Transforming A West Chester Suburban Home
This beautiful project holds a special place in our hearts, as it was our first official project at CarMELLA Design Studio! We had the privilege of working with a wonderful family that just so happened to be close friends of our founder Carly—cue the extra excitement (and maybe a tiny bit of extra pressure)! Meet Gina and Steve, their two amazing kids, and their adorable pup. This family of five entrusted us with their West Chester suburban home, and they had a vision: to transform their space from dark, cluttered, and heavy to light, bright, and modern, with a sprinkle of glam. We did our absolute best to deliver, and– spoiler alert–they loved the results so much that they invited us back for two more projects!
Before
Our goal with this first phase of the project was to create a cozy, modern oasis for the entire family to enjoy. We focused on three of the high-use areas in the home: the formal living room, dining room, and powder room. With Gina’s love of modern style and her desire to throw in a little twist of glam at the top of our minds, we got to work.
We like to start our projects with a fresh canvas, so we assessed the paint colors in each room. Transforming a space isn’t just about organizing and decluttering; if a room has the wrong paint on the walls or an inefficient layout, it can feel “off” no matter how well-organized it is. One thing we’ve learned over the years is that a little white paint can work wonders. Benjamin Moore's “Simply White” brought the perfect amount of warmth to both the living room and powder room. This color never fails to brighten a room without making it too “yellow,” or feeling too stark and cold, and in this case, it made an instant impact. The dining room, however, was a different story–we decided to keep the existing lovely blue paint and simply update the furniture and the layout.
After
We replaced the heavier furniture with lighter, more modern pieces, chose a contemporary rug, swapped out the light fixture, updated the artwork and decor, and voilà—the room felt refreshed and transformed. The difference was so striking it looked almost like a renovation! This project is a great example of how much impact thoughtful styling and updated furniture can have.
One of the most special spaces we worked on was the family’s formal living room. The existing furniture made the room feel very closed in, so our main goal was to lighten it up and create a space where the family would want to spend their time. We transformed it into a cozy lounge for relaxing together, without distractions. We incorporated a sleek bar cart and cabinet, kept the gorgeous grand piano for family concerts, and curated a custom gallery wall that reflected their love of NYC and Philadelphia.
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At CarMELLA Design Studio, we love infusing spaces with personal touches. The gallery wall in their lounge is a celebration of the family’s story, featuring personalized pieces from Etsy and custom-designed elements (we even created one of the pieces ourselves!). Every detail was chosen with their unique preferences in mind, making the space truly theirs.
After
They wanted a bright, inviting space with no tv to relax, sip wine, or sample from their bourbon collection—and we delivered. This room is now a haven for real connection and conversation, featuring elegant yet comfortable furniture. We even incorporated their favorite color, blue, as a nod to their love of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Finally, we gave the powder room a facelift using one of our favorite design techniques: a wallpaper accent wall. This added a pop of intrigue to complement the fresh white paint. We also installed shelving and added a few key design elements to bring personality to the small space. A new, modern mirror added the perfect finishing touch, creating more dimension.
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The results speak for themselves. The rooms are now brighter, more functional, and perfectly tailored to this special family’s taste and needs. As mentioned earlier, they loved the results so much that they invited us back for more–stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of this exciting project!
Ready to transform your own home into a space that feels like you and enhances your family’s comfort and daily life? At CarMELLA Design Studio, we create functional, beautiful spaces that bring peace and joy to everyday rhythms. Whether you’re looking for a small decor update or a full organization overhaul, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and see how we can make your home a true reflection of your lifestyle. Let’s turn your space into a place you can’t wait to come home to!