Photography by Carmen Troesser
Two and a half years ago, Melissa Margraf and husband, Michael, along with their four children, moved into a stylish French country home in Frontenac. “It’s really the style of the house that I loved,” says Margraf. “It has a rustic look, but it features contemporary touches: five-piece painted crown moldings, white oak, hand-scraped floors. The rooms are large, and there are so many windows that you feel like you’re outside.”
Blue Notes: Margraf worked with Carolyn Peterson of Carolyn Peterson Design to pull the room together. The two sofas feature splayed arms, velvet upholstery, and nail-head detailing. White throw pillows add contrast. Two cobalt velvet bolster pillows show off the owner’s favorite hue. The ottoman is upholstered in a custom Thibaut Essex velvet fabric. Two wing chairs are traditional in style, but get a dose of modernity in the form of exposed-wood legs and linen upholstery.
Personal Statements: Accessories personalize the space. Three glass containers filled with the family’s favorite candies rest on the coffee table; a collection of family photos lines the bookcases. A telescope placed in one corner isn’t just for show—three pairs of French doors running the length of the space make stargazing a cinch.
Family Life: The living room is quite literally the center of the house, and because no walls surround it, people are constantly walking through it. The challenge was to design a space that’s not off-limits to children but is beautiful and inviting. “The kids kick back on the sofas with their iPads, and we love to spend evenings playing board games around the table,” says Margraf. It’s a stark contrast to the family’s former home, where nobody ever set foot in the living room.
