...MORE
QUESTION:
I have two hallways in my house, and one of them is really long.
Do you have any ideas how to keep them from looking like tunnels? .....Roberta M.
ANSWER: You didn't tell me how wide your hallways are nor how tall the ceilings are, but I will work on these assumptions---36" to 48" widths and 8' or 9' ceilings. No matter what the width of your hallway or the height of the ceiling, good lighting is going to be the first order of business. It doesn't matter what color you use (light, medium or dark) for the walls and ceilings as long as the area is well lit. This may mean adding some recessed fixtures or some track lighting. Adding some interesting artwork on the walls and a nice runner on the floor (even over carpet) will break up the area and will make it seem less long and narrow. If you have a wider hallway, adding some contrasting color to the bottom third of the wall, whether you use paint or wallpaper---solid or patterned, will again break up the area and cut down on the tunnel look. Breaking up the area keeps the eye moving from side to side and not just looking straight ahead into the 'tunnel'....
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QUESTION:
I live in a condo and my kitchen has a corner sink with a small window
on the right. The area from the end of the sink to the corner is so bare and unappealing.
Any suggestions what I might put in that area to brighten the kitchen up? .....Sherrill C.
ANSWER: ... I would look at the window on the right. Since you don't get a lot of light from it, you may look at doing something interesting like turning it into a stained glass window (or at least the look of one)... OR using a window treatment that's a plantation shutter or a shade of some sort (like a stage coach shade or matchstick )...on the left side---depending on what you do with the window---maybe hang a large poster . Or any other sort of art piece that you like. If you don't like the art idea maybe place a nice hanging light fixture there (a swag light will work, if you don't want to install a fixture in the ceiling). If you feel that more is needed on the counter itself, add a large silk plant. Depending on what you do with the wall and window, another choice might be a large decorative plate on a stand or a tall pottery piece. Just be careful not to over do things. Using the large pieces or items is the key here. They will make a statement by their size. If you use small or too many items, they may get lost
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QUESTION:
My bedroom is being redone in black and white with a splash of red.
Can you tell me what color to use in my bathroom to make it flow? Bathroom is very small as
it is in a mobile home. .....Rebecca
ANSWER: ...It would look larger if you make it all white---even the shower curtain and window treatments, if you have them. Put a red rug on the floor, add red and black trims (ropes or braid or tassels or whatever you like) to the shower curtain and window treatment. Use colorful artwork that emphasizes the red and black and accessorize your vanity with red and black. You could also use a black or black and white tweedy looking rug on the floor. Use black and red towels. This and the rug will be the largest amount of color and will give the bath its anchor...
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QUESTION:
I have many old family photos...what is the best
way to display them...all different sizes...on one wall without looking like a depressing
or chaotic sight. Some of them, though, are in the original oval frames (one large oval
and two smaller ones that match) from early 1900's that i do not want to take out of the
frames, but want to merge them with others that I can re-frame with modern frames...
.....Sara
ANSWER: ...You can combine all sorts of frames in all sorts of sizes. The more contemporary frames are just fine to mix with older ones. My suggestion is that you use only black and walnut, cherry or mahogany frames to go with the old frames that you already have. Natural or metal frames may give you too much contrast by being too contemporary and not keep the eye focused on the photos... Use some frames, if possible, that have multiple openings, and use different shapes...
Now for the wall placement: The first suggestion I have for you is not to put your oval frames all in the same area. Scatter them among the other photos. The best way to figure out your placement is to lay all of your framed photos on a large floor space and step back and see what you think... Leave adequate space between all of your frames, but you don't have to have equal space---that would be almost impossible anyway and maybe a little boring...
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QUESTION:
I am designing a dining room for a rectangular
table. The table is 42" deep which occupies a 9' 6'' room depth. There is a kitchen island
that serves as one wall. The contractor ordered the wrong cabinets. They are too large,
which will take up several inches of my dining space. Could this be a problem?
.....Patrick D.
ANSWER: ...Yes, it could be a problem, but it's not your problem; the contractor is trying to get you to accept his mistake and live with it. Your space is already tight... Tell him that this is not acceptable and that he will have to get the right sized cabinets.
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QUESTION:
I have cherry cabinets and bisque appliances in my kitchen. I
would like to purchase a large dining table, but all of the cherry tables that I see are
very formal. I like Shaker and Country styles. Can I use a different kind of wood? From
someone who is tearing her hair out. .....Donna B.
