Westport Living Room with Book Nook
ABOUT
Our client wanted to update her fireplace and add a cozy corner across the room for relaxation. “This family room next to the kitchen is the heart of the home,” Jeff says. “But it was a little drab and outdated.” Our goal was to blend modern and traditional elements to create a livelier and more visually appealing space, without sacrificing comfort.
We work with a number of skilled masons who are great at tackling projects like these, and were excited to get started.
Clients have different levels of preference with regards to how involved they are in the design process. In this project, we worked closely with Kathryn to select the most important elements – and learned that she has a great eye for aesthetics!
GALLERY
THE MANTELPIECE CENTERPIECE
Titus Built has a private source for reclaimed lumber, so we visited to inspect dozens of beams for the mantel. Our client fell in love with this hand-hewn one based on its character, and wanted us to design the rest of the room around it.
“I personally enjoyed hand-selecting the beam, which our source cut and rotated, working around the mortise and tenon joints to present the best view of the beam. You can see the axe marks from the original cutting of the bark and sizing of the beam.” Jeff
Requests like this are a Titus Built specialty – we bring our expertise to your ideas to realize your vision. With the reclaimed beam as our starting point, we set about designing the rest of the room.
INNER BEAUTY, COASTAL VIBES
Inside, the heart of the home – the kitchen and living areas – were reimagined for modern living.
By breaking barriers and adopting an open-concept design, these spaces now breathe freely, bathed in generous natural sunlight.
The master suite transitioned into a tranquil haven, and the adjoining master bathroom mirrors this serenity, offering spa-like luxury after long beach days.
Motorized window blinds, a modern fireplace, and strategic lighting further accentuate the home’s refined interiors.
THE STONE
Personally selected by the homeowner, this naturally veined, honed-finish Apollo marble, with its varied tones and flowing striations, is the perfect contrast to the warm and weathered mantle.
OTHER DETAILS
This hearthstone is very modern in style, Jeff says, and to match it, we installed modern wallpaper, wainscoting, and lighting – this includes recessed ceiling lights as well as a chandelier. Adding coffered ceilings with shiplap, beams, and crown molding gave the whole room an expansive feel.
READING ROOM
Shifting focus to the other side of the room, we gave this corner a major overhaul. It had originally housed a wet bar, but by the time we arrived, it was an empty slice of wall with unattached plumbing fixtures. With a lot of careful technical work, we transformed it into this charming and pleasantly lit book nook for our client to enjoy.
“We installed a sconce and recessed lighting in the nook; both of these are on a dimmer so you can create mood lighting or switch to task lighting.”
We built the wooden frame for the nook, and had an upholsterer create a custom pillowed fabric backing for the seat. You can lean against the wall in comfort and experience its pleasant texture! Storage underneath leaves plenty of room for reading material.
Finally, we enhanced the transition from living to dining room and kitchen by installing a new dining room window and more custom lighting.
“They’re incredibly easy to work with...they are all so respectful of my space & my family’s space.”