My new place

I have moved A LOT in the last couple of years, but one thing I always look forward to is the transformation of a blank room into something I want to show off.  The uglier the initial room, the better!  Here are a few shots of my newest pad.

This is how it was when I began to move in.  You can see the paint swatch on the wall (Lowes, $2.50) to make sure that was the color I wanted.

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….And this is the completed space.  The trick in the living room was three-fold: 1. Stretch out a small space….including height! 2. Make the transom window bigger (I live in a ‘garden unit’) and 3. Maximize what little amount of natural light I DO get.  So first, to tackle the small space, I used a few tricks.  To make the room look longer, I placed a large mirror that I got at a yard sale for $15 at the farthest point of the room to expand the space visually.  Also expanding the space is the coffee table which is doing double duty.  First its horizontal slats are drawing your eye toward the back of the room.  Second, because the slats allow you to look through the bench, it becomes visually less weighted; key for smaller spaces.  I made that bench from two other mid-century benches that I got from a goodwill.  To tackle the height of the room, not only are my art pieces hung slightly higher than normal, I exploited the vertical lines of my curtains (which I set at the ceiling) and the graphic pattern of my wallpaper.  To make the transom window bigger, I simply treated the area like a full size window.  Trust me…it made a HUGE difference.  Lastly, I stuck to light reflective colors and materials to bounce the light around the room.

I have a personal preference to layer everything up.  Makes the space look used (even though I probably won’t ever touch it).  Each of these items has a story behind it.

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This is a shot of the other side of the room.  I utilized this wall in two ways.  First, you can see that the wallpaper doesn’t go all the way to the end of the wall.  This was done so that I could place the TV off-center without it looking, well, ‘off center’.  This was important because I needed to leave a space next to the door to enter and exit.  Second, I selected a graphic wallpaper both as a statement, as well as to visually raise the ceiling.  I got this paper at Lowes for about $50.  The ottoman you see was originally a rattan color, but I spray painted it red to break up the monotony of beige on beige on beige.  To allow the red to make sense, I place a red pillow on the sofa located on the opposite wall.

Again on the TV console table I have layered up some of my favorite things including a new book by my favorite designer, Nate Berkus, a couple of Chinese calligraphy brushes I purchased on a recent trip to china, as well as a watercolor done by a former student of mine.

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Last but not least I want to show you the office area.  I utilized a work table that was left in the unit when I moved in as a new desk.  IT’S SO HUGE!  I selected a darkened sky blue color for the wall for two reasons.  The first is that blue helps with brain waves and function…..something I definitely need while I am working.  Second, this is very close to the color of blue my Grandmother has had on her kitchen walls for as long as I can remember.  She makes the BEST comfort food.  Somehow the color makes me feel at home.  To further stimulate the creative process I added more than ample lighting, as well as interchangeable art as my mood changes.  Some magazine clippings, an old map, a Chinese compass, and a drawing completed by me to round out this months art collection.

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~ by Andrew DeYoung on January 13, 2013.