Bunny Williams Interior Design is one of the most legendary names in the industry, where founder Bunny Williams mentors a new generation of creatives, including business partner Elizabeth Lawrence. To shop a selection of pieces inspired by Bunny and Elizabeth’s welcoming gathering space below, click here.
How do you start your design process?
We typically design rooms from the bottom up. We start with the floors or find a great rug as the foundation and build a color scheme around that.
Do you have a favorite furniture plan for creating conversation areas in your layouts?
Furniture should be arranged so that at least six to eight people can sit comfortably and have a conversation. A sofa or pair of sofas can be grouped with a mix of armchairs. Stools, benches, or other chairs can be placed throughout the room and then pulled up to a seating area for occasional seating when needed.
These rooms may likely have some sort of technology component like a TV or sound system. How do you incorporate them into a space in a way that doesn’t make it the focal point?
No room in your house should be too precious to use, so we always tell clients: If you watch a lot of TV, put one in the living or family room, or you’ll never go in there. TVs and speakers can be disguised in built-in bookshelves or large cabinets.
What makes this room a special gathering space? What makes it work?
This family room is flooded with natural light during the day, and the built-in window seat is a great perch for reading. In colder months, the wood paneling creates a sense of warmth and coziness. The big, comfortable sofa is perfect for lounging and the pillows allow you to adjust depths. A mix of textiles gives it the laidback feeling of having been assembled over time.
Lead image: Interior photo by Francesco Lagnese, courtesy of the designer
