In the past few years, the trendiest interiors tended to resemble charming cottages or old palaces filled with shabby sofas, distressed tables, overwrought iron lamps, embroidered velvet pillows and faded tapestry drapes.

But at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, which ended last week, a clean sweep turned hip home decor into uncluttered, fresh and ultra-modern rooms.

No more dark, heavy somber gothic woods. Paler, lighter woods with lots of clean surfaces are showing up. Accent colors are strong and bright instead of deep and rich. Forest green, royal purple and classic maroon are gone, although a paler eco-conscious green is still growing strong.

“In general, everything is very modern and clean but very playful,” says Susan S. Szenasy, home decor editor at Metropolitan Home. Look for fewer gold, bronze and antiqued finishes. Silver metals are big but brushed and dulled, a change from the ’80s shiny brights and a move away from the early ’90s rusty gothic finishes.

“We’re getting away from the junkyard look,” says Szenasy. “Everything is more elegant, toned down, including metals, which are less punk and more bourgeoisie.”

Furniture shapes are stronger, and stranger, than ever: “It’s a mix of man-made with well-crafted manufacturing techniques, much like the Italians have done for years,” explains Szenasy.

If you already have modern furniture, think lighter, paler rugs. Try grasscloth mats over plain wood floors. Cover your plant pots with burlap bags for texture.

Lamps are a good, inexpensive way to update. At the show, paper, screen, shiny silk, cardboard and mesh shades were squished and twisted into odd-shaped functional sculpture. Most colorful: red, green, purple, yellow, red stretch cloth lamps from Abode ($100-$210).

For those who like the cutting edge:

– Strange silver cutlery that resembles bones ($90 for a five-piece setting), vertebrae candleholder ($90), steel skeleton chair ($390), all by Michael Aram, the fellow who brought us the iron and bronze twig candleholders, cutlery and sun, moon, star drawer pulls and hooks a few years back.

– Anthropomorphic (think skeletal) aluminum chairs ($2,000) and tables ($5,000) by Architecture + Furniture, New York. Prices go down with large orders. Partner John Petrarca says some of his inspiration was Barcelona legend Gaudi’s work: “It’s turning the human back into architecture.”

Right now, the only place you can sit on these chairs is if you’re lucky enough (or important enough) to be invited to the Manhattan pied-a-terre of Kit and Geraldine Laybourne (she’s president of Nickelodeon).

Most fun furniture: The beanbag for the ’90s, Francoise Sejourne’s Lazy Bean in eight-ball, smiley-face or fruit shapes.

The original beanbags had Styrofoam insides and hot, sticky vinyl exteriors. Lazy Beans are washable cotton denim with recycled polystyrene pellets that don’t hurt the Earth. And there’s even more politically correct panache: Lazy Beans ($150-$300) are made by Goodwill Industries, which employs the homeless and disabled.

Curry and Loper’s two-bedroom apartment is a model of low-cost decor finds from anywhere and everywhere. No junky odds-and-sods interior, the look is simple, eclectic, rich in texture and old-wood sheen. In short, the flat oozes good taste, and it looks expensive.

Loper says you’ve got to be able to accept the joys and pitfalls of your surroundings.

”I guess that’s the bottom line. If you’re willing to settle for something that may be missing a nail and pay a hundred dollars less for it, and if you’re willing to listen to a leaky tap every once in a while, then it all fits together.”

Curry, 22, and Loper, 30, are fine-living bargain hunters of the first order. They paint, sew, scour thrift shops and antique stores, buy on lay-away and occasionally peel eyes to the curbside for abandoned objects d’art.

And they do all this without a credit card.

Their 1926 flat is a perfect showcase for old treasures. The interior feels like a house. Seven rooms including a dining room are large and private. Walls are off-white, trim is white. Floors are hardwood.

Dreaming up new uses for decor items is a Curry-and-Loper strong suit. A medicine cabinet holds kitchen spices. Tablecloths hang as curtains. An old basket stores towels and a crock pot performs as a bathroom waste container.

Trust your instincts, says Curry. And if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, that’s sort of a blessing in disguise, adds Loper. If your design plans don’t work out, you won’t have spent a lot of money.

