topic Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS in Home

TWO LIVING ROOMS

Oznell — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 13:36:17 GMT

Homeworthy showcased a Texas couple's house-- she's the designer, he's a builder. Gibbs Design and Build, Rebecca and Lucas Gibbs.

But before the living room, have to show the outstanding millwork Lucas himself did in the entry. Love any kind of box paneling effect--

It makes a beautiful, generous lead-in to the living room. Love the art displayed here too.

The living room is a welcome surprise-- a moody combination of blues, browns and touches of creamy white, a classic mix. All the trim, including the strikingly robust crown molding, was done by Lucas to Rebecca's exacting specifications.

It's eclectically furnished with antique finds, vintage from Facebook marketplace, and treasures from the famed Round Top Antiques fair. The showstopping French mirror, which looks like white plaster, was found there.

She repeats the creamy color of the mirror, with the white chairs and coffee table. The frame TV above the credenza on the left wall, blends in seamlessly.

She said the family lives fairly "hard" in here, with their little boys-- so the coffee table with its ingenious nesting tables, is a real boon. I love the soft wool rug too. ( you can get a much better look at it if you go to the online Homeworthy video.)

More of Lucas's meticulous work in the mantel.

I was interested in the sophisticated wall and trim treatment. The walls are Sherwin Williams "Foggy Day" in eggshell, and the trim is Benj. Moore "Denim Wash" in semigloss. ( Happily, Rebecca is one of those designers who wants us to know the exact paint colors, ha.)

Interestingly, she said that, in other contexts, with a more neutral trim, "Foggy Day" comes off as a kind of slate-y blue. But with a 'true blue' trim like "Denim Wash", it looks more like a complex bluey-greeney-gray, as it does here. Love this stuff!

Can't leave without showing a glimpse of the impeccable kitchen, with more of Lucas's handiwork-- including those intricate lattice work cupboards, which continue around the kitchen!

And Rebecca meticulously hand-painted the tone-on-tone wall mural in the light-filled dining room. The whimsical dove painting was done by her too, surrounded by a lovely scattering of her charming plates....

Whew, I can't help going on and on when a house has that much talent and originality going on.

This second living room, by Amber Interiors in California, has Amber's trademark breeziness--

Her coffee tables have interesting artifacts. Is that a little antique shaving brush in a bowl there??? Or is it a mortar and pestle?

Love how the botanicals repeat the color of the little fireplace stools.

Amber's another one with an eye for very individualistic art. Of course, art's a very personal thing-- but I find this little spotlit donkey so interesting. I hope that cabal of humans over on the side mean him only the best!! Could stare for a long time at this. The weathered pottery is the perfect counterpoint.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

tends2dogs — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 13:53:51 GMT

Good morning, @Oznell . Thank you for sharing these two very different homes. The second is beautiful, I would change very little. It is my taste.

The first one is a true testament of Mr. Gibb's talent and skills. I don't feel his craft was showcased, however, with the choice of colors used. They were extremely dreary. I felt the furniture was dreadful and a mish mash of Mrs. Gibb's "finds". I am all for eclectic, but this didn't work for me. I would have to spend my time in the kitchen just to take a deep breath and get a dose of light........and I absolutely hate to cook! lol

Thanks again.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Oznell — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 14:00:14 GMT

I appreciate that, thoughtful @tends2dogs . It's true, not everything is for everyone. My expectation is that more people, following their natural inclinations, would go for Amber's style.

I have a hopelessly split personality-- I find beauty in both!

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

tends2dogs — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 14:06:39 GMT

I certainly find the beauty in the woodworking. My dad was a finish carpenter and our home was a showcase for much of his work so I can appreciate the talent.

@Oznell

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Marsha2003 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:05:17 GMT

Interesting pictures as always, @Oznell . I would hire the woodworker, but neither of the designers. :-)

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Sooner — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:07:42 GMT

All of the above screams old ladies homes from the 1950's. They have too much furniture that is covered in too many busy fabrics, and the rooms are dark and gloomy with a lot of wood framed chairs that are so very uncomfortable.

For me, these are a miss. But I'm old and weird.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Longtimewatcher — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:42:14 GMT

I really appreciate Oznell posting pictures of designer homes! In looking at these two homes the first house has one of my "pet peaves"- chairs that have their backs to the fireplace. Why block a lovely feature with large oversized chairs? Move the two chairs to the other side of the coffee table and get rid of the two chairs with white wooden arms (that look like they belong in a dining room). Her husband is a fantastic craftsman and I love the work he has done but I do not care for her design choices. Thank you again Oznell - I look forward to your sharing your finds!

Two Living Rooms

Longtimewatcher — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:44:03 GMT

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Longtimewatcher — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:52:23 GMT

Sorry about the double post - I have no idea how that happened (obviously operator error)!

