100 Practical Solutions for Interior Design Challenges

Let’s Ask Michael

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/26/03 11:59 AM Page i

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100 Practical Solutionsfor Design Challenges

A Book By

Michael Payne

McGraw-HillNew York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon LondonMadrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan

Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto

Host and Interior Designer of Home and Garden Television’s popular show,

Designing for the Sexes

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/26/03 11:59 AM Page iii

To Lionel and Mary Payne

whose love and dedication to their home inspired me to pursue a life of design

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/20/03 12:09 PM Page iv

During the writing and production of “Let’s Ask Michael,” I received help and supportfrom many others, which was invaluable in making the book come together. I wouldlike to thank my dear friends Liz and David Kirschner for generously opening up theirhome to me so that photographs could be taken to illustrate certain points. I wouldalso like to thank the clients who allowed me to return (long after project completion)to photograph the project for illustrative purposes in this book:

Donick and Kim Cary William Cobert and Diane O’ConnorRay and Maryann CostaEd and Carol Felman

Diana and Steve MarcusPaul and Jackie PeppermanKathy and Jim WehriBill and Barbara Zimmerman

Special thanks also go to Bill Dow for accompanying me in photographing some ofthese homes.

I am very grateful to all the other “Designing For the Sexes” clients, as well as myprivate clients, whose homes have been featured in this book:

Rob and Joan BlackmanChristopher and Tonya EgglestonFrank and Andrea EpingerPeter and Gail FieldDaniel and Jeri FloydRobert and Ava GoldDana Graham and Lianne La ReineJohn and Molly GrayRobert and Carol HaymerJohn and Elizabeth HrovatRon and LM JobsonBill Kane and Cindy DoleFred and Sheila KerzMichael and Sharon LandauCarol La PortaChris Williams and Steve LuceNeil and Andrea Miller

Rick and Giselle PageDave and April RossiRich Ruttenberg and Susan MarderBob and Yvonne ShermanVictor ShermanJosh and Ruth SilverGreg and Eileen SmithDave and Jan SpiveyDom and Gloria StasiLoren StephensMark and Janine SternKent and Joanne TakemotoJay and Lori TelendaLarry and Maureen VarnesLarry and Ann WallaceFrank and Debbie Winton

Thanks to Sheri Hirschfeld from Ann Sachs and Stephen from Elijah Slocum forwelcoming us to their showrooms and allowing us to capture their beautiful inven-tory.

Thanks to everyone at McGraw-Hill who helped make this book a reality, particularlyCary Sullivan, for without her dedication from inception to completion, this bookwould not exist today.

Finally, I would like to thank the graphic designer, my son Juston, for creatively put-ting the book together and my wife, Janice, whose hard work, rational criticism, andsage advice played a critical role in this whole endeavor.

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APPENDIX

BEDROOMS

BATHROOMS

LIVING ROOMS

KITCHENS

DINING ROOMS

FAMILY ROOMS

REST OF THE HOUSE

professional interior design

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/28/03 10:13 AM Page vii

For more information about this title, click here.

Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for Terms of Use.

Let me tell you a true story. A couple who watch my televisionshow, “Designing For The Sexes,” emailed me about a yearago, saying they had a very heated discussion about a designdisagreement in their home. In frustration, and not being ableto resolve their conflict themselves, the husband finallyexclaimed, “Let’s ask Michael.” When I read the email I imme-diately thought it could be a perfect basis for a book.

I have received an ever-increasing stream of email since“Designing For The Sexes” first aired on HGTV on October 1,1998. Many emails merely comment on the show, but just asmany include questions about design issues. Many of thedesign questions have a similar basis and universal appeal. Itherefore decided to take some of the most frequently askedquestions -- as well as some of the more entertaining ones --along with my answers, and publish them in a book. In somecases, if the question was too specific to a particular home, Itook the liberty of modifying the question in order to make itmore useful for a general audience. Additionally, my originalemail answers did not include photographs, so I have modifiedthem in order to incorporate photographs or graphic represen-tations for a visual reference.

As you read the questions and then my answers, you will likelyrealize that my underlying design philosophy is that all spacesin a home should reflect the resident’s needs as well as per-sonality. Rooms are like machines. Before any thought isgiven to their appearance, they need to work. Whether it is akitchen, a den, or a bedroom, the function is paramount. It isonly after a successful design is formulated that the decorativeaspects become important. Should the room be contemporary,traditional, retro, or eclectic? Only the homeowners -- the peo-ple who reside in the space -- can decide what makes them

viii

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/20/03 12:09 PM Page viii

comfortable and happy. Some people love bold colors, while othersenjoy the subtlety of whites and neutral. There really are no “rights” or“wrongs”. There are merely combinations of an almost infinite numberof variables, with some that work better together than others, eitherfrom a practical or an aesthetic standpoint.

Another design philosophy to which I have adhered throughout mycareer involves three fundamental facts, all of which are important toremember if you work with an interior designer:1) Never forget whose home it is2) Never forget whose money is being spent3) Never forget who will be living in the home after the designer is longgone

Interior design is all about you. Do whatever it takes to give yourself ahome that functions the way you want it to, and that looks and feels likeyour personal refuge. To accomplish this sometimes daunting task, youwill likely have to overcome issues such as too many choices, too littleknowledge, and dissenting opinions among members of the household.Hopefully this book will guide you through successful resolutions tosome design trials and tribulations of your own, and offer the comfortingknowledge that you are not alone in facing design challenges!

I hope you enjoy Let’s Ask Michael, and that you find the solutions youare looking for.

10042 Front Matter Chapter 2/20/03 12:09 PM Page ix

www.michaelpayne.com

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Let’s Ask Michael

10042 Bedroom Document 2/20/03 11:44 AM Page 1

Chapter1the bedroomWe spend more time in the bedroom than any other room, yet are conscious dur-

ing very little of it. It is often a space of great dissension between couples because

everyone has a different idea of what a bedroom should be. Many favor the max-

imum comfort, while others think it should be more of a showplace.

People are particularly finicky about the colors and materials used in the bedroom,

and often favor solutions that feel soft and light. To many, an unappealing bed-

room would be one in which they wake up, step on a cold floor, and look around

at a boring room. Most people want warmth and personality, but have trouble

translating that into a design. After all, there are many means of achieving warmth,

but with so many choices, people often feel overwhelmed and cannot decide on

anything. This chapter answers questions, solves common design dilemmas, and

presents plenty of options for achieving beautifully decorated bedrooms.



Let’s Ask Michael

4

D ear Michael,

My wife and I are in the process of redoing ourmaster bedroom, and are considering opening theceiling. What are the advantages of doing this, andshould we be mindful to fill the space with differenttypes of furniture? I’m worried opening it will createa completely different feeling in the room that willmake our old furniture look out of place.

Charlie and FannyWilmington, DE


Opening up the ceiling dramatically affects the occupant’s experience inthe room. Most people live in a world of ceiling heights between 8 and 9feet, so one’s spirits positively soar upon entering a cathedral, hotel atrium, airport terminal, or other space with lofty ceilings of 50 feet ormore. In a home, ceilings of approximately 20 feet or more are becom-ing increasingly popular.

High ceilings in the home present new challenges. Maintaining a con-sistent temperature in a room with high ceilings presents a difficultybecause you risk heating the ceiling rafters instead of your feet. Fans doan excellent job of keeping the air circulating, as do vents in both the ceil-ing and floor.

Effectively lighting large spaces often requires utilization of nearly everyform of lighting appliance. Recessed lighting can be used whether theceiling is flat or angled, but is not terribly cozy, and it also creates a largeamount of glare. A chandelier can work beautifully, as it will cast light uponto the ceiling as well as fill the room with light, and bedside table lampsare crucial for filling the room out with light. Dedicated picture lights aretypically the best means of illuminating art. All lights in the room shouldbe on individual dimmers.

The scale of your existing furniture needs careful consideration. The vol-ume of your room will have substantially increased, and your furnitureneeds to be in step. Draperies can also be hung higher andhave a more full quality.

The beautiful bedroom pictured at left is a fine example ofscale. The soaring ceiling amplified by the heavy, hand-

hewn beams creates a volume more cozy than cav-ernous. The tall four poster bed fits perfectly in the

space, as do the towering carved display cabi-net, the large leather chair, ottoman, and huge

mirror. The impersonal feeling large roomsoften impart can be diminished by coun-

tering size with size.

5

The Bedroom

Photography by B

ill Dow


Let’s Ask Michael

6

ear Michael,

Nothing is more important than

being comfortable in your own

bedroom. Don't be afraid to

set up tables with collections

that may take up floor space

but please you every time

you walk into the room.

My husband and I recently repainted our bed-

room, and we even bought all new furniture for it.

We truly couldn't be happier with the final product,

which is actually the cause of our problem! I want to

spend more time in it when I am at home, but can't

really find a reason to. I want a comfortable place to

relax and read a book, but do not want to install a desk.

Is there another option for adding some seating to the

room that will not make it feel like an office but will pro-

vide a place to sit around and relax?

Teresa

Los Angeles, CA

D


A comfortable lounge chair or chaise wouldbe a wonderful addition to your bedroom.Not only will it soften the room’s appearance,but it will also provide a supremely comfortableplace to read and enjoy the tranquility ofyour new room. You should pick the mostcomfortable, most beautiful, most ap-pealing chair you can find so that it will continually beckon you. If yourspace is limited, this should not be aproblem because there are manybeautiful, small lounge chairs. Makesure your upholstery fabric is strikingand coordinates with your wall color.

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The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

8

ear Michael,

We live in a condo, and while some of the rooms are wellproportioned and closet space is ample, we desperatelyneed additional storage space in our master bedroom.We would like to know what would be the best way tomaximize storage and include a television and compo-nents. We want to integrate them into the room withoutoverwhelming the space.

Katie and AlexPhiladelphia, PA

Spaceoptimization becomes

critical when dealing with con-fined spaces such as apartments and

condos. When designing for such environ-ments, I take inspiration from a place I used to

live: a boat. In a boat, you need to make everyinch count. In your bedroom, ottomans can be cof-fee tables with storage inside a hinged top, bedscan have storage drawers for bulky items under-neath, and television cabinets can act as sup-plementary dressers. I recommend installing

wall cabinets with striking hardware asfunctional art pieces. Remember -- a

place for everything and every-thing in its right place.

D


Consider having custom built-in cabinetry along one of the walls, prefer-ably the one facing the bed. The television and components can disap-pear completely behind pocket doors in a center section. Along eitherside, you can have closed lower cabinetry both below and above for addi-tional storage. The counter space in between the upper and lower cabi-nets can be used for display and functions to visually break-up the blockof cabinetry. Use under cabinet lighting to highlight display items and tocast a glow on the counter surface.In this photo, the cabinetry is painted in a semi-gloss finish to match andcoordinate with the trim in the room. With the wall color in a flat finish, anice contrast is created between the two colors and finishes. This exam-ple is both a functional and aesthetic solution to satisfy your storagerequirements.

9

The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

10

D ear Michael,

Here’s a simple question with, at least in my opinion, a not-so-simple answer. I have one TV, but want towatch it from different seating positions in my bed-room. Is an ugly Lazy Susan the only way to go?

Monty and YasmineErie, PA

You might be surprised to learn how common thisproblem is. Often in a bedroom you want to watch tel-evision from a seating area and from bed. Putting thetelevision on a pull-out and swivel tray in a cabinet isthe best solution. In the photographs below is a cus-tom solution I designed to give a swiveling television in a space too small to accommodate a cabinet. Itcalled for a contemporary, minimalist design, andallows viewing from a wide range of directions.


I would choose a color thatyou enjoy in the painting youintend to hang, and thenmatch your walls to thatcolor. You will be amazed athow that color in the paintingleaps out when surroundedby it on the walls. The fram-ing and matting of your painting is important as wellbecause it serves as a buffer that prevents conflictbetween the wall color and the other colors in thepainting. If you have any doubt about art’s beinghung on bold color walls, a trip to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles will allay your fears. There

are deep blue, red, gray, and yellow walls,and paintings look mar-velous. Pick a color inyour art, and paint yourwalls and choose yourbedding and draperyfabrics according to thischoice.

D ear Michael,

I’m redoing my guest room on a tight budget, butdon’t want it to come off as being completely bland. Ihave a colorful painting to hang, and am worried anywall color aside from white will conflict with it. Whatshould I do?

SaraBillings, MT

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The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

12

ear Michael,

My husband and I have just moved into a newhome, and we have a bumped-out bay window inour bedroom. I am looking for window treatmentsfor our room more for looks than functional rea-sons, but I'm stumped. My husband wants verti-cal blinds, but I can’t stand them. We do not need to draw the blinds for privacy, but we find the unadorned windows to be incredibly boring.

Do you have any suggestions? We'd love to hearfrom you.

ShariChicago, IL

D


If you need to be able to close the draperies for light control, I would con-sider a rod and rings approach. Each section of the bay will have its ownrod and rings, with the left window’s draperies stacking on the left, andthe right window’s draperies stacking on theright. The center section will have twodraperies, half stacking on the left and the otherhalf on the right, leaving four panels when thedraperies are open.

If you have no need to close the draperies, andit sounds like you do not, you can just swag thedraperies fabric over the three rods and havetwo rod-to-floor panels at the end framing thebay opening. Choose an appropriate color sothe fabric works well with your color schemeand adds a distinct element to the overall look.

13

The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

14

ear Michael,

We have a small bedroom (approximately 12’ x 10’) andwould like to have a queen size bed, two nightstands withlamps, an accent chair and a dresser in the room. Are we

expecting to include too much furniture? We would like the decor to be fun and

different.Joanne and Patrick

Venice, CA

Space concerns arevery common when redoing aroom, regardless of whether you have a small or large room. Before embarking on aproject, clarify what you need and what you want. Abedroom needs a bed but does not need a massiveentertainment center, for example, so you mighthave to compromise. The room’s size will dic-tate scale, and then you just need tofind the most efficient layout.

D


If your furniture is not too large, try positioning the bed at a 45˚ angle toadd a visually exciting element to the room. Make sure you have an interesting headboard because it will be a focal point. You will have space behind the headboard for a screen, a plant, or a triangular table fordecorative accessories.

Find some fun fabrics for the bedding ensemble and use decorativethrow pillows for accents. Paint the walls a strong color for drama andcontrast, choosing one of the colors from your bedding as inspiration.Also, consider swing arm wall mounted lamps if table lamps feel toocrowded on the nightstands.

1. The strong red colorcreates a dramaticbackdrop to the exotictropical scheme.

2. This fan with its leaf-like blades is perfectlyconsistent with thetheme.

3. Wall-mounted lampssave floor and bed-stand space. Both thewhite shade andwrought iron fixturecontrast nicely with thewall color.

4. The palm adds visu-al drama and contrastsbeautifully with the redwalls.

5. The bedding pro-vides inspiration for thecolors and theme of theroom.

6. The bed set on anangle instantly makes astrong and excitingvisual statement.

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15

The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

16

We are undertaking a fairly massive masterbedroom remodel, and would like your input onthe color scheme for the entire room. We havea large bedroom space, and then a lot morespace that we have literally no idea what to dowith. Right now we have a chair sitting in it. Noone, except the cat, ever sits in that chair.

So the question is what do we do with thatspace, and what colors do we use for the room?Since it is so large, we do not want anything thatwill seem smothering. We definitely don't wantall white, or anything too vibrant either. I tend tolean toward shades of beige, but might want topush that a little into something a bit moreunique.

Lourdes and OctavioSanta Barbara, CA

ear Michael,D

The most unique large bedroom space I ever cre-ated was for a husband and wife who were bothavid basketball fans. Beyond painting their roomaround their team’s colors, I actually installed aminiature basketball court against one wall! Witha polished wood floor, team graphic, and a slightlyscaled-down hoop, they could play one on onewithout leaving their room.


Your bedroom sounds nearly identical to the one I worked on duringanother project. In the large, white bedroom pictured above and belowthere is a spare space that was used as a workout facility. There is, Imight point out, also a chair in the space. The trouble with this room wasa lack of cohesion among the various pieces. The cabinet was too sepa-rate and too contrasting from the other pieces and the wall color. Also,there was simply too much open space, making the room feel like anempty warehouse.

