Dear Leanne: I have just acquired two Parisian accent chairs from an antique store and would like to incorporate it into my living room. I want to pair them with a cream, contemporary-style sofa. The chairs need to be refinished and reupholstered. I know you can mix modern and traditional looks, but how do you do it so that it looks right?
A: You definitely have the beginnings of a stylish room, but before you decide on what to do with your chairs, you need to envision this room when it is completed.
The basic rules for creating a beautiful eclectic space are no different than those used to create any other room. Scale, colour and balance will need to be considered when selecting your room's furnishings.
You can certainly have fun with your new purchases and have them work with your contemporary sofa, by refinishing the wood in a contemporary colour as opposed to their traditional stain.
Logically, you will be placing your sofa on one side of your room and the two chairs will likely be placed opposite. While you plan this placement (in your mind) look at the items as they relate to each other.
The mass of your sofa is greater than the two chairs, so the colour and fabric for the chairs will need to balance the space. This can be handled in a number of ways.
One suggestion would be to finish the wood in glossy black and upholster the chairs in a complementary cream fabric. Place a faux zebra print area rug on the floor between the sofa and chairs. A glass-top coffee table, on black legs, would add a clear note of sophistication, with black accessories presenting an illusionary effect, as if floating above the carpet.
Reintroduce traditional elements in the room by placing black Chinoiserie end tables on one end of the sofa and another between the two chairs. Chinoiserie is an ancient oriental treatment applied to furniture and accessories. It offers a black background with hand-painted motifs often depicting rural Asian life. Ethan Allen Home Interiors (780-444-8855) offers a selection of this functional art form.
For lighting, consider a lamp with a white porcelain base that would be elegant on a black end table. This could be topped with either a white or black shade. If you're interested in the black shade, ensure the shade has a metallic liner for best illumination.
A floor lamp with a black base and a white shade would complement the room's decor while offering task lighting to the space. Standing elegantly on the alternate side of the sofa will keep the black and white balance.
Keep your window coverings simple and elegant in a cream tone and voila, you will have a stunning contemporary space offering fresh sophistication.
If black and white were not what you had in mind, follow the steps outlined here and add colour and pattern in your chairs. Remember to carry the aspects of the colour and pattern to the other side of the room.
For example, cream-coloured wood with periwinkle purple upholstery can be balanced with periwinkle accent pillows on the sofa. It is all a balancing act. Step back and adjust as you go. Make this space yours and infuse it with your style and personality.
Dear Leanne: We are living in a house with pale yellow siding, terra cotta brick work and all white trim. I'd like to paint the front door to make it stand out. Do you recommend this, and what colour do you suggest? Do we match it to a colour that we have already or go with a completely different colour?
A: Make your entrance a focal point and add a new colour to your home. Depending on your home's style and your taste, there are several wonderful selections that co-ordinate with yellow and terracotta brick.
Black is one door colour that has been used effectively to create a dramatic and elegant entrance. A beautiful contrast to terra cotta brick and yellow, black has been used in Georgian home designs.
Add a shiny brass kickplate, new brass handles and a brass knocker, and your home will be ready to receive any guest. If you have space on your front porch, add a spiralling topiary in a terracotta planter.
Another colour that offers a pleasant contrast to your current colours is a soft green such as Benjamin Moore HC 123 Kennebunkport Green. These earth tones evoke the calm image of a cottage nestled in a forest.
Canwest News Service
Leanne Brownoff is an interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at www.leannebrownoff.com.
