Cincinnati designer uses her home as inspiration

Interior designer Liz McGavran's 30-year-old Hyde Park condo is not only a wonderful place to live, but a way to show potential clients her skills in weaving artwork, furnishings and color into a cozy living space, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

McGavran lucked out when she purchased her condo in mid-2005. The previous owners had completely renovated the interior to maximize traffic flow, which gave the designer a blank slate to work with.

Liz uses many textures in her designs and to combines contemporary styles with functional old world furnishings, and her connected living and dining room is a testament to that fact. Her living room is a cozy arrangement of a modern sofa, matching vintage armchairs and an oversized ottoman, which doubles as a coffee table to save space.

The sofa is covered with a champagne-colored chenille fabric, colorful silk pillows and the arm chairs and ottoman are soothing shades of cranberry and medium-brown ultrasuede. This merging of old world style and modern day convenience is the hallmark of McGavran's designs.

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