Welcoming

One of the most important things to consider when moving into a new house is that it feels like home. No matter how large or grand the house is, the occupants should still feel it is a place where they can feel comfortable.

When the owners of this new French Revivalist house moved in, they realized that they needed to change the interior design to make it feel more like home. Design and architecture firm Taylor & Taylor was responsible for the transformation.

The owners wanted the home to be ready in six months to host a party, so the Taylor & Taylor team of ten employees visited the home to see what could be done in that time. Interior designer Phyllis Taylor says there was hardly any color in the house.

"Every surface was the same beige, and our clients are not beige people. Also, the foyer looked like it was a hotel," she says.

To make the foyer seem like it belonged in a home rather than a hotel, they painted it aqua, had stone installed on the walls, and hired a mosaic artist to decorate the fountains.

As the ceilings are extremely high, they specified cypress wood beams and ceilings to make the ceiling height appear lower. A special touch in the foyer is the hanging light fixture. Phyllis Taylor discovered that the hotel the homeowners were married in was being demolished, so she was able to obtain one of the hotel's light fixtures.

Recessed lighting fixtures throughout the home were removed so that more decorative light fixtures could be used. Rich, warm colors and heavy, textured fabrics were used throughout the home to help make it feel warm and comfortable.

For more information, contact The Taylor & Taylor Partnership, 1211 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139, phone (305) 534 9862, fax (305) 534 1582. Website: www.taylorntaylor.com.

Story by: Trendsideas