Music Room
2,891 Total Finished SF
Music Room / Breezeway / Patio / Closet
OVERVIEW
An Addition That Performs as Beautifully as the Music Within It
When a dedicated violinist envisioned a space to practice early in the morning without disturbing his household, the ask went well beyond a simple addition. The result is a thoughtfully designed music room and adjacent dance floor breezeway — two spaces separated by a sliding glass door, fully visible to one another, and equally at home hosting a quiet solo practice session or a full evening of live music and dancing. Gruver Cooley was engaged to design the addition, furnish and space plan the music room and breezeway, and carry that same attention through the TV area and living room
Designing a Space That Lives Two Very Different Lives
The client loves to host parties, and his vision for the breezeway was clear from the start: a
dance floor large enough for guests to move freely, with room for a band to set up and play. That same space needed to feel intentional and finished on an ordinary Tuesday morning, when the only audience is the sunrise. The transitional design approach — layering refined materials, curated art, and architectural detail — ensures neither function feels like a compromise.
Key Features:
- Acoustic Music Room: The music room was purpose-built for a serious violinist, featuring acoustic panels to control sound, exterior-grade sliding glass doors that separate the space from the main home, integrated shades for light control, and cove lighting that sets the mood at any hour of the day.
- Dance Floor Breezeway: Divided from the music room by a sliding glass door — keeping the two spaces connected visually — the breezeway serves as a dedicated dance floor and entertainment space. It was designed with entertaining in mind: generous in scale, easy to flow through, and equipped to accommodate a live band setup.
- Hand-Selected Art Program: The art throughout the music room and breezeway was hand-curated by Gruver Cooley to reflect the client's deep love of music and dancing. Each piece was chosen not just for its visual quality, but for the story it tells within the context of these spaces.
- Exterior Patio: A new patio area was designed outside the addition, extending the home's outdoor living possibilities and providing a natural transition between the new spaces and the landscape beyond.
- Primary Closet Conversion: An existing bedroom was reimagined as a generous primary closet, adding a level of organization and luxury that transforms the daily routine.
- Full Space Plan and Furnishings: Gruver Cooley developed a complete space plan and furnishing program for the TV area, living room, music room, and breezeway — ensuring a cohesive, transitional aesthetic across every room touched by the project.
Building a Home Around a Client's Passions
Client-Centered Design
Every decision in this project traced back to a clear understanding of how the client actually
lives. His early-morning violin practice informed the acoustic and acoustic isolation details of the
music room. His love of entertaining shaped the scale and layout of the breezeway. His
personal aesthetic — the art he is drawn to, the way he moves through a space — guided the
furnishing and art selections from the first conversation.
Designing for Dual Purpose
The sliding glass door between the music room and the dance floor breezeway was a deliberate
design choice: it preserves the visual connection between the two spaces while allowing them to
function independently. Whether the client is playing alone or hosting a party with a live band,
each space can be what it needs to be without compromise.
Acoustic Design and Livability
Creating a space where a violinist can practice at dawn without waking the household required
more than good intentions. Acoustic panels were integrated into the design to manage sound
within the room. Exterior-grade sliding glass doors provide meaningful separation between the
addition and the main home. Integrated shades and cove lighting allow the client to control the
environment — both acoustically and atmospherically — at any time of day.
Space Planning and Furnishing
The furnishing scope extended beyond the addition to include the TV area and living room,
allowing Gruver Cooley to create a unified transitional aesthetic throughout the home. Art
selections in the music room and breezeway were approached with the same care as any other
design element — each piece hand-selected to reflect the client's identity and elevate the
spaces in which it lives.
CONCLUSION
Where Personal Passion Meets Purposeful Design
This project is a study in what it means to design for a life, not just a house. The addition seamlessly expands the home while honoring the client's most personal pursuits — music, movement, and the joy of bringing people together. The music room offers a private retreat for early-morning practice; the breezeway transforms into a vibrant space for celebration. Together, they represent what Gruver Cooley does at its best: listening closely, designing with intention, and delivering spaces that feel unmistakably like the people who live in them.
