Turning On The Charm
Subtle changes to a Paramus living room make a big difference.
Design by Jennifer Pacca, Jennifer Pacca Interiors
Photography by Marco Ricca
Text by Darius Amos
Everything in their Paramus living room suited the homeowners’ needs, but the young husband and wife wanted more out of that busy space. That’s why, in late 2023, they reached out to interior designer Jennifer Pacca, who was tasked with redoing the living area and injecting a little more character into it.
“It was a very well-done room, but it was in need of an update,” says Pacca, who runs an eponymous design firm based in Wyckoff. “The space is right off the kitchen and is the main hub of the home. They wanted something that was elegant, warm and inviting.”
The space had good bones with which to work, including a tall ceiling and an arched entryway. Many of its features, however, didn’t have charm or personality.
Accent pieces such as a pair of Lexington chairs, a Bernhardt console and artwork from Leftbank Art bring character to the living room, which lacked detail before the homeowners hired interior designer Jennifer Pacca.
“The room lacked detail,” the designer notes. “There was a large, vaulted ceiling with nothing on it.”
To dress up the ceiling, Pacca installed beams to add feelings of warmth and coziness. Meanwhile the aesthetics and functionality around the fireplace, an area that had been bare, were improved with built-in storage units. “The built-ins were added to unify the wall and make [the fireplace] a stronger focal point,” she says.
Though the arch was unchanged, Pacca did style the living room’s entrance with accents: A Bernhardt console and artwork from Palecek extend a warm welcome into the space.
The large windows, perhaps Pacca’s favorite part of the room, were originally plain as well, so she added visual interest to them with upholstered curtains made from JAB Fabrics.
Another Bernhardt console as well as artwork from Palecek and a round mirror by Uttermost complement the living room’s arched entryway.
For comfort and character, a large sectional sofa by Vanguard Furniture was selected as the room’s primary seating option—perfect for the couple, their two teenage boys, their family and their friends. An armchair and ottoman by Bernhardt and a pair of accent chairs by Lexington provide additional seating for larger get-togethers, while the Revelation coffee table and Kravet rug lend more warm vibes. Throw pillows in neutral shades as well as pops of purple create a similarly cozy feeling, but can easily be swapped when seasons or moods change.
At a glance, the changes to the living room were subtle—walls remained intact, and floor plans stayed the same. There’s a new ambience, however, with more character and a design that, Pacca says, fits “very well” with the homeowners’ lifestyle.
