Creating a centre of interest

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 16

Creating a centre of interest

Q I am redecorating the living area in my flat for probably the last time before my retirement I would much appreciate your advice on the choice of plainish papers for my living room and kitchen/dining, which are both sunny. I also wish to replace the drapes and recover the suite. I am having difficulty in deciding which colours look best with the carpet (Sample enclosed.) At present the chamois-coloured drapes and dark brown suite look very drab. Would something in Sanderson type fabric be suitable? The wall unit bookcase and two small tables are brown mahogany. Planters, table lamp base, and clock are brass. Without a fire-

place, what could-be the focal point in such a plain room?

The effect I am hoping for is restful but not dull. In the kitchen, cupboards and pantry doors are brown mahogany louvre type. Other doors and paintwork are white. The bench top is beige with a light tan pattern. The window has cafe curtains for privacy. I also need curtains to pull across in' the evenings. H n Christchurch.

A So many people share your problem. A centre of interest can be difficult to establish. Looking at the very good plan you have sent me, I can see that it is possible

for you to create a summer and winter setting.

For the summer I would suggest that you plan your furniture to form a seating area looking out the ranchslider door. To plan for winter seating, paintings on the wall against the bedroom could form an interesting feature wall. Place your two small coffee tables in front of the paintings and plan your seating on the three sides around the tables. A neutral wallpaper with the appearance of fabric would be ideal — Vision, Tiffany, woven silk, number 2744. This is a solid vinyl paper. To recover your furniture, try a new Sanderson Exbury, PR 7220/3. The background has soft green, brown and grey with flowers

coloured from beige to, deep apricot. For your sitting room curtains I have selected Gloaming Ochre C 3126. In spite of the name, this is a warm apricot colour. Sanderson has the same pattern in a chintz as well as a linen and this I would suggest for the curtains in your kitchen/ dining room. I am sure that these furnishings would give you what you wish to achieve — a restful, but not a dull room.

Queries for the “Living Space” column should be addressed to Prudence Rothenberg, Home and People page, “The Press,” P.O. Box 1005, Christchurch 1. Questions may only be answered in this column.