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FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   MAIN LIVING SPACE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:
Comfort was key as this was an everyday lounging space.

It was multi-use as the hardest working space in the home:
Lounging
TV & Music
Game nights
Group entertaining

Needed updated window treatments that would let in lots of daylight, keep the yard view but still give privacy.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

  • Selected an extra deep, super cushy sofa
  • Club chairs with narrow arms to help save floor space for the deep sofa
  • Chair ottomans that can double as extra seats.
  • Cushy stackable floor cushions for added seating on game night.
  • A mix of global-inspired pillows to reflect their global lifestyle.
  • Soft, geometric patterned large area rug for every day and game night comfort
  • Pair of modern floor lamps by the sofa wall to throw lots of light around the room without cords to trip over.
  • Plants in decorative modern pots to bring the yard view in more. 
  • Two-tiered window treatment: a roller shade sun screen with a Roman shade for a daytime valance look and an extra layer for semi night time privacy. 
FRONT ROOM UPDATE: MAIN LIVING SPACE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:
A first home for a young couple who were starting fresh with their decorating beginning with the front rooms.

It meant lots of design decisions and coordination to build whole rooms from scratch while blending their two styles.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Needed to maximize storage plus add seating

  • An enclosed coat closet was perfect for style and storage.
  • Solid wood stools were compact and decorative.
  • A modern pair of satin brass ceiling light fixtures were added  
  • Rug and wall  hanging and plants in modern pots  were all the finishing touches
FRONT ROOM UPDATE: ENTRY 
  • The open entry coordinates with the main living area to keep the design flow going and adds to the feeling lof spaciousness.
  • Wall hooks were a versatile, compact solution with 3 movable hooks on each, (hidden on the far side of the coat closet).  
  • Sofa has a mix of global-inspired patterned pillows.  And the marble and brass coffee table has a unique wood burl bowl with an etched design.
FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   DINING ROOM

A mixture of natural, wooden, and pottery pieces was chosen for the tablescape. They were kept larger and bolder to scale well with the table’s size.

Foliage steams from the yard added to an outdoor feeling.

FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   DINING ROOM

 The large mirror in the dining room did double duty.  Reflecting both the outside yard and from another angle the living room art piece. 

FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   MAIN LIVING SPACE
  • Music was a big part of this couple’s entertaining style and the needed storage for the adjoining open dining room.
  • So we paired these handcrafted consoles along the major common wall in the living and dining areas. One for music at the living room end and the other here towards the dining area for storage to give a cohesive look.
  • The art is an original textured piece that makes a bold statement in the overall main room space.
  •  A pair of black metal vases add a sculptural accent.
FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   DINING ROOM

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

Dining was an important part of their entertaining so the dining pieces needed to be comfortable but make a statement too.

There was an inlay border design in the wood floor that didn’t fit their planned table size

The same need for window treatments as the living room: to update, daytime light with privacy and semi-privacy at night.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

  • The solid wood slab table is generous and in a simple modern shape.
  • It’s accented by contrasting dark wood frame chairs
  • An area rug was created to size to cover the floor inlay while still fitting the size and shape of the table
  • The coordinated window treatment to the living room was added.
  • A large floor plant adds a natural touch and helped bring the outside in.  
  • The bamboo wall screen adds a natural texture and a  backdrop for the marble and brass plant stand (matching the living room coffee table). An is seen from the entry and living room adding nature to both spaces.
FRONT ROOM UPDATE:   DINING ROOM

With the outdoor yard view being limited 

  • A wallcovering was selected to give the look of a garden atrium.
  • I kept it to one wall so as not to overwhelm the space, but still set it apart from the adjoining living room
  • An oversized mirror was placed to reflect the available outdoor view to create the effect of another window. 
  • A large floor plant added to the garden vibe.  
  • The solid wood slab table is generous and in a simple modern shape.
  • It’s accented by contrasting dark wood frame chairs
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • It was time to redecorate but trying to pull together the whole look of their main rooms was stopping them before they could get started.
  • The rooms were used daily so comfort was key. But how to make them look front room worthy?
  • They loved all the wood but felt the rooms looked like brown on brown. So how to accent the wood?

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

  • We selected decorating pieces that complement each other in fabrics, leather and finishes so they just naturally relate well to each other and pull the room together.
  • Pieces were chosen with classic lines so even though they were all very comfortable, it gave the room a casual sophistication as you come in from the entry.
  • A color palette was created that pulled in the client’s favorite colors of blues, and greens that also accented all the warm wood tones beautifully.
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • How and where to add those finishing touches.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

  • The right details make all the difference! Styling a very few large interesting pieces with a plant can be enough to capture the eye and make you smile. 
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • This corner felt over-furnished with a few too many pieces including a wall console behind the chair.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

  • Less is more! The new pieces were purposely arty, and sculptural so they needed simplicity and space to be enjoyed. It gave that minimalist and uncluttered feel while still feeling finished.
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • The long, wood wall dominated the room when combined with the previous brown furniture. 

