Photo courtesy of Decorating Den Interiors

Photo courtesy of Hunter Douglas

Photo courtesy of Springs Window Fashion

Sliding doors and French doors provide not only a more interesting doorway to a home, but also generally more light. The natural light that is usually viewed as a positive can become an issue when the sun is in your eyes during either dinner or breakfast. It also can affect the screens on your TV or monitors. Many times the consumer doesn’t think about the damage that the sun may be doing on the furnishings or flooring as it shines in the room.
If you decide to put a traversing drapery on your sliding or French door, you may be blocking the view or natural light that you wanted. To open the drapery wide enough to take advantageous of the full glass, the drapery will need to be approximately 1/3 wider than the glass it is covering. This space is not always available nor is the desire for that much fabric.
When I get a call to discuss this challenge, often I also hear, – I’m not interested in vertical blinds. First I explain that verticals do provide an answer with a small stacking width, and there are many more vane options available. The perception is usually the PVC vane, but the woven fabrics with sewn in weights on the bottom can add texture with a softer appearance. Also available are wood vertical slats that add a more warm feeling.

For a more formal or up-scale space Hunter Douglas offers a Luminette. This product combines the advantages of the vertical blind, but has a sheer fabric on either side of the slats. You are able to tilt the inner fabric slats to the degree of privacy desired while appreciating the elegance of sheers. Opening them completely a minimal stacking space is used.

The most popular solution that my clients choose is the Horizon woven wood drape called Averte. With dozens of woven wood fabrics available most room styles can be coordinated. A warm cherry or walnut colored slat that blends with the room’s cabinetry or trim leans towards a traditional style. A nice blend of multi colored grasses and reeds can be used in a room that has a more tropical theme, with rustic options available for a more casual space. The track that this product is mounted can be hidden under a decorative valance of either the same woven wood or endless options on fabrics. The track is also offered in decorative wood poles in many colors and lots of options of finial styles.
To function the Averte, you simply and easily slide the leading wood edge. No cords!
Both the Averte and Luminette can be motorized so that with the touch of a remote control or IPad you are able to control the light coming in your sliding or French doors with the touch of a finger.

Courtesy of Taylor King

Courtesy of Taylor King

Courtesy of Taylor King

After a wonderful home tour in Virginia, with friends last weekend, and the comments from the last article “How do I plan my seating” I decided I would continue with more information on what might be considered ‘unusual’ seating styles/options.
Two chairs are shown in a room with a definite hunter’s theme. The walls are painted in a warm neutral and a focal point wall with fireplace (out of photo) and firewood box. The diagonal wood boards of this wall are painted a soft white/grey with
Trophies proudly mounted. An animal skin stretched on top of a sisal area rug, anchor the placement of the chairs that were chosen follow the room’s style. The room’s contemporary style shows in the chairs with straight lines of the wooden arms and tapered feet. Tufting the back adds a current trend that was popular years ago. Leather would be a good look for this room, and this choice of soft, subtle leather on the interior with a snake skin pattern on the chairs’ exterior adds texture with the room’s theme.
A dining room can also be a setting for ‘different’ seating. An easy way to accomplish would be to add upholstered Parson chairs to each end. The upholstery of this style gives you almost unlimited style options from ‘shabby chic’ to elegant ‘old world’. Shown with the dining room featured is a straight banquette. This particular style has nice lines with the wood frame back slightly curving up to a large upholstered roll on the top accenting it’s 45” height. With 4 sets of legs, this offers seating for 3 at a width of 64”. This style is also available at 43”, which would sit 2, and as a single chair. Depending on room size and table size a number of creative options could provide an interesting dining area. Another option for a round table would be a curved banquette. With a square table, 2 sides could use chairs while 2 offer banquette seating. If your table is square or rectangle and is towards a wall, a single banquette would work nicely, anchoring the dining area on 1 side. One thing to consider with a banquette, is that it’s not something that you would be ‘pulling’ up to the table. It’s more of a stationary seat option.
Referring back to the last article where I mentioned the versatility of sectionals, the photo of the ‘grand sectional’ gives comfortable seating for 8 in a nice ‘conversation’ configuration. Starting from the middle, there is an armless love seat. The turn on each side is made with a wedge (also armless) to each end with a right or left arm love seat. These pieces could be arranged to an “L” shape by removing 1 wedge, with or without the armless loveseat. It could also be a very long straight sofa be removing both wedges. Removing the armless love seat and both wedges, a sofa that would accommodate 4 people could be arranged.
As I often mention, careful measuring and planning can be your greatest tool in maximizing your seating capacity with style.