17

The Bedroom


I suggest you consider this bonus space forone of several activities. The most attractiveis to create a peaceful, private retreat whereyou can rest and relax, away from the rest ofthe house. With plush, comfortable seating,you can read, watch TV, or listen to music allwithin the confines of your master bedroom.I have had clients with treadmills in suchspaces, in which cases I hide them behindscreens. The screen in the bedroom pic-tured below conceals a treadmill. Otherclients have used such extra spaces foryoga, meditation, and even dancing.

Regarding the room’s color, find a fabric youlove that can be used for the bedding orupholstery and play off those colors. If youare particularly fond of beige but would like toadd a unique flare, consider golden tones. Ifyou want a rich but easy feel, introduce bothvibrant and deep reds. Greens of the samehue but different values can add a spice tothe scheme. Find your ideal fabric and theroom will follow.


Let’s Ask Michael

20

D ear Michael,

My wife and I have a large bedroom display cabinetthat houses some of our collections. She insists itslighting is perfectly adequate from our large win-dows, and there is no reason we should spendmoney on what she calls “fancy inside fluff.” I am ofthe mind our collections will only look better withdedicated internal lighting. Can you lend any weightto either side of the debate?

Rod and BarbaraGrand Island, NE

There is not a clear answer to your seeminglystraightforward question, because while daylightshould be ample so long as the sun is up, lighting isimperative at night if you want to highlight your col-lections. Cabinet lighting is quite diverse, so youmust find the best solution for both your needs andyour budget. There can be small, often recessed,lights in the top of the cabinet which, if the shelvesare glass, will illuminate the interior. This methodbecomes less viable with increased cabinet height.Another approach is to run hidden lights verticallyalong the sides and frame of the cabinet. Theadvantage of this is that all of the shelves are lit. Inthe case your shelves are wood, lights can bemounted under each level. Your ability to retrofit yourexisting cabinet will decide the best approach.


Here is a chance to kill two birds with one stone.You need to control your clutter by taking your col-lection and displaying it in a closed cabinet (left). Itactually looks more special behind glass doors and,of course, your husband will appreciate the contain-ment. Naturally, it will be protected from the packsof wild dogs and children running rampant in yourhome. You could also create some lighted alcoves

where special pieces arehighlighted (below).

D ear Michael,

I’m a big pottery collector and have a fairly substan-tial collection. The downside of this is that I havepieces everywhere, and my husband says he’s sickof the clutter. I also have had the misfortune of hav-ing several items broken by an excited dog or anoverzealous child.

AnnBurlington, VT

21

The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

22

D ear Michael,

I have an iron bed that does not exactly scream

“feminine.” I’m going to put it into my bedroom,

but am worried that it will look too cold and

hard. Is there a good way to soften the look

of it?

Rachel

Anaheim, CA


You need not worry too much about the bed’s frame because it can eas-ily be incorporated into a soft, warm room. You should begin with pick-ing a wall color that you believe exudes the warmth you desire. In myexperience, people often gravitate to light reds for their warm quality.Once you have your wall color picked, buy a multitude of throw pillowswith different colors and patterns that all coordinate with each other. Isuggest hanging a large, focal piece of art to add another dimension ofcolor, and you can use this as inspiration for the color of the throw pillows.Placing plants around the room will further counterbalance the lifelessiron. Add an area rug, and nobody will notice the relatively cold bed insuch a warm room.

23

The Bedroom


Let’s Ask Michael

24

D ear Michael,

My husband and I are burdened by the strugglebetween the battle of floral patterns. We bought abeautiful duvet that had an extremely intricate rosepattern for a bed sitting atop a rug with an ornateflower print. Let’s just say that was one of the great-est catastrophes of interior design in recent times.The colors clashed, the patterns conflicted, the thornsof each metaphorically tore each other apart. Myquestion, if you haven’t guessed, is this -- can I havetwo different flower patterns on two different pieces assignificant as a duvet and area rug, or should I just gofor a solid color on one of them? The goal, of course,is to avoid any more costly battles of the patterns.

Meryl and HowieColorado Springs, CO


There is, unfortunately, no simple answer to your question. Beauty is sub-jective, and I am typically cautious when it comes to mixing complex pat-terns, particularly if they are as adjacent as you make them sound in yourbedroom. I prefer to see such complex florals displayed on a solid ground,or on a rug with a small geometric check or stripe pattern. Often I will havehighly decorative pillows on a solid sofa or bed spread, thereby minimiz-ing competition between the fabrics. I use similarly complicated patternson draperies because more than likely, they will be hanging against plainpainted walls or, perhaps, stripes. Area rugs are a further consideration.I view them more as art than decorative accessories, but also find the col-ors and design of an area rug play an important role in the room. Oftenthe rug is a powerful visual element and it is imperative all the other fab-rics in the room harmonize with it. It is as though each of the various fab-rics with its own pattern and coloration is an instrument in an orchestra,where each has a unique quality but also works well with the others. Tocontinue the analogy, it sounds as though your duvet and area rug areplaying different tunes. I suggest you consider a new duvet that is pat-terned, but also follows the lead of the rug.

25

The Bedroom


10042 Bathroom Chapter 2/20/03 11:39 AM Page 26

chapter2the bathroomThe master bathroom is a unique space in that there is an equal needfor utility and comfort. On the one hand, bathrooms must be durablespaces that can withstand dowsing from sinks, showers, and bathtubs,splattering of lotions and oils, and unexpected introductions of dirt froma child who played a bit too much in the mud. On the other hand, bath-rooms must be warm, comfortable, and inviting spaces where the usersfeel comfortable pampering themselves. The bathroom is often the firstroom entered into in the morning and the last visited before sleep, so itmust fully meet the aesthetic and tactile desires of the occupant.

Guest bathrooms present a special design environment due to their tra-ditionally small size. Stronger, more vibrant colors can be used safely inthis space without being overwhelming. Where a fire engine red livingroom might induce headaches, this color in a small bathroom would bestriking.

Reaching a balance between form and function in the bathroom can bechallenging, but if done correctly, will provide an environment that is bothdurable and inviting.



Let’s Ask Michael

28

D ear Michael,

White. I am newly single, have my own

house, and I love white. In fact, the only

thing I love more than white is my bath-

room because that's the closest thing I

have to a sanctuary. I'm thinking of doing

the entire thing in white, but I'm worried

about too much of a good thing. Can an

entire white room work, or do I need to

allow some of that other stuff into my

favorite space?

Harvey

Boise, OH

Men love white. If men had it their way,as Harvey does, I think they would haveevery room in their house pure white. Ican count on one hand the number oftimes a man has come to me and said,"Michael, give me a beautiful color wallcolor to work a rich upholstery pattern."


The Bathroom

29

If you love white as much as it sounds like you do, I think the bathroomis the ideal place to do a room entirely in white. The client whose proj-ect is pictured below requested exactly that of me. There is white marble tile in the shower and around the tub, and on certain parts ofthe floor. The remainder of the floor had pure white carpeting.Finding slabs of pure white marble was a challenge as often grayveins are visible. White fixtures are readily available, and there isalso a limited selection of purely white faucets. Finally, there arethe detail items, such as door hinges and pulls, soap dishes,and bathtub soap dispensers. These you may have to havepowder coated, as there is not much demand for them. Addwhite fluffy towels and a white bathrobe and you’re in awhite wonderland. All it needs is a magnificently coloredflower or two, or some other colorful item you find exci-ting. This splash will make all the difference in the world,and help accentuate the otherwise entirely white space.

Pho

togr

aphy

by

Dou

glas

Sto

ne


Let’s Ask Michael

30

D ear Michael,

I love my wife, but she’s driving me nuts about themost inane of things -- our bathtub. She keeps cov-ering it in flowers, squeeze toys, dolls, and evenframed pictures! Not only is this far too feminine, it’simpractical. Can you suggest a way of decorating thetub while avoiding these pitfalls?

TrentWorcester, MA

The answer is directly related to how the tub is used.It sounds as though your wife is more concerned withits appearance than its function, so I advise you keeparound the tub those items that not only look lovelybut will enhance its use. I would include candles,bath oils, and soaps, as these are pleasing to boththe eye and the bath user. Framed pictures are def-initely not advised as they could easily get destroyedby a soaking, or the dampness that results from thetub. The humidity and natural light can encourageplants to flourish and they add the soft touch ofnature to a bath which is, in itself, a treat. By allmeans make it romantic and inviting, but also keep itfunctional.


The Bathroom

31

D ear Michael,

My husband and I are sick of having a long counter-top in our bathroom. We think it looks like one foundin a cheap hotel’s bathroom, and want to go upscalea bit. Any tips?

Sherri and PatrickPalm Springs, CA

Long vanities in a bathroom can be uninteresting, butare considered advantageous because of the storagethey afford. Since you did not reference storage, sep-arate pedestal sinks are one answer. As you can seein the photograph, with a small cabinet between,there is sufficient counter space to keep a smatteringof items. With a different layout of the bathroom, twoseparate vanities can be used instead of a long sin-gle one. This allows them to be of different heightsand widths to accommodate your individual needs.


Let’s Ask Michael

32

We are in the middle of totally redoing asmall upstairs bathroom and I think I havean idea of what neutral colors are... butwould like your expertise please.

I would like to have a great neutral color touse on the walls that would become a goodbackground to showcase many things... forexample, a multitude of colors found inposters, paintings, towels, rugs and acces-sories. Can you help me?

MichelleDallas, TX

D ear Michael,


The Bathroom

33

Neutral colors are those that do not compete

with other colors. The most often-used neu-

trals are beiges. Blues, greens, browns, and

whites look particularly nice against beiges.

Light grey is also considered a neutral color

because almost all colors work well with it

(however, it tends to be a cold color). Sage

green is called "the new neutral" because

many colors and woods look wonderful

against it.

A bathroom in aneutral color.Below, sage greenwill work withalmost anything.


Let’s Ask Michael

34

ear Michael,

Our master bathroom is in need ofsome serious updating, but it is atough shape to work with consider-ing what we want to do. My wifewants separate vanities and a largeshower. One wall is comprisedmainly of a large window overlook-ing our private backyard, so we can-not use it for vanities or storage. Wedo not want to lose the view, but alsoneed a place to put the shower andvanities. Is this possible, or shouldwe reevaluate our plans? I attacheda rough sketch of the room's layout.

Paxton and AnnBeverly Hills, CA

D


The Bathroom

35

You should consider a large double shower with a frameless showerenclosure, two shower heads oriented toward your private exterior view.I suggest you tile your walls and floors in limestone tiles, using smallersize tiles on the shower floor and larger tiles on the walls. The larger limestone tiles, in the photo below, are carried throughout the rest of thebathroom using a diagonal pattern for contrast and interest.

I like the idea of separate vanities. For dramatic contrast to the limestone,have the vanities made with rich brown marble counters and deep stained cabinetry. If you place the vanities on opposite sides of the bath-room, they can even be different heights. In the bathroom shown here,the taller husband had his vanity at 38 inches high and the shorter wifehad her vanity at 34 inches high.


Let’s Ask Michael

36

The best and most effective way to breath new lifeinto a stale piece of furniture if you are on a tightbudget is tohave it profes-sionally painted.With the help ofthe right painter,you can give itnearly any lookyou can think of.You can haveyour pick of acherry, redwood,maple, or oakcabinet thatlooks either newor worn. Thesink at right, forexample, looksold but is actual-ly newly paintedto look aged.

D ear Michael,

Your show should come with a disclaimer that reads,“Warning: Watching Designing for the Sexes willinduce the urge to splurge.” Every time I watch yourshow, I want to run out and buy a new snazzy bit ofwhat-have-you for my house. Naturally, I can’t affordto do that every week, so I have a question for you.What should I do with my bathroom sink cabinet tomake it more interesting? I can’t afford to get a newone, but this generic wood one just isn’t doing it forme.

AliPortland, OR


The Bathroom

37

D ear Michael,

This is a real shot in the dark, but have you ever heardof someone with a relatively small bathroom wanting a separate shower and bathtub, along withseparate vanities and, of course, a toilet? Think it’spossible?

RileyNew York, NY

I have indeed heard of people wanting this, and Ihave designed bathrooms with this exact request inmind. The key to successfully executing it is to wasteas little space as possible. Try to minimize the spacebetween the individual elements, and be willing tosacrifice some storage space in the interest of fittingeverything in. One effective method I have used is toput the bathtub, shower, and toilet on the same wall,with the latter hidden behind the shower’s wall. Yourvanities will not be expansive, but you can definitelyfind two that will fit both your space and your needs.


Let’s Ask Michael

38

ear Michael,

I do not pretend to be an expert onJapanese culture or design, but I know Ienjoy being in Japanese restaurants andsimilarly decorated spaces. I am hoping tobring this inside my house via my masterbedroom and bathroom. I am nearly donewith the bedroom, but am stuck on mybathroom. I do not know how to make apractical American bathroom in theJapanese style, especially given that everybathtub I find would never work in aJapanese space. I included a picture of myhouse's exterior.

Warren and LindaLos Angeles, CA

D


The Bathroom

39

Wood soaking tubs are very popular in Japan, so you might wantto consider a wooden hot tub for your bathroom. These tubs aretall, so you will need to provide steps to comfortably enter and exit the tub. It is customary to wash your feet before entering thebathtub, so you should provide a washing place nearby. This willrequire a drain in the floor, so make sure you can slope the floorappropriately before undertaking the project.Sliding wood shutters and shoji doors will add to the Japaneseambiance. Keep the whole design simple and minimal with anoted absence of ornamentation and decorative items.


Let’s Ask Michael

40

ear Michael,

I have a bathroom with ceilings that would notbe confused with those in a cathedral, but theyare relatively high. I have always thought ofthe bathroom as a space that should be smalland cozy, where I can feel completely isolatedfrom the outside world. Aside from installing alower ceiling, what do you think I should do tomake this space feel smaller and more per-sonal? Is this a matter of color, or is it moreabout decorations? As you can probably tell,I really have no idea what to do so any helpyou can give is appreciated!

PhyllisNewport Beach, CA

Guess which vertical lineis longer in the two fig-ures on the left. You willprobably be surprised tofind they are the exactsame length. One canmanipulate people's per-ceptions of height byadding simple visualcues.

D


The Bathroom

41

The crownmouldinggives thewalls a placeto stop.

A darkerceiling colormakes itappearlower.

The tile below thechair rail adds visualweight to the lowerhalf of the room

Frameless showerdoors give the roomspacious, airy feel.

Decorative tileline at chair railheight vertically

divides the roomin half.

Dark tile line atfloor level addsmore visualweight to bottomof the room.

Well-defined trimaround windows

defines the normal height of

windows.

Stone tile onthe floor has a

heavy look and“anchors” the

room.

Running tile to theceiling defines the

shower

Art breaks up thevertical spaces.

Photography by Santiago Irigoyen

Photography by Santiago Irigoyen


Let’s Ask Michael

42

I must admit there are almost no purchasable medicinecabinets I like. I have a cabinet manufacturer make me abox with glass adjustable shelves that fits into the wall sothat it is nearly flush with the drywall. The thicker the wall,the deeper the box can be. Using Blum adjustable hinges,a mirrored door can be attached to the box and it will layflat on the box frame and drywall. It will appear to be justa wood frame mirror hanging on the wall and not a medi-cine cabinet at all. The mirror’s frame can be as ornate orsimple as you desire.

Pictured below is an example of such a medicine cabinet.There is no hint the closed mirror conceals a wealth of per-

sonal items. Theeffect is both aes-thetically pleasingand functionallysuccessful.

D ear Michael,

I find most medicine cabinets quite ugly and space ineffi-cient. What do you do when you want to install one in asmall bathroom so that it won’t intrude too much into the

limited counter space?

Nicole and SteveJacksonville, FL


It really depends on what your son enjoys, beit fire trucks, cars, animals, comics, or anything else.Whatever it is, decorate the bathroom entirely around thattheme. My son was particularly passionate about fish asa child, and I created an under water environment byusing a wall paper type graphic which was wonderfullyplayful featuring rabbit-fish, duck-fish, cat-fish, and the

like. As the art’s pri-mary backgroundcolor was deepgreen, that sametone was used forall cabinetry,trim, and the ceiling.An aquarium com-pleted the theme.Entering that bath-room was like enter-ing another world --an underwater fanta-sy land... and myson loved it!

The Bathroom

43

D ear Michael,

Photography by Andrew Strauss

I am redoing my son’s bathroom andwould like to make it really special forhim, completely different from all of hisfriends. Obviously different can be a very bad thing,so do you have any tips for distinctive-yet-tasteful?

