Our Shiplap Goldness great room began with a long list of wishes and an even longer list of limitations. This active young family of four was ready to reimagine their 40-year-old townhome with a space that could work harder for everyday life: more storage, better lighting, durable low-maintenance materials and, of course, a beautiful place to gather.
The challenge was delivering all of it within a tight budget and an even tighter footprint.
Designed in early 2020, just before the pandemic reshaped the way we live and work at home, the project included something that, in hindsight, feels unexpectedly prescient: a dedicated work zone integrated directly into the great room. Spanning seven feet, the custom millwork was designed to shift effortlessly between home office, buffet station and bar, proving that a single space can support productivity, entertaining and storage without sacrificing style. Whether answering emails, serving dinner or indulging in a little day drinking while working, the space was designed to adapt to whatever the day required.
Elsewhere in the room, the greatest design challenge came from something we could not change. An awkwardly positioned corner fireplace was fixed in place by strata restrictions and budget realities. Rather than allowing the limitation to dictate the room, we considered what else the space could become.
There is a certain alchemy in accepting what cannot be changed. Once resistance is removed from the equation, limitations often become invitations to create.
The once-problematic corner was transformed into a secondary retreat: a cozy reading and wine-drinking nook for the queen of the home, with enough open floor space to double as a quiet place for her yoga practice. What could have remained an awkward architectural leftover became one of the room’s most personal and versatile moments.
Designer: Huong Nguyen
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