How does Curry buy? She says she falls in love first and considers price second. Her advice to others: ”Do you like it? Can you use it? How much is it? . . . And the other thing too is that if you ever see something and it’s a really good deal, buy it.”

Curry and Loper say it’s a good idea to know what furniture and other household items should cost. That way if you feel you can’t live without something and the price is right — you can buy with confidence and own a treasure.

Another tip? Get to know a few shopkeepers. If they know what you’re looking for and how much money you can spend, they’ll keep an eye out for items that might suit you, says Curry. And if you buy items in the rough, before shopkeepers fix them up, you can pay even less.

Lay-away plans can help make even moderately-priced items affordable. Curry says sometimes it’s taken her months to pay off something that only cost a couple hundred dollars.

Of course, Curry and Loper rely on as many different low-cost avenues as possible.

When they redid their bare foyer, they came up with a spectacular statement at next to no cost.

Loper covered the wall with some 20-year-old brown wrapping paper that she found in a workplace basement. Then she hung a large painting in pastels and wrapped it in Christmas lights. The festive wall art is not only inexpensive, it doubles as a Christmas tree.

Curry and Loper found the art by accident. One day Curry spotted ”this thing” curbside in a garbage pile on Dalhousie Street. Curry hid it, the garbagemen missed it and the foyer got a facelift.

”I guess it may have come from one of the galleries. We still don’t know who did it,” says Curry.

The brown wrapper doubles as a matte for low-cost picture frames that Curry and Loper find in antique stores. The roommates frame their own cards or pictures at home.

A pair of 1950s-style curtains in vivid maroon and green work as wall art too. One curtain hides a clothes closet in the hallway, the other covers a bedroom window. Loper paid $35 for the two in an antique clothing shop.

Curry makes her own candles. She pays next to nothing for broken candles from work, and she melts them down.

In Curry’s bedroom, a colorful stack of hat boxes add a romantic touch and store such things as hats, scarves and toiletries. They’re ”dirt cheap,” she says. Each one cost under $5.

Enter the Curry/Loper living room and you’ll find a grouping of 100-year-old English fine furniture. The bill for a loveseat, two chairs and a foot stool was about $350. The Queen Anne-style pieces with a tapestry covering and ivory inlay weren’t perfect. Loper and Curry did some re-upholstering and re-gluing. Fast thinking was key to the purchase.

Both women walked by the set in a furniture store window and made a snap decision to purchase. We looked at each other and asked, ”who’s going to buy it? You or me?” From a phone booth at the next corner, Curry called the store owner and asked him to hold all the pieces.

Cut flowers add an extra touch and Curry and Loper don’t do without. When lilacs are in bloom, you might find the two searching the ground in nearby Macdonald Park. Fallen branches propped in vases can make or break an interior.

Take those bedside tables, symmetrically positioned on either side of the bed. Or the matching lamps, or the pair of end tables on each side of the sofa. Separate them, says Hawkins. Move them to opposite ends of the house. “The moment you produce an identical item the first loses its value; it is no longer unique,” she says.

An interior designer who received her training in New York and San Francisco, Hawkins will give three design workshops in April for the University of B.C. Centre for Continuing Education.

A two-day kitchen planning workshop will be followed by a week-long interior design practicum that will include visits to homes for case studies. A month-long intensive program for homeowners and apartment dwellers will start at the end of April.

The secret of successful interior design is to start with an overall plan and follow with a series of steps taken slowly, Hawkins says. Too often, people make the mistake of rushing into things.

“The planning stage is the most difficult; people want to leap into the physical part,” she says. “But it’s important to plan on paper then go out and start looking at materials and finishes.”

Hawkins starts by asking her students to come up with three words to describe the home they want.

It may be expensive or luxurious, unique, dramatic or understated.

With three descriptive words they have identified their goal and are on the way to achieving a home that reflects their philosophy, says Hawkins.

But don’t expect it to happen overnight. It takes a notoriously long time to find things in Vancouver and what you’ll see in furniture showrooms and department stores is only the tip of the iceberg, Hawkins says.

