Ilene and Phil are an empty-nester couple in Monterey, CA looking to refresh their sprawling home one project at a time. They asked me to work on their living room's fireplace wall. The goal was to reduce the size of the fireplace surround in order to showcase their art and souvenir collection in a more purposeful way. They love a blend of sleek, modern design with mid-century nods, and aren't afraid of a little whimsy. We turned the modern dial up by bringing the fireplace surround up to the ceiling and cladding it with a gray large-format tile. The base cabinets of the built-ins have a wood tambor finish on the doors to nod to the mid-century style they love. The curve around the corner, sweeping mantle, and skinny bookcase on the left side deliver a playfully balanced asymmetry to delight the eye.