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

  • A longer, light colored sofa decorated more of the wall (and added more room to stretch out).
  • It was a high-performance light fabric to add contrast and  brighten that area of the room
  • Oversized white floor lamps were a bold accent to also lighten and decorate
  • Additional large floor plants softened and accented the wall.
  • Large colorful pillows added interest and brought in more color.
  • The wood feature wall has come in to its own as the stunning backdrop it was meant to be!   
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • Decorating a compact entry so it coordinated with the main room 
  • And felt finished but not stuffed.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

  • Less is truly more so often, especially with these modern styles. We used a simple quartet art collection of local scenes that the clients had stored in the basement.  It was a forgotten treasure they can enjoy every day now.
  • A rug softens the look and the sound of the entry but still leaves the original slate floor showing.
ORIGINAL MID-CENTURY MODERN UPDATE

DESIGN CHALLENGES:

  • The fireplace had an awkward space to the left that was open to a wide walkway from the entry.  
  • And the walkway’s wood built-in had a niche that needed the right piece to fill it.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

  • A  fireside seating vignette was created by the hearth to fill this space and feel grounded and not floating in the open hallway. Now it feels like part of the living room! 
  • A large, bold print was selected for the built-in and given an oversized mat so it was a custom fit for the niche. The size, color, and light mat made it stand out so it could be appreciated even from across the living room.
HOME OFFICE UPDATE 

DESIGN CHALLENGE:
The home office was dark and dated plus  the client wanted an office that now felt more relaxed for his upcoming retirement.

DESIGN SOLUTION
We asked functionality and design preferences questions and then offered some ideas and got a direction to go in.

  • They live in a coastal community and have traditional taste so we created a classic style with a coastal palette.
  • Walls went from dark faux burgundy leather look to a breezy pale blue-green. 
  • Office furniture was streamlined into a longer horizontal configuration to give more surface and free up wall space.
  • Black was an important part of the palette to keep the room from becoming too pastel-looking.
  • Photos were framed the same, with big white mats and arranged into a gallery wall.
  • Collectibles and awards were edited and displayed on floating shelving for a much lighter look.
 HOME OFFICE UPDATE

DESIGN SOLUTION

  • We added a matching 3 drawer cabinet to the desk, streamlining the printer on a stand situation.
  • Now we had room to add an extra chair he needed for when he and his wife need to video call from the office.
  • The excising art piece was complemented now by the new wall color.
  • We added a matching console to the desk to create a more cohesive design.
  • A tall floor plant adds a natural, relaxed  touch to the room to accent the furniture.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
An updated look and with a more relaxed feel for retirement so he still has his own space without feeling like he is back at work.

BEFORE / HISTORIC HOME – Front Exterior

DESIGN DILEMMA
This 100+ year old home needed to be brought back to her former glory for the next family who would own and love her. 

Her exterior colors and yard keep her from being the head-turner she was meant to be. And so we started re-imagining what she could be and then went to work to see it happen.

AFTER / HISTORIC HOME – Front Exterior

DESIGN SOLUTION

  • Updated her earthy exterior colors with  a classic, elegant white with black accents. The new palette went perfectly with her classic black roof.
  • Added a white picket fence to create charm right from the sidewalk.
  • Brought in lush green sod, small bushes & black mulch to add a finished,  setting for the house.
  • Updated with black light fixtures


MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

She very quickly was bought by a new family who said they loved everything about her! 

AFTER / HISTORIC HOME -Kitchen

DESIGN DILEMMA

Dated, limited cabinetry, countertops and backsplash kept the heart of the home from feeling welcoming and cheery.

DESIGN SOLUTION

  • We added tall upper cabinetry for more storage taking advantage of the high ceilings.
  • Kept all the finished light to help reflect the light in the space,
  • The wood LVP added the warmth to balance out this fresh palette.
AFTER / HISTORIC HOME -Kitchen

DESIGN DILEMMA

Little natural light, darker colors, and 7  doorway were where we started in envisioning the possibilities.

DESIGN SOLUTION

  • A black and white palette with wood tones brought light and warmth and an updated style to this space.
  • While also coordinating the interior style with the exterior.
  • The kitchen wasn’t wide enough to allow for an island and this was going to be an unused floor space so a rolling island was the perfect fit.
  • Floating shelves added style and storage to an otherwise blank wall.  
AFTER/ HISTORIC HOME -Upper Bath

DESIGN DILEMMA

This main bath was compact by today’s standards and a bit dark.  And the large beige flooring tiles, mixed wall treatments, and pink clawfoot tub were some of the challenges we saw. 