“I say it takes one year to do a room.”

In her workshops, Hawkins looks at some of the common mistakes made in homes because, she says, “You must identify the problem before you find the solution.”

Perhaps it lacks a color scheme. “People are intimidated by color but color will do more for you than almost anything else. You cannot choose anything for your home without making a color decision, so it is an incredibly important tool.”

But color also may be the most elusive element to grasp, so Hawkins limits her students to just three colors for their home, although they may use tints and shades of those three colors.

“It forces them into a color scheme,” she says. “For instance, they may choose mellow grey and for something dramatic and exciting they could go for burgundy and black although grey and black are essentially one color. Or they may want something soft and quiet and so could go with grey and rose and soft blue.”

Few people have the luxury of furnishing from scratch, but it’s quite possible to change the look of a room, or a whole house, she says.

“It’s almost always a question of eliminating the things that follow people home. These end up in their house like a stray cat and once they are there they are almost never removed.”

She believes that apart from functioning items such as the bed or sofa, furniture should be flexible. That means avoiding the matching bedroom suite, for example. “Bedroom furniture is never going to be used anywhere else,” she says. “It reeks of saying ‘I can only be in a bedroom.’ Why do we need a piece of furniture to put our socks in? Instead, put them in a basket in a closet organizer.

“We should be able to move furniture from room to room. That is why I think dining room suites are not needed. We need a dining room table but there is no reason why the chairs need to match the table.

“Your chrome and glass table could take traditional English chairs, as long as the height is compatible. And that dining room chair should be able to move out as auxiliary seating in the living room and be comfortable and not look as though it has been borrowed from the dining room.”

Too often, people overlook the importance of flexibility and end up so locked in their only choice is to replace furnishings. “But I don’t believe you should replace anything. You rotate,” Hawkins says.

A tea chest, for example, could be used as a bedside table, or a coffee table in the den, or placed in the hallway to store winter boots in the summertime.

“By and large, as a designer I would spend infinitely less money than most consumers because mostly they buy too much.” Walls don’t have to be wallpapered, she says, windows don’t necessarily have to be covered.

We could benefit by shedding our traditional approaches to the way we use our rooms, she says. Why not make the bedroom do double duty? Include a desk, chair and filing cabinet and it also will serve as a home office, if one is needed. Why not have a multi-purpose dining room which could be used as a sewing room and still function as a dining room?

Hawkins believes accessories should earn their keep. Lamps fail this test, she says, because they do nothing else. They are placed for someone sitting in a chair and reading the paper or doing embroidery; when you remove that person the light levels are wrong, Hawkins says.

Rooms need general illumination, which would include task lights for reading or close work, and mood lighting. Flexible track lights are ideal mood lighting, but flashlights, candles and little high intensity lights also can be used effectively for mood lighting.

This doesn’t mean flooding the room with light. It may be a fluorescent tube under the sofa or under the bed, spilling light over the floor. “We are not talking chandeliers and swag lamps,” she says.

Hawkins has one important piece of advice for anyone furnishing a home: work on just one room at a time, she says. That way you have a better chance of keeping your sanity.

If the olive green or deep gold carpet is still hanging around the living room, or if the cutesy country look continues to monopolize the kitchen, it’s time for interior updating.

Interior decor should relect the personality of the homeowner and be adjusted to suit the family’s lifestyle, according to Paul S. Wellensiek, a local interior designer who has an office at Harry Slosky Furniture Galleries. He also is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Updating the basics – walls, floors, wiring and plumbing – will keep the house well maintained and makes it a better value when it’s time to sell, he said.

For a minimal investment the homeowner can add quality to existing features. Wellensiek suggests neutral paints on walls, with perhaps a more adventurous look in carpeting. Raspberry, silver and blue shades on floors can blend with many styles of furniture and accessories.

“Even though people are holding on to their homes today, they’re still thinking ahead,” he said. “You have to be creative – think about how to re-do the house so that it will appeal to a prospective purchaser, too.”

Big colorful borders on walls offer a change of pace on a budget, said Mary Lou Porak, owner of downtown’s Mary Lou Porak Interiors.

