Forest-Inspired Living Room Design

When a repeat client asked Rosa Santiago Zimmerman of RSZ Design + Development to beautify a new-build in downtown Lawrenceville (DTL), the designer had a head start. “I understand how the family lives and what is important to them,” says Santiago.

However, while she already knew the client—a stylish farmer who enjoys foraging for mushrooms and fostering dogs—the vision for the DTL home was entirely new.

The goal was to create the feeling of entering a forest. To accomplish this, the designer blended green tones with natural elements. In the open-concept living room, for example, (1) white-oak cabinets custom designed by RSZ Design + Development are backed in metallic cork wallpaper by York Wallcoverings. “Bling is important to the homeowner,” Santiago Zimmerman, who served as lead designer and general contractor on this project, added. “Even though she is earthy and outdoorsy, she is all about fashion and looking good.” The flecks of gold in the cork are echoed in fixtures and hardware, and even in the veining of a (2) black hexagon tile (from Floor & Decor) surrounding the fireplace — the main focal point of the room.

Above the hearth, (3) a mantel made from repurposed railroad wood divides the black tile below from a herringbone pattern above. (4) Pieces of shiplap wood were individually painted in nine different shades of green (by Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams), forming an ombré effect that soars to the vaulted ceiling.

To determine the pattern, Santiago Zimmerman and the client looked at color charts and selected their favorite hues, then drew a map for the painter to follow. 

The result is a warm and welcoming place where the whole family and pets gather together. Even (5) the green sectional sofa by Norwalk Furniture boasts performance fabric that can withstand different dog furs or dirty boots after working on the farm.

“We needed that ability to have an ease of living — to make it look amazing but still make it feel like it was a home, not a museum,” says Santiago Zimmerman.

Rosa Santiago Zimmerman is the founder and CEO of RSZ Design + Development, a turn-key firm for interior design, residential and commercial real estate development, construction and project management. Through social media and her bilingual videos on YouTube, “Build with Rosa,” she shares a behind-the-scenes look at experiences as a Latina woman living out her dream career and solving unique design challenges for her clients. rszdesigndevelopment.com