STYLE FOR LIVING: Taupe walls, neutral sofa and leather writer’s chairs in living room
Lynda Reeves
Province
A classic way to arrange furniture is to place two matching armchairs opposite a sofa, ideally upholstered in neutrals.
Last week, I received one of the funniest letters ever.
A woman wrote to ask me if there is such a thing as “decorating for dummies.” She claimed to be afraid of her own taste, can’t afford a designer and just wished she could make a nice apartment to come home to.
For this lady and others who share her plight, there is a formula for a stylish, comfy room. Let’s talk living room.
– Walls: Soft taupe. A good paint job is essential: primer plus two coats. Dead flat. For trim, doors, windows and all frames, choose a warm, antique white semi-gloss. Two coats, sanding in between for a great finish.
– Floors: Hardwood, stained dark brown in a matte finish. Or go with wall-to-wall, no-sheen broadloom in the same colour as your walls, either a low-level loop or a plush, cut pile.
– Sofa: Three-seater, tuxedo-style with straight arms and, ideally, exposed dark wood legs — the best you can afford. Upholster in linen or a linen-look blend, either the same colour as your walls, a shade or two darker or a warm tan or white. Or go with dark-brown leather.
– Chairs: Two “writer’s chairs” in brown leather. You can see the style at potterybarn.com or restorationhardware.com and find them at many furniture stores across Canada. Buy the best you can afford and try to get leather with a nice worn effect. Group your furniture so the chairs face your sofa and let the grouping “float” in the middle of the room.
Now you have your classic neutral backdrop and you can fill in the accessories and small furniture.
– Window coverings: Centre-split, pinch-pleated drapes hung from a black iron or brushed stainless steel rod and rings. Drapes should graze the floor. Fabric: linen or linen look. They can be taupe to match your walls, or darker.
– Coffee table: Square if you have room. Large, with a glass top and brushed chrome or black iron frame. Simple, nothing curvy.
– Lamps: Two floor lamps. I like the black, iron tripod frame from Lily Lee (www.lilylee.com), the Barbara Barry collection of simple lamps with cream shades, and the Thomas Pheasant Collection, to name a few.
– Side tables: The Eileen Gray chrome and glass circular table. Versions of this classic are available at many retailers.
– Carpet: A simple seagrass mat or any wool area carpet in cream or off-white. Big enough so that the front legs of your sofa and armchairs fit on the carpet.
– Accessories: One tall, wood-framed rectangular mirror, stained dark brown and leaning against a wall.
Six throw pillows for your sofa and chairs. Buy good ones with feather inserts and removable covers. You have a great neutral room so you can go with any colours you like. Buy two with the same geometric print or stripe. Make sure that the shade of your sofa is found in the print. Buy two solid ones that pick up a colour from the print. And two more that pick up a second hue found in the print.
One very large, low bowl for your coffee table. Martha Sturdy’s resin ones are great and so are wooden bowls. Pick a colour for your bowl that is also found in your printed pillows.
– Art: Go to art fairs and shows. One at a time, buy huge works by young emerging contemporary Canadian artists. Fall in the love with the piece first. Make sure you can take the work home and try it before you commit. Buy at least one piece that almost fills a wall.
If you can afford it, buy two more things: A flat panel TV and one great antique, whether a chest, arm chair or a writing table. The combination of sleek electronics and a classic piece of fine craftsmanship will add character and the fun of something old and new, side by side.
There are many other formulas for a room, but this one is simple, popular and dummy-proof. And try to have fun. After all, it’s only decorating.
Lynda Reeves is the host of House & Home with Lynda Reeves, Monday and Friday on the Global Television Network and weeknights on TVtropolis.
© The Vancouver Province 2006