“Borders started out small but are now going big,” she said. “You can put a border below a wood trim, around windows, on soffits in kitchens or bathrooms or use as a wainscot.”

If a more dramatic change is desired, consider extending interior walls to open up space, Wellensiek said. Three small upstairs bedrooms easily transform into two larger rooms for a family setting or two master bedrooms.

“It’s not terribly expensive to move interior walls,” he said. “You’re still working within the framework of the existing structure. A good drywaller can rip out what’s there and reuse some of the materials to make new partitions.”

To make rooms flow together, try opening up the kitchen and dining room. New operational skylights that open and close instead of being fixed also give an airy feeling and let a little of the outdoors inside.

Once the basics are taken care of, take a look at furniture and accessories.

“I encourage clients to open their cabinets and find treasures they already have,” said Porak. “You can give yourself a new look by rehanging pictures, moving furniture and beautifying with accessories.”

Don’t be afraid of the ecclectic look, she said, particularly if you’ve just combined two households into one.

“His things and her things can be successfully blended into their things,” she said. “You’ve got to have a sense of humor and keep a perspective on balance. Choose one important piece – a cabinet or artwork – and build from that.”

And all rooms do not have to match, she said. A bedroom can be Victorian and the living room contemporary as an outlet for variation.

Start with quality furniture that will last, Wellensiek said. A good couch can be reupholstered for a lifetime.

New silk-blend fabrics in bolder jewel tones of ruby, sapphire and emerald are eye-catching and offer a nice contract to neutral backgrounds.

“Fabrics are the most gorgeous we’ve ever seen,” said Porak. “They’re brighter and better looking.”

Wicker and rattan furniture in dark natural colors instead of white is making a comeback, she said.

“I’m seeing dark rattan with beads of burgundy, green or teal. Older and newer pieces in dark shades are being grabbed up.”

For rooms with a vision, try a new lighting scheme. “Go through and put all new lightbulbs in and increase the wattage for cheerfulness,” Porak said. Timed floor spots behind plants create shadows on ceilings and add a dimension of interest. Dimmer switches help control ambiance.

Other developments in furniture include acrylic for the contemporary lover, clean whitewash furniture from California, camelback Chippendale sofas and leather for family rooms.

Kitchens are becoming lighter with whitewash cabinets, brassy hardware and modern counter tops.

Whitewashing or pickling is a three to five step process for cabinets or other surfaces. Once bleached with a faux finish, the surface resembles marble. Several shades are available.

Counter tops made of Corian, a non-porous product manufactured by several companies including DuPont, are wonderful because they won’t scratch or burn, Wellensiek said. The surface also resembles marble but is not cold to the touch. It can be used in kitchens and bathrooms.

Cutsey country is over, Porak said. It is being replaced by French country, complete with white linens and lace, cabbage roses and dolls. This modified country look is more elegant.

Dinosaurs continue to roam around children’s rooms. Primary reds, greens, blues and yellows, along with softer shades of mauve and powder blue are being used for walls.

The media center concept is gaining popularity for family rooms. Until recently, the market was void of interesting designs, but now a host of ideas are available for combining stereos, television sets, video cassette recorders and other entertainment gadgets.

]]> http://roweandesign.com/interior-decor-grasps-owners-personality/feed/ 0 http://roweandesign.com/tracking-down-the-dream-team-with-style-and-decor/ http://roweandesign.com/tracking-down-the-dream-team-with-style-and-decor/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:35:59 +0000 admin http://roweandesign.com/?p=1353

WITH more than 20,000 interior designers currently practicing in the UK, it would seem that finding one would be a cinch. But the reality is that anyone can set themselves up as a decorator and consequently, finding someone to recreate that dream space is as daunting as matching curtains to bedspreads.

Anthony Feldman, a trained architect and designer as well as head of the Interior Design department at the American College in London, says that people using interior designers fall into two categories: those that don’t have the time to do it themselves and can’t cope with the detailing, and those who are too insecure in their tastes and need someone else to give them a look and style their lives.

