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A Luxurious Home Makeover Gives Traditional Pieces Modern Charm

From: Duet Design Group

Prior to renovation, this family home was full of dark, intricate pieces that felt like a bit of a snooze. After an opulent make-under with contemporary touches, it’s now a warm and welcoming space that invites guests to bask in luxury and let their hair down at the same time.

Light-Drenched Living Room Ready for Entertaining Friends

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Light-Drenched Living Room Ready for Entertaining Friends

Handsome seating in beige and blue encourage relaxed conversation and casual entertaining. Lightening the natural wood on the ceiling beams and simplifying the fireplace opens the space, making the most of the copious light from the windows. A pair of distinctive floral chintz chairs overlook matching blue ottomans and the newly brightened stone fireplace.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Living Room

Before its redesign, this living room was out of balance, overpowered by the dark wood in the ceiling beams and on the substantial fireplace surround.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Breakfast Nook

Before redesign, the breakfast nook presented a traditional motif.

Intimate Breakfast Nook for Family Meals or Homework

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Intimate Breakfast Nook for Family Meals or Homework

The breakfast nook is now an inviting and practical work-or-play space. The round dark wood table is balanced by the grey wood and upholstered chairs — a welcoming spot for kids to complete homework and the family to gather for casual meals. A simple iron chandelier with oversized prisms adds a touch of formality to the space. The addition of built-in bookcases offers ample storage for serve ware and cookbooks.

Tasteful White Kitchen With Distinctive Accents

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Tasteful White Kitchen With Distinctive Accents

The kitchen's oversized marble island gracefully lit by glass vase-shaped pendants encourages guests to converse with the chef in comfort while the meal is prepared. Black counters and the distinctive matte black range hood with mill straps play off the light subway tile backsplash and extensive white cabinetry. Porcelain pulls and upholstered stools add a touch of country.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Dining Room

The formal dining room wanted an update to its transitional style.

Graceful Formal Dining Room in Perfect Harmony

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Graceful Formal Dining Room in Perfect Harmony

The formal dining room's walls were treated in designer wallpaper in pale blues and pinks and the chandelier was updated to glass to improve the light balance in the room. The original fireplace now works with the white wainscoting and ceiling to augment the natural light flowing in.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Butler's Pantry

The butler's pantry needed an identity that complemented the dining room without mimicking it.

Butler's Pantry Is a Sapphire in Dining Room's Crown

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Butler's Pantry Is a Sapphire in Dining Room's Crown

Soothing blue hues and a clever use of texture bestows unique character on the butler's pantry while harmonizing with the lighter blue tones in the dining room's elegant wallpaper. The addition of colored prisms to a vintage crystal chandelier adds sparkle and style appropriate for preparing the next round of bubbly for cherished guests on a celebratory occasion.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Sitting Room

The muted tones of the sitting room before redesign lacked inspiration.

Intimate Sitting Room for Basking in Blue

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Intimate Sitting Room for Basking in Blue

The sitting room is reborn as an intimate den to entertain guests after dinner, with the club chairs and sofa arrangement optimally conducive to cozy conversation. The bold extension of the soothing blue wall color to the built-in bookcases, wainscoting and crown molding cocoons the room's occupants in a cheerful tranquility reminiscent of a French chateau retreat.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Powder Bath

A bulky vanity, dark walls and a black counter and sink made for a close and oppressive powder room before redesign.

Distinctive Powder Bath Brings the Glamour

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Distinctive Powder Bath Brings the Glamour

The updated powder room feels light as a cardinal feather with the designer's strategic use of bold color and neutrals, harmoniously balancing the light. Luxurious marble flooring, silk wallcoverings and a hand-painted vanity in wine with metallic leaf accents accomplished the designer's aim to subtly "bring the glamour."

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Understated Entry a Quiet Welcome

A flush-mount crystal light fixture adds a bit of sparkle to an understated foyer, minimally furnished with a Scandinavian-style table and traditional scrollwork on the staircase railing, and lightly adorned with meaningful art pieces. The designer wanted the entry to be "a warm and welcoming space to quietly usher one's senses into a home that will surprise them from room to room." Mission accomplished.

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Tasteful Stairwell With Art Wall

Light-colored walls and a stately black-and-gold antique chandelier update the stairs and landing through classic touches. The owner's art scrolls have beautiful new homes in black shadowbox frames so they stand out beautifully and can be enjoyed from the landing to the foyer.

Photo: Duet Design Group. From: Duet Design Group

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BEFORE: Primary Bedroom

Before redesign, the primary bedroom's maple sleigh bed was stifled by the wall color and the canopy at its head.

Primary Bedroom Is a Sun-Kissed Sanctuary

Photo: Emily Minton Redfield. From: Duet Design Group

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Primary Bedroom Is a Sun-Kissed Sanctuary

The primary bedroom is now a sun-kissed sanctuary. The maple sleigh bed and reverse-painted mirror add both color and depth to a serene space further expanded with updated wallcovering and light furniture. The colors in the mirror frame dictate the accent colors in the room to superb effect. And the client's dog is quite obviously impressed with the designer's improvements.

Duet Design Group

A Luxurious Home Makeover Gives Traditional Pieces Modern Charm

Light-Drenched Living Room Ready for Entertaining Friends

BEFORE: Living Room

BEFORE: Breakfast Nook

Intimate Breakfast Nook for Family Meals or Homework

Tasteful White Kitchen With Distinctive Accents

BEFORE: Dining Room

Graceful Formal Dining Room in Perfect Harmony

BEFORE: Butler's Pantry

Butler's Pantry Is a Sapphire in Dining Room's Crown

BEFORE: Sitting Room

Intimate Sitting Room for Basking in Blue

BEFORE: Powder Bath

Distinctive Powder Bath Brings the Glamour

Understated Entry a Quiet Welcome

Tasteful Stairwell With Art Wall

BEFORE: Primary Bedroom

Primary Bedroom Is a Sun-Kissed Sanctuary

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