Photo Credit: Taylor King Furniture

Photo Credit: Taylor King Furniture

Photo Credit: Taylor King Furniture

Other than bedrooms and bathrooms one of the first questions in a room design is “how many people do you hope to provide seating for in this space?” This would be true for living or family rooms, as well as dining rooms, sunrooms, home libraries or dens, and can include home offices and many commercial projects.
Notice, I ask ‘hope’ because the room size holds a lot of pull on the answer to this question. I’ve recently visited with a couple that had desired more seating than they thought their family room would accommodate. However, after deciding that the TV could be moved, a sectional with a low profile arm and a pair of fire side chairs would give them the seating they desired. Granted, all will not have the perfect TV view, but when the larger group gathered, they realized that conversation was usually more the function with TV being the background.
Rarely is there a living room with a matching sofa, chair, and love seat in today’s newly re-decorated rooms. With great options for spacing in sectionals generally more seats can be provided. Sectionals offer many different styles to accommodate many decors.
Seating style can add either a big pop to a room, or include little details that quietly enhance a space.
In the room photo we see a small-scale sofa (outside width is 71” – most sofas are closer to 84”) This interesting style has a single seat cushion with a tight back that curves around the sides. The back has a unique roll accented with nail trim on the front and back down to the bottom. Adding a bit of contrast in the pillows, a touch of elegance is placed with a special trim down the pillows’ center.
Shown in a leather/fabric combination with nail trim also shows of the lines of the settee shown. This piece is a little narrower that the small scale sofa at 59” but has an eye –catching height of almost 48”. 2 bold printed pillows in a kidney shape finish off this piece. There are many people who love the look of leather, but prefer fabric on which to sit. Using a combination like this could satisfy both desires.
Another upholstered option that is gaining more and more popularity in bedroom, family and living rooms is the chaise. Shown in the photo is a solid color that takes up only 34” in width. Instead of a chair and ottoman, this 68” long piece shows off style and comfort. Rather than being straight across the bottom, a slight dip shows one of the quiet details that adds to the style. With tufting making a strong comeback in the upholstery world, the curved back of the LAF (Left Arm Facing) chaise is almost calling for someone to come in a cuddle up.
These are just 3 different pieces that could offer seating for more than 1 person, with totally different style options. There are many more options available to make the seating in your home more interesting.

It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been enjoying interior decorating as a career for 2 major reasons. Personally, it’s all the wonderful people that I’ve worked with in their homes and businesses. Professionally, I’ve enjoyed the design evolution, especially as it relates to the local area.
Living in this historical area the ‘country’ or ‘traditional’ décor was prevalent in the beginning of my career. Few and far between would I come across a client whose desire was contemporary.
With the assistance of Home and Garden TV exposing us to different degrees of all styles, as well as the influx of those moving in from metropolitan areas, my opportunity to work with contemporary style has increased.
In the photo with the fireplace we see a room that from the beginning, could have followed most any style. Starting from the tile floor with occasional small black tiles placed at the corners of the large neutral the style began. A color block area rug anchors the space. The individual colors from this rug are repeated on each of the sleek style of the sofa, and both styles of chairs that create the conversation area. Most appealing to me in this room is the wall art. The placement of the 4 wall pieces shown, accentuate each wall with perfect style and proportion.
The open floor plan living room in the other photo shows different sitting areas in a stronger contemporary style. Towards the wall of windows is a small sitting area, with 2 black and white, almost zebra pattern chairs. The tall legs on this style add even more of the contemporary flare. To the left of that area, a small dining area sits on top of another brightly color-block area rug. This table with sleek metal pedestal offers 2 chairs having light stained wood backs and black faux leather seats. Instead of a chandelier, a floor lamp swings its bright shade to the center of the table.
The main seating area holds 2 armless chairs with dark wood legs. These bold color chairs in fuchsia face an all white sectional that includes a left arm sofa with 3 cushions and a wide, right arm chaise. Keeping the ‘cleaner contemporary’ style the base is a simple tapered leg. An irregular shaped coffee table made of carved wood adds curves and angles to the straight lines of this seating area.
Throw pillows in different colors on the white sectional add to the bold colors, with the floor lamp in the corner repeating the large circles on the center pillow. A set of 3 brightly colored, but simple design, wall art fit perfectly over the sofa.
These 2 rooms shows how to address inviting seating plans in a smaller room as well as an open floor plan space with a contemporary flare.

