Marie Flanigan's design of a manly haven in The Heights is a case study in high style. When Marie Flanigan designed this elevated lounge for a longtime client in The Heights, she didn't revert to old conventions of cozy.

“You walk into this room and automatically feel a cocoon effect,” says the Houston-based designer—an effect not due to a plump leather sofa or an oversize flat-screen, but rather a result of comfortable yet sleek pieces like a silk velvet sofa with down cushions and an actual acoustical change with walls upholstered in suede.

When Flanigan and her team set out to create this space, her first aim was functionality. She incorporated plenty of seating options to accommodate multiple entertaining scenarios and integrated various types of lighting to create distinct vignettes. The designer credits a smart mix of textures for the room's masculine vibe.

“I don't think a room has to be dark to be masculine,” she notes. She layered materials like suede, velvet, seagrass, metals and hide, alongside antiques and contemporary pieces to create a decidedly lived-in space with character and charm. In the end, she says, “It's a retreat.” Here, the designer breaks down the new and improved man cave.

“Lighting can transform a room! By layering general, task and accent lights, you not only create a beautiful ambiance, but you also enhance functionality and create interesting vignettes throughout the room. The chandelier is the whimsical element in the space. The metal is antiqued and distressed, so it gives the room a beautiful glow.”

Jennifer Wall sconce, $1,354, urbanelectric.com

“This is definitely a luxurious lounge seat where you can sit and have a beer. It's also a napping sofa, yet it's formal enough to entertain. It's a nice hybrid piece. With velvet, you are able to achieve a depth in color that you can't with other fabrics, which sets the tone.”

“You walk into this room and automatically feel a cocoon effect. We upholstered the walls in a suede fabric, so there's an acoustical change. It lends a very masculine texture, offset by the brass and seagrass tones of the bookshelves and the velvet sofa.”

Sydney Yeager, “Late April Afternoon” (2018, oil on linen), 72 inches by 60 inches, Laura Rathe Fine Art; sydneyyeager.com