MariWashington, DC


Let’s Ask Michael

44

ear Michael,

I have always thought stone and mosaic are

absolutely beautiful ways of covering surfaces in

any room. I have been looking for a place to real-

ly let this preference run wild, but am worried a

room done in all stone will feel like a cave. Would

it be better to do a large or a small room? Do you

have any suggestions for which room I should try

this in? Have you ever done a room that is

essentially all stone? Do you think I've asked you

enough questions yet?!

Brian

San Diego, CA

I once designed a guest powder room thatdid not have one square corner in it. Everyplane and each intersection was curved,including the ceiling. Making the projecteven more difficult was the fact that much ofthe room was covered with tiles, which aremade curved at tremendous expense. Thetile layer wanted to kill me during the projectbecause he had to cut out countless tiles tofollow the curves. Afterwards he said,“Michael, if I just made my Sistine Chapel,it better be in history books while I’m alive.”

D


The Bathroom

45

There are very few materials in a home that are as impressive as naturalstone. It is a huge and varied field encompassing marble, granite, lime-stone, slate, travertine, and so forth. The stone comes in various colors,thicknesses, finishes, shapes and sizes, porosity, and hardness. Stone is wonderful on floors because it is practical and will last a lifetime. Somepeople think it is visually cold, so I often use area rugs to soften the spaceand to add color.

If you are thinking of using the stone on the walls, I recommend doing thisin a relatively small space, such as a bathroom. It is typical, of course, tocover the walls of a shower in stone, but I would be hesitant to do everywall in a whole room. It will, as you put it, “feel like a cave.” In smallrooms, like a guest powder room, you can have the time of your life withvarious shapes and sizesof stone tile and mosaics.Because of the small sizeof such a room, hopefullythe costs will not be prohib-itive. As a final note, usingstone in the entrance toyour home can make agrand statement.


Let’s Ask Michael

46

D ear Michael,

I’ve been wanting to paint my bathroom sink for awhile now after seeing it in a New York hotel. Nowthat I’ve finally got around to getting it done, I don’thave a clue how to paint it! The hotel I was in had itpainted with a red and orange pattern that matchedthe walls, but my walls are just a shade of beige. Iknow I haven’t given you much to work with, but anyhelp would be great.

PaulaAmarillo, TX

You have to consider two factors when painting yoursink -- color and design. The color should beinspired by a dominant design detail so that clearlyincorporates the room’s design. You do not neces-sarily have to copy the wall color, but make sure thetwo do not clash. The design of the painting shouldbe in keeping with the overall style of the room.Look to tile patterns, rug designs, and paint detailingfor inspiration. The other option is to make a boldstatement in the painting that does not directly bor-row from anything else in the room, but rather servesas a surprising facet that is as exciting as it is sur-prising. The sink pictured borrows its color anddesign from the bathroom’s tile border.


The Bathroom

47

Bathrooms can display collectibles and personalaccessories as well as any other room in yourhouse, provided you have sufficient space. Oftenpeople are concerned with how to fit the necessaryappliances into one room, let alone leave display

space. If youdo have space,then feel free tobuild any formof cabinetryyou desire. Theonly danger ofdisplaying per-sonal items in abathroom isthey could bedamaged byairborne mois-ture. In thiscase, installrubber insulat-ing material todiminish theairflow betweenthe cabinetsand the room.

D ear Michael,

I was thinking about putting some storage and dis-play cabinets in my kid’s bathroom, but then thoughtthe moisture from the shower might make this a badidea. Do you ever have people display their collec-tions in the bathroom, or should we try to put it out inthe living room?

DeeChattanooga, TN


10042 Living Room 2/20/03 12:16 PM Page 48

3chapter

the living room

Take one spacious room, add a fireplace, a few comfortable couches, a chair ortwo, and an ottoman and you are on your way to having a living room. This is theentertainment room that does not have a surround sound system, but is insteadused to chat with guests over dinner or drinks. They are typically more formalthan family rooms, but have the same emphasis put on comfort. After all, youwould not want your guests to leave your house with sore backs from uncomfort-able seating.

Formality takes all different shapes and sizes. Some opt for classic Victorian-eradesign that would not feel out of place in an eighteenth century British castle,while others favor the modern feeling popular in new high-end hotels. Regardlessof your taste, make sure you do not concentrate too much on the room’s stylingand forget that it is still in your house. Decorate the space however you see fitwhile being mindful that each piece works with the next.



Let’s Ask Michael

50

ear Michael

I have a traditional style fireplace in my liv-ing room with a brick surround and whitemantel. The existing wide paneled wallsare also painted white. The fireplaceseems to fade into the wall. How can Icreate more drama and visual interest tomake the fireplace and wall more special?I want to save as much money as possi-ble, so I would like to avoid changing thematerials of the fireplace.

Kathy Austin TX

D


51

The Living Room

Consider painting the existing white

paneled walls a rich dark color,

such as aubergine (eggplant). In a

high gloss finish, this color will con-

trast nicely with the white mantel

and really make it pop out visually

as well as add dimension to the

space. Accessorize your mantel

with a grouping of decorative

accessories to create a special

focal point. Be sure not to clutter

the mantel.


Let’s Ask Michael

52

ear Michael,

We just moved into a brand new, big white contempo-

rary house. We wouldn't have bought it if we didn't love

it, but it has become such a challenge. Some of the

rooms, the living room for example, have really high

ceilings -- probably around 20 feet. We have a lot of fur-

niture from our old house, but it looks completely

dwarfed. We are happy buying new furniture, but aside

from visiting an NBA player's estate sale, don't think

anything will be big enough. Any advice?

Connor and Gwen

Portland, OR

D


53

The Living Room

Think big and heavy. Consider dark

floors, such as walnut stained wood or

dark stone, to anchor the floor. They

can always be softened with area rugs.

The upholstered furniture should be

large in scale, and use darker fabrics to

give the pieces weight. Hang large

paintings, tapestries, or a large mirror

on the walls to break up the space. If

you have good light, you might even

consider a tall tree. Finally, an over-

scaled fireplace, like the one at right,

adds scale to the enormous room.


Let’s Ask Michael

54

ear Michael,

We just recently bought a house and the living

room has a large brick fireplace on one wall.

We don't mind a little brick, but the wall to wall,

floor to ceiling brick is overwhelming. We

would like to tone it down. Is this possible?

Bernard

Denver, CO

The living room pictured above was described by oneof the workers on the project as a “1970’s ski lodge.”He was unconsciously referring to the materials used,not the room’s architecture. Updating the colors,materials, and cabinetry transformed the space.

D


55

The Living Room

I suggest you install a painted wood mantel around the firebox, leav-

ing sufficient brick around the firebox to provide the noncombustible

area required by code. Apply stucco over the brick above the mantel,

creating a wall that you can paint to match the other walls in your liv-

ing room. Consider covering the brick on either side of the firebox

with cabinetry and use it for storage and the display of decorative

accessories. You will end up with an attractive focal wall in your living

room instead of a wall of red brick. The photograph (below) of one of

my projects shows the look you can achieve by covering all the brick

except that in the firebox.


Let’s Ask Michael

56

D ear Michael,

My wife and I have lived in our 1972 house

for the past four years, and have been redo-

ing it room by room. We are stuck in our liv-

ing room, and hope you can give us some

advice.

There are holes cut in the wall that allow us

to look into the dining room, but we don’t like

this look. The trouble is we don’t know what

to do about it. It seems like a lot of work to

redo the entire wall just to rid ourselves of

these holes, but we don’t know what else to

do!

Calvin and Brynn

Monroe, WI


57

The Living Room

I have seen many homes where there have been dividing walls between rooms with openings cut into the walls for decorative purpos-es. One show had such a room. I closed the opening to the diningroom with drywall so in the dining room we now have a solid wall for the display of art. On the living room side, I cased out the opening andadded a sill and shelvingfor depth. Lighting can beadded to the niches andthe resulting effect isbeautiful areas for the dis-play of favorite col-lectibles. The inside ofthese niches can be paint-ed a different color thanthe rest of the room for aneven more dramatic effect.


Let’s Ask Michael

58

D ear Michael,

Please help us! Our living room is so bor-ing. We just moved into our very firsthome and everything is neutral… the floortiles, the walls and even our brand newcream colored sofas (recently purchasedbefore the move). We do not want toreplace the sofas, but we are desperate tointerject some color into this very impor-tant space. Please help us overcome ourparalysis!

Pete and SheriSt. Louis, MO

Color is life. Phrases such as “a healthyglow,” “a ruddy complexion,” and “rosycheeks” equate color with health. Color iseverywhere in nature, and it should be aninspiration for your interior design choices.There are no grey flowers, and if there are,they receive little attention! Be bold withpaint. Nothing for so little money can soprofoundly change the character of a room.There is a tremendously wide range of fab-rics available, from the monochromatic tothose that look like a rainbow in a blender!


59

The Living Room

Don’t be paralyzed! You have a lot of options to consider without chang-ing your sofas. These photos of one of my projects show the transfor-mation you can expect. Adding color and accessories to your living roomwill do wonders to warm this space and make it more attractive.Consider using one wall as an accent wall by painting it a different colorthan the rest of your walls. If youhave a fireplace, use the fire-place wall as your accent wall.Keep the trim in the room whiteto add contrast and crispness.Add an area rug and decorativethrow pillows for more color andtexture. Place special decorative items on a coffee table as well as onyour fireplace mantel. Use decorative table lamps and/or floor lamps foraccent lighting.


Let’s Ask Michael

60

ear Michael,

We have a great piece of art that we want tobe the center of attention in our living room,but the trouble is that it simply isn't very big. Ihave always heard that the space above thefireplace is a good place to hang art, but Ithink this painting will be totally lost up there.We want it to be impactful, not look like aspeck on the wall! Do you have any tips?

Carlos and MaryPoughkeepsie, NY

A fireplacewith fauxinlayedframing.

D


61

The Living Room

I actually had a nearly identical circumstance in one of my projects, soyou can take heart in the fact that your problem is not unique, nor is it difficult to solve. I had an artist paint a faux recess on the fireplace wallwhich continues to trick even myself into thinking I ordered an expensivestructural change of the wall. Having measured the clients’ art which was to hang there, I had the artist paint the “recess” to the ideal size forthe painting. The shadows of the recess were exactly where they would

have been had itbeen real. The fin-ished product fooledeveryone who sawit, and the previouslydwarfed paintinglooked perfect in thespace.

True faux painting,like the example pic-tured on thesepages, can beincredibly effective.Niches can be cre-ated with vases andflowers standinginside, windows canbe created withmagnificent views,and insects caneven be paintedonto the wall. It canbe particularly effec-tive in a child’sroom, where anentire environment

can be created. When the budget does not allow for the real thing, fauxpainting can offer nearly the same effect at the fraction of the cost.


Let’s Ask Michael

62

In your shows it's all about color. But what

do you do with people like us who do not like

strong colors? We want an interesting room

that is not overflowing with flowery colors

and crazy patterns.

Patrick and Deanne

Watertown, CT

You can have a truly beautiful room almostdevoid of color by creating a symphony ofneutrals. Walls can be a creamy beige withwhite trim, the carpet can be browns andbeiges, and upholstered furniture can berich, off-white chenilles. If you have woodfloors, they should be dark, and you mightconsider a brown or beige area rug.Naturally colored draperies are typicallycream colored and made of silk. For a dra-matic effect, add a single splash of color byputting a purple orchid, or other similarflower, under a spotlight on a coffee table.

ear Michael,D


63

The Living Room

II always give my clients what they want, and I never force color on any-one. One can create beautiful neutral environments using variousshades of grays and beiges. Black can make a strong statement whenused judiciously. I believe there should be some color and it can beadded in spaces by using art or decorative accessories like pillows.

In this particular room, the largest furniture items are upholstered inshades of brown and gray. The wallsare a neutral beige color, and evenitems like the lamp, dresser, and fire-place screen are primarily black andwhite. Small splashes of color fromthe rose throw pillow, yellow vase,and antique poster add life to thisroom while not saturating it with color.


Let’s Ask Michael

64

ear Michael,

I have a huge brick fireplace in a corner of

my living room. I don't know if the people

who built my house owned a brick factory or

something, but this fireplace is absolutely

enormous. It dominates the entire room, and

it doesn't even have a mantel!

Can you suggest any way to make this eye

sore a bit more sightly, without having to

remove the whole thing?

Ronald and Lea

Boston, MA

I have changed more fireplaces than any otherarchitectural detail. Fireplaces say so much

about a room and often new owners do notlike what they hear! Covering brick withplaster or stucco is an inexpensive way ofeliminating a visual aggravation. The wallcan then be painted, or a mantel installed,

and these changes can completely alterthe look of the room.

D


65

The Living Room

You can soften the look of the fireplace by adding a full mantel around

the firebox, or just adding a mantel shelf. This shelf can be either paint-

ed or stained, according to what complements your room and works

with the brick's tone. By adding your favorite decorative accessories to

the mantel, you should be able to finally tame your big brick fireplace!

Putting a mantel on an oversized fireplace serves a dual purpose. The

first is that it visually

splits the space, mak-

ing it not feel so enor-

mous. Second, it gives

a fantastic opportunity

to add some visual

excitement beyond the

repeating brick pattern,

or if the fireplace is

painted, beyond the

large monotone color.

In the fireplace pictured

on the right, the owner

used the mantel to

showcase his love of

the nautical world. The

boat illustration and

model both add a per-

sonal touch, while

making the space more

interesting.


Let’s Ask Michael

66

D ear Michael,

You know how you never really know whatyou’re missing until you see what other peo-ple have? Well, thanks to your show I’verealized my living room is Boring (pleasenote the capital “B”).

It’s a long, narrow room with a fireplaceflanked by two windows, and a sofa on thewall opposite the fireplace. Since the room isso narrow, I don’t think I can do any of thethings I’ve seen on TV. Am I stuck with thisboring room?

SheilaHastings, NE


67

The Living Room

I’m sorry to say that if your room is narrow, placing the sofa across fromthe fireplace is the only thing you can do. Putting it perpendicular willeffectively create a roadblock. However, with side tables next to the sofaand two lounge chairs, you can have a very nice seating group all cen-tered around the fireplace.

Now let’s address the boring look you mention. When you are choosingthe coffee table, consider something a little different from the standarditems you’ll find in a local, mass production store. You could use a chest,an ottoman, or even a small wagon with a glass on top. Anchor this seat-ing group with an area rug that brings color and exciting detail to theroom. Pull out a color from the rug for the walls or the fabrics you areusing.

Finally, it is important to accessorize the room to relieve the tedium.Display your favorite collectibles in key locations, but be careful not toclutter. Once you’ve taken these steps, your room will be anything butBoring.


Let’s Ask Michael

68

ear Michael,

My wife and I are planning on redoing our liv-ing room, but we are at a stylistic impasse. Iam very fond of the newest trends in designwhich feature steel, brushed aluminum, andvarious light metals. My wife moved toAmerica from Japan a number of years agoand would like to incorporate some traditionalelements from her culture into the living room.I know mixing these two is possible because Isaw an episode of your show where you didsomething like this. Would you mind brieflydiscussing some important elements of thisdesign so that my wife and I could try to do itourselves?

Bo and YaekaBeverly Hills, CA

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69

The Living Room

You will be pleased to hear you and your wife’s tastes are not terribly dis-similar, as they both start with simplicity. In the project you referenced,the client had an extensive collection of oversized books and Asian arti-facts. I needed a way to display them while keeping an uncluttered lookto the room. The bookcase design incorporated individual compartmentsfor display by using defined horizontal and vertical lines. Likewise, thefurniture had the same simple, unadorned vertical lines. There was noornamentation whatsoever. The drapes were a simple piece of solid fab-ric suspended on a stainless steel rod that could be lowered to cover thewindow. The simple, geometric theme was further carried on by the arearug, which was a series of squares in various shades of gray. Finally, thebasic theme of the room were colors chosen so that everything was neu-tral. Stronger color was introduced from the art andbooks, and red, by design, was the punch. To subtlyenhance this Asian sensibility, a silver metallic shaft oflight was painted on the wall from the ceiling skylightto, and around, the fireplace.


Let’s Ask Michael

70

D ear Michael,

I have a living room that has a rock fireplace

which is so country I feel as though I should

have cows in my backyard! Making it even

more out of place is the fact that I live in a big

city, so I want a cosmopolitan look. My budget

is tight, and I can’t afford to re-do the fireplace.

