San Francisco Living Room Designed to Wow Guests
A designer renovates a traditional space with contemporary flair for homeowners who frequently host events
After the wife’s new job brought their family from New York City to San Francisco, this couple reached out to designer Noz Nozawa to renovate their home’s traditional living room. “She’s the head of a private school in the city, so they have to host a lot of events, fundraisers and board meetings at their home,” Nozawa says. “They wanted a room that could spark conversations and have a little glam to it.”
With the black-and-white color palette set for the living room walls, Nozawa turned to furniture and accessories to add color to the space. A streamlined sofa covered in green crushed velvet lines one wall, while a midcentury-inspired white sofa topped with colorful throw pillows anchors another.
The custom wool area rug features geometric lines of dusty lavender and deep plum. “The rug was one of the last additions to the room,” Nozawa says. “It’s a large piece that helps to unify the separate seating areas.”
Shop for velvet sofas
The custom wool area rug features geometric lines of dusty lavender and deep plum. “The rug was one of the last additions to the room,” Nozawa says. “It’s a large piece that helps to unify the separate seating areas.”
Shop for velvet sofas
Because the living room ceiling is relatively low, Nozawa opted to keep it free of pendants and chandeliers. Instead, the space features multiple floor lamps and wall sconces.
The lacquered brass sconces on the wall above the white sofa are identical to the ones the homeowners had in a vacation house in New York. “The sconces stayed with the house when they sold it, but they loved them so much they had me find an identical pair for this space,” Nozawa says.
The lacquered brass sconces on the wall above the white sofa are identical to the ones the homeowners had in a vacation house in New York. “The sconces stayed with the house when they sold it, but they loved them so much they had me find an identical pair for this space,” Nozawa says.
The wife’s favorite color is purple, so Nozawa covered a pair of midcentury-inspired armchairs in purple tweed with leather trim. The black leather daybed allows guests to face the fireplace and armchairs or face toward the sofas on the other side of the room.
Not wanting the hassle of storing firewood and paying attention to which days were safe to burn wood, the homeowners opted to close off the fireplace flue in favor of flameless candles that provide a warm glow at night.
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Not wanting the hassle of storing firewood and paying attention to which days were safe to burn wood, the homeowners opted to close off the fireplace flue in favor of flameless candles that provide a warm glow at night.
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Search for an interior designer
Browse flameless candles
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three with a dog
Location: San Francisco
Size: About 425 square feet (39.5 square meters)
Designer: Noz Design
The living room’s new black-and-white wallpaper features a bold, graphic design that demands attention but is also tempered by all of the room’s original millwork, which includes wainscoting, ceiling beams, built-in bookshelves and a fireplace mantel. “Because of all the white millwork, I felt confident that the wallpaper wouldn’t overwhelm the room,” Nozawa says.
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