I’m not sure if it’s because school is starting but the idea of a new home office is in the air in Franklin County. I first got a call from 2 retired sisters that share a large home. They both have decided to return to their separate careers part time, working from home. Measuring the space very carefully we filled 1 wall with 1 inch to spare with shelves and filing systems. As we are waiting for the last couple of pieces to this project to come in, we get a call from another client
This busy Mom & Dad wanted help in deciding on how best to arrange 2 rooms for the family, with 4 young children. After discussing their lifestyle and desires, and taking measurements of both spaces we suggested an adult home office in a room that can be closed off with glass French doors. In the other space, an open area off the foyer, across from the dining room, we’re calling it the children’s studio.
This room will have a round table (with leaf) with 4 chairs upholstered in durable faux leather. There will be an area were 2 desks with low hutches and chairs are back to back. Their existing electric keyboard will remain, and other practical storage pieces will organize their books, and art supplies.
Yesterday, I met with a retired couple that needs to move part of their 2nd floor home office to the 1st floor library, which will get a face-lift with new wall color and update the window treatments. Using their furniture, I’ll prepare a room plan so that when the updates are completed the heavy furniture will be moved efficiently into place.
In the 2 completed home offices featured, the windows played a big part in the projects.
The smaller room didn’t offer much light, so the simple desk was placed beside the window. The blind that is closed for privacy can be raised completely to stack under the ceiling mounted upholstered cornice. The walls in this small space offer the texture of a grass cloth wall covering.
The larger home office with a long double window unit offered a beautiful garden view that is appreciated when the client is working opposite on the quite large desk that fits the space nicely. An additional writing desk is available on the right for the spouse to work at the same time. In the corner a comfy chair and ottoman gives a place to take a break to relax with a cup of tea. Keeping the proportion the artwork that fills the long wall is a set of 3 tall panels of vines and birds. Long stationary side panels puddle on the floor at the edges of the windows keeping full view open.
Using the same tone on tone fabric as the panels, again, an upholstered cornice is mounted just below the crown molding.
Limited only by the size of the room or budget, you can see by the stories presented and photos shown there are many options on how to create a perfect home office for you.

Before

After

The family room is usually the casual space where families gather to read, watch TV, relax and enjoy each other’s company. The family of our featured family room enjoyed their space similarly but without a TV.
Although the client made an attempt to arrange furnishing and add accessories, she felt as though there was something out of balance.
The before photo shows the largest piece of furniture, a sofa, on the left in front of the shortest wall. Trying to fill the large slanted wall, artwork and accessories were placed on the angle wall, but this still left lots of blank wall and didn’t help add balance. At this point, she decided to call in a decorator for advice.
Since a ‘make-over’ was in the plan, it was decided to add a TV to the room. Their new TV offers artwork covering the blank screen when it’s off. The size of the TV placed on the wall above the cabinet is in correct proportion to the cabinet, but not the wall. A pair of framed botanicals, with simple frames, just a bit taller than the TV, were placed on either side of the TV. Architectural moldings were installed to frame the cabinet, TV and artwork, leaving blank panels above and topped with crown molding. This tremendously helped balance the room.
Instead of a large sofa, a leather sectional brought seating from the shortest wall out into the room. The rectangular coffee table was replaced with a large square cocktail ottoman upholstered in a soft leaf pattern fabric.
To help ‘lift’ the shortest wall, long drapery panels were installed right at the top of the wall. This also leaves the arch more focused than if a rod was installed right above the arch.
On the right corner a comfortable chair and ottoman were placed for anyone that desired to just sit and relax with a book.
The client’s love of botanicals was the key in choosing the room’s accessories. The added architectural feature also frames floor vases with tall grasses, placed on either side of the cabinet. The corner is softened with a tall faux tree. The cabinet holds a simple assortment of candles and vases, with a minimal floral arrangement in one. They are placed off to the sides, to avoid interference in TV viewing.
This room also now has a nice variety of textures and patterns. Smooth leather, with fabric pillows on the sectional, big folds of a geometric pattern in the draperies, and a large pattern on the chair and ottoman.
The beautiful hardwood floor now holds a new area rug, which the family really enjoys. The old low-pile patterned area rug was replaced with a soft shaggy rug, which the client’s dog has obviously approved.