How can I get a more sophisticated look?

Thank you for your help!

Asher

San Diego, CA


71

The Living Room

For the moment, forget the fireplace and concentrate on the furnishingsin the room. Stay away from cold steel and glass, and introduce thewarmth of woods in contemporarily styled tables. These will havestraight, tapered legs, and will have little or no ornamentation. Sofasand chairs can be angular, but should not have rolled arms. These adda traditional feeling that you seem to want to avoid. Fabrics should beplain or geometric. Byoutfitting your room likethis, the fireplace will actu-ally not need to betouched and will make foran interesting stylistic jux-taposition. While fire-places are dominant ele-ments in a room, theirimpact can be offset bycorrectly styling the rest ofthe room.


Let’s Ask Michael

72

D ear Michael,

Our living room looks like a high schoolgymnasium with it’s great length and pol-ished wood floors. My husband and I feellike most of it is wasted space and we don’tknow what to do with it. For one thing, itfeels more like a warehouse than it does aliving room, and for another we have basi-cally no use for anything in it. We havebeen reluctant to buy furniture for fear of itsgetting lost in the space, but need some-thing so we can entertain guests. How canwe fill the space without buying 20 foot longsofas?

Percy and AlissaAthens, GA


73

The Living Room

Attempting to furnish a long, narrow room with a single seating arrange-ment can be a daunting task. Even if you do succeed, you risk ending upwith something that looks like a business conference room instead of awarm, inviting, living room. The approach I much prefer in furnishingsuch spaces is to divide the room into more manageable sizes. In pho-tograph 3 below, the entry into the long space is close to the middle ofthe room, naturally dividing the room in half. I needed to relocate a piano(see opposite page), and in doing so created two distinctly separate seat-ing groups, pictured in 1 and 2 below. Area rugs and different but com-plementary fabrics define each group. Not only does the room functionbetter with more open and accessible spaces, but there is no wastedspace.

3

21


Let’s Ask Michael

74

D ear Michael,

I’m a pack rat, and I have acquired an incred-ible collection of framed items. I hesitate tosay it’s all art because some of it is work mykids did, other pieces are movie posters, andthen there is the ‘real’ art collection. I defi-nitely have too much to hang, but I’m con-strained by the “one piece per wall” rule myfriends insist is the gospel. Is this anabsolute rule, or can you suggest a way tohang multiple pieces on one wall?

Katy and JohnsonBellevue, WA


75

The Living Room

While there will always be differing opinions about what is good and baddesign, one of the reasons there is such diversity in interior design isbecause there are no set rules. In every culture there is an expressionthat essentially says, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” You shouldfeel free to arrange your collection of pieces in a way you feel is pleasingto the eye, and reflective of the artistry within the works. I prefer a senseof order, so I tend to arrange multiple items on a wall with edges lining uphorizontally and vertically, but this is not the only way.

In the photographs (left and above), you see several large piecesarranged as though they are in a gallery or a museum. There are sever-al pieces on the same segment of wall but it does not look overdone orcluttered. Let your eye be the judge, and if you think what you are doinglooks good, break any rules your friends impose on you.


Let’s Ask Michael

76

D ear Michael,

This is just a general question about livingrooms. We have a room that is the product of 8 years of randomly adding things -- couches,chairs, an entertainment cabinet, and a fewother items. None of them fit well together, andwe’re wondering what you always include inthose fancy living rooms we’ve seen on yourshow. Any tips you can give would be great.Thanks!

Joshua and LillyPocatello, ID


77

The Living Room

The first thing you need todecide is what style youwant for the room. Oncethis is decided, evaluateevery piece of existing fur-niture in the room andjudge its appropriateness.I am sorry to say it is prob-able that several pieceswill have to find a home inother rooms or in someoneelse’s home. The benefitof removing some of these pieces is that you will be free to furnish anddecorate without the constraints of past decisions. With new fabrics, newfurniture, color on the walls, and decorative accessories, your living roomwill be just as special as anything you have seen on television.


10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:10 PM Page 78

4chapter

the kitchenThe kitchen is dedicated to a single purpose that is unfortunately not a cleanone. Regardless of whether you are an internationally renowned chef or anovice spaghetti creator, the food you enjoy is not the only thing cookingcreates. Oils are spilled, noodles are dropped, flour is strewn, and eggs aresplattered. All of this would be less problematic if kitchens were made of asingle pieces of stainless steel, but people like warmth in the kitchen.

The challenge is to not compromise the functionality of your kitchen whilekeeping it from feeling like an operating room. There is a wide breadth ofmaterials that are both pleasing to the eye and resilient to damage. Thedetails of a kitchen, such as the cabinet pulls, tile design, and countertopaccessories, are the owner’s place to instill personality into this utilitarianspace.

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:10 PM Page 79


Let’s Ask Michael

80

D ear Michael,

I always love rooms that have a lot of stone workin them... they look so sturdy, so stalwart, and sosensible. I’m redoing my kitchen, and I don’t wantto be afraid to spill some soup or drop an egg forfear of ruining the space. How do you suggest,Michael, I work a heavy stone theme into my newkitchen?

MadelineBrentwood, CA

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81

The Kitchen

You are fortunate to love a material that is both practical and beautiful, and yourkitchen is the perfect place to enjoy all of its virtues. There are at least fourplaces where stone can be used. The first is counters, which would ideally besealed marble or granite, but could also be a sealed limestone or soapstone.The second place is the backsplash, which can either be the same as thecounter’s material, or a contrasting material. Third, if you have a hood, you canconsider covering it with stone, and it can pick up the colors of the splash, col-ors of the wall, or something completely different. Finally, the floor can be fin-ished in any of a multitude of stone sizes and variations. Slate is particularlypractical because it does not show dirt, is non-skid, and comes in a wide rangeof neutral colors. If you have a breakfast nook, consider something unique likea marble mosaic top.

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:10 PM Page 81

Let’s Ask Michael

82

D ear Michael,

I have something of a two pronged question,which I'm sure will not be a problem for you.

Prong the first: I have a small kitchen, andwhat that means is not enough counterspace and far too little storage space. I'vetaken to putting my cereal boxes on mycounter because of my lack of storage,which further diminishes my counter!

Prong the second: I'm a total color moron.All I know is that I do not like too much color,and I really do not like all white spaces. So Iwould like to do a color scheme somewherein the middle, but I don't know what that mid-dle is!

Hope you aren't defeated by my twopronged sword!

BetsySalt Lake City, UT

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83

The Kitchen

When you have a small kitchen it is imperative you utilize every inch ofthe space. First, the upper cabinets should go to the ceiling, which youcan access by using a foot stool. The lower cabinets should have pullout shelves to decrease the likelihood that there are forgotten itemsnestled at the back. Install lazy susans in the corners to further maxi-mize the space (this will turn otherwise unusable areas into functionalstorage spaces). These rotating shelves can be used for the storage ofsmall-to-medium sized appliances. Keep appliances off the counters ifat all possible.

The placement of a microwave oven is often problematic due to the fre-quency with which they are used and their relatively large size. In lowercabinets they are too low and in upper cabinets they are too high. Ifthere is space on either side of the splash, recess the microwave intothe wall.

Kitchens can be akaleidoscope of coloror monochromatic. Isuggest you considereither stained woodcabinets or cabinetspainted in a very lightneutral color. Both thiscolor and wood allowyou to choose a varietyof materials for thecounters and back-splash. These, too, canbe neutral but wouldideally add some con-trast and visual life.Lastly, choose a paintcolor for your walls thatis somewhat bold.Typically there is not alot of wall space inkitchens, so this allowsfor an exciting paintcolor.

Photography by C

hristopher Covey

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:10 PM Page 83

Let’s Ask Michael

84

You're going to roll your eyes when I tell you my

problem. I don't like monotone tile treatments,

and I don't like patterns. In other words, I don't

like one color kitchen counters, and I don't like

cute tile patterns with lots of neat colors. My

husband, predictably, does not share my taste.

He wants a nice, traditional kitchen his mother

will be proud of. What do you think?

Samantha

Los Angeles, CA

ear Michael,D

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85

The Kitchen

Assuming you want to stay with tile,there are many ways to use tile in an unconventional, unpre-dictable, yet tasteful manner. Thereis an entire world of decorative tile,so you will no doubt be able to finda set that excites you. You can findtiles with nearly anything you canimagine, including birds, flowers,fruits, vegetables, cars, houses,and fashion items. Once you find aset of tiles that pleases you, youcan arrange them randomly aroundthe kitchen, adding a delightfullysurprising facet to your kitchen’sinterior. To satisfy your husband’sneed for tradition, consider runninga decorative tile border along theedge of your counters.

I placed vegetable and wine tilesaround the kitchen pictured to cre-ate a fresh, country feel that reflect-ed the client’s love of wine.

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 85

Let’s Ask Michael

86

These before shots depict akitchen that desperatelyneeded a redesign. It wascompletely devoid of person-ally defined elements andany inspired design and dec-oration.

You're creative and we're not, and that's why we areemailing you. We have a kitchen that makes acampsite look luxurious, and we are hoping you willgive us as many ideas as you can for ways to makea kitchen exciting, personal, and individual. Weprobably won't be able to use every idea you give,but any inspiration will be of use to this creativelychallenged couple! We look forward to hearingfrom you.

Mike and LucindaNewark, NJ

ear Michael,D

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87

The Kitchen

This kitchen is rife with unique and per-sonal details. The custom backsplash(left) depicts the family's pets, theteapots reflect their interest in animalsand English heritage, and the displayspace allows for tremendous versatilityin decorating. Great care was taken toensure the counters (green granite),back splash (slate), cabinets (stainedmaple), floor (ceramic tile), and wallcolor (beige) worked beautifully togeth-er. The result is a stunning, yet function-al, workplace.

Photography by C

hristopher Covey

Photography by Christopher Covey

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 87

Let’s Ask Michael

88

D ear Michael,

My wife and I don’t have much of a wine collection,but we can’t figure out a convenient place to keep adozen or so bottles on hand. Do you have any sug-gestions?

Ferdinand and JuliaShreveport, LA

To cool or not to cool, that is the question. Winerefrigerators come 24” wide and fitunder the counter like a dishwasher. Otherwise, you canhave a handsome stor-age cabinet in any size thatmatches the rest of the cab-inetry. It is up to you todecide if you like your winechilled.

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89

The Kitchen

I couldn’t help but notice that the hood in my kitchentakes up a lot of space for pretty much no reason.All it is is a big collector with fans that connects to apipe, and the rest of it is just empty. I’d like to storea few random items in there, but if I put doors on,they will hit the ceiling when opened. Have you everheard of a way to make using the hood as storagework successfully?

JonBloomington, IN

I am impressed you even thought to use your hoodfor storage because many people never consider itas a viable storage space. You can turn it into a cabinet to keep small items by hinging it at the top,and having the forward facing plane swing upward.The hinges will be attached to either a spring or apneumatic canister so that it will remain open.

Because of the height, this space will probably notbe practical for items used daily, but is ideal for those items you only use occasionally. The exam-ple below is designed to look like traditionally hingedcabinets for consistency throughout the kitchen, butis actually top-hinged.

D ear Michael,

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 89

Let’s Ask Michael

90

D ear Michael,

My wife and I are in the process of redoing ourkitchen, and I want to go a little wild with theoverall look. I don’t want to do anything non-sensically crazy, like put shag carpeting on thecountertops, but I would like something that isboth exciting and different from what anyoneelse has. I am thinking of some interesting tilepatterns, but realize that unusual tile patternscould turn out to be incredibly ugly. Do youhave any tips for making my kitchen crazy in asane way?

ChuckBethesda, MD

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 90

I like the idea of using tilein an imaginative and cre-ative way. All too frequently,people want to use a solidsurface such as granite ormarble for countertops.Your considering tile opensa wonderful world of colorand design that classicalsolid surface solutions donot.

In the photographs (left andopposite page), I usedsome of the most vibrantlycolored tile I could find onthe counter’s border inorder to set the palette forthe entire kitchen.Variations of these tileswere used everywhere inthe kitchen, except thesplash and hood, andinfused the room with a lifethat granite or marblewould have difficultyequalling. The terracottacolor in the border wasreflected in the floor, thelighter shade of yellow wasused on the walls, and theblue appears on the con-crete island.

My tip for success? Attempt to create a harmonious color schemeregardless of how zany you wish to be. The two are not mutually exclu-sive.

91

The Kitchen

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Let’s Ask Michael

92

You are right to be wary of overloading a room withsteel products unless you are aiming for a modern,sterile look. Steel pieces used in moderation in a set-ting of warm colors and materials create a dramaticcontrast that is both eye catching and functional. Thetrouble is that the steel will scratch and show fingerprints. It is, however, easily cleaned and offers arefreshingly contemporary alternative to wood or glass.

I have always been fond of steel items, but realizeoverdoing it can make a room look like a morgue. I

found a great steel topped table and want to put it in mykitchen. Do you think this is a viable place for such anitem?

PaulBridgeport, CT

D ear Michael,

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93

The Kitchen

Bordering a tile floor has a certain aesthetic appeal,but it is by no means necessary for a successfuldesign. The argument for the border is to clearly definethe space, like using an area rug in a room. The argu-ment against it is that without the border, the tileappears to flow unconstrained under the cabinets andappliances, resulting in appearance of a larger space.This is important in smaller kitchens. Running the tile onthe diagonal further enhances the sense of space andis visually more stimulating.

I have noticed in several of my friends’ kitchens thatthey have a tile border on their kitchen floors. I amredoing my kitchen on a tight budget, and would like toknow if the final product will be attractive without theoutline.

Percy and EmilyDodge City, KS

D ear Michael,

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 93

Let’s Ask Michael

94

ear Michael,

I will make no bones about the factI am an individualist, and I like mymaterial possessions to representthat. My wife does not share thisflare for what I call individuality, andwhich she calls idiocrasy.We are redoing our kitchen, andwhile she has the final say on it, Iwould like to use some materialsthat are distinctive. What is a woodnot often used, and maybe somecolor combinations not typicallyseen?

SalAspen, CO

The most interesting rooms willalways be the ones where you injectyour unique personality. We all know that no two people are thesame, so one’s home is an idealplace to celebrate one’s uniquetraits. Indulge your tastes that somemight consider bizarre.

D

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95

The Kitchen

There are so many way to take what could be a typical kitchen andmake it extraordinary. Instead of painting or staining cabinets, theycould be dyed with an amaline dye in brilliant colors, or perhaps paint-ed with a metallic paint -- some of which naturally develop a pattern.Use unique pulls on the cabinets, as they are the jewelry of thekitchen.Doors could have real metal panels in any metal of your choice. Yourcounters do not have to be tile or granite, but could be concrete, ametal like stainless steel, a butcher block, or a stone like limestonethat will be stained through use.Flooring can be concrete, custom designed vinyl in extraordinaryshapes and colors, bamboo wood, plastic laminate, or anything elsethat will withstand some abuse.Consider low voltage cable lights instead of recessed lights.


10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 95

Let’s Ask Michael

96

D ear Michael,

Whose idea was it to bring the galley kitchenoff the boat? My kitchen is just a long corri-dor with cabinets, a sink, a stove, etc. liningthe walls. It feels so cramped that if not for the view of land out of my window, I would notbe surprised if I was indeed on a seagoingvessel. Can you suggest anything to makethe space feel larger? Also, on a relatednote, can you think of a way to provide asmall area where several people can eat?

MorganSt Paul, MN

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97

The Kitchen

Bumping out certain areas in a galley kitchen can achieve small miracles.If the window is pushed out and the counter extends into the space, youwill achieve an extraordinary feeling of openness in your kitchen (below).The additional windows will emit more light and the cramped kitchen willseem to expand into the garden.

A breakfast nook can also successfully be incorporated in the narrowspace in exactly the same way. In the photograph (opposite page) youwill see that with banquette seating, four people can be accommodatedin the space the cabinetry used to occupy. There is relatively no infringe-ment on the narrow kitchen’s walking space, so all that is lost is somestorage space. Notice that the pedestal table takes a minimum of foot-space and has softened corners for ease of use. A galley kitchen willnever feel cavernous, but the proper changes will make it feel more like a part of a house than a boat.

