Lake Calhoun Home

To accentuate the dramatic architecture and sweeping views of a 1940s New England country–style home on Lake Calhoun, the homeowners invited Martha O’Hara and Karrie Kirby Rodman of Martha O’Hara Interiors to design the living, dining, and kitchen spaces. The goal was to create a family-friendly interior with clean, contemporary lines and soft colors that would enhance lake views and accentuate the landscape’s seasonally changing textures and colors.

The design for the formal living room, which features a wall of windows looking out over the west side of Lake Calhoun, started with an existing hand-knotted area rug and a beloved family piano. After analyzing the colors and patterns in the rug, O’Hara and Kirby Rodman established a color palette of creamy whites, spicy reds, muted golds, and a touch of dusty green.

The furnishings were kept simple—two Laura Kiarar for Baker sofas frame the sitting area, a Swain glass-top coffee table draws the eye to the rug, and a Thomas Pheasant for Baker ottoman (a favorite of the family’s pooch) nestles below the window. All of the larger pieces have soft lines and neutral coloring and do not obstruct the views of the lake, an important selection criterion. “The challenge,” says O’Hara, “was putting contemporary designs in a more traditional home. But doing so added a very current dimension that reflects modern life.”

Art is also minimal, save for an oil painting and an antique prayer rug. “The view is a piece of art and the rug was a piece of art, so we wanted to keep the rest of the design uncomplicated,” says O’Hara. There’s an abundance of natural lighting and some track lighting was added by the architect, but the designers added a few accent tables and floor lamps to create additional charm and mood when the natural light wanes. The palette from the living room was repeated throughout the rest of the first floor, resulting in a family home that is at once chic and unfussy.