Asian Gallery Living Room

The Dilemma

Renee's collectibles represent her travels and she wanted to have them on display, but she hadn't yet put them together in a way that defined her style. She also needed window treatments to maximize the natural light in the space while maintaining privacy. Aside from a retro sofa she loves, Renee wanted versatile seating so she can move around when she entertains as well as a mobile solution to organizing her audio and video components.

Figure A

First, the team gives the space a coat of dusty-red paint to complement Renee's existing celadon-colored vintage sofa.

Spencer builds a two-piece, mobile-cocktail table. Since the piece comes together like a puzzle, he does a mock-assembly first to make sure all the pieces work together. He gives the pieces a coat of white paint and applies a highly-durable, waterproof sealer that is used on bar tops to make the piece party-friendly.

Figure B

Kristan creates a floor lamp using paper and lightweight balsa wood from an art-supply store. She chooses a paper that is thick enough to hold its shape but still lets light pass through. She attaches a length of balsa wood to the edge of the paper, wrapping it around and attaching it to a precut wooden disc that will serve as the lamp's base. Balsa-wood spacers are placed in the top and middle of the piece to help maintain its cylindrical shape.

Figure C

Dave creates a storage unit for the audio and video components. He gives the pieces recessed wheels so they can be moved about the room when needed. He builds another unit, also on casters, that can be used either as a table or a bench for extra seating. Kristan gives the room added sparkle by attaching mirrors to the sides with 90-second epoxy.

Figure D

The windows are dressed with Asian-inspired shades that slide on a track. The team creates a gallery wall above the sofa using Renee's art collection and repurposes a vintage red chair from another part of the house to fill out the space. Renee's retro pottery and lamps plus new, red pillows for the celadon-colored sofa tie the whole look together.

The Cost

Paint - $21

• Behr's Mineral Red, $21 per gallon

Wall unit - $235

Mobile coffee table - $130

Ottomans - $86

• Cost Plus World Market - $39.99 each

Mirrored table/bench - $94

Window treatments - $115

• Ikea - Kvadrant, 80079363, $14.99 each track and panel

Floor lamp - $70

• The Art Store - project materials

Lampshade - $11

Rug - $86

• Target - 066041960, $79.99

Pillows - $28

Accessories - $75

Hardware and incidentals - $44

Total - $995