As the winner of our inaugural First Look at Last Look competition, April Force Pardoe, owner and Principal Designer at April Force Pardoe Interiors, wowed our editors and social media followers with her style and attention to detail. Here she tells us about this living room in a newly built colonial home in Laurel, MD.
1. Sculptures influenced the lighting design in the built-ins. We were very careful to make sure the lighting used would showcase the stone and lessen the shadows — we even consulted the Smithsonian about what type to use! The cabinetmaker created a hidden access panel on the front of the bookcase that opens to reveal a large lighting control panel.
2. I knew the clients liked pattern and the color blue so I used that as my jumping off point for this room. To start I focused on one dominant color — blue — and made sure all of the patterned fabrics contained blue so they would work well together. Next, I made sure the scales of the patterns were varied — some large, some medium, some small. I had a lot of fun spreading out many fabric options at our local design center and playing with different options to find the right combinations. The feeling in this room is collected and comfortable, so all of the patterns had to feel relaxed and not too stuffy.
3. The size of the room required a large chandelier, but I didn’t want it to feel heavy. The clients love the orb-style chandelier, which was perfect for this space. I selected a 41-inch fixture and hung it low in the room to create a cozy feeling. The chair by the fireplace is perfect for reading so I placed a floor lamp nearby.
