Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/35164
A Corner forQuiet Brad Stevens’ Arts & Crafts living room When you’re a “fourth-generation fur- niture guy” like Brad Stevens, the pieces in your home each have a story to tell. As owner of Stevens Design, a furniture pur- veyor offering home wares and interior design services, Stevens has plenty, telling lively tales about everything from his most valuable pieces to the smallest works of art from his children’s school days. But there’s no room that showcases these stories better than his intimate family room. “We’re a family that sits around the din- ner table as often as we can,” Stevens says. “And this is where we can relax, read, the kids can study. We’ve intentionally called it ‘the quiet room.’” Just off the entry in the Verona home he shares with wife Sue and their two chil- dren, it’s a space where his passion for for quality furniture—especially pieces by the famed Stickley company—and comfort- able décor shine. Along the calming sage walls, furniture pieces embracing a look solidly rooted in the Mission Arts and Crafts era are ar- ranged to offer space for work and play. An era of design known for simple piec- es, clean lines and heavy use of hardwoods, Stevens brightened the earthy look with splashes of color from Arts and Crafts-in- spired stained glass lamps, heavily framed artwork and handcrafted accessories. Set alongside upholstered furniture, the result is an easy-going mix of style and comfort that speaks to stories of yesterday and today. When it comes to creating a space he loves, Stevens follows one design principle every time: “Surround your- self with what’s comfortable for you. That’s what we do.” Stickley furniture has a deep history— including ties to Wisconsin—of detailed craftsmanship, shown in this intricate inlay. “This old wingback chair was my grandfather’s from the 1940s,” Stevens says. Tucked in a corner, it provides the perfect perch for reading and complements the relaxed style of the adjacent wooden pieces. A passion for Arts and Crafts-era furniture is shown in this Stickley fall-front desk with intricate detailing and hardware. 44 BRAVA Magazine June 2011