Peek Inside a New England Music Room Redone with Southern Charm

Photo by Eric Roth

The Problem

Settling into their North Shore residence, a family from Georgia yearned for a music room to house their Pramberger piano. And although the existing 320-square-foot study, equipped with handsome mahogany floors and white-oak built-ins, captured the intimate feel they envisioned, the empty space lacked furnishings that aligned with their tastes.

The Solution

SV Design principal Jean Verbridge set the tone with a neutral rug from Steven King Decorative Carpets that boasts subtle pops of color. The team then placed the 7-foot-long piano in a brightly lit corner to make way for the seating area near the fireplace, where the curved Vladimir Kagan sofa plays off the instrument’s organic shape. The couch’s olive mohair upholstery, meanwhile, feels decidedly southern. “[The] New England answer would’ve been cobalt blues. But this room called for warmth,” Verbridge says. “And, when I think of southern design, there’s a lot of texture, [too].”

In keeping with that design sensibility, flannel shades hang above the window seats, which offer cozy nooks for diving into the owners’ collection of English and French classics. “We wanted this room to be all about the arts. You can enjoy the piano or sit with a book,” Verbridge says. “Everything has a quiet beauty all its own.”