ANSWER: ...I have a couple of suggestions that may possibly solve your problem. One is to go to antique markets and malls as well as flea markets. You can often find some very good deals on some nice pieces, and they will more than likely be the simplistic styles that you're looking for. The color may not match your cabinets perfectly, but that's not essential. Close counts and will look better because it won't be so matchy, matchy. Another solution may be to look at unfinished furniture and stain it the color you want ...do a 'fun' paint job on an old table or an unfinished piece. It could really be a focal point and be a nice addition. Your choice of colors should of course coordinate with the cherry cabinets and the rest of your kitchen---the fabrics, etc...
QUESTION: I have a fairly large apartment with 8' ceilings and no architectural details. I would like to install hardwood floors using standard oak with a black stain washed over them. The walls are light colors and the furnishings are dark woods and black leather. Does this make sense from a design standpoint? .....Robert L.
ANSWER: The black translucent floors sound really nice. A couple of things that I would do to pull it all together are to add colorful rugs to the floors and to hang colorful artwork on the walls. The light walls are a good backdrop for the art, as the dark floors are for the rugs. Weaving the color through your space is the thread that will pull the entire space together...
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QUESTION:
We would like to purchase leather furniture.
Our living room is 16' by 21'. Should we buy a sofa and loveseat or sofa and chair or
all three? .....Bonnie W.
ANSWER: Actually, the combinations you are asking about are not very good furniture arrangement. These arrangements have evolved because furniture stores put the pieces together on their showroom floors that are available in each furniture group they have for sale. Good furniture arrangements are 2 sofas or 2 loveseats or a sofa with 2 large sized chairs or a loveseat with 2 medium sized chairs. You can configure these across from each other or in an "L" shape. Of course, the size and shape of your room determine the size of your furniture and the number of pieces as well as the arrangement Large ottomans are available and are great for putting up your feet, but they can also double as a 'table'. Occasional chairs can also be scattered around for extra seating and to break up the massive look of the upholstered pieces...
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QUESTION:
Lots of light in the kitchen. Cabinets
are shaker style light maple. Floor is select white oak with a clear seal.
Would Sile Stone (solid surface) Brazilian Brown countertops be too dark for the other
colors in the kitchen? Are there other colors you would recommend I look at with the
Maple Cabinets and White Oak floor? We are wanting to use a stainless steel sink and
our current appliances are bisque color. .....Anna S.
ANSWER: I think the brown countertop sounds wonderful and will not be too dark. The mistake that a lot of people seem to be making these days is to use too much of the same color on everything in their kitchen. For me, this denies character and personality in the kitchen---not to mention that the room seems to float. The brown countertop will give your kitchen warmth and personality. Don't forget to use a nice, large rug to help coordinate the countertop and give your kitchen an anchor and a finished look---along with your accessorizing, of course.
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QUESTION:
I have a question about my rather small,
L-shaped, 12'X 9' space. I am planning to remodel soon and I am trying to achieve
an "old-world, European" kind of look. I have many beautiful painted bowls and
pottery that I would like to incorporate. However, I cannot decide to go with dark
or light cabinetry. I think the darker would be the better choice for this look,
but I don't want the space to be overwhelmed by the dark color. I do also like the
lighter woods (especially a taupe glaze over maple) to go with my bisque-colored
(new) appliances, but don't think all light wood would look "old" enough. Is it
possible to go with light wood on upper cabinets, then darker wood below countertops?
(Or, vice-versa, as my appliances are light)? My husband thinks I am crazy, but I
just thought I'd check with a pro before I made any final decision. Thanks so much!!
.....Joni
ANSWER: In your particular situation and considering what you seem to like the best, here's what I would do. I would go with the glazed maple cabinets. Maybe use an additional glaze in some nooks and crannies to give it a 'hint' of a darker wood underneath. Using the two different colors of cabinets is not really going to give you the your going for---especially the dark on top, that would create a top heavy look. What is going to make your kitchen have that 'old world' look is what you do with everything else. You really do have a wonderful opportunity to make a great looking space. Maybe there's a wall where you can put some old looking tiles. The hardware, lighting, floor, countertops and accessories will make it 'old world'. It sounds like you have a good start on the accessorizing with your bowls and pottery.