It may have been fated that founder and principal designer Sara Malek Barney would spend time working on this home. The homeowner, who was already familiar with Barney’s work, entered a local charity auction and won hours of design time with Barney’s company, BANDD Design. Not only was the home in the area near Barney, but it was also in the process of being majorly gutted for a massive renovation, making it perfectly primed for design work. 

“This was a major gut…and we were brought in after framing was done but before any other major decisions were made,” Barney said. 

Functional Design

The clients had not inhabited the home prior to remodeling, but already knew it needed a major update. For instance, layout was nonfunctional, so it received a layout makeover. “We completely moved the driveway, entrance, and amended the layout,” Barney said. “The new layout is more conducive to a young family for entertaining and living. It’s got a warm feel with loads of texture and light.” 

The Flexibility of Wallpaper

With the new floorplan, the dining room serves as the focal point of the upstairs living space. Barney opted for a custom 10-foot live edge dining table to fill the large space. She balanced the masculine tone with a bold floral wallpaper from Ellie Cashman Design.

“I love working with wallpaper,” Barney said. “It’s so much more interesting than just painting . . .it gives an elevated feel that paint just won’t give you.”  The homeowners love to host and also have children, so they opted for pieces that could withstand wear and tear, but could also be inviting and comfortable.