ROCKY STEP // MINIS // MAIN LIVING
The Heart of the Home
One room, lots of ways to gather, relax and spend time together.
Give us warm, give us cozy.
The feeling of home.
The main living open concept layout of Rocky Step was appealing because hello? All my kids in one space? Yes, please. But, because the living room was extremely long and narrow, it created a few challenges when it came to making the space feel intentional, functional and cozy. Rather than treating it as one large living room, we broke it into three distinct spaces—a fireplace area, the main living room and a smaller nook near the back door that could work for breakfast seating or lounging.
By layering in a bazillion blankets (and way too many pillows according to my husband), swapping in more modern light fixtures and building a custom entertainment wall, the space started to feel more connected and more useful for our family.
THE GOAL WASN'T TO MAKE THE ROOM FEEL DIVIDED. IT WAS TO GIVE EACH AREA A PURPOSE WHILE STILL KEEPING THE ENTIRE SPACE FEELING CONNECTED.
THE PROBLEM + THE SOLUTION
One long room, three distinct spaces.
Long, narrow rooms can be hard to work with because they create awkward, sometimes seemingly useless, spaces. Once we stopped trying to make the footprint function as one big living room, the space made much more sense. We created three distinct spaces, each with its own purpose, while keeping the whole room feeling cohesive.
THE BACK DOOR NOOK
The back porch entry is a high-traffic area, but is also too large to leave without a purpose. Two comfy chairs and some statement lighting did the trick. It has become our little catch-all in the best possible way, a spot for Saturday morning breakfast, lounging with a cup of coffee, chatting with friends or escaping to a quieter corner of the room.
THE LIVING ROOM
This became the heart of the home. The custom entertainment wall anchors the space and gives the room a natural focal point, while the cozy seating makes it the perfect spot for movie nights, lazy evenings and plenty of dog snuggles. It's easily one of the most-loved spaces in our home.
Sometimes, you just need the right little things.
The kitchen was already pretty great, so there wasn't much I wanted to change. Instead, I focused on the fun stuff. Styling the open shelves, adding florals and decor and swapping out the dining room light fixture gave the space a little more of a modern feel without changing the things that were already working.
IT WAS A GOOD REMINDER THAT SOMETIMES A SPACE DOESN'T NEED A RENOVATION. IT JUST NEEDS A LITTLE LAYERING TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE YOURS.