10042 Kitchen 2/20/03 12:11 PM Page 97

Let’s Ask Michael

98

D ear Michael,I’m tired of having my microwave take up valu-able counter space. Any suggestions?

You are not alone in your microwave-relatedspace troubles. Many of my clients complainthey take up too much space and clutter theircounters and shelves. Consider installing it inthe upper cabinets, or under the counter (top).Both of these suggestions are functionallysuperior to placing it on the counter, but yourmicrowave will take up other storage space.The best solution is to embed it in the splash(bottom), which puts it at counter level withouttaking any counter space. This solutionrequires available space behind the splash.

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99

The Kitchen

Pulls are an art form, and I consider them thejewelry of a project. They are made of everyconceivable material and are available incountless designs, so you can almost certainlyfind a pull that excites you. They can make aspowerful or subtle a statement as you wish,and their use is only constrained by your will-ingness to experiment. Contemporary cabi-nets often have long, simple stainless steelpulls, where traditional cabinets often haveround ornamental knobs in antique brass,pewter, or bronze. Country cabinets oftendraw on natural wood cues and utilize paintedor stained wood knobs, or metal knobs thatare designed to look worn. Finally, do not for-get about specialty knobs,such as animal knobs.You can find pulls in theform of every animal,including the bronze pig Iused in my own kitchen.

I find the door pulls in my kitchen to be boring.They’re just white plastic semi-circles, andreally do nothing for me aesthetically. Can yousuggest some other styles?

D ear Michael,

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Let’s Ask Michael

100

D ear Michael,

Since I watch you on TV every week, I feel likewe’re friends so I’m going to tell you a brief story.When I was in college, I got in the habit ofalways working in my kitchen. I don’t know why,and my psychology-majoring roommate had afield day with it, but I could always concentratebest in the kitchen. That was almost 20 yearsago, and I’ve converted my guest room into myoffice, but I still find myself doing a lot of readingin the kitchen. I know I can’t move my office intothe kitchen, but do you think it’s possible to make some space in the kitchen for me to dowork?

PerrinMobile, AL

The best rule in any design is to fit a spaceto your needs. Don’t be held back by con-vention or by perceived practicality. Anyroom can be designed to accommodateyour specific needs. A kitchen can be awork area, a gym an office, a bedroom anoffice, and so on.

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101

The Kitchen

You are not alone! A lot ofpeople do work in theirkitchens, whether it ispreparing recipes, doinghomework, or running abusiness. Ideally, you canset up a dedicated workspace at a built-in desk.With a 36” wide desk youcan have a bank of draw-ers on one side that couldinclude a file drawer. Space allowing, you can install cabinetry above thedesk for supplies or shelves for books.

If you do not have sufficient space for a separate desk, the island canmake for a work space. In the kitchen below, the client asked for a spacewhere he could use his laptop to do paperwork. We gave him a fairly sub-stantial area for desk space that was far enough from the sink to decreasethe likelihood of damaging his work. We put an electrical outlet near theseating area, and the workspace worked out beautifully.

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10042 Dining Room 2/20/03 11:53 AM Page 102

There appears to be an inverse relationship between the formality of the diningroom and the frequency it is used. The fanciest of dining rooms are largely neglected as places to eat and are favored as three dimensional art pieces,where the less formal ones tend to be used on a more regular basis for theirdesignated dining purpose.

Neither approach is wrong, so it is up to homeowners to determine how the din-ing room will be used before embarking on remodeling. If it is to be used on adaily basis, it might be advisable to forego expansive on-table ornamentation,delicate antique chairs, and fragile tables in favor of more resilient pieces.Conversely, if the room will not be used often, there are nearly no practical con-straints put on the choice of furniture and decoration.

Regardless of whether the dining room is going to be used often or infrequently,it should be decorated such that it is a comfortable place for people to sit overlong periods of time. Mixing personal accessories along with serving items willadd a personal touch that makes your dining room feel more like a home thana restaurant.

5chapter

the dining room



Let’s Ask Michael

104

I have a dining room/kitchen that is old and has

slate and stone everywhere. I have taken to call-

ing it the Bat Cave because that's how dark and

cold it feels.

I want to go in the complete opposite direction

by making it feel as "country home" as possible.

What materials and colors are used for this? Do

you have any suggestions?

Bernadette

Jacksonville, FL

D ear Michael,

Photography by S

antiago Irigoyen


105

The Dining Room

Let’s talk about what makes country, “country.” It’s warm, homeyand inviting, and it is most certainly the opposite of what youdescribe as your current dining room and kitchen. A country feel-ing space is one in which you feel comfortable, secure, relaxed,and hopefully isolated from the city that lies outside your frontdoor. The materials most often used are wood for the cabinets, tileor stone for the counters and backsplash, and either of thesematerials for the flooring. Stained beams on the ceiling will give therooms an old world, rustic touch.

Rich colors such as red, terracotta, or gold on the walls will infusethe rooms with an intimate coziness. Fabrics on the dining roomchairs and draperies will add to the homey feeling. A lighting fixtureover the dining table could be wrought iron and charming, with therest of the room being lit by low voltage recessed lights andsconces.

Photography by S

antiago Irigoyen


Let’s Ask Michael

106

D ear Michael,

My wife and I are in the process ofredoing our dining room, and somegood friends of ours told us it is impor-tant to have a “design motif.” First ofall, what does that really mean, andsecondly, is it particularly important tohave in a dining room? Thank you foryour input.

Jerry and LizSouth Bend, IN

A design motif is simply a design ele-ment or subject that is repeated, oftenin various guises. I have done roomswhere the motif was a particular ani-mal, and I used that theme in art, fab-rics, table lamps, rugs, and decorativeaccessories.

In the photograph at right, the pyramidwas the motif. I designed a recess inthe ceiling and amplified the motifusing cherry detailing with the maple.The cherry cabinets have cherryveneer laid in different directions tocreate diamonds that echo the theme,the glass in the display doors is etchedwith the same design, and even thewine rack is consistent with the pyra-mid motif. All of these elements con-tribute to an overhaul harmony in thedesign.



Let’s Ask Michael

108

D ear Michael,

We had company a few days ago and some ofour friends commented that our dining roomwould not look out of place in the apartment of akid who just moved away from home. In otherwords, it looks cheap, and it just flows into the living room. There’s no wall separating it from theliving room, so there really is just a randomlyplaced table, some chairs, and nothing else.What do you suggest we do to make this cornerof the living room into something that feels morelike a dining room (we don’t have the budget toinstall new walls)?

Leonie and DerrickTemple, AZ


109

The Dining Room

You need to define the dining room spaceby using distinct visual cues that are sepa-rate from the living room. An appropriatelysized table that is correctly positioned,whether rectangular or circular, will onlystart to define the room. An area rug underthe table will assist in further defining thespace. A pendant light hanging over thetable is yet another step, and an accentwall with a buffet table or china cabinet willcomplete the picture. Stop the accent colorat the corner with as precise a line as you can paint.In the room pictured, the red wall, imposing table, area rug, and wall dec-oration work together to create an environment that feels distinctly sepa-rate from the adjoining living room (pictured at left).


Let’s Ask Michael

110

ear Michael,

We are remodeling our dining room and myhusband and I can't agree on a style. Theroom is 12' x 18', has warm nutmeg woodfloors, and is open to the kitchen. The kitchen has the same floors, bisque-coloredcabinets and olive, cream, and brown granitecountertops. The fireplace in the dining roomhas floor-to-ceiling bricks and a raisedhearth. The bricks have various colors andthe fireplace looks very dated. Is there a wayto update the fireplace that is not horriblyexpensive? What about a color scheme,what would look nice with the kitchencolors?

Judy and LanceLincoln, NE

granite

cream

burgundy

olive

The proposedcolor scheme,with the burgundyfireplace accent isdramatic withoutbeing intrusive.

D


111

The Dining Room

Regarding the fireplace, you could stucco over the brick and paint it acontrasting color to the walls. The color should relate to the fabric you useon the sofa or on the throw pillows. Because you mentioned having hav-ing olive in your kitchen, I would recommend painting the room's walls thesame color for continuity. Then you might consider painting the fireplacea contrasting burgundy color, as is pictured below, to create a dramaticaccent.

Accent walls, in general, are an economical way of infusing a room withlife. They are also an effective way of balancing conservative color pref-erences with a desire for an interesting, dramatic room.You can get awaywith a color that would otherwise be rather dull by providing a contrast toit. A beige room will never have the same effect a bright red one will, butadding a bright blue wall to the beige room will certainly point it in thedirection of stimulating instead of dull.


Let’s Ask Michael

112

D ear Michael,

Good things come in small packages, right? Well

we have a tiny (and I mean tiny) dining room that

I want to make as elegant and dramatic as possi-

ble. The room itself is approximately 10’ x 10’,

with windows on the same wall as the door. So I

have 3 walls to deal with that have basically noth-

ing going on.

We don't plan on entertaining large groups of

people, so it will just be my husband, my two kids,

and I using the room. I am open to any sugges-

tions for how to make a beautiful, exciting room!

Phil and Rhonda,

Rye, NY


113

The Dining Room

There is no reason a small room should not be as dramatic and invitingas a large one. In fact, small rooms provide an intimacy that is hard toachieve in spacious rooms.

As the room is square and there are just the four of you, a square tableis the answer. This could have a glass top with an interesting base, per-haps an interesting wrought iron design. This should sit on an area rugthat in turn, lays on a hardwood floor. The rug will be clearly visibleunder the wrought iron and will be seen through the glass.

Choose fabrics that youlove for the chairs anddraperies, and be carefulto ensure their cohesionwith the rug. I prefer touse solid drapery fabricinstead of translucent,lace ones. Choose a dramatic paint color fromthe fabrics to use asyour wall color.

To make your diningroom truly special, con-sider a shallow wallfountain on one wall anda vent-less gas fireplacefor the opposite wall.The sound of the waterand the firelight will beextraordinary.

For the room’s lighting, awrought iron chandelierover the table augment-ed by recessed low volt-age adjustable lights tohighlight the fountainand fireplace will be thecrowning touch.


Let’s Ask Michael

114

I am a great believer in ease of use ofdraperies. This is why I love the rod andring approach. You can open and close thedraperies with nothing more than a tug.From a visual standpoint, the panels canbe made more formal with tie backs andthe rods hidden behind a valance or cor-nice box. The rods, however, do not evenhave to be hidden. There are rods madewith beautiful finishes that stand alone asdecorative accessories.

D ear Michael,

We live in a house on a street with houses so

close that we see everything that happens on our

narrow street.

Our dining room has large street-facing windows

that give us practically no privacy. Natural light is

very important to us, so we have been reluctant

to put blinds or curtains over the windows. Do you

have any suggestions for how we can get a bit of

privacy without sacrificing our light?

Patrick and Melany

Bloomington, MN


115

The Dining Room

If you have the double desire of allowinglight in through your window while pre-serving privacy, sheers are the bestsolution to your problem. You can use adouble rod drapery treatment where youhave the sheer hanging closest to thewindow and an over drapery on the out-side. The sheers will not only provideyou with the natural light you love, butalso the privacy you want. The overdrapery can stack either side of the win-dow during the day and be closed atnight to give you total privacy.

The three pictures at left demonstratethe versatility of the double rod and ringapproach. The top photograph suppliesmaximum privacy with both the sheerand over drapery closed. The middlephotograph allows more light in whilepreserving privacy by stacking the overdraperies and keeping the sheer closed.Finally, both the sheer and over draperyare open in the bottom photograph,allowing the view and light to spill intothe room.


Let’s Ask Michael

116

D ear Michael,

What do you think about glass tables in thedining room? I know it’s traditional to have alarge, heavy wood table, but I’m not sure ifthat fits my taste. Also, I find some woodtables incredibly difficult to clean, with alltheir little holes and gaps. Sometimes itseems like the table eats more food than thepeople do, so much food falls into little natu-ral imperfections!I’m worried for one thing about how a glasstable will look in a dining room. Will it looktoo modern, or too cold? Also, are therespecial types of glass that prevent scratch-ing, because I’m sure plates, knives, andjust general use will mar the finish.

PamLewiston, ME


117

The Dining Room

Glass top dining tables are wonderful alternatives to the classical, tradi-tional wood tops to which people have become accustomed. One bene-fit of using glass tables is that they have a lighter appearance. This canbe significant in smaller spaces, where a solid surface table can appearto consume the space. Another benefit is that area rugs can be seenthrough the glass top and appreciated to a greater extent. The style of thetable will be dictated by the base, which can be literally anything, includ-ing wrought iron, wood, stone, concrete, steel, and plastic. It can be tra-

ditional or contempo-rary depending on yourtaste.

Glass can easily bekept perfectly clean,but does scratch. If youuse decorative itemson the table, ensurethey have protectivepads, and always useplace mats or a table-cloth for dining.


Let’s Ask Michael

118

The recess is an architectural detail that addsinterest and visual importance to the dining room.The recess can be painted in a number of differ-ent ways, from a solid color to a trompe d’oilescene of clouds with angels. In the dining roompictured on this page, I took a stylistic cue fromfabrics on the dining room chairs and stencilledthe design around the recess. In addition, I high-lighted parts of the crownmoulding to amplify itspresence. It was inexpen-sive to execute and theresult was subtle, elegant,and striking.

D ear Michael,

We have a beige dining room with a recess in theceiling, and we don’t know how to paint it. Do youhave any suggestions?

Bentley and Janet Pawtucket, RI


119

The Dining Room

If you have the luxury of space in your diningroom, there are many furniture pieces that youcan consider. A buffet will give you a useful sur-face for serving, and will supply valuable stor-age for larger serving pieces. A dresser or hutch

will hold a display of chinaand crystal, and if spaceallows, a rolling servingtray can display silverwareor other collectibles.

D ear Michael,

I’m in a bit of a bind trying to fill the space in mydining room. I don’t have any feeling about whattype of items to display, nor do I know how to dis-play them. How do you advise people to placeitems, and what do you suggest these itemsshould be?

LoraineSt. Charles, MO


Let’s Ask Michael

120

D ear Michael,

My kitchen has an annex which would best bedescribed as a breakfast nook, but I don’t findanything nook-ish about it. It’s really a room inits own right, just without walls and a door sep-arating it. I’m not particularly keen on entertain-ing large groups, and would like to considerusing this “nook” as a dining room for smallgroups of guests. I just have a small table forfour or, at a squeeze, five. What would you doto this space to make it feel slightly more for-mal, and definitely more separate from thekitchen?

YusailoHollywood, CA

More kitchens have counters withchairs these days. The breakfast nookmay be a thing of the past as they takevaluable real estate in a kitchen and,with the frantic pace of life, rarely getused as anything but a design element.If you have a nook that you never use,you should question whether the spacewould be better used for storage.


121

The Dining Room

Begin by imaginingthere is a wall separat-ing this room from thekitchen. I would con-sider your nook as asecond dining room,albeit a small one, andtreat it with the sameformality as your maindining room. Purchaseformal dining chairswith arms, thereby immediately setting this space apart from thekitchen. If there are any architectural details defining the space thatallow the walls to be painted a different color, then certainly do it. Usean area rug to further define the space and hang draperies to differenti-ate it from the kitchen’s utilitarian nature. With art on the walls, decora-tive accessories on display, fine linen, crystal and silverware, even acereal breakfast will feel like you’re eating in a fine hotel.


Let’s Ask Michael

122

D ear Michael,

I’m going to redo my house’s dining room and want toavoid the formal cliche. I want it to be attractive, whilebeing neither pretentious nor post-modern sparse.Can you give some tips on how to do this?

PookyNew Brunswick, NJ

If you want your dining room to be beautiful, comfort-able and elegant while being handsomely rich butunpretentious, look no further than contemporary high-end hotels for inspiration. The material used in thesebuildings are should give you a good template -- stoneor wood floors, beautiful area rugs, fine fabrics ondraperies and furniture. Note the absence of orna-mentation, and also notice the colors are often neu-trals on the walls with trims of white or off-white. Thecolor comes from decorative accessories, rugs, art,and fresh flowers.


123

The Dining Room

Using your living room as a dining room is agood idea because the space lends itself to alarge table, and you will still be able to use it forentertaining. I suggest you create a seatingarrangement around the fireplace as if it were aliving room. This will further homogenize thespace into a mix between a dining room and aliving room, and will also provide a visual separa-tion between the table and fireplace. I do not rec-ommend putting the table next to the fireplacebecause the chairs will obscure it from view whenstanding in many parts of the room. Also, you do

not want yourchildren to leavethe table withtoasted backs!