The Interior Design and Decorators Association (IDDA) says that to make sure that a designer is bona fide, clients are advised to find one through a professional body. It will supply the public with a list of suitable members working in their chosen area. Designers who are hired on a consultancy basis usually charge between pounds 30 and pounds 80 per hour, depending on their reputation and level of expertise. To hustle for work, some firms will give free consultations, even throwing in a few concept drawings.

Consultants will then put forward a proposal, working within whatever budget the client stipulates. If they are asked to supply furnishings and fabrics, they will usually take a mark-up or charge a percentage fee. It is important to agree a fee in advance as some designers get carried away with being creative and that extra lamp “which will make the room” could also break the bank.

As well as helping clients express their ideas, good designers and decorators will consider details such as positioning of radiators and use of lighting. Professionals will also supply visuals, samples of fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, trimmings, bathroom and kitchen fittings as well as lighting and furniture. However, clients who don’t want to be completely left out of the transformation process should make it clear that they want to participate in the purchase of accessories and antiques.

Style-junkies don’t have to dish out a fortune to get the look they want either. All major department stores, such as Laura Ashley and John Lewis, offer interior design services. Those looking for a more individual look will find it through a new breed of young, affordable designers eager to demonstrate their flair. In order to make a name for themselves and massage their own egos, they will take reduced fees.

To spot the up-and-coming talent, it’s really worth scouring all the art and interior design schools’ final degree shows, which take place during the summer, and which show the works of the final-year students. Furniture designing whiz-kid, Jasper Morrison, was discovered this way, as were countless other names.

Whether you stack boards upon crates to construct a makeshift bookshelf or go all out for an elaborate setup that would make Martha Stewart envious, bookshelves are attractive ways to organize. Books, photographs, plants or any decorative object of your choosing can find a home on a bookshelf. Be- because bookshelves are so versatile, they can be incorporated into al- most any room of the house. Bed- rooms, kitchens, the den, living room and even small corners that have al- ways been a challenge welcome the addition of bookshelves. And bookshelves complement al- most any type of decor, in a grand home or the most modest of apartments. The shelving you choose depends on the size of your space.

The apartment dweller might select a scaled- down unit. Be creative: A compact bookcase in the kitchen stores recipe books and toys neatly. Using bookshelves maximizes the small areas of an apartment and provides storage for odds and ends. The more spacious home handles a floor- to- ceiling bookshelf well, and the large capacity allows for more than just books. After deciding what you want, now you have to find it! Some “assembly required” book- shelf kits can be found in any discount department store. If you don’t mind sifting through instructions and looking for slots A and B, these kits are an economical choice.

You can also find them ready-made in a variety of styles, colors and sizes. Do-it-yourselfers may want to go to a more involved route of the homemade bookshelf. Hobby shops and hardware stores can be sought out for plans and good advice. With good woodworking skills, you can even craft shelving from scraps. Breaking out the hammer and nails sound like too much? Many people choose to have their bookshelves custom-built. When choosing a builder, you might want to consider the cost, because you are paying for labor in addition to hardware.

The advantages may, however, outweigh the cost. Marcus Hinrichs, from Hinrichs Fine Woods on U.S. 77 about 10 minutes south of Lincoln, specializes in custom-built furniture. He offers in- home assessments of a client’s decor, room size and desired functions. This way, he said, he knows what he has to work with and how the customer will benefit. The wide selection of hardware and finishes are advantages to having a bookshelf custom-built. “Custom stain matching is critical when trying to match existing furniture,” Hinrichs said.

Another alternative is to have a bookshelf built into the wall. This is a big space saver and can add an interesting look to a room. If building or remodeling a home, talk with the architect or designer and include plans for a built-in unit. The only disadvantage: It’s not easy to change a built-in bookcase. Whether you own hundreds of books or just a few that you proudly display, a bookshelf shows them off nicely. Experiment with sizes and styles. You might be surprised how many ways bookshelves contribute to the appearance of a home.

JOTUL has been producing both freestanding and built-in wood fires since 1853. Dave and Jenny Pullen of European Woodstoves says Jotul wood fires have an elegant antique appearance which makes them blend in with either modern or traditional home decors.

