(Examiner 01.10.2011

& Interiors

XP1-V1

DESIGNERInterior designer Xs?wt director ofEmerald Interior Design in Dublin(www.emeraldinteriordesign.ie), answers yourquestions. Email: interiors@examiner.ie

I've inherited an oldsideboard from an aunt, andthough I love it, it doesn't gowith anything in my home —should I paint it?

A. Most people are far too quick to takea paint brush to pre-loved furniture.Often, it's the little imperfections thatadd character to a piece. In this casehowever, you may want to paint it tobetter suit your home. Here's how: firstremove all the handles and hinges, stripany existing paint or varnish and sandit down. Give it a good clean and oncedry, apply the primer and paint. Ifthere's a grain in the wood, apply thepaint in the direction of the grain. Togive it an antique look again, simplylightly sand some of the raised edges,corners or legs to give the appearanceof wear and tear. Finish with a coat ofbees wax to protect the wood.

Q. My bathroom is cold, dated. I can'tafford to install a new one - help!

A. Sometimes, it's the smallest room inthe house that proves the most difficultto decorate. The secret is the three S's:Surroundings, Sight and Smell.Surroundings: Use a big, bright bathmat to hide an unsightly floor andmatching towels or shower curtain tointroduce a splash of colour to theroom. Sight: Hide the clutter such asrubber ducks and shampoo and onlykeep decorative items like perfume ondisplay. Tilt-out bins at the end of thebath are a great use of wasted space.Smell: Light a. scented candle or add afew drops of essential oil to bath waterto transform a bathroom into a spa

Q. We've just finished renovating ourhouse and are down to painting thekitchen walls. Our kitchen units arepainted in Farrow & Ball'sMatchstick (pale mushroom) - do youthink I should go lighter or darker?

A. F&B Matchstick is a warm, neutralcolour that works well with yellowishhues — so I'd go for creams or greenssuch as F&B's Cat's Paw or SavageGround. Before deciding on a colour,consider: the size of the room, amount ofnatural light it receives and aspect(whether it gets sun in the morning orafternoon). If the room is already dark,go for a light colour on the walls — andvice versa. Be sure to test your chosencolour. One little tip is to paint a sheet ofwhite cardboard and Blu-Tack todifferent areas during the day so youcan see how it catches the light.

Q. With two small children, our livingroom is a mess of toys — any ideas asto how my husband and I can reclaimour living room in the evenings?

A. Most of us don't have the luxury of aseparate play room for all those toys.But with proper planning and storage,your living room can function as a playroom by day and adult haven by night.Multi-purpose furniture such as coffeetables with in-built storage and windowseats or foot stools with lift-up lids willhelp make your space work harder foryou. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards fittedinto the alcoves either side of thefireplace add symmetry to a room andare great for displaying what you want -and hiding the rest. Try Boon Inc's'Animal Bag' storage sack ($49.99 fromt-immcT V\f\r\niv*r> r*r\-*Y\\U Parrnw & Rail Tat1* Paw', rnlour and its insniration from wild mushrooms. See www.farrow-ball.com