MARBLE MOON INTERIORS
Family Room
"Plum Perfect: 1970s Golden Hour" Marble Moon Interiors — Robin Gahan
Step inside a family room that makes a case for the 1970s as the most soulful decade in American design — where every surface is steeped in rich, unhurried glamour and rewards a closer look. The room's bones told the story first: soaring honey-toned knotty pine beams, a grey stone fireplace, and arched windows framing the trees outside. Rather than fight those architectural anchors, we leaned all the way in, layering aubergine walls against the warm wood for the cozy atmosphere.
Not every element of this transformation was straightforward. The existing grasscloth wallpaper — almost certainly original to the home's 1987 construction — had no intention of leaving quietly. After two full days of steaming and scraping, the woven grass fibers finally surrendered, but the paper backing held firm. Plan B - treat the walls as a textured surface and build them up properly from scratch. That meant an oil-based primer coat to seal the stubborn backing (yes, the windows were open), a full week of wallpaper liner, and two coats of high-quality primer — with 48 hours of curing time between every single step. Three weeks later the first panel of wallpaper went up— Arte International's Lin: a deeply textured, linen-like wallcovering in a rich aubergine that perfectly gave the room its moody quality. Every painstaking step was worth it.
The star of the show is the vintage sculptural sofa—remarkably in its original upholstery. Its sweeping curved form invites exactly the kind of unhurried gathering the 1970s did so well. A wool rug in warm earth tones anchors the seating, while a vintage glass and chrome coffee table, and petrified wood side tables add contrast at every turn. A pair of leopard-print armchairs bring a playful wildness to the space, facing the sofa with just the right amount of attitude. At the picture window, a pair of vintage swivel chairs flank a sleek chrome and glass console table. In the lounge area, the funky one-arm sofa and a hair-on-hide armchair create a more intimate counterpoint, with a live-edge vintage teak table and a plush cream wool rug for warmth and softness underfoot. Above the sofa, a gallery wall brings the art program into full focus. Throughout the room is a curated mix of paintings, textile works, and sculptural pieces by local and emerging artists.
The second star is the dramatic geometric linen drapery — a graphic pattern of interlocking circles and arcs created with chain-stitch embroidery by Casamance. Layered throughout are checkered velvet ottomans, and richly layered accent pillows tie the full color story together. Lighting is equally considered: brass ceiling fixtures, a sculptural floor lamp, and custom ceramic table lamps glazed in the room's own palette.
We are grateful to all our sponsors and partners: The Papered Wall, Kathy Geffen Design, Mid Century Morris, Rue IV, Casamance, Arte International, Daniel House Club, XOJ, STARK, Crone House, Rich Experiences, Alma's Gallery & Shop, and Lighting Environments.
Interested in bringing this kind of design depth to your home? Contact Robin Gahan.