A versatile style Advice for decorating in a small space
Move storage into the corner with a brightly designed chest of drawers.
This clever design allows you to say goodbye to the TV by sliding the bookshelves into place.
Q. We have purchased a condo unit after 25 years in a house and want to start fresh with furnishings. We have always liked French style and are looking for pieces that will work in a smaller space but still look fabulous. What would you suggest? Thank you.
A. The secret to success when furnishing a small space is to choose pieces that are multi-functional. Due to downsizing, that has become a huge trend; we are seeing a broad selection of furnishings that meet the requirements of versatility and style. Grange is a global leader in French design and decor. It chooses to moderate its version of period styles, adapting them to current tastes, and in so doing, fulfills today’s practical and aesthetic requirements. Grange is based in France, and distributes to the U.S. and Canada (www.grangeny.com).
I discovered one of their new collections, Cote Design, which you can access at the bottom of Grange’s home page. Their dynamic small-space designs solve two decorating challenges that we all face. The first to catch my eye was their Brooklyn TV Bookcase. With open space plans, hiding today’s large flat-screen TVs is not easy. Sliding, well-appointed bookshelves present an alternate view that is both pleasing and practical.
Corners are awkward and often result in wasted space. Cote Design has fashioned their Domino seven-drawer corner chest with colors and cleverly angled drawers that turn this storage unit into a work of art.
If these pieces are too costly or difficult for you to attain, then use their ideas. Storage can be beautiful. By decorating whatever unit you have with a distinctive paint finish, interesting hardware and color, storage becomes an integral part of your overall design plan, be it French, modern or country style.
Q. I am looking for suggestions on how to brighten my family room.
The walls and carpet are cappuccino, fireplace white, large entertainment center dark wood, burgundy couches, and a medium-size wood coffee table that opens up for storage. What colors can I bring in? Should I paint the coffee table? Add throw pillows? Thanks for your help.
A. You have chosen a rich, traditional palette for your family room.
Blue, green and yellow are accent colors that will add a bright note.
Why not make a focal point of your coffee table and paint it? Choose a yellow ocher for the base color and apply wide stripes on the top in three colors: bright blue, lime green and burgundy. Throw pillows in these shades and some lively accessories will pull it all together.
Q. We have two dormer rooms and can’t decide if we should paint the entire space the same as the wall color or use ceiling paint on the angled walls. What do you suggest?
A. Generally, I suggest that ceilings should be a different color from the walls, whether traditional white or a delicate pastel.
Otherwise, you feel as if you are living in a box. However, a dormer room is different, as the beauty of these irregular walls comes from your eye roaming along the surface from wall to slanted ceiling. It’s an option to paint the vertical walls a different color, or the end wall, but I think one soft color throughout always wins. In my house in London my bedroom sits under the roof. I painted all the walls white, but added color by using an oversized headboard with a fabulous print.
Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.