Nonfunctional Family Room

Lee Snijders meets with the Mahlers to discuss the issues at hand, which include the furniture arrangement, lack of adequate lighting and mishmash of framed photos on the one long wall. Snijders then meets with Summer Baltzer and Charles Burbridge to come up with a clear design plan and they decide on an inviting French country style for the space. To transform the room, they'll rearrange the furniture, paint the walls a warm color, bring in additional lighting, create child-size furniture for the two children and organize the many framed photos for a more coordinated wall display. The homeowners' Mission-style entertainment center and wood blinds are a plus and will be worked into the design.

Here's how the team creates a casual French country design in the multifunctional space:

• The walls are painted a deep red, then enhanced with a wheat glaze rubbed on for a French country-style faux finish.

• The furniture is rearranged to maximize the large room. The sofa is brought out into the center of the space facing the entertainment center on one wall.