The Jotul is made in cast iron with cast iron baffles and the exterior finish can either be a matt black or a variety of enamel colors.

The freestanding stoves are available in three sizes ranging from the 602 Box Stove, ideal for pot belly replacements or smaller homes; the No.3, which is suitable for the average size home; and the No.8, which is more than adequate to heat a 160 square meter home.

All models have an option of either a top or back outlet flue, they can have wetbacks fitted and have a cooking top surface.

With their five year warranty and overnight burn time they are an ideal home heating option.

Built-in models are available giving the option of an open fire or modern slow-combustion wood fire, and homeowners can design their own surround to enhance the home.

Mr Pullen says the company has just received this year’s No.3 Jotul which is available in LPG and natural gas.

“Presently this is the only wood stove on the market duplicated in gas. Available in five colors, it will heat an area of approximately 60 square meters.”

The Pullens have also received the elegant Jotul gas insert for fire places or new homes. This has the traditional cast iron features of Jotul and will heat an area of approximately 90-100 square meters.”

The Pullens say a Jotul heater provides style, elegance and efficiency.

It takes two Amtico (makers of posh vinyl) and Du Pont (makers of Corian, as found on posh worktops) have come together to create a collection of very posh floor tiles.

All matt finish and urban tones, this is seriously smart kit. It’s just a shame that it sounds like a range of air freshener. Harmony floor tiles, pounds 51.06/m2.

Check, please

Gingham vinyl? True, it does sound pretty dodgy – especially if you’re still committed to monochrome modernity, in which case you’ll hate it. But if all that muted good taste is beginning to get you down, then a bit of jolly flooring may be just what you need. Mardi Gras vinyl flooring, pounds 9.99/m2, from Barkers.

Bright up your street

It may be autumn – the season for brown and cream – but why stick to tradition? Paint your walls one of these zingy shades instead. Designer’s Guild paint, pounds 16.99/21/2 liter tin of matt emulsion.

No wall flower

Strict followers of fashion, on the other hand, should seek out Emily Todhunter’s new wallpaper range. Twelve well-behaved prints in those ever-so-chic, ever-so-now chocolaty tones – top style marks guaranteed. Liberation wallpaper, pounds 38 per roll, from Paper Library.

Tile style

Okay, so we’re meant to have ditched tiles in favor of zinc sheeting and concrete, but let’s be honest: most of us still prefer our kitchen walls to be decked out in ceramics. And Stonell’s range of pretty tiles won’t have the style police sniggering behind your back. Reliefs, pounds 11- pounds 70, Reflections, pounds 13.75, from The St Ives Collection.

When it comes to the best-dressed rooms this winter, it’s simply a case of Annie Hall comes home. Not since the famed Woody Allen movie, in which Diane Keaton took menswear and added a feminine twist, have we seen such an invasion of decidedly masculine style. This time around, though, it’s in appearance for the home.

With the huge popularity of the color gray in the fashion world, it’s only natural it has literally followed suit in the world of home design.

Gray, a classic staple of men’s attire, can now be seen in everything from carpets and couches to prints and pillows.

And of course, like a suit, a gray room does not work without proper accessories. Along with those traditional fabrics and colors from haberdashers’ influences come twists like tweed, checks and other masculine textures.

Just look at the hounds tooth-print wing chairs that are becoming a staple of the decorating season for traditionalists. Cozy, gray pajama-like flannelette sheets are being popularized for the contemporary-looking bedroom. Even fabrics like Polar Fleece, adored by outdoor enthusiasts, have crept into the home everywhere from on the bed to tabletop linens.

Like the slick black shoes that provide the finishing touch for a well-suited man, in the home, lacquered black accents accentuate the soft gray palettes of the season.

While trendy, gray is also a classic color, cool and comforting, meaning that if your walls are awash with this shade, it’s one you’re less likely to tire of than other color fads that can quickly run their course?

Gray walls are also perfect for showcasing the recent surge of prints featuring hats, ties and other masculine accessories. Black and white photos have never looked as good as on these gray walls.

