CHAPTER4

diningroom

inthischapteryouwilllearn:howtomixfurniturestyleshowtopickatable,diningchairs,lighting,andstoragepieceshowtousemirrorshowtohangarthowtocreateeasy,long-lastingcenterpieces

Ilovetocook,butevenmorethanthat,Ilovetoentertain,whichiswhywhenmyhusbandandIfinallyboughtandrenovatedourapartment,Iinsistedonhavingaformaldiningroom.

Thatmaynotseemlikeabigdealtothoseofyouwholiveinhouseswithmoreroomsthanyoucancount,butcitydwellerslikemeobsessovertheuseofeveryprecioussquarefoot.

FromtheminuteIcrosseditsthreshold,Iknewourdiningroomwouldhostmuchmorethantheoccasionaldinnerpartyandholidaymeal.Itisoneofthemosttraffickedroomsinourhome.It’swheremykidsspreadouttheirartprojects,wheremyhusbandandIsortmailandpaybills,andwhereaMonopolymarathoncanextendintotheweehours.

ThediningroomisalsotheunexpectedplacewhereIperchandpaceduringimportantphoneconversations.Ididn’tplanforit.Itjustsohappenedthatthewallunderthediningroomwindowbecamethelast-resorthomeforanantiqueSwedishsetteethathadbeenshufflingaroundthehouse.Thebenchnownotonlyhidesanuglyradiator,butalsoprovidesawarm,sun-drenchedspotformetochatonthephone.Andittaughtmeanimportantlesson:Decoratingisn’tpermanent.Gowiththeflow.Someofthemostbrilliantdecoratingmomentshappenbyaccident.

Asfortheroom’sdecor,Ichosetopaintitchocolatebrownbecause:a)It’smyfavoritecolor;b)It’swarmandcozy;c)Itlooksgoodwitheverything;andd)It’sthecolorofamostpopulardessert.Thetrimandceilingarewhite,ofcourse(seethispage)—it’sthevanillaicingonthechocolatecake.

Forthefurniture,Ifollowedoneofmydecoratingmantras:mixandmatch;pairoldwithnew,roundwithsquare,lightwithdark.Aroomofeclecticfurnitureisfarmoreinterestingthanonethat’smatchy-matchy.Istartedbypickingatable(which,alongwithchairs,istheonlytruedining-roomnecessity).IneverconsideredawoodtablepartlybecauseI

thinkwoodfurniturecanfeelstodgyandpartlybecausethefloorsarewoodandtheroomisalreadybrown.Iwantedagleamingsurfacethatlookedascrispandcleanasapressedwhitetablecloth.AParsons-stylewhite-laminaterectangulartablefitthebill;everypieceofchina,glass,flower,andlinenlooksgoodonit,it’seasytoclean,doesn’tshowwaterrings,anddoesn’tneedpolishing.ButtokeepthetablefromlookingtoonewandtooslickIpaireditwithasetofoldchairs.Afriendofmine,decoratorMilesRedd,foundthesixredleatherupholsteredFrenchseats,whicharecomfortableandstainproof.Theircurvedbacksandcracklyleathermakethemtheperfectfoilfortheangularandpristinetable.

Itmightseemlikeaglaringoversight(punintended)thatIdon’thaveachandelier,butanypieceofgoodlightingsetsthemood,evensculpturalsconceswithdimmers,whichareaugmentedwithlightfromcandlesandawell-placedmirrorthatdoublestheeffect.(Unlikeachandelier,whichshouldalwayshangoverthecenterpiece,sconcesdon’tlimittheplacementofthediningtable.)

Thelastpuzzlepiecewasartandaccessories.Inthediningroom,guestshaveonlyeachothertoadmireuntilyouaddart.Itdoesn’tsomuchmatterwhatstyleorperiodofartyoulove,it’showyouhangartthatmakesitcount.Createabigstatementwithadozenlittlepictures,orfindawall-fillingsingleimagetocaptivateyouraudience.

BASICS

diningtablesThebestdinnerpartieshave10guestsorfewer,andsoshouldyourdiningtable.Tenpeopleatatablecanmeanthreeconversationsorjustone.(Andifyourguestlistisheftier,justopenupthelivingroomandturnthepartyintoafreewheelingbuffet.)