DESIGN SOLUTION

  • Updated the flooring with classic black & white hex mosaic floor tile.
  • Added matching beadboard all  round.
  • Refinished the tub in white & black
  • Painted walls, trim, doors a pristine white

 Great Room Update

DESIGN DILEMMA
The family room was in need of an update and so was gutted and everything needed to be rethought. Plus all new decorating was to follow.

DESIGN SOLUTION
The brick Meditteranean style fireplace was refaced with brown stone slabs that coordinated with the kitchen countertops. And wood mantel was added along with flooring to completely modernizing the whole space. 

Which then allowed us to create a modern look with the new decorating, bringing it all together.  

Just like we've done on HGTV

Modernizing a Formal Dining Room

DESIGN DILEMMA
Classic furnishings and architectural details made this room too formal for today’s casual living. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
Simple furnishings styles were chosen in classic colors of dark woods and white upholstery to marry the modern with the classic elements. Then topped off with a fresh white tablescape with plants accents.     

Formal Entry Needed a Casual Update

DESIGN DILEMMA
This entry had classic wall molding but needed contemporary but casual decorating to update and soften the formality. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
Adding a casual modern rug pattern to the clients demi-lune table and family art piece created a coordinated entry vignette. And then keeping it simple with minimal accents of an Italian glass potted live orchid and handwoven trays. 

Warming Up a White Kitchen

DESIGN DILEMMA
White spaces can feel a little too stark and uninviting left all to themselves.  

DESIGN SOLUTION
Wood tones were a natural touch to warm up this white kitchen. And it tied in the chocolate countertops and outdoor wooded views.

Bringing in the teal accent color from the great room was the finishing touch for adding warmth and personality to bring out the best in this white kitchen. 

Making a New House’s Nook Feel Like Home

DESIGN DILEMMA
Bringing along pieces with personal history can be challenging to work in successfully in a new home.

DESIGN SOLUTION
This nostalgic dining set was transformed with a paint color change to freshen up the table and coordinate it with the light and airy look we’d created in our client’s new home’s renovation.

And we also added in the new color palette in the adjoining great room with an area rug. Plus bringing in the finishing touches of simple organic woven placemats and fresh plants to reflect the garden viewing 

Media/Flex Room Update

DESIGN DILEMMA
The media room had light walls, dated flooring and furnishings and bulky window coverings that made the room feel uninviting.

DESIGN SOLUTION
We added this deep dusty navy wall color to create that movie theater experience. And then added the cognac seating to warm and brighten it up during the day when it was also a place to work out and relax.  A perfect blend of updated style and palette for its multi-uses. 

Flex Room Update
DESIGN DILEMMA The interior decorating had no connection to the exterior garden view.

DESIGN SOLUTION We added potted faux plants in outdoor style pots that made the glass almost disappear from view and the inside and outside feel as one. And the deep wall color with crisp white trim create the effect of a year round framed painting. 
Fireplace Update

DESIGN DILEMMA
The fireplace disappeared into the previously white walls. And it was by the entrance into the room so placing furniture by it was an impossibility. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
By adding a rich wall color, the white fireplace, by contrast, is now a beautiful architectural feature in the room We then added a round leather ottoman on a round shag rug to create a seating area. And one that can be easily moved when this area needs to also be a workout zone.

Media Room Update

DESIGN DILEMMA
The room previously had beige furniture and carpeting and white walls and didn’t have the warmth and color the client wanted 

DESIGN SOLUTION
All that was solved by creating an updated palette of deep muted navy for a movie experience. And warming it up during the day with rich cognac seating and cinnamon wood tones in the flooring. The white trim keeps  it fresh and not overpowering

Kitchen Update

DESIGN DILEMMA:
The kitchen was dark, dated & felt closed off from the rest of the main floor.

DESIGN SOLUTION:
Open up the walls to create a large, livable great room, kept the the kitchen layout (helps with the budget) but added an island (additional countertop & storage), updated the cabinets, countetop, appliances, lighting & paint colors. Creating a fresh, open, airy, updated feeling kitchen. 

Dining Room

DESIGN DILEMMA:
Just moved into a larger home and furnishings now felt too small and to few for their dining space and growing family. 

DESIGN SOLUTION 
A beautiful, casual style dining table with several leaves gave them several size options for everyday & entertaining. Upholstered chairs add comfort & the dark color is family friendly. Perfect fit for their new home and lives.

