Old World Elegance

The classic elegance of Old World style decor is sometimes considered too formal for everyday living. However, designer Chevyn Grappi found ways to incorporate this style into her home while keeping it comfortable and casual enough for her active young son. She wanted to convey a rich, inviting look throughout her home by using:

• gold tones on the walls and in the furniture and accessories
• textured fabrics and accessories
• textiles as wall hangings and table drapes
• green as an accent color in the all-white kitchen
• pink tones in the master bedroom for a lively, but feminine look

Grappi chose a golden color palette and interesting textures for the living and dining area to complement her ornate style. A gold-accented mirror hangs above the fireplace, while Napoleonic beads rest on the mantel. The club chairs are covered in luxurious gold and silver woven fabric and the end table is layered with Italian fabric and a cut-velvet Victorian throw. Grappi describes how this layering effect not only looks elegant, but also creates extra storage space by hiding a TV, fax machine and videos underneath.

Even though the dining table looks delicate, it's actually the best choice for her family. The stone table base is already heavily distressed and the thick glass top is nearly resistant to chips and nicks. Grappi chose green as the accent color for the kitchen because she says it's a "life-giving " color. The Shanghai jade countertop blends perfectly with the white cabinets and deep green stove.

The master bedroom takes on a more feminine approach with intense, but soothing shades of pink. She is also able to show off her quilt collection and solve another storage dilemma by using a file cabinet as a nightstand table base. She places a round piece of plywood on top of the file cabinet, covers it with a quilt then tops it off with a round piece of glass.