Photo courtesy of Markus Wilborn with MW Concepts
Moody parlor in deep clay color palette.
There was once a time when homes were designed around gathering. Before televisions became the focal point of every room and before open floor plans turned living spaces into one large multifunctional zone, there was the parlor, what many of us today would simply call the living room. It was a space intended for conversation, cocktails before dinner, music playing in the background, candlelight flickering nearby, and evenings that stretched a little longer than planned.
While the traditional parlor may feel like a relic of another era, I believe we are seeing a return to spaces that serve that same purpose. People are craving homes that feel personal and layered. Rooms with atmosphere. Spaces that invite you to settle in and stay awhile rather than pass through quickly on the way to the next thing. In many ways, today’s modern parlor is less about formality and more about intention.
Photo courtesy of Markus Wilborn with MW Concepts
Clay color palette exudes a warm and cozy sophistication.
When designing this family home in the Rosemont neighborhood of Alexandria, we wanted the parlor to feel transporting from the moment you stepped inside. The room is wrapped in rich clay-toned walls, dark-stained wood ceilings, tailored millwork, and furnishings selected for both comfort and character. As the sunlight moves throughout the day, the room shifts with it, becoming richer and more inviting by evening. It is the kind of space that naturally draws people in.
The color palette became an especially meaningful part of the design story. Inspired by the homeowners’ roots in New Mexico, we leaned into rich clay tones and warmer layered hues that feel both inviting and refined. Rather than feeling overly traditional or expected, the palette brings a sense of character and individuality to the room while still feeling beautifully balanced within the home’s architecture and overall design.
Photo courtesy of Markus Wilborn with MW Concepts
A sophisticated clay color palette creates a cozy, sophisticated look for this home.
The goal was never to create a room that looked perfect for photographs alone. We wanted it to feel lived in, collected over time, and reflective of the family who calls it home. A place where someone could host friends for drinks before dinner, listen to jazz on a rainy afternoon, read beside the window on a slow weekend morning, or simply end the day with a glass of wine after the house settles in for the evening.
The architecture of the space naturally guided the design direction. To bring additional character and intimacy into the room, we introduced a custom coffered ceiling that helps draw the eye upward while also creating a more enveloping feeling throughout the space. Paired with the custom built-ins and layered millwork, the room feels established, as though it has always belonged within the home.
Rather than treating the bookcases as purely decorative, we styled them with books, collected objects, ceramics, records, and artwork that feel personal and familiar. These are often the elements that make a home feel most inviting because they tell a story about the people living there.
One of my favorite elements in the room is the seating arrangement itself. The furniture was intentionally placed to encourage conversation and connection. Nothing feels too far apart or overly structured. It is a room designed for people to gather comfortably, linger longer than expected, and actually enjoy being together.
I think many people are beginning to realize that some of the most memorable homes are not necessarily the largest or the most minimal. They are the homes that make you feel something the moment you walk through the door. Homes with warmth, personality, and soul. Homes that encourage you to slow down and savor everyday life a little more.
That is what makes the idea of the parlor feel relevant again. Not because we are returning to the past, but because people are longing for homes that feel welcoming, personal, and meant to be lived in.
Photo courtesy of Asha Maía Design
Asha Maxey of Asha Maía Design
Asha Maxey, founder and principal designer of Asha Maía Design, is an award-winning Northern Virginia interior designer with a passion for creating beauty that resonates.
Read more interior design advice on the Asha Maía Design blog here. Contact Asha Maia Design at hello@ashamaiadesign.com or call (703) 831-7965.
