This Designer Used Vintage Finds to Create a Lively Multifunctional Room—Here’s How

Gone are the ultra-formal living rooms of decades past, and now there are multifunctional spaces that can serve multiple functions for busy families. Rachel Alcorn, owner and principal of Two Hands Interiors, explains how her client wanted to transform an unused room into the perfect space for entertaining guests, hosting family games, and more.

During the design process, Alcorn decided to divide the living room into three separate zones, creating multiple spaces for relaxing, reading, dining or playing. At the same time, she skillfully ensured that the space was artfully combined and created a cozy room in which to gather.

Upon entering the living room, visitors are greeted by a classic black table with a glass top for an air of sophistication and flanked by two X-shaped ottomans. In everyday life, this piece serves as an elegant surface for displaying decorative items, including plants and plants. books. However, it can also accommodate food and drink while entertaining residents if they want to create a central area for relaxation.

To the left of the table is a seating area consisting of four sofas, thoughtfully positioned to facilitate cozy conversation. On the right side of the room there is a sofa for relaxing, as well as a round and marble table, ideal for both dining and games, depending on the needs of the family on a particular day.

“I admire how quiet and bright it is,” Alcorn says of the finished living space.
A living room immersed in neutral colors makes up for the lack of bold and warm tones. “Natural spaces require layers and contrast,” says Alcorn.

She decided to paint the classic table black to give the room an edgy look, and also applied the color to some photo frames and fabric. Copper tones always add a pop of color, so when an Alcorn client brought in an antique secretary desk, it was the perfect piece of wood that instantly warmed up the room.

“It highlights the importance of their family’s global collection of antiques, antiques and collectibles,” Alcorn said of the secretary desk. She explains that the piece also serves as a place to create seasonal motifs or display different collections of accessories as desired.

The designer chose neutral yet warm fabrics and soft velvet for the armchairs and ottomans to balance out the armchairs and white curtains. She also added a seagrass rug to the floor to give it more texture.

Although she was initially inspired to use traditional Persian rugs in the room, she changed her mind after seeing her clients gravitate toward a neutral and slightly southern style—grass material. The sea is the perfect balance.

“Essentially, cutting a rug to look like a fringed rug, with a little bit of wood flooring sticking out around the perimeter, will help create a long, narrow space that feels connected to other areas,” says Alcorn.

Lovers of all things vintage, Alcorn’s clients were excited to spend the day exploring some of the designer’s favorite vintage spots for finds for their renovated living room.
“Adding rattan and vintage art creates a historic space and avoids the room-in-a-pocket feel,” says Alcorn, referring to the celebrity designer who buys all the pieces in the space from just one store.

Don’t be afraid to shop for your own home when looking for art to display on a gallery wall—you never know what you might have that will fit perfectly in another room. In this case, the artwork hanging above the banquet table was a combination of pieces the client already owned, as well as classical and contemporary pieces.

Assembling the gallery wall may take some time using trial and error, which is a normal part of the design process.

“It took us a minute to find the right art collection to display—it was a true collaboration with the homeowner,” says Alcorn.

In this space, the designer used both black and yellow frames on different walls of the room, proving that it’s more acceptable to mix things up a little rather than buying a uniform set of frames.

“Eclectic framing works when there is a balance between medium, color palette and contrast,” Alcorn says of the gallery wall design, where pieces vary in size, style and punch of color. “Achieving the right composition of space is truly an artistic process: it is like creating a sculpture, balancing between mass and intensity.”

Practicality and spatial flexibility were top priorities during the design process. Alcorn decided to use a variety of side tables that could be easily picked up and moved as needed while entertaining, she said. For example, the chosen entry table can also serve as an additional dining area once guests are finished.

Although the room is naturally light and airy, the designer was thoughtful about the lighting choices in the space, prioritizing task lighting used in the sitting area, next to the gaming table and next to the sofa, as well as in all the fixtures throughout. .

“You need a lot of light to read and collect things,” she said.

In the center of the room, a dazzling chandelier creates an artistic focal point and instantly attracts attention.

“This chandelier is light and airy so it doesn’t overwhelm the space but is no less dramatic,” says Alcorn.