A Boho Momcave : A Design Preview

When my client, Audrey, and I decided to work together in the early Fall, we were originally going to work on her bedroom. Then there was a last minute change, she decided she would prefer to work on an unused formal dining room at the top of the stairs of her brand new home, which would be better suited as a ‘chill zone’ for the new mom. Audrey wanted a space to sit and read, relax without a TV with her daughter, throw an impromptu girls’ get-together, etc. I was instantly excited, as I have been given the opportunity lately to design more and more relaxation chambers during this COVID/quarantine moment in our history.

Since this was an E-Design project, everything was discussed through Email and Zoom, using 3D renderings and visual presentations to go through and explain each and every detail of this project. Audrey took measurements with my guidance, and also photographed the room for “before” angles. Through this project, located in Atlanta, I wanted to prove to the client and many others who doubt the possibility of E-Design, that it is in fact, possible. Furthermore, as a mother, I wanted to show how delegating interior design can be helpful for your mental load. Most of what I do, can be done virtually—I can envision a room no matter what. Would I like to experience the space in person? Of course! But with my imagination & expertise, it isn’t very hard to do that from afar. All I need are measurements + photos (maybe a video) to understand the space a little better. (And it’s a lot more cost-effective on the clients’ end!)

Ok back to the project! Audrey, being a plant lover and natural bohemian, meant the space should exude tropical vibes with a refined edge, including and using as many updated earth tones as possible. This was all described and depicted through the initial mood board (above). With a new daughter beginning to crawl around, I first and foremost wanted the room to be curvy and round. It was a square room by definition, but there were openings on two sides—one leading to a hall and another side bordered with a low stair railing, which made the space planning slightly tricky. We did not want the space to block off the openings, allowing for a flow and airiness that could accept versatility down the line, however I didn’t want it to be a typical ‘sofa/daybed on the back wall’ setup… It helped to think about the impact I wanted the room to have as one walked up the stairs to enter the room, and I wanted it to reflect my client as much as possible, while inviting others in.

So, we moved on with a floor plan, one in which I placed a curved sofa caddy-cornered in the room, and organized the rest of the room around this main seating area. While sourcing, I tried to find round edges, intricate details, soft velvety fabrics, all for the purposes of accommodating both mom and child in the room. Because…I had an experience once when my son was 1 year old and a very sharp coffee table edge…ouch!! Don’t wish that on any new mom, at all.

Beginning with the floor covering, we chose a shag rug from AllModern to lay the foundation for the fuzzy and warm room. Adding a layer of sisal to the mix, we incorporated an H&M rectangular sisal rug layered above the shag rug, finishing the area with a rattan round coffee table. Next, we chose a burnt orange curved sofa with brass legs as the main piece, sourcing a brass table to finish the arrangement (because every room needs a brass/metal element). Finally, we framed the windows with a beautiful pair of airy patterned curtains from Anthropologie on a brass curtain rod, added height with a vintage bamboo bookcase from a local shop + a tall linen mid-century floor lamp. Behind the sofa, I envisioned a wild tropical plant on a colorful stand from EcoVibe Style for additional height and unruly charm. On the floor, adding more layers, I sourced a few colorful velvet floor pillows, where I know a group of girlfriends will sit to chat and laugh into the morning hours, while pouring wine and enjoying a lovely spread on the coffee table.

Now let’s talk paint. I love a moody and dark room! I think it feels cozy and a lot less sterile in a small room, than a basic white (although there’s a place for white too). From the photos my client sent of the space, I could already tell this room was in a bright corner of the home, which meant it could handle a dark color while maintaining it’s luminosity. Hence the instant attraction to the moody green color “Current Mood” by Clare Paint. Since a stair rail divided the walls in the room, we decided to paint the upper half in green, and maintain a warm gray for the lower half (“Beiging“ by Clare Paint). We chose the gray to update the earth tones incorporated in the room, adding a modern flair.

Finally…styling:

Let’s bring wallfans back huh? I was on the hunt for a bamboo flag for God knows how long…and finally came upon the final selection. I can often get obsessed with an idea and rack up hours looking for the perfect thing to satisfy that idea (that’s the perfectionist in me). But…I really wanted something to majorly frame my clients sofa without being typical bohemian wall decor. At first we envisioned a mirror, but it just was not cutting it for me…so we switched to the fan. The sofa is styled with pillows from Jungalow, while the shelves on the bookcase are styled with accessories and fun objects from Urban Outfitters. We could not forget about the growing baby who will always follow her mom around, and added a few footed baskets from EcoVibe Style for lingering toys and blankets near the stair railing.

We love how the space turned out, and are excited to finally reveal the project after a medium-long wait. See more from this project on our Instagram, however below you can lay your eyes on this beautiful rendering from Duke Renders. Note: Many changes have been made ;)