The Rural Voice, 1999-06, Page 44Home Decorating
Questions and answers on decorating — inside and out
By Patti Robertson
Q. My favourite cousins from England
will be visiting at our home for three
weeks this fall. I need an update for
my combination living room and
dining room. I'm dated with a late
'80s early '90s look of burgundy. dark
green. and rose with a grey carpet. I'm
willing to change the carpeting, wall
colour and a few accessories. Help!
A. Let me suggest we start by
replacing as much of the dusty rose
tones as possible. Replace this hue
with the up-to-date millennium hues
of wheat. buff, saddle or mustard
tones. (Ensure your chosen tone has a
decidedly taupe/neutral undertone and
not a yellow.) This addition will result
in a classic burgundy, green and
golden colour scheme which is always
classic. Consider using Sico paint
#4153-42 (camelcoat) as your wall
colour, then faux texture with ragging
in Sico #4153-31 (rattan). Remember,
for the very best ragging treatment
you will need plenty of clean crisp
cotton rags. As soon as your rag
becomes soggy, immediately discard
and continue with a fresh rag.
You'd also be wise to re -carpet
with possibly a berber carpet or a hard
twist carpet in these neutral golden
tones also. -
Your lamps can now be toned into
the wall colourations in softer textured
neutral shadings. I'd like to suggest an
urn -type styling for the base with one
of the marbled textured shades.
Wall art will give you a great
update if you incorporate burgundy
and greens in harmony with off whites
and mustard hues. Possibly consider
adding plaid fabric, either as valances
or novelty toss cushions for a high -
styled Ralph Lauren flair.
Update floral arrangements to
include off whites and neutral golden
hues along with burgundy. Possibly
use the latex florals, that feel and look
real. These should be arranged into a
"garden gathered" look rather than
some contrived, and unnatural
arrangement. Finally remember the
best and most professional look will
be achieved if you use two-thirds of
one colouration to only one-third of
your accent hues. All you need is a
hint of accent to make a room
40 THE RURAL VOICE
smashing. Enjoy your company in the
luxury of your new rooms.
Q. We built a wonderful new deck
across the entire rear of our home.
There is a little dimension, but for the
most part it feels
very long and
narrow. How do
I set it up with
our patio
furniture for the
best look and
use'?
A. Arranging
furniture for
outside use
follows the
same rules of
design that we
use inside our
homes. Our
goal being to
create
interesting and comfortable
conversational groupings and not
hinder the traffic flow within the area.
In the case of your long narrow
deck, we will treat it much the same as
a long narrow room, dividing it into
two, sometimes three, areas to give a
homey appealing atmosphere. I'd like
to suggest the table and chairs (the
dining area) be placed closest to the
kitchen entrance. A table and chairs
create an automatic conversational
grouping. Perhaps allow 12' x 12' for
this area. Consider a 3' high planter
box to divide this area and break up
the space between your outdoor dining
area and your outdoor living area. This
can be either free standing or
permanent with a trellis and arbor
incorporated to allow for vines to act
as screening and a softening effect in
contrast to all the hard edges of the
deck and your home. I, myself, always
enjoy bringing some of my pretty, yet
less valuable ornaments, candleholders
and flowerpots outside to adorn these
areas. I also love to use real linen
tablecloths and napkins to dress up an
outdoor table.
In your outdoor living area place
your longest piece of furniture along
the house wall to "ground" your
grouping. A coffee -style table will
allow a pivotal point for your
grouping, also allowing a convenient
place for beverages, and to put one's
Change of hue
gives looks
anew
feet up. After all we're outside! (Ward
and I simply cut the legs off our oval
outdoor table to coffee table height.
Now set up all your furniture to
work around these main pieces. End
tables are also an asset. Once again to
finish off this area accessories will
play a key part.
Consider how and when you plan
on using and entertaining in your
outdoor rooms. At night you'll want to
experiment with candlelight and
possibly going as far as using a lamp
with a low wattage bulb to add "glow"
to your rooms. Another trick is to hang
a piece of wall art on your exterior
wall. There are wonderfully textured
plaques. urns, and sculptures in stone,
clay, metal or even plastic which will
add real character to your outdoor
living space. Make certain you remain
true to your chosen colour scheme.
This always spells success. Have a
great summer.°
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingharn.
"Our experience
assures lower cost
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