A Family Room Fit for the Holidays

Jyoti and Peter are happiest when their home is filled with family, friends and food. So it's no surprise that their big suburban home is the place where everyone gathers for celebrations throughout the year. But the crowded, 1980s-inspired room in which they gathered was in desperate need of a makeover. Its purple fireplace, mirrored walls and weathered carpet made the room look anything but festive. With another holiday season quickly approaching and the family gearing up for a big soiree, Jyoti and Peter asked me to create a fabulous new family room: a warm, bright space that would suit the whole gang.

I started the redesign by getting rid of all of the room's eyesores. I ripped out the old fireplace, tore down the multitude of mirrors, replaced the old carpet with some dark walnut flooring and put up a fresh coat of paint.

As for the new design, the couple's love of light gave me my inspiration, and I started by installing lots of recessed lighting with dimmers. I also installed a fixture that would become the room's amazing focal point: a brilliant, crystal-ball chandelier. The giant globe not only gives off light but picks up on the sparkle, shimmer and shine of everything else in its vicinity.

But lighting wasn't the only thing lacking in this space; the whole ambience of the room had to change. So I divided the room into three small zones — a party area, a lounge area and a bar area — and designed them to all flow seamlessly under the giant, glowing orb.

In the party area, I created a feature wall with a sleek new fireplace in the center. The fireplace is clad in warm, large-format limestone and adds a beautiful, contemporary presence to the room. On one side of the fireplace, I installed a media center, complete with a large flat-screen television and new custom cabinetry in dark espresso tones that match the new wood floor. On the other side of the fireplace, I created a banquette, upholstered in lush charcoal velvet, with some accompanying cabinetry. In front of the banquette is a new table that can be used for informal meals.

Across from the banquette, I created the little lounge area with a stone-colored, L-shaped sectional that matches the tones in the fireplace stone. In front of the sectional I put in two beautiful hammered-metal tray tables for drinks and snacks. Of course, the room wouldn't be complete without an area for serving food and beverages, and the small bar area I created boasts a stunning black-quartz countertop, a new bar fridge and a beautiful stainless steel sink.

For the final accents and accessories, I added linen drapes, a slew of candles, a big area rug and throw pillows in sparkly fabrics.