels Decorating Solutions Interior Designer Ida Grossman. Ida has been designing for over 20 years and has worked on hundreds of luxury homes. Her experience makes her uniquely qualified to help customers with new construction and renovation projects.

Before.

This specific project is focused on making updates. Ida met Kim and Jake soon after they purchased Jake’s childhood home, which is located on his family’s farm in Lake Geneva. She helped them update the interior of the residence.

After. I customized the Artemis sectional, adding a contemporary wood frame base in an Espresso finish, two pillows in an understated polka dot fabric and one pillow in a fabulous turquoise velvet. The ivory cut fur pillows and colorful afghan are stocked items, added to the mix for contrast, color, and texture.

The first step was to select a color pallet (including wall paint color), followed by furniture, accessories and drapery. The clients wanted a neutral color pallet combined with a pop of color. The end result was a combination of brown/ivory/turquoise.

Project highlights:

  • Beautiful decor with clean lines and transitional styling
  • Sectional sofa offers adequate seating space for entertaining friends and extended family
  • Well-appointed room, yet casual enough to allow young children to play
The cocktail table is sleek, but the wide planks give a nod to the rural setting of the home. Colorful, shatterproof trays are the perfect accessories on a table where children are encouraged to play.

Ida’s goal

Create beauty and function by applying these basic elements of design

Contrast: Adds interest to any room design. In this room, a sharp contrast is seen between the dark brown of the sectional fabric and the wood finish on the tables, and the ivory found in the carpet, tufted ottomans and fur accent pillows.

Proportion: A room that is out of proportion feels wrong to the human eye. The large elements in this room are proportioned correctly, making it feel right. For example, the large sectional with a curved corner piece fits the size of the room, and the oversized tree art fills the large wall behind the sofa. 

Color: Repetition in a room creates movement as the eye follows the path of the repetition through the space. Notice how turquoise, the pop color in this pallet, is positioned throughout the room in the accessories – including the vases on the console, the custom velvet accent pillow and afghan, and decorative trays on the cocktail table in front of the sectional.

Balance: Placement of color is one way to help achieve balance in a room. The light version of the blue accent colors that appear on the walls and the drapery panels helps to balance the large statement of ivory in the carpet and the dark brown in the sectional. In this room, balance is also achieved by pairing contrasting textures together.

Looks like a cozy spot to linger over a cup of tea, and the O'Donnell Garden Seat doubles as a stylish end table with a pop of color. On the wall behind, an oversized, serene tree landscape is another nod to the Great Outdoors Motif.

Ida’s favorite items in the room

  • The Urban II Floor Clock is a fabulous statement piece! This updated version of a classic adds a touch of subtle sophistication that is very hard to beat.
  • On a lighter note, the O’Donnell Garden Seat is one of my favorite "go to" accent end tables. It’s a great way to break the boredom of a matched set, and add a little color and style in the process.
  • If turquoise is on your list of favorite colors, and you are seeking a great pop of color in a transitional style, the large and small Ceramic Drip Vases are a great choice.
Fragile accessories add color to the room and are grouped safely out of reach on a high console table behind the sectional.

You can check out Ida’s entire project HERE!