The Lanman Project: Designed Around the View
A waterfront home where the best design decision was knowing when to hold back.
Real Makeovers | Old Lyme, Connecticut
When the view outside the window looks like this, the furniture shouldn’t fight for attention.
The idea was to complement what was already there. That thinking shaped the design of this waterfront home in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Bassett Design Consultant Rachel Lanman kept the palette soft and the silhouettes clean, layering in coastal blues, warm leather and subtle pattern without letting any one element take over.
The result feels connected to the setting without trying too hard to look “coastal.”
“Every piece was selected to complement the view, not compete with it.”
Rachel Lanman, Bassett Design Consultant
Let the View Do the Work
The water was always going to be the focal point. It has to be…look at that view.
Rather than designing around it with bold color or statement pieces, Rachel took a quieter approach. Soft blue upholstery picks up the tones outside the windows, while a pair of light swivel chairs keeps the waterfront side of the room feeling open.
Even the rug plays a supporting role. Its subtle pattern adds enough interest to ground the seating area without becoming the first thing you notice.
Nothing is really asking for your attention. And that's the point.
Coastal, Without Going Full Coastal
There's a difference between designing a home by the water and decorating it like a beach house.
Here, the connection is more subtle.
Blue shows up in the sectional and pillows. Natural-looking textures soften the room. Botanical patterns bring movement without feeling busy. Whites and warm neutrals keep everything light.
There are no obvious coastal themes needed. The water is right outside.
A Little Warmth Changes Everything
The kitchen could have easily stayed within the same cool palette as the living room. Instead, Rachel went warmer.
The camel leather Bailey Counter Stools break up the whites, grays and stainless steel surrounding the island. They're a small departure from the palette in the living room, but an important one.
That contrast keeps the open space from feeling too washed out and helps the kitchen feel connected without making everything match.
Yes, It Reclines
The sectional is probably the best example of what this room gets right.
At first glance, it simply looks like a generously scaled, clean sectional. But there’s a functional surprise. It reclines with a push of the button.
It's a small detail, but one that says quite a lot about how the room was intended to be used. This isn't a space designed only to photograph well. It's where you settle in, put your feet up and stay awhile to enjoy the view.
Because a room this comfortable shouldn't have to look like a room built around a recliner. When it’s not in use, you wouldn’t know it was there. That’s the whole idea.
It All Has to Work Together
The living room and kitchen share more than a floor plan.
Cool blues in the seating play against the warmer leather at the island. Brass appears overhead in the kitchen and again in the small accent table by the windows. Light finishes carry from one space into the next.
Nothing matches exactly. It just belongs together.
And maybe that's the best way to describe the finished home. It doesn't feel overly decorated or overly designed. It feels settled as though the furniture, the rooms and the view were always supposed to work this way.
Designed Around the View
Meet Rachel Lanman
Bassett Design Consultant | Newington, Connecticut
See more of Rachel's projects @rae.interiors
Make Your Space Feel Like Yours
Every room is different. Sometimes it's about finding the statement piece. Sometimes, like this project, it's knowing when to let the room and the view speak for themselves. A Bassett Design Consultant can help you figure out what you need.