D ear Michael,

My house doesn’t have a dining room, so we’replanning on converting our living room (which wenever use) into one. We have 4 kids, so we reallyneed a comfortable place to sit. Since it’s a livingroom, we will have a lot of extra space once thetable is put in. What do you think we should do with it, especially around the fireplace?

IanHartford, CT


Let’s Ask Michael

124

D ear Michael,

Our house has both a formal dining roomand a dining room attached to the kitchen.We actually use the formal dining roomnightly, and seem to only use the room forbreakfast. We haven’t done any decorationin this room, so it is most uninviting. I washoping you could give us some tips for howto make our “breakfast room” a bit moreattractive.

William and IsabellePortland, ME


125

The Dining Room

What could be more appropriate for day-to-day meals than a countrybreakfast room? There’s something inviting about a totally casual, infor-mal space for enjoying breakfast. The room pictured has French doorsthat fill the room with natural light. A pine Welsh dresser allows for displayof decorative china and other farm-themed accessories, which furtheradds to the informality of the space. The glass table top allows the attrac-tive heavy wood base to be seen, and the wood Windsor chairs completethe seating arrangement.


10042 Family Room Chapter 2/20/03 12:00 PM Page 126

6chapter

the family room“Cozy.” “Cushy.” “Comfortable.” “Inviting.” “Warm.” “Plush.” “Informal.”These are some of the most frequently uttered words when it comes todesigning a family room. This is the room where you can throw formalityaside, sit down with a remote control or book in hand, and sink into a couchen route to absolute relaxation. The family room should be distinctly yours,with personal pictures and collectibles abounding throughout the space.

Crucial to the modern family room is a television, along with the requisitethrong of electronic peripherals. Some people opt to make these the cen-ter of attention by proudly displaying each on an individual shelf, while oth-ers conceal them behind cabinetry. The room should be tailored to theneeds and wants of the users, so if an array of blinking lights screams“home” to you, then by all means display them!



Let’s Ask Michael

128

We have a formal family room and my husband just bought

a huge TV. That and all the other pieces of equipment look

awful, and tremendously out of place in this otherwise formal

room. I have seen you use pieces of custom furniture in your

show to hide electronics, but I cannot recall a situation where

you did it in a formal setting. Would an entertainment cabi-

net look out of place in a room like mine? I do not mind see-

ing the television or the equipment, I just want it to be pre-

sented in a classy way.

Paige and James

Buffalo, NY

ear Michael,D


129

The Family Room

You can definitely have an entertainment center cabinet in your formal

family room. There are many pieces of furniture available that are

designed to hold large televisions and the associated equipment. All the

equipment can be in cabinets with doors, and drawers can provide stor-

age for CD's and DVD's.

When I design cabinets, I

like to integrate display

spaces to show off a client's

collectibles. In the piece pic-

tured below, the owner used

some of the free spaces for

books and fine china pieces. Before

After


Let’s Ask Michael

130

ear Michael,

I've heard you mention that men always want allwhite rooms. Obviously it's not wholly unsuccess-ful since so many get their way, and consequent-ly there are a lot of all white rooms out there. WellI don't want a room all in white, but I do like thephilosophy behind it. Can I do a room in all onecolor, like red, yellow, or purple? I think it would begreat to walk into a space that is all one color, butI'm worried it will not look good. Do you have anyadvice on colors to use or examples of where Icould see a completely monotone room?

LeighBoulder, CO

I once did a master bathroom where theclient allowed me to use only one color --white. Finding pure white marble slab forthe vanity top and tile for the floor wasvery difficult. The white fixtures, faucets,towel bars, vanity, and so forth were easy.

D


131

The Family Room

I share your concerns about asingle color overwhelming thesenses, but I can imagine cer-tain rooms where it might besuccessful. A home theatercould be a single color like redbecause much of the time theroom will have low lighting andthe red will provide an intimatefeel. You can go really wild with color in guest powder rooms because they are smallspaces and no one spends much time in them. In fact, the small size ofa guest powder room allows you to do things that would otherwise be fartoo expensive on a larger scale.

Small rooms are not, however, the only spaces that can be dominated byone color. The materials in the family room pictured above are exclu-sively purple. By using different shades, hues, and values, I managed tofind a balance that was not overwhelming and allowed the room to takeon a unique personality.

This combination ofeight different fabrics,leathers, and carpetswould all individually beconsidered purple, yetdemonstrate the widediversity possible withina color category. Noticehow each works wellwith the others, showingthat with care, you canhave a full schemeworking with only onegeneral color.

Photography by S

antiago Irigoyen


Let’s Ask Michael

132

ear Michael,

I recently moved into a typical 1970's house.

This house is absolutely, positively, and res-

olutely boring! We bought it for its size and

location, but not for its style.

We want to redo a room that will function as a

living room/family room, so we need it to be

comfortable for us yet formal for entertaining. I

have a lot of Victorian furniture that has been in

my family for years, so I need to know how to

create a Victorian space. What are the essen-

tials of Victorian style?

Jerry and Susan

Encino, CA

Redoing a 1970’s house necessitates a lot ofundoing before one can start doing. Many fea-ture dated design elements that need to beremoved before the redesigning can take place.Once they are gone, however, you have spacesthat can be customized in nearly every conceiv-able way. 1970’s builders favored inexpensivematerials, so gutting the spaces is easier than inhouses from other periods when quality materialswere used.

D


133

The Family Room

The essentials of Victorian style are the complexity of design andornate embellishments. Woods tend to be carved and dark, andfabrics are typically heavy with extensive use of trims. Start byeliminating the 1970’s design elements, such as aluminum doorsand windows, cottage cheese acoustic ceilings, and thick carpet-ing. Once these have been removed, consider adding door andwindow casings, base and crown mouldings, and a traditional man-tle. Once the room is painted in a rich, vibrant color, you will beready to add Victorian accessories, resulting in a room that is bothcomfortable and formal. (Final product on next page)


Photography by Bill Dow


Let’s Ask Michael

136

We have been living in our house for about fiveyears now, and while much of it looks good now, we still have one room that needs help.There's nothing in it at all! We are hoping tomake it into a really cozy family room kind ofspace with a television cabinet, couches, andchairs. The space itself is not huge, but it is agood size at approximately 19' x 13'. One wallhas small windows on it, and the rest of thespace is essentially blank.Can you give us some tips on how to make thisroom into a really cozy family room? We don'thave kids yet, but when we do would like this tobe the place where wespend a lot of time.

Lucerne and BillNashua, NH

ear Michael,D


137

The Family Room

A family room, by definition, should be warm, inviting, and casual. Itneeds to be a place where you can be the real you with no pretensions,so it has to reflect your personality. I suggest a wall of cabinetry whereyou can display your favorite books, photos, collectibles, and souvenirsof your life. Such cabinetry can hold a television, its components, and a

sound system. The seating should be particularly comfortable and prac-tical. If you have hardwood floors, use an area rug to further warm thespace. Ensure the room has warm lighting by using low wattage, warmbulbs in typically “homey” fixtures, suchas sconces, floor lamps, and tablelamps. You should avoid using a ceil-ing pendent fixture, and only userecessed lighting if it is connected to adimmer. Both of these lights typicallycarry a formal quality not needed in afamily room. Window treatments,preferably in fabric, will finish the room.


Let’s Ask Michael

138

Men absolutely love sectionals.I once had a client ask me to

put a huge couch aroundhis whole room. He appar-

ently forgot the needfor a door!

I scanned a sketch of my family room

and attached it to this email. My husband

really wants a sectional to watch his new,

huge TV, but I think the fireplace is more impor-

tant. How can I arrange my furniture? Help!

Mary Lou

Dayton OH

ear Michael,D


139

The Family Room

I believe a sectional will provide the best compromise between your hus-

band's wish to watch television and your desire to easily view the fire-

place. If you put the television between the two windows, then you

should have a clear sight line to your fireplace from the east wall.

Similarly, your husband will be able to sit on the south portion of the sec-

tional and watch his television.

I recommend purchasing a square

ottoman and placing it equidistant

from the two arms of the sectional.

Not only will it give both of you a

place for your feet, but will also

serve as a coffee table when used

along with a tray.


Let’s Ask Michael

140

D ear Michael,

My husband and I are color blind. Okay, that’ssort of a lie, but after my mother just visited, Ialmost believe it. Apparently we just aren’t verygood at creating any kind of color scheme inour rooms.

We are about to redo our family room and wedon’t want to fall into the same trap as we haveelsewhere in the house. The word my motherkept using, and I’ve heard you use on yourshow, is “cohesive.” Can you explain what youmean by that so two color-blind people mighthave an attractive family room?

Jenni and MikeSanta Cruz, CA

Work with a professional designer tochoose a fabric you love, then let thatdesigner take the guesswork out of thecolor picking process for the rest of theroom. Closely study the fabric, match thecolors with paint chips for picking a wallcolor, and coordinate other fabrics used in the room with it. With time and profes-sional help, you can’t fail!


141

The Family Room

The color scheme is carefully appliedthroughout this room. The rug,chairs, mirror frame, throw pillows,art above the fireplace, decorativeplates, wood color, ottomans, andeven jelly beans, all share a similarcolor scheme composed of yellows,purples, reds and blues.To make a cohesive color scheme, Ioften work around one particularobject, such as a favorite painting orfabric. Pick the colors and patterns in that object and apply them to therest of your room. Make sure every-thing in the room works with it. In thisroom, the colors are based on the artabove the fireplace.


Let’s Ask Michael

142

We have a really basic question for you. Youknow when you’re redoing a room, and you givethe family everything they want, but then there’sstill space in a corner left over? What do you dowith the empty space? As you can guess, wehave a family room with a vacant corner that hasus stumped.

Paulette and JimLas Cruces, NM

D ear Michael,

It is not particularly unusual to have such a space. Isuggest you consider a small game table setup withfour small scale chairs. This will be ideal for playingcards or board games. Otherwise, two smallerlounge chairs or bergeres with a little side tablebetween creates an intimate seating group. This willbe a space where guests sit during parties, you sit toread, or your family comes for a game, so it shouldbe casual, comfortable, and welcoming. If you optfor a table, ensure that it has some form of center-

piece.


143

The Family Room

D ear Michael,

I’ve noticed in many of your shows you use customfurniture instead of premade items available instores. What is the advantage of going custom,when surely you could find pieces to fit nearly everyspace?

DeniseAllston, MAI prefer designing custom furniture because I can getexactly what my client needs. Such furniture fits pre-cisely, functions perfectly, and looks exactly how Ienvision it in my design mind. Often it does not costany more because there are no middlemen (retailand distribution outlets) making a profit.

The custom entertainment cabinet pictured tied afamily room together that carried a pyramid themethroughout, and would have been impossible to findin stores.


Let’s Ask Michael

144

D ear Michael,

I would like to bring the outside inside myhouse in terms of decoration and color, but Idon’t have time to go around watering a bunch of plants. Can you suggest a color anddecoration scheme that will satisfy this, butwill not be completely overwhelming? I don’twant anything too cute like pictures of parrotsand vines all over the walls.

PierceYonkers, NY


145

The Family Room

Take a walk in your garden or local park, taking special note of the colorsof nature. They are extraordinarily varied, and the greens alone exist inevery shade imaginable. As nature inspires me, let it inspire you. I tendto use neutrals like warm beiges and yellow tones on walls in addition tosage greens. You can bring brighter colors into your home through fab-rics on the furniture and draperies. Beautiful floral fabrics abound, andyou can create a botanical paradise if you choose. The use of silk flow-ers, plants, and trees will further bring the outside in with minimal main-tenance required on your part. Woods are ideal for the furniture pieces,but if you simply cannot stomach wood, use fabrics that approximate nat-ural tones.

Art is another way to decorate with nature. There is such a plethora ofmagnificent paintings of the countryside, flora, and fauna, that you willsurely be able to find one to match both your taste and color scheme.Botanical prints are also attractive, decorative accessories.


Let’s Ask Michael

146

D ear Michael,

With any open beam ceiling, effectivelighting is the key to success. You mustmake sure entire ceiling is well lit, and thebest way of achieving this is by puttinglights in the beams. I once had a clientrefuse to install uplights for cost reasons,only to call me back a few months laterasking for them. Apparently theclient’s child came back from sum-

mer camp and said their newceiling looked like the one in

the camp’s mess hall.

We have a family room with rela-tively low ceilings and a crawlspace above. The only things that have ever crawled in that space are rats, and we would liketo open the ceiling to give somemore height. There are large

beams, though, and we are worriedthey will disrupt the nice angle of theroof. Is there some way we can getrid of the beams, or do you think they

will look alright if left in place?

Noah and RachelWilmington, DE


147

The Family Room

I love the idea of opening up your family room ceiling. Thechange in the room’s character will be dramatic. However,opening up the space is often easier said than done. Oftenelectrical wiring and plumbing lines make the space mostunattractive, and you may have walls that need to be relo-cated. Furthermore, it is unfinished so if the wood is unattrac-tive it will have to be corrected. If you have beams, you will prob-ably want to keep them not only for structural reasons but alsobecause they can be made, through finishing and staining, to lookextremely attractive. If the beams are diminutive, they can beboxed out to look more substantial, and uplights can be recessed inthe top surface. If the underside of the roof is too unsightly, you candrywall it or use tongue and groove wood paneling. The latter solu-tion is visually exciting whether it is stained or painted. All things con-sidered, opening up the ceiling can be visually rewarding.


Let’s Ask Michael

148

D ear Michael,

My husband and I bought a house with whatwas described as a “sun room.” I don’t knowwhat it is and he’s from Germany, so we don’treally know what to do with this space. We donot have a proper family room, but instead thedining room and family room are merged. Wewould like to convert this sun room into a fam-ily room, but are far from convinced it’s possi-ble. It has high wood ceilings, sky lights, andlarge windows. Do you think a space like thiscan serve our purpose?

Helen and StephenSpartanburg, SC


149

The Family Room

There is no reason your sun room could not make an excellent familyroom, which by definition, is a comfortable place to relax, read, listen tomusic, and watch television. It is the latter which presents the challengebecause of the need for light control. The best way to control light fromthe high skylight is with motorized blinds or screens. These can betranslucent or opaque depending on your need to create complete dark-ness. You will need draperytreatments for your many win-dows, which can be any styleof shade or blind, both of whichcan be motorized as well. Yoursun room can easily be trans-formed into a totally practicalfamily room for use during theday and at night.


Let’s Ask Michael

150

D ear Michael,

I have acquired lots of pieces of furniture ofevery size and style. What do I do? I want alovely home, not one that looks like a clut-tered secondhand furniture store. My prob-lem is now knowing what to keep and what toget rid of. There’s a lot I like in this group, butmost of it obviously doesn’t work togetherwell.

EllenPalm Springs, CA

photography by Bill D

ow


151

The Family Room

You need to decide what stays and what goes. Keep only those piecesthat you would choose to own if you were out looking for new furnituretoday, then start building the room around those pieces. The pieces canbe quite dissimilar, but can work well together if united by a commonstyle. In the photographs (left and below), the luxurious rolled arm sofawith its tailored flounce contrasts with the red leather, nailheadedstraight backed sofa. The wing backed chairs flankingthe fireplace work with the sofa as well. Thedrapery fabric and rug add anotherlevel of cohesion by unitingthe colors of theupholstery.

photography by Bill D

ow


10042 Other Rooms Chapter 2/20/03 12:25 PM Page 152

7chapter

the rest of the houseThe living room is cozy, the kitchen is personal, and the master bedroom iswelcoming, but what should you do with that office? How should you go aboutmaking your kid a unique bedroom, and where should you start with the mediaroom? There are rooms beyond the basic ones, and these need attention tooin order to make a unified house, tailored to your desires.

The design challenges do not stop at the standard rooms, but the samemethodology still applies when designing them. First, define your needs, andthen take the room piece by piece. Pay attention to both the immediately obvi-ous elements such as wall paint color and fabric upholstery, and also to thedetails that will reveal themselves upon closer inspection, such as the doorknobs and cabinet lighting.

Never be afraid to personalize a room to your needs, even if seems to defyconvention. If you want to put a small work desk in an entertainment room,there will certainly be a way to elegantly integrate the two. Your house shouldbe exactly as you want it.



