AN ARTFUL ARRANGEMENT

The Challenge:

1.) A generous combined living/dining room with too much furniture for dining and no space for living, plus 2.) A grand piano, and 3.) An off-centre window.

The Vision:

We saw the space functioning like an elegant restaurant with a piano lounge, where guests would be seated for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before moving on to dinner. The ambience would result from the interplay between traditional, contemporary, and exotic elements. A spicy colour palette of pumpkin, pomegranate, and apple green -- inspired by a patchwork silk cloth owned by the clients -- would pull it all together.

The Process:

The main starting point was the furniture placement. Once we decided how to position the piano, everything else fell into place.

Situated between the dining and seating areas, the piano is now the central axis of the room. Its bench can become part of the seating area, while its closed lid can be used as a bar or buffet table.

In the dining area, a superfluous curio cabinet was removed and the remaining pieces rearranged.

The grand server paired with a mirror with a Moroccan flavour now makes a bold statement as one looks into the room. A modern area rug under the dining table injects a note of fun to the previously stodgy space.

New small-scale furnishings for the sitting area were selected for their visual appeal. A settee with an assortment of colourful pillows rather than a sofa; a pair of custom multi-hued footstools, standing in for a coffee table; traditional chairs teamed with a modern painting and an exotic tortoise shell table -- all are a series of vignettes designed to be appreciated individually yet viewed as part of an inviting composition. At the windows, rich silk fabric contrasting with casual woven wood shades makes for simple yet fabulous treatments. But the off-kilter window on the dining side spoiled the harmony of the room, so we visually corrected the architectural problem through strategic placement of the drapery panels. They are not just hanging on either side of the window: rather, most of the right panel covers the glass, while the left one covers the wall, leaving equal amounts of wall space on either side. Voila! The window is now centered, reflecting the carefully constructed symmetry of the drapery, the bench, and the flanking lamp tables on the opposite end of the room.

This careful attention to sightlines extended to the generous hallway outside the main space…

Here, an existing funky green handcrafted bench was recovered in a combination of fabrics whose colours and pattern play off the living area's elements. Even a new ceiling fixture was selected for the way it worked with our concept.

The Result:

This room is now perfect for entertaining. Imbued with warmth and replete with unique touches, it invites you to enter. It is a true expression of the clients' personality, style, and willingness to try anything.