Wow Home Idea

Henry in the entry of her house in Connecticut. She designed the chair balusters, which are painted in Benjamin Moore‘s Dragon‘s Breath. Ball & Albanese Former Brooklynite Robin Henry now calls Connecticut home. Her lively, elegant rooms mix contemporary and traditional touches and fit in effortlessly just about anywhere. Below, a glimpse at one of Henry's projects. This living room in a prewar Manhattan apartment had good bones but was dark. To accomodate her clients, Robin Henry also need to make the space as multifunctional as possible. She chose neutral hues for the walls and curtains, then brightened everything up with a sofa in an electric blue Designtex mohair and an embroidered rug by Fedora Design. A Robsjohn-Gibbings card table and Ward Bennett chair provide a work station and a dose of modernity. Eric Piasecki The upholstered armchair swivels for ease of conversation between the room's different zones, and a settee in Norbar Fabrics linen, finished with a c...

Getty Images Royal life is clearly far and away from our own (when tiaras are a legitimate wardrobe option for you, you've made it big). But we rarely a get a peek into the everyday minutia of the royal family's life. What do they eat for breakfast? How soft do they like their bed pillows? And do they — gasp — enjoy the same TV shows we do?  During a visit from New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Queen Elizabeth recently invited the media inside her personal sitting area at Windsor Castle – and revealed a glimpse into her home life that is paradoxically shocking in its mundaneness. She has regular a ol' TV remote! And according to People ,  she keeps a printed channel guide in a leather book on a side table. So obviously, the Queen must be binge-watching her favorite shows (and making sure she doesn't miss the Great British Bake Off) just like the rest of us. All sorts of knick-knacks can be found on her desk (which seems a tad cluttered ...

This is the space where you're supposed to unwind in after a long day, but if it's cramped and cluttered you're never going to find that zen. That is, unless you trick your eye into thinking your room is bigger than it appears. These design ideas will help you do just that. Christopher Baker Keep curtains and shades light. Beige curtains and shades coordinate with the walls in the living room of Lisa McFadden's Hamptons cottage, a trick that helps maximize light. Get a similar look: beige curtain panels ($$, amazon.com ) David Tsay Go big on the floor. In Justina Blakeney's boho-chic "Jungalow" home, bolder is always better. This is especially true in the living room, right down to the brilliant blue rug (part of Blakeney's collection for Loloi). Choosing a larger rug — even in an eye-catching pattern — is a decision that makes a room feel bigger. Unlike smaller rugs, the large size doesn't visually break up the floor. Get a similar look: d...

Kevin Sparkman When interior designer Stacey Cohen first saw the dark fireplace and oversized built-in cabinets in the family room of her clients's home, she knew she had her work cut out for her.  The fireplace sat at an awkward angle, but moving it could have resulted in mechanical complications, and the built-ins completely overwhelmed the space. Both fixtures left the room feeling disjointed and thrown together, far from a cohesive spot for the family to gather. The plan: To keep it simple and clean, Cohen says. "The goal for the room was to be sophisticated and timeless." Kevin Sparkman Cohen started the room's transformation by integrating a hand-sculpted silver leaf cabinet where the built-ins used to be, and covering the fireplace in a beautiful limestone by Maro Bianco.  Banana leaf wallpaper was added to the rest of the room to mimic the fireplace's new look, and furniture...

Dress up your living room's coziest focal point with these unexpected ideas. ROWENA NAYLOR/STOCKSY Add a Pop of Drama Use your mantel as a ledge to prop up your favorite colorful painting — it's a fresher, yet more casual, look than hanging it. Mark Lund/Getty Images Stack Colorful Books A fully-stocked bookcase makes any room instantly cozier, but your library shouldn't be confined to tightly packed shelves. Stacking volumes on a mantel brings a lived-in vibrancy to your home — and may just inspire a bit of fireside reading. Valerie Wilcox/Offset Prop Up a Mirror Mirrors make any room seem more expansive, so place one above a fireplace for a bit of optical magic. Pick a mirror with a simple frame to prevent your mantel from looking overcrowded. ZACH DESART/OFFSET Scatter Succulents You don't need to have a green thumb to bring the outside in. A couple of potted succulents gives a plain mantel a modern twist. David Prince/Offset Display Assorted Antiques A curated...

No matter the style, these spaces are full of charm. Max Kim-Bee 19th-Century Gothic This antiques-filled Georgia living room features a French daybed, trumeau mirror, Chinese porcelain birds, and a Louis XV side chair. Max Kim-Bee Rustic Elegance Designer John Oetgen used classic furniture, art, and quirky pieces (like the frog stool) to add personality to the oak-paneled living room in his North Carolina mountain house. Melanie Acevedo Bold Colors & Patterns Danielle Rollins' opulent Atlanta home, designed by Miles Redd, has a living room that can seat 40 and features an Oushak carpet, walls upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils silk satin, and a painting by Agustin Hurtado. Max Kim-Bee Historic Reverence The faded coral Robert Kime curtains informed the color palette of this grand Hot Springs, Virginia, home, which has hosted Thomas Edison and President Grover Cleveland. Mali Azima Neutral Palette Interior designer Mimi Williams' went with neutrals in her Atlanta li...