Look at all the planes in this one room. After the highest point was dressed with artwork that the client fell in love with (over an exceedingly high mantle), the windows in the room were all treated to great texture with woven-wood blinds. At the next level -- the hearth. Keeping accessories at eye level or below in any room helps establish a relationship between furnishings, those accessories, and you. It helps envelope you with atmosphere.
Here, I rearranged her furniture so that her matching chairs flanked the fireplace. Before, the very high hearth was empty, offering a cold, not-so-cozy feeling in front of the fire. A beautiful chaise was to the left, and there was no chair to the right (they were flanking the entrance to the room, making it easy for your eye to miss them as you focused on...the focal wall!).
Now, by adding a mossy green velvet ottoman, a plant, some books and a candle stick at eye level (and easily accessible), the once empty and chilly hearth now feels like an active part of the space. It serves as a table, inviting you to grace it with a cup of tea.
Above each chair, on the side walls, are beautiful floral giclees. Make sure to hang artwork low enough so that it maintains its relationship to the furnishings nearest it. Too often, we see artwork floating out on a wall, lonely, desolate, not talking to anything around it. It feels adrift, and that can end up being the feeling you get in the space -- unconnected.
While my client isn't fond of a lot of "stuff" on her surfaces, we did have fun gathering some items from around the house to style her new bookcase (with a remote lift-system tv hidden in the middle section! Lucky girl!). Here is a peak...
When you consider your own space, look at all the different levels, or planes, within it -- do they talk to each other and contribute to the atmosphere you're after?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Wow! You did such a great job on a room I would think would be very hard to pull together...it looks warm and welcoming. Good idea to speak to the need to address the different levels.
ReplyDeleteThis room certainly has its challenges. My immediate thought was a higher backed chair, like a wingback would help "lower" the fireplace but I think that would make the little windows look really low. I would have liked to have seen the "before" but I think the "after" looks great!
ReplyDeleteHi Steve (Urban Cottage). I'd consider higher backed chairs in front of the fireplace, too. We were using chairs that she already owned; the before had a chaise on the left and nothing on the right. The bookcase wasn't there, either, there was a smaller tv unit. When I looked at the pictures, I was thinking I might suggest changing the location of the artwork on the side walls by the chairs and try hanging them below the windows to create more height behind the chairs. I love when people comment, thank you! I love the exchange of ideas :)
ReplyDelete