Two recent scenarios presented themselves regarding today’s topic: Furniture Arrangement.
The first was an e-mail: “Aunt Maryann, I’m adding a large great room on to my home. Now I’m wondering how do I make it cozy?”
The second came within a week. A client schedules an appointment to review the plans of the new home their building. “We’ll have large rooms with more than 1 focal point. How do I figure the furniture layout?”
Furniture placement can be tricky. In both of these scenarios they will be purchasing new furniture, so with planning and preparing furniture layouts with specific furniture pieces, we can find the pieces that will meet there individual wants and needs after discussing the investment they are considering.
When bringing furniture from a home it was purchased for, into a new home, sometimes is more difficult in getting that perfect layout. In those cases, compromise is a good friend. Look at the requirements 1st; i.e. number of seats. My next suggestion is what pieces have emotional attachment, like a family heirloom vs. the focal points (TV, fireplace, outdoor view). This is where the compromise might come into effect.
When dealing with a client that is moving into a Senior Facility, I want to make the move as easy as possible. I generally measure the specific room or apartment in which they are moving into. After measuring their furniture and preparing a plan, the family can see what will be best placement for their needs. This way they won’t be moving things in that won’t fit.
The featured rooms had the basic furniture placement challenge on 2 different scales. The small room offered 3 different focal points; the TV, the fireplace, and the gardens outside. As shown the TV was mounted over the fireplace with a small sofa facing it. The 2 chairs on the left focus on the outside, but are swivel, so work well for TV/fireplace viewing as well. An extra chair was added in the corner that would be used mostly for conversation. By adding low-profile ‘fireside chairs’ in the rooms style additional seating can be gained and sometimes adds a nice balance to the space.
The long and narrow family room also created challenges in furniture placement. It offered the TV/entertainment center on the long wall with a lovely fireplace on the far wall. To place a sofa on the opposite wall of the TV and a love seat with it, facing the fireplace would make the traffic path a bit tight and could interfere with the built-in bar area. Leaving the love seat out and adding a longer sofa would provide desired seating, but conversation is difficult when everyone is facing the same way. The answer was to place a large ‘conversation’ sofa on the wall. With the slight U-shape, one end can view the fireplace and the TV, and conversation is much easier. A large wedge-shaped ottoman is placed in the center that will accommodate many pairs of feet. The sofa’s fabric is a light grey solid, with pattern being appreciated in the throw pillows; some in aqua tone on tone, and others in orange and aqua geometric patterns. Above the sofa is a very large framed artwork that is a great proportion to the room and sofa, and the entire area is anchored with an area rug.
In front of the fireplace 2 large chairs are placed to enjoy the fire and angled enough to be included in the conversation in front. The solid upholstery fabric doesn’t take away from the fireplace, but just the right amount of interest is gained by using the patterned pillows on the chairs and on the bottom part of the round ottoman placed in between.
Both of these rooms have shown whether large or small you can have challenges in furniture placement, but with the right amount of planning the furniture can be arranged to function well and be pleasing to the eye.

Thinking ‘out of the box’ can give a room a “wow” factor that so many desire when they take on a new decorating project. It can be accomplished with getting out of the ‘expected – same old, same old style’ but you still want to follow good design principals and proportions, which have been discussed in previous articles.

Often in a large rectangular dining room you would see a rectangular or oblong table. Instead, in the featured dining room a large oval dining table was placed on a rectangular area rug. Rather than ‘traditional’ dining chairs, a tuxedo style upholstered chair in a cream color, with tufted back, sits on each end and along the far side of the table. On the front side of the table a long upholstered bench has the bright orange color that is in the area rug pattern. Above the table 2 large round lights, combined, are the right proportion for this large oval. Although the room is rectangular, the tray ceiling is an elongated octagon. Hardwood flooring throughout the home is varied lighter tones, from yellow undertones to the occasional deeper tones of a more subtle brown. The wood of the dining room table is a medium brown; with the chairs having the upholstery framed in a very dark stain. A dark toned server on the left holds stark white candle holders and candles in front of a large framed mirror. There are a lot of subtle ‘wow’ factors shown here.

The featured small living room obviously gets the main ‘wow’ factor from the mural on the wall. In this small space a sofa faces 2 armless chairs; all upholstered in white leather. It may be normal to think of stacking tables as something that sits off to the side, but in the center of the room round stacking coffee tables offers versatility. The lower table can be stacked under the taller table or pulled out as needed.
The windows hold stationary side panels in a stripe. The colors of the stripe resemble the sepia colors of the mural. The wide bands of the stripe hang horizontally, jumping out of the normal vertical orientation.
Contrasting the warm tones of the wood floor a cool grey geometric pattern, on the area rug, mimic tire tracks lead to the single bicycle tire of the large mural.