Let’s Ask Michael

154

D ear Michael,

The last of our children just finished college andhas moved out of our house. While my wife isbusy lamenting our newly emptied nest, I’m look-ing to convert one of their rooms into a library.The look I would ideally like is this: Imagine your-self standing inside of a wooden cube that hasbeen hollowed out to become a room. I want thewhole room to look as if it were carved from thesame piece of wood, devoid of protruding cabi-nets and differing materials. Is this a look that willsuccessfully translate from my imagination intoreality? Also, is it possible to create enough stor-age space for both books and personal itemsusing this look?

WayneWest Hartford, CT

Photography by B

ill Dow


155

The Rest Of The House

Your vision can absolutely become a reality so long as you have thefunds and the services of a fine cabinet maker. The accompanying pho-tographs show a fine example of what you describe. Your general con-cept is fabulous, but it is only in the details that it will truly shine. Onlywood is visible inside this room because the walls are either woodshelves or paneling. The only exception is the fireplace which, by code,has to have a non-combustible material surrounding the firebox. Themantel, with corbels, is flanked on either side by exquisitely carved shellniches. The ceiling is coffered, which further gives the room a stature andrichness from the gleaming wood. The hardwood floor has a decorativeinlaid wood border that functions to further define the space. Completingthe picture is the circular wood table with upholstered wood chairs. Notethe small ladder (above), a wood-framed globe, leather reading chairs,and immaculately organized books and collectibles.



Let’s Ask Michael

156

ear Michael,

I am a busy stay-at-home working mom without a desig-

nated office space in our home. Currently I use our small

guest bedroom (approximately 10’ x 14’) as my home

office, but it is very uncomfortable and inefficient. What

can we do to create an environment that feels less like a

guest bedroom so that I can be comfortable during the

day when doing office work, yet will function as a bed-

room for my out-of-town in-laws (and grandparents)

when they visit?

Selma

Mesa, AZ

D


157


Your situation is very typical. Often one room in a home needs to have adual purpose. It sounds like a “Murphy” bed integrated with wall cabinetrycould be a viable solution for your space because of the size of yourroom. When the bed is not in use, it can be housed vertically behind thecabinetry and the room will function as your office space. The cabinetrycan have shelves and/or drawers for storage, books and display. When in the open position, the shelves slide to either side, thus creating yourbedroom space.

Once opened, the roomis converted into a bed-room. No personal itemshad to be moved, andthe cabinetry design cre-ated nightstands oneither side.

In the closed position,nobody would ever suspect

a bed hides behind therolling doors. Look closely

and you can see a break inthe center of the cabinetry

where the doors slide toreveal the mattress.


Let’s Ask Michael

158

I have a bit of wall that I can’t figure out what to do withthat is in between two hallways. The only idea I’ve

come up with is a display table, which is sort of boring.Can you think of anything more interesting?

SofiaDallas, TX

You might consider using that space to install a bar.Because of the nature of bars, you can make thecounter nearly any shape you want just so long as aperson can fit behind it. If you only have a minimalamount of wall space, then increase counter space bymaking it deeper. Even if you are not a keen entertainer,a bar can be a comfortableplace to sit andtalk, and it addsvisual excite-ment to aspace. Addcomfortablecharis to makeit an invitingplace to sitand relax, dis-play attractivebottles andcrystal, lightthe cabinetsand counter,and the blankwall willcome to life.

D ear Michael,


159


You will be pleased to hear that you might not need toremove any of the room’s furniture. You could consid-er recessing the desk in a wall, which would give you a workspace without using too much floor space.Depending on your needs, the desk need not be muchmore than 30” deep and 36” wide. An attractive chairwill fit nicely underneath it, and you will not have tosacrifice any of your entertainment room’s seating.

If recessing the desk is not anoption, I recommend removingone of the couches. The ottomansand table are almost certainly notin places the desk could go, so thecouches are your only option.

I want to put a little desk in my entertainment room, butcan’t find the space. What should I get rid of -- one ofthe couches, the ottomans, the coffee table, or get asmaller entertainment cabinet?

YoshihiroSan Francisco, CA

D ear Michael,


Let’s Ask Michael

160

ear Michael,

My husband gravitates toward simple colorschemes and unornamented designs. Idon't particularly mind this style, but I wouldlike something completely different in mypersonal office. When I picture my idealwork space, I imagine myself working in aluxurious European palace. I love the atten-tion to detail in those spaces, and theincredible complexity of colors and shapes.Have you ever designed a room in this style, and if so, could you give some point-ers? Naturally, I do not have a queen'sbudget, but would like to feel like one in myoffice!

AntoinetteBoston, MA

Ornamentation and proper display of accessoriesare integral to the opulent look. While minimal-

ism is common in modern high end design, thelook requested by Antoinette is rooted in thecastles and palaces harking back to medieval

times. You must be careful to not clutter yourspace with too many items. Take a look at pic-

tures of old English castles and you’ll never see atable littered with too many personal items.

D


161


Creating the feeling of a palace involves more than having the grandeurof yesteryear, because implicit in creating such an environment is remov-ing those elements that define the office of today. After the layout of yourroom is decided, it is time to focus on how to capture the opulence of theperiod. Cabinetry should be detailed, and doors and drawers shouldhave interesting panels.

I once designed a home office (pictured below) in a very grand house,and had an artist paint an exquisite pattern in gold on the painted cabi-nets. Mouldings were highlighted with gold, adding a feeling of opulence,while avoidingthe gaudy pitfallsgold poses.Because theceilings of oldhomes are fre-quently coffered,I faux-paintedthe ceiling. Theeffect was dra-matic. If youhave blankwalls, createpanels, andeither paint theinside of thepanels or uphol-ster them withfabric. Sconcesare the bestform of lightingfor a palatialfeel, and youmust pay specialattention to allhardware in theroom.

Photography by S

antiago Irigoyen


Let’s Ask Michael

162

DMy husband and I are expecting a child, and are

planning on converting my office into the baby's

room. We want to make our baby's room as dif-

ferent and special as possible, and avoid the

cliched blue or pink color scheme (we don't know

if we're having a boy or a girl yet!). Our problem

is that we really don't know how to get out of the

blue/pink trap!

Blaire and Kent

Las Vegas, NV

The baby'sroom prior toremodeling.

ear Michael,


163


To make your baby's room as spe-

cial as you want it, consider a

graphic on the walls. You can hire

an artist or you and your husband

can have fun painting things which

you think will amuse and delight

your baby. Treat the walls and

door as though they are one big

canvas. Note even the window

treatments fit into the mural above.

Most of all, have fun!

The baby's room pictured depicts eachmajor league baseball team through lit-eral interpretations.


Let’s Ask Michael

164

ear Michael,

We are planning on converting a spare roomin our house to a library, but have stumbledupon two concerns, one practical and theother somewhat obsessive. To the first ques-tion -- we have more books than we havespace to hold them. What is the best way tomaximize the space on a bookshelf? Now forthe compulsive question: we are worried thecolors of our books will clash with our furni-ture. Can you suggest some color combina-tions or patterns that will tolerate the varyingcolors of the books?

Steve and JillMilwaukee, WI

D


To store and display many books, much thought needs to be spent inplanning the room layout. Can all the furniture -- desk, chairs, sofas -- be situated away from any walls to allow book shelves to be built? Planon having shelving sufficiently deep to accommodate the double stack-ing of books, as you will almost certainly grow your collection beyondyour initial storage. Make your shelves adjustable, and keep like-sizedbooks together. Keep the large, heavy books at the bottom of the cabi-nets so you do not stress the shelves, and also to add visual weight tothe lower portion of the cabinets. Build your shelves to the ceiling anduse a step stool or library ladder to reach the higher shelves.

Regardingyour concernabout books’color, do notdwell on thecolors of thebooks. Theywill look love-ly regardlessof the colorsof the furnish-ings. Bookshave a way oflooking splen-did whereverthey areplaced, andthe visualconfusiontheir variousspine designscreate is allpart of thecharm of hav-ing alibrary.

165

The Rest Of The HouseP

hotography by Christopher C

ovey


Let’s Ask Michael

166

D ear Michael,

I just came back from a trip with my hus-band to South Africa and now am inspiredto recreate the Serengeti. We are about toredo our home office and I would like touse this theme in the room. I want naturetones, animal prints, and and everythingelse that will remind me of the trip. My husband does not share my vision. Hethinks animal prints are tacky and that weshould redo our office in a conservativestyle. Can you help me with this debate?

Vanessa and BenAurora, IL


167


There is ample room for compromise here. Ican fully understand why your husbandbelieves an office should be conservative,because nearly every office in our societyadheres to a conservative ideal. I can alsounderstand why you would want to recreatea lasting memory of your fabulous trip. Aswith most interior design dilemmas, you canhave both.

Make the cabinetry throughout the room a richly stained wood and max-imize the efficiency of the space. It can be less office-like by the use ofcabinet pulls, and accessorized by native baskets for holding office sup-plies and waste. Animal prints can be used on the sofas, chairs, pillowsand throws. If used sparingly, they will avoid appearing tacky. The walls of this room can be adorned with pictures of your trip or art reminiscentof the experience. Finally, find a beautiful animal-themed table to finish off the room. I have seen them in a variety of animal themes, such aslions, elephants, and monkeys.


Let’s Ask Michael

168

D ear Michael,

We want to redo our son's room but don't have a lot of money

for it. The room itself isn't missing much, in that he has a bed

and an attached bathroom, but we feel like it isn't personal

enough for his tastes. He goes over to his friends' houses and

they all have these creative rooms! Can you give us any tips

as to how we can make him feel like his room is specially

made for him?

Caroline and Scott

Cazenovia, NY

A theme is a goodstarting point for per-sonalizing yourchild’s room. Thisclient had a childwho loved cars.


169


This is a very common request by parents of young children. Let’sassume your son likes cars, as did the child whose room is pictured onthis page. Very reasonably priced items were purchased in line with thistheme, such as a bed shaped as a racecar that takes a standard sizemattress, and bookcases that hold his collection of model cars andbooks. I created a gas pump by adding a top to a bookcase with a rope“hose” on the side. An area rug of a city with roads provided a perfect playspace for models, and automotive posters and stickers adorned the walls. Auto accessories like new gas cans or clean engine parts from ajunk yard completed room. Similar to this project, choose a theme thatdelights your son, and carry it throughout the room.


Let’s Ask Michael

170

D ear Michael,

I want a classy office that will impress peo-ple who come visit me. I am tired of work-ing with the IKEA desk (which has servedme well!) that simply does not exude ‘suc-cess.’ Any tips you can give would begreat. Thank goodness for email so I canask you questions that I would otherwisebe somewhat embarrassed about!

TylerNorth Hampton, MA


171


A change in room color to a deep,bold color achieves miracles. Themost effective deep colors are blues,greens, and reds, and will be the firstthing people notice upon entering thespace. Obviously, the more moneyyou are willing to spend, the higherquality furniture you can put in. Donot, however, underestimate theenhancing effects smaller, lessexpensive, items can have. Windowtreatments should be smart, but ele-gant, framed art should adorn thewall instead of calendars, and theoffice on a whole should be as organ-ized as possible. If there is room forfurniture to display personal items, then do so. The personal touch makesan inviting and welcoming atmosphere for visitors and yourself.


Let’s Ask Michael

172

D ear Michael,

I’ve attached a hand drawn sketch to this email sothat hopefully you can see what I try to describe. Iknow it’s not up to your standards, but it’s the bestI could do!

As you can see, I have a long, wide hallway thatattaches to my living room. There is a fireplace, aset of windows, and a grand piano in that room, sothere really is not much space to put a bar. That iswhy I am writing to you -- I want a bar in this space,but I just can’t figure out where to put it. I don’tneed it to be very large because I don’t own muchliquor, but it would be nice to have a place where agroup of people could sit and talk over a drink. Canyou see anywhere in this space to put such athing?

RobLong Branch, NJ


173


From your sketch, it appears you face a furniture piece on the oppositewall as you enter the living room from the hallway. I suggest you place thebar in the furniture’s place. Because bars can be attractive pieces ofdesign, I would make the bar the focal point as you walked down the hall.Putting the bar in the couch’s position will also create a divider betweenyour living room and the television area.

The bar pictured has a moved cherry face with a green granite counter,and is 36” high to accommodate low stools. As the room had an art deco,streamlined, modern look, great care was taken to choose stools that fitthe room appropriately. Make sure you spend time on the details of yourbar, such as the stools, to ensure thematic consistency.

Photography by C

hristopher Covey


Let’s Ask Michael

174

ear Michael,

I have a spare room that my father-in-law is

pushing to become a library. He claims it will

be a good place for my kids to learn the

virtues of reading. I tend to agree with him,

but I am worried I simply don’t have sufficient

books to fill the space. If I put shelves around

the room I will have space for thousands of

books. Well-read as I would like to think I am,

I do not have nearly enough volumes to fill the

space. What do you suggest I do with all the

shelf space? Is there some sort of expand-

able shelving system I could invest in?

Chaime

Sioux Falls, SD

D

Home libraries often end up serving as sup-plementary living rooms. Because of themultitude of personal items, and the intimatefeeling the high shelves provide, librariescan be an ideal location to entertain guests.

If you do not have enough rooms to haveboth a living room and a library, consider cre-ating a hybrid of the two.


175


I agree with the concept of the library as a quiet, peaceful retreat in whichyou can study and read. However, library shelves can certainly hold morethan just books. I am confident there is a good chance there are collec-tors in your family, and what better place to show off these items?Intersperse the books with your favorite personal collectibles, your chil-dren’s creations, photographs, and objet d’art. You will be amazed howquickly a room full of shelving will fill up with such items.

Your shelving system should be adjustable, and if you have insufficientitems to display, remove a shelf or two until they are needed.

The owner of the library pictured below has a large collection of bothbooks and pre-Columbian art. The library, with floor to ceiling cabinets,afforded the space to display both collections.


Let’s Ask Michael

176

D ear Michael,

We have an entertainment room with a set ofwindows opposite the television cabinet thatlook directly into our neighbor’s bedroom. Whileit is probably they who should be concernedabout privacy, there is something strange abouthaving our movies and television shows beingreadily viewable. With that said, we do not wantto sacrifice the natural light that flows throughthese windows much of the day. Can you sug-gest a solution that will give us privacy while stillallowing natural light to enter the space?

Gus and SusanFrankfort, KY


177


T h e r e a r e s e v e r a lapproaches to solving thisproblem. In fact it is morethan just a privacy issue,as I suspect having thewindow reflecting on thetelevision screen is both-ersome when watchingduring the day. Adding asheer drapery or translu-cent blind to the windowwill allow you to enjoy day-light while affording pri-

vacy. There could then be an overdrapery to completely cut out the light.

Another approach is to have a roman shade that closes upwards. Thisallows an uninterrupted view above when it is half closed, and privacy isgiven by the lower half. When total privacy is desired, and light control isrequired, it can be fully raised.This is particularly effective on smaller win-dows.

Shutters are a third alternative, as the vanes can be adjusted to provideprivacy while still emitting light. However, shutters tend to remain closed,which would compromisethe view.

The project shown onthese pages illustrates thesecond approach, withupward closing romanshades. With the shadesclosed (top), little lightenters the room, while inthe bottom photographlight enters but privacy ispreserved.


178

D ear Michael,

You’re going to think I live in a man-sion, which I can assure you I don’t.Anyway, I have a baby grand pianowhich I would like to dedicate a roomto, but really have no feeling for whatto do with the rest of the room. I’venever seen this done before, so couldyou advise how you would go aboutdecorating a dedicated piano room?

BuckleyMarina Del Ray, CA

The key to creating a successful pianoroom is to decide who the room is for-- you, the player, or the listener, or per-haps it is just for show. This determinesthe orientation of the piano. The lid ofyour baby grand is hinged on thestraight side, typically away from youraudience so sound is projected towardthem. If, however, you want to enjoy aview from a nearby window as you play,the piano will be positioned accord-ingly. As far as the rest of the room isconcerned, make sure there is comfort-able seating and ample storage forassociated musical paraphernalia.

The photograph shows a particularlylovely dedicated music room, with itsblack and white marble tile floor, seat-ing for two, and beautiful decoration.



