Transforming an Outdated Living Room Design into a Breathtaking Modern Remodel 

Essential Living Room Design Process Details.  

Interview questions answered by RCQ Senior Designer, Amanda Arditti.

What was the goal? 

The goal for this project was to update a very traditional, stuffy living room and create a more modern living space perfect for everyday living and entertaining. 

What was the sought-after interior design aesthetic? 

A modern living room design that was sleek, cozy, neutral, and warm. 

What was the scope? 

This job was a complete living room remodel and needed a bit of everything from the design team. The scope included flooring, wall detailing, lighting, reupholstery, and custom living room furniture & window treatments. 

More specifically, the wood floors were refinished, and new area rugs were chosen for the space. Custom trim and millwork was added to enhance the essence of the room. Recessed lighting was installed for overall brightness and decorative lighting was added for ambience and to define vignettes within the same room. A feature wall was accented with a natural wood wallpaper and paint colors were carefully selected to keep the room modern and clean. 

Furthermore, an outdated surround sound system was eliminated and replaced with a new one to facilitate entertaining. Some personal shopping was done with the clients while other living room furniture was custom designed by RCQ and trusted vendors.

What were the phases of design? 

1. Meet with the Client

2. Take Field Measurements  

3. Create a Floor Plan

4. Subcontractor Meetings

5. Floor Plan Approval

6. Order Furnishings + Oversee Delivery

Can you explain each phase of design more in depth? For example: 

• Meet with the Client —

  • An initial meeting and consultation was needed to determine the clients’ wants & needs for their space.

• Take Field Measurements —

  • Field measurements were needed of the existing living room so that a new floor plan could be reimagined.

• Create a Floor Plan —

  • A CAD floor plan which includes furniture, decorative lighting locations, ceiling/trim concept, etc. was created based on all collected information.

• Subcontractor Meetings — 

  • Meetings and additional back and forth communication with the sub-contractors (electrician, floor refinishers, etc.) were necessary to gather accurate pricing information for the job as a whole.

• Floor Plan Approval —

  • Once the floor plan was approved, the client had two choices: to shop on their own and manage the subcontractors themselves or have RCQ act as their design project manager. In this case, the client chose to have RCQ work as project manager to oversee all the different trades that would be working on the job as well as make all final furniture selection.  

• Order Furnishings + Oversee Delivery —

  • The design team was in charge of ordering all furnishings, overseeing their delivery, and setting up the space to reflect the perfect modern living room design. 

What was your favorite part of the job? 

Each phase brings new excitement, but designing/choosing the living room light fixtures was definitely a highlight of this job. The addition of recessed lighting and the decorative fixtures had so much impact on the transformation and overall feel of the room. The custom living room chairs that sit surrounding the marble cocktail table are also another highlight. They are completely custom swivel chairs that are so comfy while also being sleek, sexy, and modern.

What was your least favorite part of the job? 

There were significant obstacles that came up which made meeting the deadline for this job more difficult.  Meeting the Easter deadline normally wouldn’t be a problem, but with the threat of a pandemic in early March and the freeze on incoming materials from overseas, we were working tirelessly to get everything delivered and installed before the world closed down.   

What made this job unique compared to other jobs you’ve done? 

This client opted to do some of their own local living room furniture shopping, but brought RCQ in to validate the choices.  The homeowners also had some of their own subcontractors, so the team collaborated with new tradespeople.  This hybrid approach worked out well because it gave the client the freedom and power to pick and choose when to invest in design services. 

Photography Credit: Peter Rymwid