Makeovers
'We want to bring the outdoor beauty in'
by Kit Davey

"What an incredible view!" was my first thought as I entered my client's oddly shaped living room. My second thought was "Golly, the architect wasn't thinking about how to arrange furniture when she designed this space!"

After taking a closer look at the room's shape, I could see the logic behind the design. The windows were angled to capture as much of the view as possible, and the freestanding fireplace didn't block the view the same way a traditional in-wall fireplace would. But, for some reason, the architect had placed the wood stove on a jagged-edged raised platform, creating an angle that jutted out into the middle of the room.

My clients loved their mountain home but were having a devil of a time figuring out how to arrange their eclectic collection of furniture. Our goal was to create a cohesive and inviting space where they could gather with friends and family, and to be able to appreciate the stunning vista - without having to invest in new furniture.

Before

• The couches were placed helter-skelter in the room. The homeowners had arranged their couches across from each other, echoing the shape of the hearth. They had tried to unify their mismatching couches by enhancing them with off-the-rack slipcovers. They complained that they rarely sat in this area and that it looked awkward. I could see why - you couldn't get into the space, the couches looked a little sloppy and they were too far apart for comfortable conversation.

• There was a lineup of a variety of accessories on the hearth. My homeowners couldn't figure out how to use the hearth or what to put there.

After

We needed to create an open, cozy, more enticing place for my clients and their guests to gather. I peeked under both slipcovers and saw that one of the couches was in very good condition and had a pleasing shape. On my initial tour through their home I had noticed a pair of wingback chairs, one in their library and the other in their master bedroom. I thought they'd work well with the couch, as the colors would harmonize with styling.

• We muscled one of the couches out of the living room and dragged in the chairs. We faced the couch across from the fireplace and positioned the chairs along the sides of the woodstove. (They loved their antique trunk, so we reused it as a coffee table in front of the couch). By flanking the fireplace with the chairs we also created a focal point that anchored and stabilized the room. Voila! A simpler, more pulledtogether gathering zone.

• Now that the room had a defined personality, we had to find accessories that reflected the style and feel of the furniture. We removed everything from the hearth and looked for more formal, antique pieces to complement the wingbacks. We created vignettes to the left, center and right of the fireplace and left the rest of the hearth open.

Lessons Learned

• Make sure your furniture is set up so that a comfortable conversation can take place

• Don't be afraid to remove furniture or bring in something from another room.

• Create a focal point.

• Make sure your accessories reflect the style, color scheme and feel of the room.

© CTW Features

Kit Davey, an interior designer based in Redwood City, Calif., helps redecorate homes through the creative use of their existing furnishings. Send your questions to kit@ctwfeatures.com