HGTV Urban Oasis 2013: Living Room Pictures

A warm, cozy contemporary space that showcases locally sourced furnishings and art, this living room offers breathtaking views of Boston's Public Garden, Beacon Street and Charles River.

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February 09, 2015

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When interior designer Lindsay Pumpa first peered out the HGTV Urban Oasis 2013 windows, the shimmering dome of the Massachusetts State House came into clear focus. "It was one of the first things that caught my eye," she says. "I wanted to see that color used throughout this apartment as my warm accent color."

A sectional upholstered in a soft linen/cotton blend boxweave fabric invites relaxation. Linen and mohair pillows, tucked in each corner, represent shades borrowed from the city's vibrant landscape.

Close at hand should evenings turn chilly, a soft and cozy throw blanket in a muted shade of pumpkin anchors a mirrored serving tray.

Views from the apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows informed the color palette. The Charles River, Longfellow Bridge and the Cambridge skyline are among sights visible from the living room.

Nestled 24 floors above Boston's theater district, HGTV Urban Oasis looks out over Boston's historic Public Garden and Beacon Street.

"We made a concerted effort to allow access to the view," says apartment planner Jack Thomasson, "making sure that there wasn't anything prohibiting you from literally going to the window, standing at the window and soaking in every inch of the view."

Keyes, an 8-foot-wide print mounted on Japanese paper by painter and printmaker John Thompson, provides a focal point as well as a pop of color.

Boston furniture craftsman Jamie Cumming scours New England lumber yards to source wood to fashion his collection of slab tables. This side table with a welded steel flat bar base features a bigleaf maple top.

A shaggy, hand-tufted 100 percent wool pile rug anchors the living room seating area. "You honestly want to curl up in it," says Lindsay Pumpa, who selected the rug to add a cozy touch and counter the room's sleek, contemporary furnishings.

A natural, spa-like element, white orchids nestled in a bed of river pebbles lean toward the sun, their roots intertwining to create intriguing visual interest.

Fashioned from maple wood and veneers, a two-drawer dresser with sliding panels serves as storage unit, console table and bar.

The bar is illuminated by contemporary linen-shade-topped table lights. A mirrored glass serving tray, paired with a stainless steel orb-stopped wine decanter, holds wineglasses, napkins and a hammered metal serving bowl filled with fresh lemons.

Reflective surfaces, whether hammered metal or mirrored, are part of a strategy to brighten and visual expand the rooms.

The electric fireplace, powered by eco-friendly Fanola oil, offers both warmth and ambiance during winter months. "High rises can tend to be on the cold side, so the fireplace lends a nice homey feel," says Lindsay Pumpa.

Selection of low-profile furnishings was purposeful: when one walks into the apartment, views through floor-to-ceiling windows remain unobstructed.

The weathered patina of an armless sculpture, selected in a local design showroom, complements the room's color palette. "The figure ended up over by the window, That way you are never lonely when you are looking out on Boston," says Lindsay Pumpa.

"When it came to designing the living room, I wanted a space where you could curl up and really enjoy Boston," says Lindsay Pumpa. "Everything from the color scheme to furniture selections and the gorgeous city view — all came in to play when making final design decisions."

A button-tufted leather and chrome side chair keeps the design gender-neutral. "You never want to typecast it too much," says Lindsay Pumpa. "A guy probably wouldn't want to come home to crystal sconces and a pink pillow."

The apartment color palette is informed by "what's going on outside the windows," says Lindsay Pumpa, who pulled clay, brown and neutral tones from Boston's own cityscape. Furnishings and accessories naturally fell into place. "I sat down and took a look at my palette and said, 'What would I want to walk into every day and not get tired of,'" she adds.