Designer Genevieve Snyder turns a dated living room into an elegant and timeless space using ideas learned from Tony Chi. It's a beautiful room in a lovely home but the homeowner, Susan Taylor, thinks it's starting to look old and would like a different feeling. Snyder knows just how to update this room--get rid of the peach color on the walls, change the furniture and deal with a sliding glass door with vertical blinds that leads to a sunroom.- First, the room is emptied. Since the peachy white on the walls is making the beautiful hardwood floors look orange, the walls are toned down with light beige and the ceiling is painted white.
- Snyder recreates the look of the beautiful mirror with an inlaid pattern at Bruno's using a plain mirror, contact paper and etching cream. Once the paper is in place with no air bubbles, she draws the desired design, and then carefully cuts it out with a stencil burner. Once the parts that will be frosted are removed to expose the mirror, she applies the etching cream according to the directions and peels away the remaining paper to expose the etched design.
- To add contrast to the freshly-painted room, Snyder covers a large wooden frame with chocolate brown velvet to build a dark upholstered wall like Chi did in Bruno's. A smaller version goes over the fireplace.
- Asian-inspired screens replace the vertical blinds that used to hide the sliding glass door. Pine frames are stained dark brown, and then muslin is sandwiched between two for each panel. To pull the contrasting elements together, wooden bookcases are put on both sides of the screen, which now covers the unattractive sliding glass door. The shelves are then filled with modern decorative vases and the finished product gives the illusion of built-in shelves.
- For more contrast, an off-white rug is topped with a dark red runner.
- A large modern sectional with light wool upholstery is placed against the brown velvet wall. A walnut coffee table and off-white chairs with modern lines complete the seating area.
To pull the room together Chi style, a traditional Japanese-style bench adds Asian flare.- The beautiful bay window area is turned into a romantic and cozy nook with a metal candelabra. Small openings are cut in the piece, and then stemware is slid into place. By placing a small table with two chairs beneath the fixture, Snyder creates the perfect spot for conversation.
- She covers the windows with sheers and dresses up the edges with beautiful decorative drapes and the shiny brown taffeta with a copper sheen is a shock of color that the room needed. The treatment is hung just below the ceiling to create the illusion of height.
- Accessories from around the world create a look that won't go out of style. Tall cylindrical lights with rice paper shades, African masks, twisted willow branches, plush pillows, plants and a simple bowl of apples transform and update the living room into a space that's timeless, elegant and beautiful.
ceiling paint (Bright White), wall paint (Clay Beige #8721W) (Duron)
small table, round end table (Ethan Allen)
folding screens (Home Depot)
book shelves, back lighting, unframed mirrors, chandelier, pottery, vases and glassware, 8x10 sisal rug (IKEA)
drapes (Ligne-Roset)
red runner, wine glasses, framed mirror (Pottery Barn)
dining chairs, coffee table, standing lamp, mercury glass vases, decorative bowl (Storehouse, Inc.)
Cosmo sofa, Mrs. O chair, Victoria arm chairs, Shinto bench, fireplace screen (Usona)
Chinese fan palms, curly willow, wooden vases, metal planters (Waterloo Gardens)
chocolate brown velvet fabric (B. Wilk)
sheer drapes (Linens 'n Things)
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