Queen for a day

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 13

Queen for a day

“Living Space”

by PRUDENCE ROTHENBERG

Querie? — which may only be answered in this column — should be addressed to Prudence Rothenberg, “Living Space,” Home and People Page, “The Press,” Private Bag, Christchurch.

Visiting a friend whose birthday is between Christmas and New Year was a heartwarming experience. Her husband, and her four children aged between seven and 16 had really made her “Queen of the day.” Breakfast brought to her in bed consisted of a basket of fruit, avocados, grapes, orange segments, and candied fruit After breakfast came present time — a woollen suit French perfume, tapes, and not forgetting the back scratcher. I arrived for morning coffee. The 13 year old gave me a quick peep at the chocolate birthday cake she had made. My friend’s husband and children had ar-

ranged a wonderful day full of surprises for their “Queen of the day.” Not so for me! I took my first look at my G.S.T. form and fled to my accountant for assistance. Once it was explained I thought it would take but a few minutes. After all, my books are up-to-date. How easy it is to be deluded. An hour later and still not finished, I realised that this misery has to be gone through every two months. For the small business woman living has become compli-’ cated, expensive, and time-consuming. There is a car log book to be filled in every day, and accountants (God bless them) have to be paid for their time.

Forms, forms, and more forms to be filled in so that it will be less complicated to complete the GJ.T. form every two months. A dog chasing its tail? Today I feel like an unpaid tax collector and not a woman who loves her business and clients. I am writing on New Year’s Day. My hope for 1987 is a caring society. Caring about our friends, and about others not so fortunate, for ourselves and not forgetting our beautiful country, New Zealand. Q 1 would greatly appreciate your advice on the colour and size of a new suite for our small sitting room. Carpet, wallpaper, and curtain

vision, and standard lamp. “L,” Christchurch.

A Thank you for the sketch of your sitting room. It is a nice sunny room, and with your golds and creams will be warm and cosy in the winter. I would be inclined to keep to the creams and golds, bringing in other colours in as accents. I have given you a choice of either wool or dralon: Vyking pure wool Asgard, colour vanilla. This has a selfcheck and is a warm cream, or Ballan fabrics, Carmarque, colour fawn. This 100 per cent acrylic pile cloth is a natural colour leaning towards the gold. For cushions, bring out the brown of your carpet

with Sekers satin bark, and have a couple of lime green cushions (also in the carpet), Sekers, satin poplar. As an accent add two cushions in a bluegreen, Sekers, satin teal. Not having a fireplace, you have the same problem as many others in arranging your furniture. A small, comfortable, rolled arm suite would be ideal for your room. To arrange your furniture, the settee would go against the long wall with the coffee table in front and the chairs either side. Put the standard lamp behind and to one side of the settee to give more light On the long wall behind the settee arrange paintings to give a centre of interest Have the tele-

vision on the opposite wall, where I notice there is a power point I would, in fact place it towards the corner where you have marked the point I hope this is of some help to you. Q My mother has recently made some changes to her farm kitchen and dining area. She now wishes to repaint I enclose two sketches to show the layout The existing colour scheme has a light green celling, grey cupboard doors, and cream wails. The curtains have these colours In them In a leafy pattern. The table and bench top are a red formica, which will stay

and win M deubt dictate the new cetour scheme. I weuM be grateful If yen eeuld auMcet’a cdeur aeheaae far this busy area. Weald yen alee advise an a cdeor for new vtayL The areas through the deers are a neutral celeur. Sett greeas weald, I think, be nice fer the capbeard deers. My mether weald be happy with anything to give a fresh leek to the kitchen. The capbeard deers de net have te be the same cetour. “R.C,’* Christchurch. A Thank you for your letter and the moat helpful plans. I see that your mother’s kitchen faces east and therefore gets the morning sun. The red

bench top and table will give the required wanftth. For a chaige of colotf I would suggest ceiling and top cupboard in Resene, Spanish white; walls, Taubmans Ermine ,t (a very soft green); the bottom cupboards, Taubmans Walkabout green, a deeper green and a gradation from the wall colour; all trims white, the doors and skirting the same colour as the walls. I would also paint the cylinder cupboard as the walls. Keep the flooring to a neutral colour as near "to the hall carpet as possible. You will want to paint again, so a neutral floor will not restrict you. I hope your mother will enjoy her new colour scheme.