There are lots of details that totally thinks ‘out of the box” in these 2 incredible rooms. The dining room gently thinks ‘out of the box’ with it’s use of unexpected shapes and wood tones, while the small living room jumps ‘out of the box’ and feels larger than the room is with the close up detail of a simple old bike wheel.

No matter what the client’s possible decorative project is, I request a tour of their home on my first visit to help me get a good feel of their style as well as lifestyle. This can bring out some sort apology as to why “this area is a mess but we’ll deal with that later.”
“This area” can be a corner of the dining room table, a spot in the kitchen, family room, or living room. “This area” is usually a ‘temporary’ attempt to set up a home office.
A suggestion to those that ask me to give them ideas to update their homes would be to take a look at the guest room. If your guest room décor is out of date consider updating to a multi-function room that you can work in and have still have available for occasional guests.
That is what the homeowner requested of their decorator in the room shown. The client’s printer was measured, as it needed to remain in the space. It was placed on a small stand under the window, inconspicuous, but ready for use. An elegant writing desk would function for the laptop and other tasks. The chair used at the desk is just as elegant. This fully upholstered Parson’s chair in a soft toile pattern features a unique pleated detail in the back with straps and buttons. In front of the desk a cozy chair and ottoman provide a nice reading or resting space.
Using a comfortable sleeper sofa the room is ready for overnight guests at a moments notice. And on the right wall almost out of the photo are 2 occasional chairs that can multi-task by holding suits cases.
Light chocolate color walls are contrasted in deep, dark brown window treatments. Inside the window hobbled roman valances show of deep horizontal folds, while topped with long stationary side panels adding soft vertical folds. For light control, while working, and privacy for guests, cordless, room darkening cellular shades hide beneath the roman valances.
The small and quite full room gives the maximum vision of the room with the placement of 4 lights: 2 floor lamps in corners, 1 table lamp in a corner and the desk-lamp for task. Two area rugs define the areas of the room.
In so many ways this small room has taken full advantage of multi-tasking. Instead of the having an apology for the mess and an out of date guest room, the homeowner is not apologizing for having the best of both situations.

The real estate market comes alive with those looking for new homes, as others list their homes ‘for sale’ in these prime months. I know there are many reasons why the spring and summer months bring on this activity, school schedules being a contributor. I also know that I get requests from homeowners to help ‘stage’ their home. Sometimes, I get calls from the listing real estate agent to bring a ‘second opinion’ as to the best was to show the home.
Let me be clear, I am not in real estate, but as an interior decorator I work with people in their homes almost daily. It can be difficult to understand what ‘staging your home’ really means. To make a homeowner understand I ask them to take me on a tour of their home starting at the front door. I purposely don’t talk and only listen to them during this tour. By listening I can determine if they are viewing the building as their home or their asset. If they are planning on selling the home, they need to understand it is an asset.
We then start back at the front door and take the same tour, with me talking. I put myself in a frame of mine that I really want to buy this house. I look for all the positive features of the home. The furniture should be placed in a way that is most pleasing to the eye, which may not be the most desired functioning for the current homeowner.
In the photo shown the TV is positioned so that a pair of recliners opposite can view it easily. And when their frequently visiting neighbor stops by, there is a seat just under the window that faces the recliners as well. All positioned for the current homeowners life-style. However, wanting to sell the home a number of recommendations would make the room more appealing.
First, the TV could be mounted either over the fireplace, or in the built-in shelves. A shelve that would slide out and swivel would make viewing easy. This would remove the TV stand and open up the corner so that the built-ins would be more appreciated. To the left of the window there is an audio stand with components in it. They could be placed in the built-in shelving on the opposite side of the fireplace. If there is concern about them getting dusty, put them in the bottom and talk with an electronics installer about getting proper ventilation. By placing the 2 recliners facing the fireplace and removing the ‘neighbor’s’ chair, the room furnishings accent the architectural features.
To further update this space, I would recommend painting the paneling a warm neutral. The sun obviously beats in the wide window. Removing the heaving drapery panels and installing wood or faux wood blinds on the windows would allow the home-owner to tilt the slats to the desired amount of light coming in.
If you are considering putting your home on the real estate market in the near future, join us for a free Staging Seminar at the Capitol Theatre on May 6th. For more information call 263-4808.