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

PamfromCT — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 17:34:42 GMT

Quite interesting! I like quite a bit of furnishings, but this living room has me beat by a mile. It kind of reminds me of a hotel lobby. Blue is my favorite color, but I would have just painted the mantle blue and then painted the walls off-white.

Always fun to see how other people live!

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

manny2 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:06:14 GMT

The overuse of blue can be a little too moody. I find that in the first home.

I like the second one. It has a nice balance.

I like the donkey too. It draws the eye right in and you stay there.

I’m sure the people depicted feel the same way lol.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

GingerHead — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:36:37 GMT

@Oznell Ugh! I am speechless....the beauty and artistic originality of this home has left me speechless. (dramatic pause) haha.

I love love love the Gibbs home. The millwork and the trim, wow! The original mix of moody and light is a true work of art. It's hard to mix both moody and light/ bright/breezy in the same house and I believe in this home it was executed amazingly well.

This has always been my dilemma because I love both moody and light equally ....maybe leaning more moody, really. So it's always been a struggle for me. So this is right up my alley.

I also love the tone on tone mural in her dining room, it gorgeous and the kitchen is stunning as well.

I just love seeing people taking risks and doing what they love in their homes and you can tell this home is well loved.

It's just a beautiful, original jewel of a home that I love and want!

Thanks for the lovely!

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

wilma — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:36:09 GMT

None of these rooms appeal to me. Not my preferred styles, furnishings, accessories, colors and prints.

I can appreciate the woodworking in the first set of photos, but there isn't much else that appeals to me. I like the second living room better, but there are many things I would change. My favorite item in that space is the long multi drawer cabinet.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

skatting44 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:45:53 GMT

Would need to experience the moody blue paint color in person . The photos make it look a bit moody with little light . I don't care for any of the furnishings in the blue room with sofa covered in a blanket , however it is explained that she has young children and they live " hard " in the living room.Maybe the moody blue is to calm rambunctious children

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

shoptilyadropagain — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:55:29 GMT

Neither do anything for me. I don't find anything of interest to me in the first one and it would be a total gut job.

The second room is a bit better but comes off as too bland. It needs some prints for starters.

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

GingerHead — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 19:06:51 GMT

@Oznell

Also, wanted to add that antique french plaster white mirror is so so gorgeous you said it....a true showstopper! My eyes went there first.....

*I couldn't not mention it! haha

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Nonametoday — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:30:10 GMT

@Oznell

I think he has done a great job of craftsmanship. He appears to a natural touch for that. Not many craftsmen left in this country. We buy too much prefab style.

I think she is probably a budding decorator and had a large home to fill and had to do it hurriedly with finds and former possessions, perhaps. I think she has potential and needs a few more courses, perhaps just continuing education but she will learn as she goes. She is trying

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Lilysmom1 — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 08:13:01 GMT

@Oznell , always interesting to see your photos. The first one is too dark for me. I agree with the poster who mentioned the two big chairs in front of the fireplace,ace blocking the view. That would be a big no for me.

I like #2 better.

As I go through your beautiful photos I often wonder what people would say about our own styles.

Thanks for posting!

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

Oznell — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 17:22:36 GMT

@GingerHead , why am I not surprised that your reaction to this house is, by my lights, spot on! Everything you said, ditto.

So much of what I see out there, esp. by young designers, is predictable, "pre-digested", very much 'of its time', not personal to them, etc. There's been a "flattening out" of interior design, for publication anyway. It's been especially so for the last 10 or 15 years.

So I'm always thrilled to see someone with Rebecca's breadth of design knowledge and individuality, who's "instinctive"-- plus has a willingness to experiment, within established design perameters.

Her shop is fabulous too, and other houses she's done. In those, she leans probably more "light and bright", to suit customer taste, but brings that unexpected sensibility. That sensibility is more 'European-out-of-Abilene' (ha) maybe. But is she maximalist? The variety of patterns and fabrics might suggest so. Then you look at her deliberate "under-dressing of the mantel-- and you're out of maximalist territory.

Oh, yes that French mirror!! And I love the way she then repeated the creamy tone two more times for balance-- the ingenious coffee table, and the pair of white fauteuil chairs. Perfect.

Wouldn't it be fun to visit her Abilene shop?

She's both talented, and versatile....

Re: TWO LIVING ROOMS

GingerHead — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 17:43:32 GMT

@Oznell Yes Yes! What you said....I so agree.

Everything is so prefab, predictable and just blah.

I so agree, it's refreshing to see people who just go for it, throw caution to the wind and experiment not worrying if it's "right."

All beautiful! Exquisite!

And yes, that white coffee table is great! I was just so enamored by the structure and mood it evokes that I didn't really look at anything else (furniture, etc) , other than the amazing mirror, of course. haha

Nice pictures (especially the stunning blue mantel) I would love to visit her shop!

Thanks for the lovlies!