Like people, every room has a distinct personality. Some seem proper and formal and perhaps even a touch intimidating, while others exude friendly warmth and instantly make you feel relaxed. The undeniable first impression of a room can be credited to a sum of its parts, as architecture and decoration blend seamlessly to project a lasting visual impression, and in the case of this home the resulting personality, while elegant and sophisticated, is undeniably friendly and easy to live with.
An exterior copper lantern with seeded glass resembles an old ship lantern and acts as a subtle reference to this home’s seaside location. The small bubbles in the glass (which create the seeded effect) cast a dappled shadow pattern on the ceiling. When you install a commanding fixture, it draws the eye up to accentuate the height while also adding a romantic evening ambiance when dimmed low.
Many homeowners think their most “important” piece of art should be hung above the living room fireplace in a place of honour; however, I like to consider the height of the mantel before arbitrarily placing it. Art is best when viewed at eye level (and the gallery standard is to hang it so that the centre of the painting is 54 inches above the floor). Keeping your art at a lower level will enable you to get up close and appreciate all the fine details.
When selecting fabric schemes, I prefer to use light, creamy tones for the upholstery and accent with patterned textiles. If you grow tired of the patterns it’s easy and inexpensive to introduce an entirely new colour to the room — and everything goes with cream, so you won’t need to change the sofa fabric as often as you swap out accessories and finishing touches.