Transformed into serene restful home

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 8

Transformed into serene restful home

Creating an atmosphere and providing for the way you like to live in your home is important. Living areas in my apartment are monochromatic, with accents of pink. I like an elegant and gracious sitting room, and yet it must have an informality in which guests and clients alike can feel relaxed and comfortable.

Beautiful pieces and ornaments appeal to me particularly when they carry feelings of the past. With the exception of the kitchen, the ceiling, walls, and woodwork downstairs have been painted locust green. This was designed to minimise the effect of the heavily stippled ceiling and long stippled wall leading to the staircase.

I sent Sallee Carpets in Auckland a sample of my soft, silver green curtaining to dye the yarn for a textured carpet of the same colour.

On entering the front door, the dining room wall forms a compact reception area leading to the sitting room. In the corner sits a mid-green armchair, and next to it an antique desk. The upholstered furniture was in two rooms in my previous home. I had selected the coverings so that they would marry well together. One two-seater and two chairs were covered in midgreen, the other two-seater and chairs have a white background with varying sizes and colours of green foliage.

The two-seaters and chairs, with tables in between, are now arranged around a square glass and brass table forming a con-

versation area with a view through the new ranch slider to the patio. The stippled wall, about which I had worried, has proved an interesting background for paintings. It forms my small, personal art gallery. Originals, prints, and my parents’ wedding photograph join forces to make a feature I really enjoy. A favourite painting, an abstract in oils by Christchurch artist Laine Louisson, has varying shades of pink and a touch of green to set the theme for the accent colours.

Accents are important because they set the main charge of colour in my room. Cushions and lamp shades are salmon pink. White louvre doors open into the small, cosy dining room. A Wellington chest punctuates the entrance. Here salmon pink curtains repeat the accent colour in the sitting room, giving a pleasant variety against the green walls. Mainly because of function (three doors lead outside from the dining and sitting room) ties have been made for all the curtains. When in use the softly gathered folds lend a slightly formal appearance. The large floral wallpaper in the bright kitchen has now been painted champagne, the curtains match. The cupboards are their original dark brown, and the vinyl floor remains a tiled design of white and brown. Locust green continues up the stairwell to the upstairs hall, where doors and architraves are now painted white.

Green and pink again predominate throughout the up-

stairs area, linking upstairs and down.

Living and working as I do amongst colours and fabrics, I wanted my bedroom to have restful, soft colours. The room is a reasonable size and accommodates a queen-size bed, an antique chair, and bedroom accessories.

Beside the bed is my luxury. A cupboard painted white, lined with laminate, has been made and fitted to hold tea and coffee-making equipment. Glass doors open from the bedroom to an upstairs veranda, and an outlook of wide sky.

Fabrics are numerous these days, but it can still be difficult to find just the right choice. Fortunately, a new Sanderson called “Delphinium” has recently arrived.

Cloud pink, soft blue and lavender delphiniums with leaves the colour of the carpet now run riot on an off-white background in the curtains and bedspread. The walls are painted cloud pink, the bed valance is in a matching colour. Small pink and green cushions add to the coordinated look.

Favourite pictures adorn the walls — Shag Rock, by Lynda Mallard, an oil painting of North Canterbury, and a large photograph of a small boy with a donkey. The guest room also has doors leading to the veranda. The walls here are papered in a textured-look green paper, with curtains to match. The bed and divan are covered in linen of white roses on a green background. Purple and tan cushions, the colour taken from the vivid Mexican paintings on the walls, give the room its required accent. The third, airy bedroom, overlooking trees beyond the roadway, has become my office and study. A unit, acquired with the apartment, stands the length of one, cloud-pink wall and is now painted locust green. The jungle print curtains (green, pink and white flowers and foliage on a black background) are hung on a wooden curtain rod.

A lobby leads into the bathroom and separate lavatory. The soft green carpet continues through. Papered walls feature tiny roses on a white background. The bathroom vanity unit doors are papered to match the walls. Grey-green tiles cover the top of the unit, merging around and in front of the bath.

A long mirror sits above the vanity unit, and a white painted unit holds pink towels. Pink tie-back curtains make a background for a Victorian ornament, a nude child sitting on a tree stump. I have been in my new home for two months. Now that the work of decorating is done — and I never want to strip a piece of wallpaper again — I find it warm, serene, and restful. More is still to be accomplished outside. The white patio walls will be painted to absorb, rather than reflect, the light.

Fences wait to be painted and creepers planted. ’ Most important of all, 'roses and flowers will be planted so that I can once again pick white, blue, and pink blooms.