Dear readers:
With the new government administration ready to take command, we look forward in hope for the new year. Certainly, our worries about the economy are very high, if not at the top, on the list of concerns.
Many of us have had to change our plans in terms of moving to a new home. The uncertainty of the economy, coupled with a broken wrist, forced me reconsider my own plans for moving last year.
The positive outcome of these negative events was a burst of energy in recreating my own living space. I had sat for some time without making any changes in organization or decorating—just waiting until I could move to a new spot and start over fresh. There was a sudden realization that I may be staying in the same dwelling for an indefinite amount of time. My question became: "What can I do to make this space easier to live in and more to my liking?"
Within about one month's time, I completely redid my living space! Most of the changes were minor, but what a difference it made! Furniture got moved, things went into or came out of storage, a few additions made my life easier and some decorative purchases made all the difference! And, this was all relatively inexpensive—certainly less than the cost of hiring movers!
Are you in a situation where your dreams of a new home have been squashed? Maybe a few changes in your present living space can make it all new!
Reorganize closets. If you haven't worn something in a couple of years ( waiting to lose that pesky 10 pounds ) , get rid of it! If it's still in decent shape, donate it to The Brown Elephant!
Get rid of those tchotchkes that you no longer ( or never did ) like! Donate those to the Brown Elephant as well!
Buy an inexpensive item or two to liven up a room—maybe even at The Brown Elephant! A new throw, a couple of decorative pillows, a small rug, a new window shade and/or a new toothbrush holder—the smallest accessories can redefine a whole room.
Try moving your furniture around. Maybe there is a better vantage point for watching TV. Maybe not facing a blank wall while eating dinner would make mealtime more enjoyable. Would moving your bed to a different wall eliminate light hitting your face in the morning? Sometimes just moving a piece of furniture can make life easier and more pleasant or change the entire look of a room!
A fresh coat of paint on the walls, perhaps in a new color, can recreate your space without changing anything else.
Speaking of paint, how about painting a piece of furniture or mirror frame?
Could you make your bathroom more attractive or more functional with new lighting, different towels and a new shower curtain, or something as simple as a shower caddy?
I'll stop short of decorating euphoria.
The point in all of this is to create the best possible living space for yourself now—to put together a space that is functional and pleasing to your eyes. That is what decorating is all about!
Dear Joe:
I bought a new sofa and my old side tables are now higher than the arms of the sofa. Is this ok? What is the right height for side tables?
Laurel
Dear Laurel:
Some time back, I went to the home of a new client, a very nice British woman. In the living room, her sofa was flanked on one side by a large dining-size table that was six inches higher than the arm of the sofa and a huge four-drawer chest on the other. The woman said that something seemed wrong: "The sofa seems to be completely subsiding into the carpeting, Mr. Rice."
With her permission and some help, I moved the table and chest to other parts of the room and moved two smaller tables to either side of the sofa. Suddenly the sofa "grew" from the carpet and was much more in scale.
Side tables should be ideally lower than the arm of the sofa, but certainly not higher. Not only does it look out of proportion, but it makes it more difficult to actually put things on the table when seated.
Please send your questions to jos.riceinteriors@att.net . In the subject box, fill in "WCT Design."
Joseph Rice is an interior decorator who offers full decorating services. With 25 years of experience, he specializes in drapery treatments for "hard-to-treat" windows. You can contact him at the above e-mail address; through his Web site at josephriceinteriors.com; or by phone at 773-271-2361.
