An Infusion of Cool Revived This Outdated Living Room

Heather and Jorge Anaya’s favorite thing about their living room when they first moved into this St. Charles, IL, house? “The view of our backyard—we didn’t know what to do with the space inside!” says Heather.

The previous owners of the 1981 home had painted the walls a modern gray (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore), but the dingy brick fireplace and decades-old ceiling fan combined with the dark wood beams left the room looking worn out. Heather and Jorge made do with what they had, plopping a well-loved sectional and matching ottoman in the middle of the space where they and their kids could watch TV.

Eventually they tapped designer Shannon Peppeard, who knew just how to pull the room into this century: chic furniture, punches of pattern, and a fireplace facelift. She also took on the room’s wet bar, once hidden by outdated bifold closet doors (see next page). “We used to just show the bar to friends as a joke, as in, Ha ha, isn’t this awful?” says Heather. Adds Jorge, “Our living room is a much more social and energetic place now. It matches our family.”

Reno Details

Curtains

Raspberry-hued linen curtains (the fabric is by Peter Dunham Textiles) play off the blue-and-fuchsia wallpaper (by Phillip Jeffries) in the built-ins. “They brighten the whole room,” says Heather.

Lighting

Way more fab than the fan: a mid-century-inspired light by Shades of Light. Its flat shape and glass globes freshen up the wood beams.

Fireplace

As the rest of the space came together, the brick seemed even more ancient. A few coats of rich blue paint (Indigo Batik by Sherwin-Williams) and a shiny gold-finish fireplace screen from Z Gallerie made it look as good as new.

Seating

A pair of 88-inch sofas (these are from Rowe Furniture) with mix-and-match pillows have a fresh vibe the sectional lacked, and also make for easier conversation. The metal-frame armchair by Jayson Home and pink velvet stools from Target offer extra seating—and extra kapow. The rug is from Surya.

Open Shelves

Glass ones show off that funky geometric Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. For glitz, Shannon used brass-finish brackets from World Market that match the faucet from Delta. The countertops are white quartz.