Whenitcomestoproportion,thesizeoftheroomshoulddictatethesizeofyourdiningtable.Agoodruleofthumbisthatthefootprintofthediningtable(fullyextended)shouldcovernomorethanathirdofthefloor’stotalspace.Remember,you’llneedroomforchairsandstorage—andpeople,too.

Whenshoppingaround,checkthestabilityoftablesbygrabbingandpullingthetabletoptomakesurethetabledoesn’twobbleorsway.Thenpushdownononecornertoensureitdoesn’tflipover.(Butdon’tattempteithermaneuverifthesurfaceisstyledwithcrystal!)

IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO

WHEN YOU’RE PICKING A TABLE, MAKE SURE THERE’S SPACE TO SIT. SOUNDSILLY?MANYTABLESHAVEAWKWARDLYPLACED SUPPORTSTHATTHREATENTOBASHINTOYOURGUESTS’LEGS.ANDMINDTHEAPRON,THATBANDUNDERTHE SURFACE THAT JUTS TOWARD YOUR LAP; IT’S POISED TO CRUSH YOURTHIGHSIFYOURCHAIRSARETOOHIGH.

FLIP!throughtheseimages

typecasting:diningtablesSquareandrectangulartablesarewellsuitedfortheshapeofmostrooms(whichistosayboxy),allowingthemosttableforthespace,thoughcircularmodelsaremoreconducivetoconversationbecausetherearenoblindspotslikethereareonatablewithcorners.Findatablethatfitsyourfamilyplusafewfriendsandthenleavetheresttoaesthetics.

Rectangle.Thetried-and-truepickbecauseitsprofileisanaturalfitformostrooms.Lookforversionswith“leaves,”orinsertsthatexpandthetabletotwiceitssizeormore.Makesuretheleavesareeasytoaddandremoveandthatthey’reaprecisematchwiththetable’scolorandfinish.

Round.Themostconducivetoconversation,andevenallowsextrapeopletosqueezein.Theshapealsobreaksupthemonotonyofsquarefurnishings.Someincludeleavesthatexpandtoanoblongshape.

Dropleaf.Idealforsmallspaces,thisstylefoldsintoaslimsideboardwhenitsleavesarecollapsed.Unfortunately,theclosepositioningofthelegsmakessomedinerspronetobumpedknees.

Pedestal.Withasinglecolumnofsupport,thisstyleisfarandawaythemostspaciousforlegs.Thetabletopcanbesquareorrectangular,round,orevenexpandablewithleaves.

PANICBUTTON

JUST FIND AN INEXPENSIVE PARTICLEBOARD TABLE AND THROW ON ANOVERSIZED LINEN TABLECLOTH THAT FALLS TO THE FLOOR. IT’S A SPACE-SAVINGSOLUTION,TOO—USETHEUNDERSIDEFORSTORAGEWHENTHETABLEISN’TSURROUNDEDWITHGUESTS.

LIGHTBULB

NODININGROOM?

NOPROBLEM.THESETIPSMAKEHOSTINGàLALIVINGROOMASNAP.

*USEYOURCOFFEETABLEASTHEPRIMARYSURFACE.

*PROVIDEAMPLESEATINGFORGUESTS,INCLUDINGFLOORCUSHIONS,TOO.

*SERVECOURSESTHATREQUIREJUSTONEPLATEANDONEFORK.

*OFFEROVERSIZEDNAPKINS.

* CLEAR SURFACES FOR DRINKS AND AVOID STEMS BY SERVING BEVERAGESEURO-STYLE,INTUMBLERS.

materialmattersWhenpickingamaterial,thinkofpersonaltasteaswellaspracticality.Agloss-finishwoodiselegantbutpronetonicksandscratchesandrequiresatableclothandheat-protectingpadtoshielditfromscaldingdinnerplates.Anystyletablecanhandlewearandtearaslongasyouprotectitwithatablepadorblanketbeforeyouwhipouttheglitterandglue.

Woodhasawarm,traditionalfeel.Lookforqualitycraftsmanship,includingmortise-and-tenonjoints,inwhichonepieceofwoodfitsintoaslotintheother,ordovetail,wherethepiecesmeetjigsaw-style.AvoidwoodcompositeslikeMDF(mediumdensityfiberboard)andparticleboard,whichareoftenpoorlyconstructedandultimatelydisposable.Forvarnishedwood,bewaryofimperfectionsorbubbles.

