Shows on HGTV serve as an inspiration for decorating, but for one detail, Larry Brown got the idea from the ABC drama, “Scandal.”
During one scene of the Washington, D.C.-based show, a paneled wall caught his attention. Brown embarked on a DIY project in his dining area, using a saw to cut trim into different sizes and frame the wall in rectangular boxes.
Brown moved from a condo less than two blocks away, after being surprised by the four-story townhome’s size and place for a home office. He was less impressed with the beige walls that blended into the crown molding.
“I was a little afraid because it was very blah,” he said. “ I was struggling. My sister, Gloria Williams, helped me out. She said, ‘You need to punch it up.’”
Snapshot
Names: Larry Brown, assistant vice president, EDS/content management, SunTrust Bank
Location: Atlanta
Size: 2,583 square feet, three bedrooms, one flex room, three full and two half baths
Year built: 2010
Year bought: 2012
Architectural style: Traditional
Renovations: No structural changes, but Brown added a custom master closet from Closets and More, crown molding, light fixtures and ceiling fans, Frigidaire and GE Appliances from Appliance Smart, and painted.
Renovations cost: $10,000
Design consultants: Gloria Williams, who helped him select fixtures and furniture for the townhome
Interior design style: Transitional
Favorite interior design elements: The intimate feeling in the living room, which also has a stencil of a tree on one wall. "I've got spotlights behind the chair," he said. "You see the lights coming up behind the chairs and shining on the tree. One of my friends says it's like sitting in the forest."
Favorite outdoor feature: The night view of Atlanta from the fourth floor deck, accessible through French doors in the media room.
Resources: Furniture and accessories from ZGallerie, Beddown.com, Amazon.com, Crate and Barrel, Overstock.com, Rooms To Go, TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, Macy's, Bassett, Target, The Home Depot, IKEA, Underpriced Furniture, By Design, Bombay, American Signature.
Paint colors: Behr's Cup of Cocoa (office), Benjamin Moore's Sweatshirt Gray (main floor), Benjamin Moore's Gray Timber Wolf (master bedroom), Valspar's Eddie Bauer Antique Blue (guest bedroom), Behr's Painted Turtle (media room)
Decor tip: Use painter's tape to help with furniture and picture placement.
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