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The Stunning Summer Home of NYC Interior Designer Charlie A. Bolivar

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Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Charlie A. Bolivar of NYC-based Charlie’s Designs for writing this article about the Autumn Lake wallpaper mural he installed in his own summer home. Charlie has proven time and again (he’s used our custom printed murals in clients’ homes too) that being a design minimalist doesn’t mean one forgoes color and an exciting interior. All of these lovely photos were taken by Elizabeth Leidel Photography.

Charlie writes:
 
I have been an interior designer in New York City for over 20 years and have always been a city person. However, when Covid-19 hit last year, we decided to look for a summer home outside the city that would allow us to have more outside space, while still remaining within striking distance of the city where our careers are based and where our friends and family all live. We were lucky enough to find a beautiful lakeside property near Lords Valley, Pennsylvania that is located around two hours from New York City.
 
We fell in love with this particular house as soon as we parked in the driveway for our initial viewing in the summer of 2020. The house itself was built in 1977 and reminds me a little of some of the designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, who is one of my favorite architects.
 
While the house was structurally sound, it was ready for some gentle interior renovations. 
 
Charlie's sun room didn't look quite so bright, colorful nor modern prior to his redesign featuring a scenic landscape wallpaper mural.
Charlie’s sun room didn’t look quite so bright, colorful nor modern prior to his redesign featuring a scenic landscape wallpaper mural.
While the scene outside Charlie's sun room changes seasonally, the Autumn Lake wallpaper mural he installed provides a bright and colorful year round view.
While the scene outside Charlie’s sun room changes seasonally, the Autumn Lake wallpaper mural he installed provides a bright and colorful year round view.

We decided to maintain the lake house and countryside atmosphere of the first floor but we were keen to introduce a more minimalist, modern design to the second floor where all of the main living spaces are located. My preferred design style is minimalist. I really believe that sometimes less is more, when it comes to a successful design.

NYC- based interior designer Charlie Bolivar in the living room of his summer home in Pennsylvania
NYC- based interior designer Charlie Bolivar in the living room of his summer home in Pennsylvania.
The modern yet rustic exterior of Charlie's summer retreat
The modern yet rustic exterior of Charlie’s summer retreat.

I also wanted to recognize the lakeside setting and the surrounding forest and therefore decided on one of the many beautiful murals from Magic Murals (www.magicmurals.com). I wanted to create a design in the sun room on the second floor that would allow it to become an extension of the lake outside.

After carefully searching through their inventory I found the mural shown in these photos that includes a type of vegetation that is very similar to what you find in this part of the country. While the trees and lake outside experience all four seasons (the lake is typically frozen solid for several months during the winter!), the interior mural shows its beautiful fall colors year round.

My experience of using murals such as these (or even on a smaller scale, as I’ve done in a few other designs in the past) is that it allows you to change a room dramatically while also enabling you to anchor the house more closely to its surroundings, depending on the specific mural you may choose. 

These next 4 photos are from the first floor of the house, where I decided to keep the original paneling in the lake room to preserve the original character of the house.

I did not want to change the structure of this room but to make it more special. However, I changed all the furniture, the carpeting and added the bookcase and the home bar to turn this space into the perfect relaxation room. The paneling in this room also matches that of the sauna next door and contributes to the unity of the overall design.

A well designed recreation area that doesn't intimidate one from having a good time.
A well designed recreation area that doesn’t intimidate one from having a good time.
Though full, Charlie's lighted bookcase looks almost ethereal.
Though full, Charlie’s lighted bookcase looks almost ethereal.
Who could watch television when there's so much beauty to look at outside?
Who could watch television when there’s so much beauty to look at outside?
With a guest room like this, it'll be hard to get them to leave.
With a guest room like this, it’ll be hard to get them to leave.
The staircase going up to the 2nd floor has paneled walls, and I opened up this space by adding glass railings to replace the original solid wall. That now allows sunlight to stream into the house through the large windows surrounding the main entrance hall.
 
Glass staircase railings let the light shine in throughout the entry area.
Glass staircase railings let the light shine in throughout the entry area.

I remodeled all the bedrooms and bathrooms throughout the house, and also redesigned the entire living space on the second floor of the house, resulting in a much more modern layout.

Originally, the kitchen was an enclosed space, with a very small serving window. After removing a non-load bearing wall, the kitchen has now become part of the overall living space and we were able to add two small bar fridges into what was initially a linen closet. This small change has made entertaining in the adjacent living room and dining room so much easier.

We're loving the portrait of Charlie's dog!
We’re loving the portrait of Charlie’s dog!
You've gotta love a kitchen where the focus is on wine!
You’ve gotta love a kitchen where the focus is on wine!

While the second floor is now modern and somewhat minimalist it is also a comfortable, welcoming space with several elements added to the design to remind you of the surrounding countryside without obstructing the exterior views that give this house its unique character and beauty.

Even though it wasn't supplied by Magic Murals, we're LOVING that wallpaper.
Even though it wasn’t supplied by Magic Murals, we’re LOVING that wallpaper.
We're also loving the wall treatment in this master bedroom.
We’re also loving the wall treatment in this master bedroom.

I strongly encourage my clients to have an open mind when we design their space because sometimes you need more than just a splash of paint on the wall to really transform a room!

Charlie A. Bolivar, Interior Designer 
Charlie’s Designs LLC 
http://www.charlies-designs.com/

Photography By Elizabeth Leidel from www.eclphoto.com 

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