Bryan’s clients, a DJ and his wife, were thankful for the furniture friends and family had donated over the years, but soon came to realize that random odds and ends don’t always add up to contemporary eclectic.

They needed a chic environment to express their spirit and asked Bryan if he was up to the challenge. This meant they gave the designer carte blanche––and only three days to work.

Color was key in taking this living room from vapid to vibrant. Bryan chose pale blue, beige and chocolate brown. Using the light blue for the ceiling, Bryan achieved a warm look that brightened the room and made it feel more spacious. A chocolate brown fireplace is rich and masculine without being overpowering, and matching built-ins and baseboard trim give the room a tailored look. Running the trim into the dining room, Bryan used it to define the area, which before seemed jammed in the corner.

Although some elements do match and all definitely go together, the room does express a quality unique to Bryan’s style. He’s creating a room in which things can be added or removed without crises—he’s breaking away from a look in which everything is strictly and mandatorily matched.

Even the spacing itself exudes contemporary style. With elements close enough together to achieve the cohesive coziness of a living room, they’re still far apart enough to dismiss clutter. And, notice the low-profile contemporary furniture? It’s part and parcel to Bryan’s practice of going small scale to emphasize space. Take the desk for example, floating along the wall, Bryan designed and built it to be “lighter looking, but still functional.” (The desk resembles pieces from Bryan’s forthcoming line, which aims to capture an in-between audience. “High quality, and good finishing, but not $10,000 for a bed,” Bryan says. The line will be produced overseas, with all the pieces documented to ensure cultivation. “We want to be environmentally friendly,” he says.) The desk chair is by Kartell. A Mitchell Gold sofa and Cappellini side chairs have the clean lines of contemporary but still fit in with more traditional elements like the wooden wall clock.

Before Bryan stepped in, the couple’s very contemporary ceiling fan just didn’t fit with the rest of the room. Now it stands out for the right reason, as part of a look achieved by using silver curtains from Silk Trading Company and adding pieces with silver accents like the home theater stand, occasional tables and chairs.

Bryan highlights the fireplace as a focal point and lets this Texan couple’s personal style and love for their home state shine through with original Lone Star art. A proud piece that makes its statement without being overbearing, Bryan created the work from an extra piece of shelving veneer and used silver leaf for major cities.

What can we take away from this designer makeover? Step back and think about your personal style, the look and feel you want to achieve with a room. And, when Aunt Sara comes knocking with a velour recliner, sometimes it’s better to just say no.