Let’s Ask Michael

180

D ear Michael,

My profession is that with words. Indeed,tis my job to spin these marvels of ourwondrous species into stories, into enter-tainment, and most of all, hopefully intolessons. I need little more than an inkwelland parchment to accomplish this lofty, yetsimple profession... mind and talentnotwithstanding. Of late, I find myselfneeding more. I need space, Michael, Ineed places surrounding my desk to placethe incidentals of modern life. Andbecause I do not win the bread, per se, butmore so does The Muse, I need music.And music, though a resident of air, isbrought through cumbersome objects thatrequire space as well. Please, gooddesigner, help me with my space troubles.

BianciccioPortland, OR


181


I need to begin by complementing you on what is hands down the most

amusing email I have received. The answer to your needs lies in nicely

designed cabinetry. This will include a writing surface for quill or comput-

er, with all the necessary storage space for inks, parchment, and files. In

essence, a desk. But beyond that, you need cabinetry to hold yours and

others’ writings, and your source of music. Your complete sound system

can be on the shelves within easy reach, and the speakers can also be

housed there. The shelving will accommodate your collection of CDs or

vinyl albums (I suspect you own the latter). A small television could also

be installed if the need presents itself. With an artful design you will be

able to create a working environment so conducive to fine writing that the

impatient world awaiting your next masterpiece should not expect a

lengthy delay. Write on!


Let’s Ask Michael

182

D ear Michael,

I have always been fond of the BritishColonial style, and am thinking of applying itto what my family calls the “EverythingRoom.” This room is my office, my workoutroom, and at times a meeting room. I wouldlike to apply the colonial style without itbeing too intrusive into the space. Wouldyou mind describing some fundamentals Ishould keep in mind during the remodeling?

BruceVirginia Beach, VA


183


The colonial styles harken back to those days in the19th Century when Britain was busy trying to colo-nize the world. This included India, where they suc-ceeded. The British took their then current home-land styles and re-interpreted them using localmaterials and incorporating local stylistic motifs.Dark wood tones predominate, and fabrics tend tobe rich in color and pattern. Today’s British Colonialtends to feature lots of rattan in addition to richmahogany furniture.

In the photographs on this page, I chose a windowshade made of bamboo which exudes anatural feeling appropriate to the tropicallands being colonized. In keeping withthis theme, palm trees adorn the fabrics,decorative accessories, and art. Note thepalm tree table lamp and the bamboofloor lamp. When bold wall colors areused, British Colonial rooms exude arich, comfortable opulence... perfect foran “Everything Room!”


Let’s Ask Michael

184

Pictured below is a staircase with large paintingsin substantial frames hung at such a height as tobe comfortably seen when standing in front, anddistanced laterally so as to not compete withadjacent paintings.


185


I have a staircase that is much like most staircases in that it both goesup and it has a largewall accompanying it. Ifeel as if hanging art onthis wall is impossiblebecause they will bearranged on the diago-nal. How do you sug-gest I decorate thegiant staircase wall?

AshHuntington, WV

D ear Michael,

The staircase wall pres-ents a challenge and anopportunity. The largespace allows large artpieces to be mounted,which can include tap-estries, area rugs,quilts, large paintings,and sculptural pieces. Ihave even seen farmimplements mounted onsuch a wall in a countryhome. If you have onlysmaller art pieces,either make a large,organized arrangement,or leave the wall blank.Placing small pieces inan unclustered form willcause them to bedwarfed by the space.



10042 Basic Questions Pages 2/20/03 11:37 AM Page 186

Aprofessional

ppendix

In the interest of truly answering all the questions I am most frequently

asked, this appendix provides answers to questions about professional

interior design. How can you become a professional interior designer?

Where can you find one in your local area? What should you look for

when hiring a professional designer? While you may have some ideas

about how you can make a room both plush and utilitarian, you may need

a professional designer to help translate your ideal into reality.

interiordesign



Let’s Ask Michael

188

I do not personally know any designers in the Dallas area, butsuggest you contact the local chapter of the American Societyof Interior Designers (ASID) and explain to them what you arelooking for in a designer. Ask them for three or four referralsand interview each of them. Aside from the project, be sureto discuss fee structures because designers do charge differ-ently. Ask the potential designers for references of pastclients and definitely contact these references to understandmore about the designer.

Choose the one with whom you feel most comfortableand who you think best understands what you want.

Remember that interior design is not about what thedesigner wants to do, but about how the designer

can give you what you want. Avoid any de-signers who wants to force their taste

on you.

My husband and I really enjoy watching Designing For theSexes every week and we both always love your final prod-uct... this being true even when a room is not done in ourparticular style.

We live in the Dallas area and purchased a new home thisyear. It is not decorated yet as we want to do everything"just right" and with the help of an interior designer. Wealways talk about how we would love to hire you to help usout but I'm sure that is out of the question. Hence, I am writ-ing you this email in hopes of you being able to advise us onhow to hire an interior designer and in hopes of the possibili-ty of you possibly referring someone to us. I'm not really sureif it is you, Michael Payne, reading this email but I thought itmight be worth a try to send it to you.

DinaDallas, TX

D ear Michael,


189

Basic Questions

I am delighted to hear you have chosen to pursue a career ininterior design! It is necessary to have an education in thefield because, as a professional designer, you will be expectedto have a broad knowledge on many subjects. You will need to learn the language of design, learn to draft,understand structure, and learn fundamentaldimensions and codes for residential and com-mercial projects. This will enable you to com-municate with other professionals as well asgovernment officials if you need to apply forpermits.There are a number of schools offeringexcellent interior design programs. It isimportant you enroll in a FIDER accreditedprogram. This will guarantee you of a firstclass education and provide the require-ments for admittance to a professionalorganization such as ASID (AmericanSociety of Interior Designers).I went through the Interior Design Programat UCLA and worked at a design firm for fouryears before starting out on my own. My tel-evision show came much later. As for act-ing experience, I have absolutely none,and I am exactly the same person in real-ity as you see on the show... it’s reality tel-evision at its truest!

I’ve watched your show since it first came on and have decid-ed I want to become an interior designer. Where do I evenbegin doing this? What schooling is necessary, and whateducation did you have to get to be where you are? Also,just out of curiosity, do you have any acting experience?

DeirdreRutland, VT

D ear Michael,


Let’s Ask Michael

190

ear Michael,DYou have talked a lot about having custom furni-ture made, and I am wondering about some ofthe logistics of this. Where do you find someoneto make it? What do you have to give to themanufacturer? Do you need to have some sortof license to design furniture? Also, how muchmore expensive is it to have something custommade than to just buy it in the store?

OliverMacon, GA

The logistics of having custom furniture madeare very straightforward. You need to be able to

express your needs in a sketch ordrawing to scale so the manufacturercan clearly understand your require-

ments. The drawing will show thewidth, height, and depth, and a pho-tograph can show style and detail ifyou cannot draw these aspects.And how do you find this manufac-turer? The yellow pages shouldhave a “Furniture -- Custom-Made” section, and if not, try

“Cabinet Makers.”

Custom-made furniture is often notmore expensive than buying retailbecause the middleman has beeneliminated. However, even if it is

more expensive, you will benefitby having a piece exactly as youwant it. It will be tailored to your

exact needs, which is worth a lot.


I am always amused when I hear a homedescribed as “old.” Pre-1930’s houses are consid-ered old by American standards, but are rela-tively new by British standards. I would be wary ofold homes, and suggest thoroughly investigatingthe house’s infrastructure, including the plumbing,

electrical, and heating systems. Oftenthese systems are of borderline func-

tionality and safety. Plumbing leaksmay have rotted wooden struc-tural members, electrical wiringmay be inadequate for contempo-rary loads, and heating systemsmight use asbestos in the ducting.

Upgrade these upon purchase ofan old house so all the beautiful re-design and decoration will not haveto be disturbed down the road. Donot be discouraged by the need toupgrade. Older homes have charac-ter and often possess beautifularchitectural details that would cost a fortune to reproduce today.

191

Basic Questions

ear Michael,DMy wife and I are considering purchasing a rela-tively old house (by U.S. standards). We don’thave an exact date, but were told that it was “pre-1930.” In your experience, is this a safe thing todo, and should we be on the look out for any par-ticular problem areas?

Alex and VeronicaLos Angeles, CA


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Animal prints, 167Area rugs, 25Art:

adding color with, 23arranging on walls, 74–75in bathrooms, 30framing/matting of, 11hanging above fireplaces, 60–61lighting for, 5nature themes in, 145on staircases, 185wall colors with, 11

Backsplashes, stone, 81Bars:

in hallways, 158in living rooms, 172–173

Bathrooms, 27–47cabinetry in, 36, 47ceiling height in, 40–41for children, 43color schemes for, 27–29decorating sinks in, 46displaying items in, 30, 47for guests, 27, 131Japanese style in, 38–39medicine cabinets in, 42personalizing, 168–169small, 37storage space in, 31use of stone in, 44–45vanities in, 31, 35, 37

Bathtubs:decorating, 30Japanese, 39

Bay windows, in bedrooms, 12–13Bedrooms, 3–25

adding warmth to, 22–23for babies, 162–163basketball court in, 16

bay windows in, 12–13cabinetry in, 9for children, 61, 168–169color schemes for, 15, 19, 23entertainment systems in, 8–10large, 16–19lighting for, 15opening ceilings in, 4–5seating in, 6–7small, 14–15storage space in, 8–9work space in, 156–157

Beds, concealable, 157Bookshelves, 165, 175Breakfast nooks, 97, 120Bumpouts, 97

Cabinetry:in bathrooms, 36, 47in bedrooms, 9for collections, 20–21in family rooms, 128–129, 137in kitchens, 83, 88, 89, 95in living rooms, 55in offices, 181pulls on, 95, 99

Ceiling fans, 5Ceilings:

beams on, 105, 146–147color of, 41height of, 5, 40–41high, disadvantages of, 5, 52opening, 4–5, 146–147recesses in, 118

Chairs, choosing, 7(See also Seating)

Chandeliers, 5 (See also Lighting)Children:

bathrooms for, 43bedrooms for, 61, 168–169

10042 Index 2/21/03 9:21 AM Page 193

Clutter, controlling, 21Collections:

cabinets for, 20–21displaying in bathrooms, 47displaying in family rooms, 129, 137displaying in libraries, 175displaying in offices, 171displaying in wall niches, 57

Colors:for ceilings, 41neutral, 32–33for niches, 57splashes of, 29, 62–63for walls (See Wall color)

Color schemes:for bathrooms, 27–29for bedrooms, 15, 19, 23cohesive, 140–141for dining rooms, 110–111for family rooms, 130–131, 140–141for kitchens, 82–83for libraries, 164–165for living rooms, 58–59monochromatic, 28–29, 130–131nature-based, 144–145neutral, 62–63for offices, 171

Counters:in bathrooms, 31functions of, 9materials for, 95stone, 81tile, 81

Decorating (See Interior design)Designing for the Sexes, viiiDesks, recessed, 159Dining rooms, 103–125

color schemes for, 110–111converting living rooms to, 123

country style in, 104–105, 124–125displaying items in, 119draperies for, 114fireplaces in, 110–111, 113, 123formality of, 103large, 119, 123lighting for, 105, 113setting off, 108–109, 120small, 112, 124–125

Doors, materials for, 95Draperies (See Window treatments)

Entertainment systems:in bedrooms, 8–10in family rooms, 127–129swivels for, 10

Family rooms, 127–151cabinetry in, 128–129, 137color schemes for, 130–131,

140–141converting sun rooms to, 148–149displaying items in, 129, 137entertainment systems in, 127–129fireplaces in, 138–139leftover space in, 142lighting for, 137seating in, 138–139, 142storage space in, 129Victorian style in, 132–133window treatments for, 137, 149,

176–177work space in, 159

Faux recesses, 61Fireplaces, 50–51

brick, 54–55, 64–65, 110–111construction codes for, 155in dining rooms, 110–111, 113, 123in family rooms, 138–139hanging art above, 60–61

10042 Index 2/21/03 9:21 AM Page 194

rock, 70–71(See also Mantels)

Floors:in large living rooms, 53materials for, 95stone, 81tile, 93

Floral patterns, problems with, 24–25Furniture:

custom, 143, 190painting, 36scale of, 4–5, 52–53sectional, 138–139in small bedrooms, 14–15using different styles together,

150–151

Getty Museum, 11Guest bathrooms, 27, 131Guest bedrooms, 156–157

Hallways, 158Houses:

1970s-era, 132–133old, 191

Interior design:British colonial style in, 182–183on a budget, 36, 61, 93, 168–169common questions about, viiicountry style in, 104–105, 125, 185creating opulence in, 160–161disagreements about, ix, 3Japanese style in, 38–39, 68–69motifs in, 106nature themes in, 144–145,

166–167palatial style in, 160–161philosophy of, viii–ix, 75, 100, 153Victorian style in, 133

Interior designers:hiring, 188training for, 189working with, ix, 188

Kitchens, 79–101cabinetry in, 83, 88, 89, 95challenges of decorating, 79color schemes for, 82–83galley, 96–97lighting for, 95personalizing, 86–87, 94–95small, 82–83, 93storage space in, 82–83tile in, 84–85, 90–91, 93use of stone in, 80–81work space in, 100–101

Lamps:tabletop, 5wall-mounted, 15(See also Lighting)

Lazy susans, 83Libraries, 154–155, 164–165,

174–175color schemes for, 164–165combining with living rooms, 174displaying items in, 175

Lighting:for artworks, 5for bedrooms, 15for collection cabinets, 20for countertops, 9country style fixtures, 105for dining rooms, 105, 113for displayed items, 20for family rooms, 137with high ceilings, 5for kitchens, 95(See also specific types of lights)

10042 Index 2/21/03 9:21 AM Page 195

Living rooms, 49–77accessorizing, 67adding warmth to, 59bars in, 172–173cabinetry in, 55color schemes for, 58–59combining with libraries, 174converting to dining rooms, 123vs. family rooms, 49Japanese style in, 68–69large, 52–53narrow, 66–67, 72–73preparing to redecorate, 76–77seating in, 49

Mantels:accessorizing, 51functions of, 65shelves, 65(See also Fireplaces)

Medicine cabinets, 42Microwaves, placement of, 83, 98Motifs, 106Murals, 163Music rooms, 178

Nurseries, 162–163

Offices:cabinetry in, 181color schemes for, 171creating elegance in, 160–161,

170–171displaying items in, 171nature themes in, 166–167storage space in, 180–181

Payne, Michael:decorating philosophy of, viii–ixTV show of, viii

Pianos, placement of, 178

Plants:in bathrooms, 30silk, 145

Recessed lights, 5 (See also Lighting)

Rod and ring approach, 114–115 (See also Window treatments)

Roman shades, 177 (See also Window treatments)

Sage green, 33Sconces, 161 (See also Lighting)Seating:

in bedrooms, 6–7in family rooms, 138–139, 142in living rooms, 49

Shutters, 177 (See also Window treatments)

Sinks, painting, 46 (See also Vanities)Skylights, light control for, 149Slate, 81Staircases, art on, 185Steel, use in decorating, 92Stone, decorating with:

in bathrooms, 44–45in kitchens, 80–81

Storage space:in bathrooms, 31in bedrooms, 8–9in family rooms, 129in kitchens, 82–83in offices, 180–181in stove hoods, 89

Stove hoods:stone, 81as storage area, 89

Sun rooms, converting to family rooms,148–149

Swags, 13 (See also Window treatments)

10042 Index 2/21/03 9:21 AM Page 196

Tables, glass, 116–117Temperatures, maintaining in high-

ceilinged rooms, 5Tile, in kitchens, 84–85, 90–91, 93TVs (See Entertainment systems)

Vanities:painting, 36separate, 31, 35, 37

Wall color:with artworks, 11in bedrooms, 15, 16–19country, 16–19, 105in kitchens, 83in living rooms, 51, 59

Walls:accent, 111arranging artworks on, 74–75

creating opulence with, 161cutouts in, 56–57murals on, 163

Window treatments:for bay windows, 12–13British colonial style in, 183for family rooms, 137, 149, 176–177with high ceilings, 5for light control, 13, 149, 176–177for neutral color schemes, 62patterned fabrics in, 25for privacy, 114–115, 176–177for skylights, 149

Wine storage, in kitchens, 88Wood, decorating with, 155Work space:

in bedrooms, 156–157in family rooms, 159in kitchens, 100–101

10042 Index 2/21/03 9:21 AM Page 197

100 Practical Solutions for Interior Design Challenges

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