Glass-toppedshouldbetemperedmakingitresistanttobreaking,andaimforatabletopthicknessof3/4ormore.

Marbleisachallengetokeeppristineasitscratcheseasilyandstainsunlesssealedregularly;butsomeownersthinkimperfectionsonlyaddtoitsallure.Lookforsolidtabletopsthatarefinelyhonedandsealed.

Lacquerisacatchallphrasetodescribeawoodproductfinishedinahard,coloredcoatingthatisfrequentlyhigh—gloss(trueJapaneselacquer,orJapanning,iscostlyandrare).LaminateisaplasticorpolyurethaneveneerfusedtoawoodorMDF.Bothofferastaggeringchoiceofcolorsandcansometimesbecustomizedtomatchapaintorfabricswatch.

WHYNOTTRY

TREATINGYOURHEIRLOOMTOAFRESHCOATOFPAINT.THEDININGROOMIS

OFTENAWASTELANDFORHAND-ME-DOWNBUFFETS,TABLES,ANDCHAIRS,BUTANY DREARY ANTIQUE CAN LOOKSMART WHEN SLICKED WITH WHITE (ORBLACK)PAINT.TRUSTME,YOURGRANDMOTHERWOULDWANTYOUTOUSEIT.

BASICS

diningchairsThepost-mealslouchshouldbeasenjoyableasthemeal,sodon’tinvitebonybacksandpricklystrawseatstoyourdinnertable.Instead,perusechairsthatinviteafter-dinnerloungingandavoidone-clickpurchasing,whichisbasedonaestheticsalone.

Diningchairsshouldbeeasytomoveforallyourguests,childrenincluded.Chairswithcumbersomeprofiles,over-stuffedseats,ordramaticallysplayedlegsmakeittrickyforgueststogetinandout.

Onethingthatprobablyshouldn’tbeonthemenu:adiningroommatchingsuiteorset.Instead,mixitupwithcontrastingcolorsandmaterials.Darkwoodchairs?Tryamarbletabletop.Antiquemahoganytable?Addwhite-framemodernchairs.Asurefirewaytomakeyourdiningroomchicistoblendstylesandfinishes:oldwithnew,lightwithdark,slickwithaged.

LIGHTBULB

SEATSWITHDELICATEFRAMES,SEE-THROUGHBACKS—ORNOBACKSATALL—WON’TCLUTTERASMALLSPACE.

MEASUREFORMEASURE

TO ENSURE YOUR CHAIRSWILL FIT UNDER YOUR TABLE, ALLOW A FOOT OFSPACEBETWEENTHESEATHEIGHTANDTABLESURFACE.THATMEANSIFYOURTABLEISACOMMON29INCHES,AIMFORCHAIRSEATSTHATAREAROUND17INCHESHIGH.ANDGIVEEACHDINERABOUT2FEETOFELBOWROOMANDATLEAST2FEETOFSPACETOSCOOCHBACKTHEIRCHAIR.

typecasting:diningchairsEvenifyoudon’tcraveaperiodroom,considerpickingfromthestaggeringnumberofantique,vintage,andreproductionchairsonthemarket,whichbringabitofold-timegracetodinner.Or,ifyourtableisalreadysteepedinalegacyofitsown,looktomid-centurystylesandbeyond,whichwillbringanantiqueup-to-date.Eitherway,it’stablefirst,thenchairs.

Gustavian.Swedishandneoclassicalwithasquarebody,groovedlimbs,andcarvedornament;oftenpaintedandveryfeminine.

Louis–style.NamedforFrenchkings,LouisXIVhashighbacksandscrollarms,XVislighterandRococofeeling,XVIisscaledback,withtaperedlegsandsmallornaments.

ChineseChippendale.Thankstoitsgraphicfretworkback,thisAsian-inspiredchair(createdbythefamedBritdesigner)looksparticularlydashinginacoatofbrightpaintsuchaswhite,red,orevenlimeorturquoise.

Bentwood.TypifiedbytheworkofGerman-AustriandesignerThonet,theseseatsaresimpleandelegantwithacurved,openbackmadefromwoodinachoiceoffinishes.

