DEAR Marc:
I'm working long hours at the office, and when I come home I am tired. This part of my life is all about my career, so I don't spend lots of time at home. But when I am there, I'd like to have a place where I can relax and unwind. I am basically living like a bachelor right now. My walls are white; I have minimal furniture, and a large, flat-screen TV and sound system. I don't want to compromise the comfort of my furniture just so my house looks good, but I would like for it not to look so ugly. Help! -- Zach
Dear Zach:
Having a designer space is like having a sports car. All your friends will want one. In our fathers' and grandfathers' time, guys were not expected to live in designer spaces. Nowadays, guys are expected to develop their own taste and style for their homes. Many men will buy and design a home before moving in with their wives. Who says we can't live in rock-star spaces before we get married?
The functionality of a given space in your home will change depending on your needs. You might want to easily change your dining room table to a poker table for poker night. Or your living room may not be a sitting area, but rather a room filled with electronics. The most important function of the room may be to have adequate seating for friends and reachable tables to set down a cold beer.
To design your space, you'll need to select an appropriate colour scheme. Great colours for a guy's space may include greys, blues, army greens, taupes, and reds. My personal favourite is shades of grey as the primary wall colour, paired with a deep dusty blue as an accent colour. Think of a navy blue with a dab of grey and that's the colour we're looking for.
Now for furniture. As we're trying to create a strong design with a consistent look, we'll want to stick to a dark grey fabric or black leather for the sofa. The key to buying a great sofa for your guy space is to steer away from the overstuffed sectionals. Rather, look for clean lines and a more modern look and feel. Quality sofas are built to be comfortable without looking like a bean bag with legs, therefore, invest in one and you won't regret it. I know this will come as a shock to most guys, but designer furniture has all of the same functions as regular furniture. If you want a reclining chair, designer chairs that recline are also available!
As for manly accessories, stick to natural elements such as chrome or wood. If it comes down to light or dark-stained wood, choose dark. Cowhide rugs make great area rugs in these spaces. The successful formula is to have touches of rustic design, but not have your home look like it should be part of a ski lodge.
As for your flat-screen television, don't fret. If it isn't wider than your fireplace, you can hang it above the mantel. This way, your focal point is still the fireplace, and you won't have to change your seating around when the guys are over to watch the game. Also, instead of having the speakers sitting on the floor around the room, invest in in-wall speakers. These are wired into your walls between your studs (vertical 2 X 4s in the wall) so that neither the wires nor the speakers are visible. And voila, your pile of electronics that was sitting in the corner of the room is now transformed into a state-of-the-art entertainment system. All the great functions, with none of the ugly!
Who says guys can't have a designer space? Once you've completed your guy space, you'll be the envy of all your friends.
Marc Atiyolil is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends -- Canada's Home Decor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit CanadianHomeTrends.ca.