Reading Nook

DESIGN DILEMMA
A picturesque but challenging corner to decorate with all the windows and little wall. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
Swivel recliners give this corner multiple functionalities: From a time for two, to being part of a group in the great room, to swiveling around and relaxing with feet up to just enjoy the view. 

Living Room Update

DESIGN DILEMMA:
Spacious great rooms’ lounging area had dated wall colors, few walls for arranging furniture and didn’t feel fully finished.   

DESIGN SOLUTION:
Walls went from green to soft neutral, and chairs that worked from all angles & a larger, sculptured focal point coffee table are added, plus side tables, lamps & an area rug to pull it all together.  Feeling furnished and finished down to the accessories.  

Coastal Great Room Reno

DESIGN DILEMMA:
Unused formal living & dining rooms and a too small family room & kitchen made this home feel cramped with low light, wasted space. Plus the kitchen, paint colors and flooring were dated.

DESIGN SOLUTION:
A wall came out & everything came together into a very spacious. light-filled great room. Updated flooring, wall color & color scheme ties it all together. A large island was added & updated  lighting. 

Coastal Fireplace Update

DESIGN DILEMMA:
A dated, low half-wall, red brick fireplace needed to catch-up with the new Coastal look of the great room. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
A neutral natural stone now reflects the updated sea & sand color scheme. Running the stone facing all the way up the wall makes it the right scale for the great room it now site in. And a rustic, weathered plank mantle finishes it off.     

Coastal Powder Room Update

DESIGN DILEMMA:
Small, traditional space needed an upgrade and updated style and color scheme. 

DESIGN SOLUTION:
A fully tiled wall was the design splash this small space needed to create a real design impact. A new white cabinet & counter with its vessel sink add to the interest. And keeping the cabinet, countertop & sink the same color makes the room feel larger. A fresh, fun, light feeling space

Bathroom Renovations

DESIGN DILEMMA:
Little needed, dark attic room was wasted space in a small home. 

DESIGN SOLUTION:
Convert it into a much needed upstairs bathroom by installing a larger window, choosing all off-white palette to brighten & enlarge the space, maximize storage with inset open shelving.  An updated classic style full bathroom fits right in with a vintage Bungalow style home.

Living Room Converts to a Home Office

DESIGN DILEMMA:
A large, formal living room space didn’t fit the lifestyle needs of this financial professional. 

DESIGN SOLUTION
Convert it into an office where.

Home office furniture, decor & wall colors were selected to convey a professional image, & to maximize functionality.

Now clients can be seen in  a professioanl setting and right off the entry away from the private living areas.

Great Room Conversion

DESIGN DILEMMA:
With all the walls gone in this great room conversion the new large empty space needed to be decorated and styled.

DESIGN SOLUTION:
A sectional & area rug defined the lounging/TV area, & an area rug sets apart the dining space. The same style table chairs are coordinated at the island. And the mixed white color scheme creates flow throughout the overall space. Everything is arranged  for easy, informal entertaining and everyday living spaces.

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What Clients Say

“Well worth it – I couldn’t have ever come up with…your great design.”
B. Ruzerick
"I worked with Mary… on giving my main floor a “facelift”, and I loved the results… Mary was a dream to work with, listened to all of my thoughts, concerns, and offered expert advice."
S Hayman
"Mary listened to my design ideas and provided constructive input as to the myriad of choices necessary in a remodel. Mary always gave me a variety of choices for each decision… Mary has changed my house into a home, she’s a pleasure to work with."
F. Noll
"Having recently moved, we were eager to have our home look and feel finished… the transformation … from that “just moved-in look” to our dream home was amazing… Exceeded our expectations."
L. Jacobsen
"Mary is always quick, responsive and extremely helpful. I absolutely love working with her… has literally held our hands throughout the whole decision making process… can’t thank you enough for everything you have done."
S. Stewart
"I have had Mary redo all my rooms in my home throughout the past 15 years, including holiday decorating. She also has assisted with a bathroom remodel. Mary is quick, meets deadlines and is truly a professional in that she has knowledge of all styles, quality and is delightful to work with… I’m still amazed each time she has finished a project."
A. Skoog
"Mary Brown is a true professional and did a fantastic job guiding me through much needed updates to my home. She was able to see which direction I wanted to go and gently but efficiently helped me make the right choices. I’m delighted with the results… and recommend her to anyone who is ready for a change, but might be afraid to take the leap."
C. Hill

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Mary Brown of One Day Design

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425-977-5599 / Office

Mary@OneDayDesign.com

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  25+ Years of creating comfortably inviting designer spaces seen on HGTV 
Best of HOUZZ 2017-2025

ONE DAY DESIGN in Seattle, Washington, United States on Houzz

https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/one-day-design-pfvwus-pf~1258295734

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