#houseofGOOci
After hearing a radio advertisement, the couple reached out to CBB Home, knowing they wanted to change the uninspiring sitting room of their Forest, VA, home into a stylish space they could enjoy. Like many homeowners, the client looked around her interior, furnished with outdated decor and heavy window treatments, not knowing where to begin. Despite the extremely high ceilings, antique furniture weighed down the room, inhibiting the eye from being drawn up and limiting the feeling of spaciousness.
Ashley listened to the couples’ request for a tranquil room where they could prepare for the day and unwind on the weekends. She understood their frustration regarding the furniture layout. She took their vision of a “happy Caribbean vibe” and created a plan to transform the space into one that casually says, “Come in, sit down, and enjoy the view!” Inspiration billowed from the couple’s collection of small prints accumulated from their travels in the Bahamas, and Ashley cast her vision to recreate the unwelcoming unused space into an inviting tranquil retreat.
Looking Up
Next, Ashley reimagined the 20’ height, highlighting the vaulted ceiling with custom white-oak beams stained to complement the rattan chandelier hanging from the center beam. The woven light fixture brightens the room with an island vibe, its playful texture teasing you to look up and enjoy the view. In addition to furnishings and window treatments, CBB Home reimagines interiors by specifying and managing trade contractors, like the millwork and electrical work provided in this project.
A neutral area rug defines the sitting area where the clients’ pre-purchased recliners and new chunky-weave fabric ottoman beckon relaxation. But before taking a seat, the eye is drawn to the back gallery wall, where oversized mats and frames display the clients’ tropical vacation artwork. Once stuffed in memory books, the collection became a personal showcase, curating happy memories, coastal colors, and modern simplicity.
Harmonized Style
The family piano, which the wife still plays, brings harmonized warmth into the space with its rich golden wood stain. Various accessories play a light modern tune atop the classic instrument, blending the styles into a fresh transitional aesthetic. The sleek gold-framed artwork washes the music nook with watery blues, tropical aquas, and deep-sea greens. The exquisite design details transform this once-drab music space into a place that invites the client to sit and play her song — to enjoy using her talents and delight in the environment where she makes music.
Easy-Going Process
Of course, just as any vacation (to the Bahamas or elsewhere) requires flexibility, design projects require similar adaptability. When the specified console table arrived in an incompatible shade of blue-green, Ashley and her clients opted for an unfinished wood piece and painted it Quietude from Sherwin-Williams. The problem resulted in a perfect solution, better than the original plan. The watery-blue console whispers a gentle wave of color while anchoring the wall with fresh and fun coastal accessories.
Reminisce and Relax
The final reveal of this project showcases the personalized design service, creativity, project management, and professional installation clients love and expect from CBB Home. From the custom millwork of the beams to the thoughtful use of the clients’ vacation prints, Ashley recreated the dark and dated sitting room into a light-filled haven of tropical tranquility.
On the days when they’d rather be lounging on the beach watching the waves roll in, the #HouseofGOOci homeowners have the next best thing: a retreat filled with coastal touches, a place to reminisce about their Caribbean travels while enjoying the beauty of everyday life at home.
“My clients were easy-going, trusting, and very understanding of the schedule for trades (custom beam and electric work). They were involved but not micro-managing. They fully trusted the process and reaped the benefits of letting our team come in and work our magic”
— Ashley Hilbish, Principal Designer
Designer: Ashley Hilbish
Timeline: 16 weeks from in-home consultation to final install
Budget: Approximately $109/square foot
Furnishings: Ballard Designs, Annie Selke, The Wooden Chair
Paint: Sherwin-Williams [Quietude + Shoji White]
“Ashley and her team at CBB Home helped us transform our outdated formal living room that we never used into a warm, welcoming, relaxing oasis that we now love spending time in every day. Ashley listened to our wants, worked with our must-haves, and designed a room that has exceeded our hopes and dreams. From window treatments to millwork to artwork and decor, the vibe that CBB Home created for us captured our desires perfectly. Working with Ashley and all of the CBB Home staff has been a truly fun adventure and a wonderful experience.”
— House of GOOci Clients