Tulip.DesignerEeroSaarinenpioneeredthiscomfortablemolded-plasticseatthat’spredominantlyseeninwhitewithabrightlycoloredfabricseatcushion(seethispage).

Bertoia.Thiswire-meshchair,namedfordesignerHarryBertoia,comesinadiamondorL-shapeprofilesandhasaseat(andsometimesback)cushionandachromeorpowder-coatedfinish.

Contemporary.Currentstylesvarywildly,butaneutral,tightlyupholsteredL-shapechairisanall-purposefavorite.

Super-modern.Italiandesignerspioneeredthisstylethatusesmoldedplywood,acrylic,poly-blends,ormetaltomakehigh-styleseatsthatareeasytostackanddurable.TheAntchairandPhilippeStarck’sacrylicLouisGhostchair(seethispage)areexamplesofmodernclassics.

WHYNOTTRY

THEOLDMAXIM ISTRUE:OPPOSITESATTRACT.CONSIDERTHESEFOOLPROOFPAIRINGSFORDININGCHAIRSANDTABLE.

* MODERN MOLDED-PLYWOOD CHAIRS WITH AN OLD WOODEN FARMHOUSETABLE

*WHITE-FRAMEGUSTAVIANSANDAMODERNLACQUERPEDESTALTABLE

*LOUIS-STYLECHAIRSWITHABOXY,SUPERMODERNTABLE

*DELICATEBENTWOODCHAIRSATAMODERNPEDESTALTABLE

*MODERNWIREBERTOIACHAIRSWITHAROUNDMARBLE-TOPTABLE

materialmattersThequestionofachair’smaterialsisreallyaquestionoftolerance:Areyouwillingtopolishandscrubyourchairs,orisaonce-in-a-whilewipe-downasfaryou’llgo?Thinkaboutyourneedsfirstandthenmakesurethatyou’regettingthebestconstructionforyourdollar.

Wood,whenwellmadeandwellmaintained,willlastlifetimes.Pickaframethat’ssupportedwithcornerblocks,whichmakeitsturdy.Likewithdiningtables,lookforwell-craftedjointsandavoidMDFandveneers,whichcanchipovertime.Lookcloselyforimperfectionsinthewoodorfinish.

Upholsteredleatherseatsarelonglastingandeasytocleanwhilepatternedfabricshidestains.Manydesignersnowturntothenewestoutdoorfabrics,whicharesoft,stylish,andspill-andstainproof.Therulesforbuyingasofa(seethispage)stillapply.Askwhat’sinside,lookforhand-tiedsprings,andtrybeforeyoubuy.

Acrylicandplasticareman-madematerialsthatrequiretheleastmaintenanceandareoftenthemostdurable.Manystylesinthiscategoryarealsostackable.

LIGHTBULB

IFYOUPURCHASEASLIPCOVEREDCHAIR,BUYANEXTRACOVERORTWOANDSTASHTHEMFOREMERGENCIES.

typecasting:alternativeseatingDon’tlimityourselftoahalf-dozenidenticalchairs.Alternatetheseatshalfandhalforfindsixoreight(orten!)differentstyles.Keepthelookuniformbypickingacommoncolorormaterial,suchasmahoganyorwhitepaint.Orforgettraditionalchairsaltogetherandtryoneofthese.

Benches.Foracasualapproachthat’srightforspeedymorningormiddaymeals,trydiningpicnictable–style.It’sfamily-friendlyandperfectforwhenyouneedtosqueezeinacrowd.

Settee.Thissmallupholsteredseattypicallyfitsjusttwopeople,makingitafunoptionforcouplesandkids.Itsbacksupportmakesitagoodpickforeveningaffairs.Tryoneateachendofthetable.

Folding.Manyofthesemodelscollapseintoathincolumnandstorewithease.Apaircaneasilyfitunderabed.Foldingchairsoftenrunsmallsolookforoneswithgenerousseats.

WHYNOTTRY

PUTTINGAFAVORITECOMFORTABLESEATORSMALLSOFANEARTHEWINDOWIN THE DINING ROOM SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY THE ROOM WHEN IT’SBETWEENMEALS.