Gray is also the ideal backdrop for the strong and crisp accents that are popping up everywhere in polished glass, chrome, hammered tin and brushed aluminum, whether it be a cocktail jigger or a bathroom set.

And since silver is replacing gold as the hot metallic, it makes sense that gray has emerged as the perfect accompaniment. It seems to be everywhere – coming from the glow of a gunmetal gray charger plate on a tabletop, silver candlesticks or sleek new picture frames. A chrome dinette set makes for a perfect retro look, while the ornate pewter frame of a mirror above the mantle adds a classic touch. A splash of a silky, gray toss pillow brings polish to a room, while a steamer trunk acting as a coffee table throws in a dash of personality and history.

The growth of gray is also being reflected in the rising popularity of industrial-looking appliances in the kitchen. Brushed- aluminum stoves and fridges, inspired by commercial kitchens, are now widely popular for the home.

But if you’re looking for a few easier ways to add a touch of this strong look to any room, here are some suggestions to try:

- Masculine leather club chairs in blacks and grays.

- Contemporary, simple, black picture frames.

- Iron accents, like wall sconces and candleholders for eclectic interest.

- A small mix of animal-print accents like a pillow or two or an area carpet.

- A black lampshade.

- A retro black phone.

- Potted orchids.

- A sultry black velvet chaise.

- A few pieces of woven accents, like a wicker basket, a rattan chair or Sisal carpet, add just the right touch of softness to temper the coolness of gray and steel.

But remember, in this strong world of decorating, accents can’t be wimpy. Sturdy white pillar candles, an industrial-looking clock or a globe all are good additions to this sturdy and clean style in a room.

Furniture stores aren’t generally considered a barrel of laughs, but a new decorating aid has turned one Vancouver outlet into a fun place to shop. The jester in the crowd is Roomsites, the new computer game at Thomson and Page Ltd. on Granville Street. It’s a color computer with an interior design memory that produces a room full of furniture and accessory combinations on a 21-inch screen.

Roomsites is going to revolutionize the furniture business, according to Dena Eran, design marketing manager at Thomson and Page. As well, we’re having a lot of fun with it.

She says most people can’t visualize what a new piece of upholstered furniture will look like in a room. Or, they may love the pattern of a fabric, but hate the color. Roomsites shows how a particular fabric and color on any style of furniture will work in a room. The computer upholsters furniture on the screen for you.

And if you don’t like what you see, computer magic will make changes in the fabrics and then provide a picture of the best coordinating colors and patterns for walls, floors and accessories in the room. You can actually see in living color how a completely furnished living room will look.

It is estimated that a consumer makes four to six visits to a shop to buy just one sofa. Roomsites and its computerized furnishings will save the customer time and energy, says Eran.

The computer holds the store’s collection of Drexel heritage furniture, fabrics and accessories. Once the customer has decided on a style of sofa, he or she chooses swatches of the upholstery fabrics, which are coded in the same way that foodstuffs are in a supermarket.

The code number of the fabric sample is entered in the computer and instead of being viewed as a small swatch of material; it shows up as the all-over pattern on a sofa. The furniture can be viewed at a distance in a room setting or close up.

You can see exactly what your sofa is going to look like. Sometimes, pattern mistakes are also cleared up. For example, we discovered through the computer that a ribbon pattern we thought was vertical was actually diagonal.

There are more than 2,000 fabrics, 900 sofa and chairs and 1,000 tables and cabinets – everything Drexel has to offer – in the computer. You can place furniture in the dimensions of a room and start moving it around. You add carpeting, a fireplace, pillows, lamps and keep adding or changing colors even in walls and lampshades.

When the room and its furnishings are all in place, the computer produces a color printout that looks like a good colored photo from a home’s magazine. It will also note the measurements of each piece, how much material will be required, and the content, cleaning code and Scotch garding of the fabric.

Roomsites has been a bonding agent for shopping couples. Often when a couple comes into the store and the man would rather be someplace else, he’ll go find a football game on one of our TVs. Now, the men want to know how the computer works and they get into the action of buying furniture, says Eran.