This Designer’s Clever Trick Will Transform Any Open-Concept Living Space

Brie Williams

A cavernous space with 22-foot ceilings and wraparound windows could, in theory, be chilly and unwelcoming. But what designer Dane Austin created in the great room of our 2024 Whole Home is the opposite: an inviting communal area that enhances the soulful beauty of its natural surroundings.

“As we were flying into Asheville, the sun was setting and the sky was backlit by shades of lavender, pink, and rose—it was just incredibly beautiful,” Austin recalls of his first trip to see the home. “Then, when we were able to see the room for ourselves, with the mountains stacked up behind each other in various shades of blue, it really set our design.”

He quickly landed on the wallcovering that would become one of the defining elements of the project: a Farrow & Ball cherry blossom pattern that reproduces a design discovered in a Renaissance-era chateau. Working with the build team, Austin added a floor-to-ceiling chimney breast, constructed with Dekton’s ultra compact surface material that imparts depth and dimensionality to the room. A surrealist “sculptural landscape,” commissioned from local artist Colton Dion, became a fascinating focal point.

Austin drew inspiration for the furnishings from a breadth of eras. “The best design feels like it’s collected over time, a mix of old and new, masculine and feminine, with some custom-made and flea market finds,” he says. Scan the room and you’ll see a variety of velvets, supple leathers, and linens—plus, a plethora of seating options. That was, of course, intentional. “Your living room should be able to seat as many people as you have dining room chairs,” he adds, and this is a holiday house. Every person you feed should have a dedicated spot in the living room for the post-dinner social hour.

The best design feels like it’s collected over time, a mix of old and new, masculine and feminine, with some custom-made and flea-market finds.

Rather than take the paper all the way up to the rafters, Austin had the builder add in a shelf the length of the room in Farrow & Ball’s Selvedge color to showcase a range of baskets and pottery. Upholstery: Lee Industries. Ottoman and pillow fabric: Harlequin. Drapery: Stroheim. Case goods: Wayfair Professional. Lighting: Visual Comfort & Co.

Brie Williams

Brie Williams

To the right of the fireplace, bench seating and shallow cabinetry exemplify Austin’s attention to thoughtful details: Rather than installing simple Shaker cabinet doors, he turned to Architectural Grille to fabricate custom brass inserts based on the motif to the wallpaper design. Above that built-in hangs a Samsung Frame TV with evolving artwork that flips to movie night mode with the push of a button.

Austin selected a custom Fibreworks rug to fill the expansive space, leaning on lighting to help differentiate the living and dining areas. The multitiered Clementine chandelier by Visual Comfort & Co. floats high above the lounge, while their plastered Mollino pendant hangs low over the dining table, just off the kitchen.

Chair and ottoman: Lee Industries. Fireplace surround: Dekton.

Brie Williams

An informal dining area right off the kitchen keeps entertaining simple. Settee and chairs: Lee Industries. Table: Wayfair Professional. Wallpaper: Adelaïde, Farrow & Ball. Rug: Fibreworks. Pendant, Sconces, and Picture Light: Visual Comfort & Co. Art: Custom, Colton Dion Gallery. Accessories: Minted.

Brie Williams

Austin gave further definition to the spaces by adding a room-within-a-room, using drapery as a divider that can cordon off the kitchen when desirable. The Sanderson fabric—which he calls his “hearts and craft motif”—features crewel stitchwork in the same blush and blue hues on view throughout the room and also adds a softness within the angular architecture. “I love the privacy it gives you, especially in the evening after a large party when people are winding down,” he says. “It’s like: We can get to that tomorrow.”