MEASUREFORMEASURE

IFYOU’REDARINGENOUGHTOUSEARUGINTHEDININGROOM,THEPERFECTSIZEISONETHAT’SFOURFEETLARGERTHANTHEWIDTHANDLENGTHOFTHETABLE.THERUGSHOULDBELARGEENOUGHSOTHATTHECHAIRSCANMOVEAWAYFROMTHETABLEWITHOUTTHEMFALLINGOFFOFTHEEDGE.STORAGEFURNITURELIKETHECHINACABINETORSERVINGPIECESSHOULDBEONTHEFLOOR,NOTONTHERUG.

BASICS

lightingWhenlightingisideal,ittendstogounnoticed,butwhenit’sharsh—thinkhigh-schoolgymnasium—it’llbetheonlythingonyourmind.Sure,lightingexistsprimarilytohelpyousee,butit’salsoanelementthroughwhichyoucanrevealyourpersonality.Thetableandchairsestablishalook.Thinkofthoseastheshirtandpantsofyourdiningroomoutfitandthelightingasthejewelry.Lightfixturesdressup(ordown)yourstyle.

Fixturesrunthegamutfromritzyrockcrystaltoausterealuminum.Nomatterthelook,whenthesunsets,takeacuefromyourfavoriterestaurantandkeepthelightslow.Ifyouhaveseverallightsources,keepeachataflicker.Thereshouldbeenoughilluminationtohelpyougetaroundtheroom,butatthetable,lowwattagewillkeepyouandyourguestslookingattractiveallthewayfromappetizertodessert.

IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO

INSTALLDIMMERS.THEYWORKINEVERYROOM,BUTTHEY’REESSENTIALHEREWHERE DIFFERENT PURPOSES (SETTING THE TABLE VS. DINNER ITSELF)REQUIREVARYINGWATTAGE.

LAMPS CAN BE OUTFITTED WITH CLIP-ON DIMMERS FOR AROUND $15 EACHAND YOU CAN INSTALL WALL DIMMERS FOR SCONCES AND OVERHEADSYOURSELF.BUTIFYOU’REWARYOFCROSSINGYOURWIRES,HIREAPRO.

typecasting:lightingAnyfixturewithalightbulbwillfitthefunctionalitybill,butdiningroomlightingisreallyaquestionofmood.Pickapairofsconcesoradazzlingoverheadandthenlightcandlestoratchetuptheglamour.

Sconces.Thesewall-mountedfixturesprovidepocketsoflightwithoutoverpoweringaroom.Theylookbestwhenhunginpairsonthelongestwindowlesswallintheroom.Mostsocketswon’tacceptbulbsover40watts,butasubdued15wattsusuallydoesthetrick,andkeepinmindthatamirroredsconcewilldoublethelightbulb’seffect.

Chandelier.Chooseaglitzycrystal-encrustedoneoraslick,modernversion.Bothpromisetheultimateinmoodlighting,especiallywhenfittedwithclearbulbs,whichhelplightrefract.

Candlelight.Simpleandelegant.Forthemostflatteringlight,letadozenormorewhitevotivesandtealightsaddbrightnesstoaroomwithlow-litsconcesorachandelier.

MEASUREFORMEASURE

TOMAKETHEMOSTOFYOURLIGHTING,HANG ITCORRECTLY.THEBULBS INSCONCESSHOULDBEAROUND5.5TO6FEETHIGHFROMTHEFLOORANDTHEBOTTOM OF A CHANDELIER SHOULD HANG ABOUT 30 INCHES ABOVE THETABLETOP.

WHYNOTTRY

INSTALLINGPINKLIGHTBULBS INDININGROOMFIXTURESTOBRINGOUTTHEROSYGLOWOFYOUANDYOURTABLEMATES.

waxonTherearescoresofcandlestylesandeachonesendsadifferentmessagewithitsflicker.

Tealights,votives,andothersmall,lowcandlesareidealforthediningtablebecausetheydon’thindereyecontact.

Taperslendaformalfeelwhenplacedinshapelysilvercandlesticksandaredownrightregalincandelabras.

Pillars,whichrangeinheightandthickness,areromanticandlookespeciallymodernwhenalignedinashallowtray(seethispage).

HOWTOREMOVECANDLEWAXFROMATABLECLOTH

BEGIN BY CHIPPING AWAY EXCESS WAX WITH A BUTTER KNIFE, SPOON, ORYOURFINGERNAIL.

