Home & Garden House Calls

BEFORE: THE PROBLEM

Local homeowner Pat Yates and her husband recently downsized, moving from a house in Mount Pleasant to a senior-living condo in Thomas Circle. Although Yates loves the "nice, sweeping view of non-governmental D.C." and the sunlight from her balcony, she thinks the 20-by-15-foot living and dining room area is small. They want new furniture "because what we have is too big," Yates says. They'd like to use the space to entertain, read and relax. Yates would also like to display her folk art collection and keep their modern, mid-century Platner chairs, which she just had reupholstered in blue, one of her favorite colors.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

1. Paint.
2-5. On one side, create a seating area with a sofa, chaise lounge and end tables.
6-8. On the other side, choose chairs and a medium-tone table and sideboard to contrast the light wood floors.
9-10. Link the separate spaces with a central fireplace and lighting fixtures.
11-13. Display folk art and books on shelves and in frames.
14-16. Accessories.
17. Hang window shades for privacy.
18. Use rugs to separate these two areas.
- Kristen Paradies, Designer

THE HOMEOWNER

Local homeowner Pat Yates and her husband recently downsized, moving from a house in Mount Pleasant to a senior-living condo in Thomas Circle. Although Yates loves the "nice, sweeping view of non-governmental D.C." and the sunlight from her balcony, she thinks the 20-by-15-foot living and dining room area is small. They want new furniture "because what we have is too big," Yates says. They'd like to use the space to entertain, read and relax. Yates would also like to display her folk art collection and keep their modern, mid-century Platner chairs, which she just had reupholstered in blue, one of her favorite colors.

 

DESIGNER'S CRITIQUE

Kristen Paradies of Apartment Zero in Washington, D.C., says: Position seating to take advantage of the views through the sliding glass doors. Use the natural division and group seating to delineate the living room and the dining space. With an open floor plan, be sure to connect the spaces so the rooms appear cohesively designed. Accomplish this by using the same accent colors, similar lighting fixtures and identical rugs. Transform radiators into useable surfaces by placing mirrored trays on top so they can act as tables, and blend the units into the walls by painting them the wall color.