I wouldn’t exactly call these rooms from the portfolio of interior designer Mona Hajj boho. But they certainly contain global elements and an eclecticism nearly always present in boho home décor.
Translation: Boho enthusiasts can learn a lot from how her rooms come together.
 |
| Pieter Estersohn photo |
This living room from a Hajj-designed Maryland home featured in the September 2016 House Beautiful is initially what turned me on to the designer. I love her use of textiles—particularly the tapestry that echoes in the area rug and throw pillows—and the folk pottery bowls that accentate the wall-hanging, top and bottom.
The room is also a lesson in mixing high and low. The armchair and drop-leaf table are high period style, whereas the chest as coffee table, the side table at right, and the lamps lend a more relaxed, rustic feel. And yet it all works together! (I think the textiles are the secret here!!)
Whether this room and those that follow are wholly your style or not, there’s a lot to file away from this Beirut-born designer’s bold mix of global elements.
Welcome in any language
The long, long, LONG repurposed industrial work table softens the formality of this foyer, while the rug brings it all together. What I wouldn’t give to sink into that deep blue velvet settee! Yumm!!
More beautiful ceramics overhead accent the tile work in this craftsman fireplace surround. The mantel arrangement lends a primitive feel to the space, I think. And don’t miss that sweet cradle with its intricate carvings, topped with an embroidered makeshift canopy.
Sitting pretty
Again, it’s all about the textiles. Who would have thought a toile sofa could read boho? That’s thanks to the coverlet hung behind it and the dhurrie area rug. Notice how the trim around the side edge of the coffee table repeats the striped area rug, but at a diagonal, which energizes the space.
Wowza! This family room is a change of pace!! The pint-size egg chair and rattan ottomans are a kick, and I’m digging that Moroccan ottoman in red leather PLUS a print. Thanks to an all-white sofa (not my choice for a room that suggests the presence of young children, or adults, for that matter), the art work takes center stage.
Who wouldn’t love this room? Again, it’s the textiles that speak to me—a kilim-upholstered ottoman, a Persian area rug, wonderful pink throw pillows and sumptuous draperies.
Sleeping Tight
Oh my stars!! I am SOOOOO in love with this bedroom! Who couldn’t sleep soundly here? The hammered metal Indian mirrors, lantern, and nailhead chest are to-die-for, but it’s that headboard that puts me in a swoon. And notice the thin swath of linen that unrolls from the purple bolster pillow, on down past the bedskirt to the floor. What a subtle finishing touch!
Okay, THIS bedroom is nothing to sneeze at either. I like how the tapestry curtain hanging behind the bed emphasizes the old world elegance of the carved chest at the bed’s foot. I also love the simplicity of the accessories—stacks of books and oriental pottery. Dreamy!!
This daybed demands to be used around-the-clock, don’t you think? I love how the coral walls blend into the pink/violet textiles that dress the bed. It’s the color of a sunset and so relaxing to sink into.
Form marries function
Kitchens, no matter how state-of-the-art seldom impress me, but this one stands out because of the simplicity. The straightforward finishes work as a stunning backdrop for the custom tile behind the cooktop and the sumptuous patterned area rug in the same palette. At least I THINK that’s tile behind the cooktop. It certainly emulates the patterns of a handwoven Persian carpet.
Certainly not boho, but I had to include this photo only to show how one modern element changes the entire room. Everything is period except the shade on the lighting fixture over the dining table. But instead of clashing it adds energy to the room. The secret to making it work rather than clash? I think it’s that Hajj used fabric similar to the window treatments in color and texture.
I’m on a real bender these days for oriental rugs in bathrooms, and I really like how the yellow leaded glass picks up the gold in this rug and vice versa. What an elegant yet relaxing bathroom!! Calgon, take me away!!
Inside out
Talk about outdoor rooms, this one would be just as comfy inside as well. All the care given an inside living room is in play here, down to that cute horse on wheels. I’m hoping all of this is, at the least, under roof. I couldn’t bear to see it rained on.
And who wouldn’t adore a sunroom with sunny yellow accents? I love the wavy glass in the light fixture, as well as how the pillow patterns repeat those in the Arabic wall panel displayed as art.
If you want more (and who wouldn’t!)…
- Check out “When Rich Textiles Meet a Family Friendly Lifestyle: Well-Traveled Decor Pays a Visit to the Suburbs,” an interview with Mona Hajj by Kathleen Renda in the September 2016 issue of House Beautiful. Follow the link to read it online or pick up a copy at the newstand.
- See all the photos of the Maryland house Hajj and Renda discuss, again online or in print.
- Visit Mona Hajj’s website and take a leisurely stroll through her gorgeous portfolio.
- Don’t miss a day of inspiration for your boho home’s décor. Get BoHo Home posts sent directly to your inbox by using one of the subscription services that appear after this post, or follow my blog with Bloglovin.
- Follow the affiliate link to take a peek inside and/or purchase Hajj’s book, Interior Visions.
