Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper

Q&A with Phoebe: Focal Points in Living Rooms

Question: I am so glad you just discussed fireplaces because maybe you'll have some ideas for my question - which is basically the exact opposite: How do you decorate a living room without the fireplace as the focal point? I need some sort of focal point, but I don't want it to be the television. How have you handled this for clients?

Phoebe's Answer: Rooms don't necessarily need a focal point, but will benefit from one - A view out a large window, a profound piece of furniture or artwork.  What room needs is spatial harmony and rhythm.  Rooms are an opportunity to create something. While an extraordinary mantle or a great window can be stunning points of interest, there are far more rooms with no features at all. In those cases we try to arrange furniture in interesting ways to draw the eye in and help you in overlooking those missing features. Rooms are rarely bi-axial which is a symmetrical arrangement that can be quite lovely. A decorator usually immediately sees the obvious solutions, but a little cerebral effort can help re-imagine the way a room might feel. If the sofa has always been on the big wall, try floating it in the middle of the room or perhaps angling it in a corner.  If the room has always been a living room, maybe it can be multi-functional by adding a few etageres loaded with books which add enormous visual interest, etc. Here are some of our living rooms with various focal points:

an antique secretary is the focal point in this room


The windows at the end of this room are the focal point, as well as the bookcases on the opposite wall (below)






This credenza has a lovely piece of art above it.



An armoire is the focal point in this living room.



Here, a collection of prints above the settee.



The artwork above the sofa is large but calming and simple - just the way the homeowners wanted this room to feel.



Art on an easel behind the sofa makes a corner something to really look at.



The big, beautiful window in this living room was an obvious choice.

Q&A with Phoebe: Fireplace Surrounds

Question: What is your preferred material for fireplace surrounds?

Phoebe's Answer: We love mantles - Jim and I often buy antique mantles when abroad, and we also design mantles for clients. The type of mantle dictates whether you need a surround. If the mantle is wood, you have to have a stone surround for fire safety. If the mantle itself is stone, you can skip the surround, which we sometimes do. The other time the surround material is not important is if you are designing a non-working fireplace. Often, but not always, we design surrounds to be eight inches on the top and on each side. For the actual surround material, we like to use slate, marble or another kind of solid colored stone. Every once in a while, we use brick, too. Here are some examples:

 

Q&A with Phoebe: Simple Architectural Elements with Impact

Question: Can you tell us how we might make an impact with architectural elements without remodeling the entire house? I'd love to re-size windows, raise the ceiling, etc ... but it just isn't possible due to time and budget constraints. Are there any shortcuts?

Phoebe's Answer: There are certainly some things you can do without major construction. Something we always consider in a project is the moldings. If it makes sense for the room, we always add them or improve on what is there if needed. Many homes built more recently have dinky moldings, and the room is the poorer for it. Ours are custom designed, but they don't necessarily need to be ornate. Thick, beautiful moldings (and door frames, window frames, etc) go a long way to changing the look and feel of a room by adding more architectural integrity . Here are some close ups on some of the moldings we have designed and used in our projects:

Q&A with Phoebe: Making a Powder Bath Special

Question: I often read that a powder bath is a great place to take risks and do something wild and bold ... but that's not really my style. Can you suggest ways to make a powder bath special without doing something outrageous?

Phoebe's Answer: I agree powder baths can be a fun place to do something bolder than you might normally, but I tend to keep the powder baths I decorate in line with the rest of the house. Since it is usually a small space, it can be a good place to experiment with a wallpaper or a fun paint color. The most important things are the vanity, mirror, and lighting. I tend to like using a piece of furniture to convert into a vanity, or building something custom. I like to select mirrors that are a little special and something different.. Getting the sconces in the right place is critical, and this should always be drawn to scale before placing wiring.

Q&A with Phoebe: Selecting Kitchen Island Bar Stools

Question: You mentioned before not to skimp on bar stools, but do you have any thoughts as to style? What should the stools coordinate with?

Phoebe's Answer: Like we discussed before, the most important aspect of kitchen bar stools is that they are comfortable. I usually prefer stools with a back, but there are some designs out there without a back that are very comfortable too. Just like any other piece of furniture, they need to coordinate with whatever they are near - if this means dining chairs, the styles should complement one another but preferably not match exactly. Consider the finishes in the kitchen, especially the island since that is where the bar stools are placed. Swivels and arms add even more comfort. Take a look: