Host Susan Blake discusses the design elements in an expensively designed arts -and-crafts style living room The keys to this look, designed by Robert Noble, are natural materials, simple lines and wood furnishings. The focal point of the room is the sofa, an exquisite piece constructed from fine grain oak.
Transforming the Makeover Room
Below are steps that designer Stuart Piontek used to turn a plain room into a living room with plenty of arts-and-crafts style:
- Painted the walls a soft fern green tone.
- Added a pine screen, with tulip designs created with stencils and acrylic paints.
- Added new tapestry pillows to the existing tan chenille tuxedo-style sofa.
- Created three pieces of framed artwork using pieces of wallpaper border.
- On the floor, placed a rich, jewel-toned rug with floral detail; on the rug, placed a reproduction Mission-style coffee table. Added accessories to the tabletop, including a plant in an antiqued copper planter.
- Placed a reproduction Mission-style table at the side of the sofa, with a Craftsman- style lamp on the tabletop.
- On the other side of the sofa, added a Craftsman-style floor lamp and a double- tiered table stained in a red mahogany tone.
- Added a walnut-finish armchair, with black leather and nail-head trim; on the other side of the room added a Mission-style chair with an oak finish and dark green leather cushion.
- In front of the coffee table, added a simple rush-seat chair found at an estate sale.
The Bottom Line
To see where the savings are, take a look at this direct cost comparison of some Inspiration Room items and the creatively comparable ones used in the Makeover Room :
Original German lithographs, $1,200 / Homemade artwork, $80
Coffee table area, $2,500 / Coffee table area, $200
Table lamp, $1,600 / Table lamp, $100
Cherry wood side table, $1,000 / Stained side table, $120
Morris chair with green leather cushions, $2,700 / Oak-finish Mission-style chair, $325
$500 Challenge
If you have only $500 to spend, concentrate on simple lines and rich wood grains to create an arts-and-crafts look in your home. In this room, the Morris chair, the Mission-style side table and the table lamp in particular help produce the desired effect.
table and floor lamp with mica shade (Lamps Plus)
sofa pillows (Home Depot Expo Design Center)
black frames (IKEA)
square metal pot with copper finish (Z Gallerie)
brass-like pot (Ross)
mission-style chair (Costco)
floral rug (The Home Depot)
paint (Benjamin Moore: #214440 - Soft Fern)
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