LAYTHETABLECLOTHONANIRONINGBOARDANDPLACEAPLAINBROWNBAG—WITHOUTANYWRITINGONIT—OVERTHEREMAININGWAX.

APPLYAWARMIRONTOTHEPAPER.THEWAXWILLADHERETOTHEPAPER.REPLACETHEWAX-COVEREDBAGASNEEDED.

CONTINUELIFTINGWAXFROMTHECLOTHUNTILITISGONE.

FOR COLORED CANDLE WAX STAINS, FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ABOVE, BUT THETREATSPOTWITHAPREWASHSTAINREMOVERBEFOREWASHING.

BASICS

storageMakingroomforstorageinornearthediningroomisessentialbecausesouptureensandonce-a-yearsilvercandelabrasarebestkeptoutofpreciouskitchenrealestate,whichshouldbededicatedtoutility.

Mostdiningroomshavetoomuchspacetonothavestorageunits.Becauseactioniscenteredatthetable,youcandedicateatleastonewalltostoragewithoutitbeingobtrusive.Lookforunitsthatareroomybutnotgargantuan.Thenfillitwithessentialsforservingandentertaining,fromfinechinaandservingpiecestonapkins,candles,andmatches,soyouwon’thavetorummagethroughyourkitchencabinetswhiledinner’sgettingcold.

typecasting:storageFirstdeterminewhatyou’restoringandthendecidewhattypeofpiece(orpieces)fityourneedsandnotethenumberofshelves,plustheirheightanddepth.Andmakesureyourchoicewon’toverwhelmtheroom.

Sideboard.Longandlow,thispiece,oftencalledabuffet,hascoveredshelvesandanexpansivesurfaceforarrangingflowers,candles,orobjects—orservingafull-onfeast.Inalivingroom,asimilarstyleisreferredtoasacredenza.

Armoireorchinacabinet.Thiscoveredorglass-enclosedpieceemphasizesverticalspaceandframesporcelainorobjectswhileprotectingthemfromdust.Placeflatwareorsilverindrawerslinedwithfeltorsilvercloth;bothcanbeboughtbytheyardandcuttofit.

Bookcaseorétagère.Analternativetotraditionalstorageisshallowshelvingorabookcase.Inexpensiveversionsarearound12to16inchesdeep.Boxesontheshelvescanhousesmallobjectswhilestacksofplates,niceservingpieces,andbookscanremainexposed.

WHATBELONGSINDININGROOMSTORAGE

LINENS

(TABLECLOTHS,DINNERNAPKINS,COCKTAILNAPKINS)

FINECHINA

SERVINGPIECES

(PLATTERS,TRAYS,CONDIMENTDISHES)

FLATWAREANDSILVER

PLACECARDS

CANDLESANDMATCHES

GLASSWAREANDSTEMWARE

(HIGHBALL GLASSES, TUMBLERS, MARTINI GLASSES, SNIFTERS, FLUTES, ANDWINEGLASSES)

BARWARE

(CORKSCREWANDBOTTLEOPENER

ICEBUCKETANDTONGS

PAPERCOCKTAILNAPKINS)

BASICS

mirrorsTobringevenmoredramatoabeautifullylitroom,hangawell-placedmirror.Itwillprovideastylishopticalillusion,transformingeventheteensiestofspacesintoaglamorousparlor.

Alongmirrormountedverticallydrawstheeyeupward,accentuatingheight,eveninaroomwithloworaverageceilings.Hunghorizontallyateyelevel,it’llcatchlightfromcandlesorsconcesanddoubletheperceptionoftheroom.Ifit’shungnearyourguests,makesureit’sflattering.Itshouldn’tcutyouoffattheneck(toohigh)orreflectonlyyourmidsection(toolow).

Framestyleshouldbetheyintoyourfurnitureyang.Ifyouhaveasquaretable,pickaroundmirror.Ifyourfurnishingsaresleekandmodern,tryanornatecarvedframe.Ifamassivesideboardsitsalongonewall,trymountingaseriesofsmallmirrorsaboveittohelpbreakupitsheft.Thekeyisforittobeproportionatewiththefurnitureintheroom—amirror(orcompositionofmirrorsandart)willlookmostpleasingifit’sthesamewidthasthefurniturebelowit.

WHYNOTTRY

USEYOURMIRRORTOMAKEMAGIC:

*HANG ITDIRECTLYACROSSTHEROOMFROMAWINDOWTODOUBLEYOURVIEW.

*USEITTOCHANNELLIGHTFROMONEROOMINTOADARKSPOT.

*LETITREFLECTBEAUTYBYDIRECTINGITTOWARDFLOWERSORART.

* HANG A GENEROUS MIRROR AT EYE-LEVEL TO MAKE THE ROOM APPEARBIGGER.

*ALLOWITTODOUBLETHEAMBIENCEINACANDLELITROOM.

IFTHEREISONETHINGYOUDO

MAKESUREYOURMIRRORREFLECTSBEAUTYONLY.REMEMBERTHEPHRASE,“IFYOUDON’THAVEANYTHINGNICETOSAY…”MYCREDOFORMIRRORS ISSIMILAR: IFYOUDON’THAVEANYTHINGNICETOSHOW…THEMERITSOFALOOKINGGLASSARELOSTIFTHEONLYTHINGITREFLECTSISAPILEOFJUNK.

BASICS

hangingartDinersareacaptiveaudience,sohangyourfavoriteartsurroundingthetablewhereitcanprovideconversationfodderandenhanceabeautifulmeal.Arttiesaroomtogetherandaddsinterestanddramatoemptyspaces.

Moreoftenthannotpeoplehangarttoohigh,toospacedout,ortheyjustdon’thangitatall.Whenmountedproperly,itdrawsyoureyeup,down,andaroundtheroom.Displayartthatyoulove,beitoneortwodramaticphotographsorcanvases,aseriesofpostcard-sizewatercolors,oranantiqueobject.

Therearetwowaystotestpictureplacement:

1.TracetheframesontoKraftpaper,cutoutdummies.Thentapethemtothewall.2.Usepainter’stapetooutlineshapesandpossiblecompositionsonthewall.Livewiththewallmock-upforafewdays.

typecasting:hangingartLetyourroomtellyouwhatitrequiresfromtheartdepartment.Ifyourfurnitureisarrangedsymmetrically,mixitupwithanoffbeatcomposition.Ifyou’vealreadybeendaringwithfurnitureshapeandcolor,tryauniformgrid.Butbeforeyougrabyourhammer,youshouldknowexactlywhereyou’regoingtoplacethatnail.

Freeform.Thisapproachworksbestforhangingmanydisparatepiecestogetherononewall.Whenpiecesvaryinsizeandshape,firstarrangethemonthefloorandthentransferthecompositiontothewall.Startbyplacingthebiggestpiece,whichcanbeatthecenterofofftoaside.Arrangesmallerworksaroundit,keepingthesamedistancebetweenframes.Makesurecolorandintensityisspreadthroughout.

Gridlock.Astriking,graphicmethodistohangworksofidenticalsizeinanorderlygrid.Determinetheamountofspaceseparatingthem,suchasthreeinches,andusethatasthemarginaroundalloftheframes.

Goingoutonaledge.Foracasual,layeredfeelthatletsyouswapoutworksfrequently,mountoneormoreledgesonawall.Leanframedartontheledgeandlettheedgesoverlap,whichgivesitacarefree,bohemianvibe.Asimilartechniqueworkswithlargerpiecesarrangedonasideboardormantel.

MEASUREFORMEASURE

THE CENTER OF YOUR FRAMEDWORK SHOULD BE EYE-LEVEL. OR, POSITIONTHE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME ABOUT 3 TO 6 INCHES ABOVE A PIECE OFFURNITURE. IF IT IS A ROOM WHERE PEOPLE ARE SITTING, MAKE SUREYOUTAKE THAT LOWER VANTAGE POINT INTO ACCOUNT AND ADJUSTACCORDINGLY.

hanginghelpersWhenitcomestohangingart,youreyeissometimesmorehelpfulthanatapemeasureandalevel.Enlistafriendtohelportryityourselfwithoneoftheseeasyhangingmethods.

Method1

UseaBook.Whenhangingagroupofpicturesinaclusterorgrid,findabookwithabindingthat’sthesamewidthorheightasthedistanceyoudesirebetweenframesverticallyorhorizontally.Thenuseitasaguidetospacethepicturesevenly.

IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO

FINDASPOTFORPERSONAL,FRAMEDFAMILYPHOTOS(ANDTHOSEOFDOGS,TOO) AND KEEP THEM CONTAINED THERE INSTEAD OF SPREADING THEMTHROUGHOUTYOURHOME.

Method2

UseaYardstick.Hammera1.5-inchfinishingnailthroughthecenterofayardstick,makingsurethatitpokesoutthebackendandthattheheadofthenailisn’tcompletelyflushwiththeyardstick.Hangthewireorbracketofthepicturefromthenailhead.(Donotresttheentireweightofthepictureonthenail,butenoughtomakesurethatthewireistaut.)Pointthenailatthewall,adjustingthestickuntilitrestswhereyouwantittohang.Gentlypresstheyardstickagainstthewall,justhardenoughforthenailtomakeamarkonthewall.Removethepictureandyardstickandinstallyourpicturehanger;remembertoadjustforthedistancebetweenthenailandtheactualhook;youwanttheVofthehooktobeexactlywhereyouroriginaldepressionis.

finishingtouchesAbaretableisaninvitationtoaddaneye-appealingtableau.Youshouldhaveafewcenterpieceideasonhand—somethatexpire,likefruitandflowers,andothers,suchasagroupingofvases,thatlastthewholeseason.

1.ONE-KIND-OF-FRUITBOWLFEATURINGJUSTORANGES,JUSTAPPLES,ETC.

2.ANODDNUMBEROFSIMILAR-COLORVASESINDIFFERENTSHAPESANDSTYLES.

3.AVASEFILLEDWITHASINGLEVARIETY,BUTALWAYSATLEASTTHREETIMESMOREFLOWERSTHANYOUTHINKNECESSARY.

4.WHITEPILLARCANDLESINVARIOUSSHAPESANDSIZES.

5.ACONTAINERFILLEDWITHGREENSFROMYOURLOCALMARKETORPICKTHEMFROMTHENEARESTTREEINYOURYARD.

acknowledgments

Mythanks,love,andrespect…

Firstandforemosttomypatientfamilywhohasputupwithmyimpulsiveneedtorepaint,reupholster,andrearrangetheworldaroundme.Tomymother,JaneySchecter,whotaughtmeeverythingIknowandwhowasable,withamoment’snotice,towhipuptheincredibleillustrationsinthisbook.Tomyfather,RobertSchecter,foralwayssupportingbothofus.ToTriciaDavey,withoutwhosegentlenudgingIwouldhavenevermadeitthroughthisprocess.ToVanessaHoldenforinitiallycapturingmyvisionsoclearly.ToSophieDonelsonforhersolidresearchandforhelpingmetransfermywordsandideastopaper.ToPamelaCannonandRandomHousefortakingachanceonmeandforallowingmetopursuemyvision.ToAnnieSchlechterforherkeeneyeanduncannyabilitytospotamustache.ToDylanChandler,forhisdigitalprowessandfantasticorganizationalskills.ToMarkHartmanforcomingoutofretirementandforbeingmyheavylifter.ToGiorgioBaravalleforgivingFlip!afreshface.ToConnieNewberry(andTom)forgraciouslyopeningyourdoorstomewhenIwasinneedofthecolorred(andwheneverIaminneedofabigkitchen)!ToVickiLoveSalnikoffforalwayshelpingmefindtheartIloveandwanttokeep.ToMilesReddandRobertLindgrenfortheirdecoratingexpertise.ToMarianMcEvoyforshowingmethattolovewhatyoudoisthebestwaytosucceedinacareer.ToeveryoneattheTodayshow,formakingmeapartofyourfamily.ToTobyYoung,AnitaCalero,andmyotherfellowVirgos—onlyyoureallyeverunderstand.ToMaryElizabethLawrenceandAmandaPottersforyoursoundadviceandfriendship.TotheladiesofD.V.—thankyoufornotcomplainingwhenIansweredaworkcallorsentane-mailfromthechairlift!

abouttheauthor

ElizabethMayhewisthelifestyleexpertforNBC’sTodayshowandisspecialprojectseditorforHouseBeautifulmagazine.PreviouslyshewaseditorialdevelopmentdirectoratRealSimplemagazine.AnativeofLouisville,Kentucky,shenowlivesinNewYorkCitywithherhusbandandtwochildren.

PHOTO:ANNESCHLECHTER