flip! for decorating a page-by-page, piece-by-piece, room-by-room guide to transforming your home
TRANSCRIPT
CHAPTER4
diningroom
inthischapteryouwilllearn:howtomixfurniturestyleshowtopickatable,diningchairs,lighting,andstoragepieceshowtousemirrorshowtohangarthowtocreateeasy,long-lastingcenterpieces
Ilovetocook,butevenmorethanthat,Ilovetoentertain,whichiswhywhenmyhusbandandIfinallyboughtandrenovatedourapartment,Iinsistedonhavingaformaldiningroom.
Thatmaynotseemlikeabigdealtothoseofyouwholiveinhouseswithmoreroomsthanyoucancount,butcitydwellerslikemeobsessovertheuseofeveryprecioussquarefoot.
FromtheminuteIcrosseditsthreshold,Iknewourdiningroomwouldhostmuchmorethantheoccasionaldinnerpartyandholidaymeal.Itisoneofthemosttraffickedroomsinourhome.It’swheremykidsspreadouttheirartprojects,wheremyhusbandandIsortmailandpaybills,andwhereaMonopolymarathoncanextendintotheweehours.
ThediningroomisalsotheunexpectedplacewhereIperchandpaceduringimportantphoneconversations.Ididn’tplanforit.Itjustsohappenedthatthewallunderthediningroomwindowbecamethelast-resorthomeforanantiqueSwedishsetteethathadbeenshufflingaroundthehouse.Thebenchnownotonlyhidesanuglyradiator,butalsoprovidesawarm,sun-drenchedspotformetochatonthephone.Andittaughtmeanimportantlesson:Decoratingisn’tpermanent.Gowiththeflow.Someofthemostbrilliantdecoratingmomentshappenbyaccident.
Asfortheroom’sdecor,Ichosetopaintitchocolatebrownbecause:a)It’smyfavoritecolor;b)It’swarmandcozy;c)Itlooksgoodwitheverything;andd)It’sthecolorofamostpopulardessert.Thetrimandceilingarewhite,ofcourse(seethispage)—it’sthevanillaicingonthechocolatecake.
Forthefurniture,Ifollowedoneofmydecoratingmantras:mixandmatch;pairoldwithnew,roundwithsquare,lightwithdark.Aroomofeclecticfurnitureisfarmoreinterestingthanonethat’smatchy-matchy.Istartedbypickingatable(which,alongwithchairs,istheonlytruedining-roomnecessity).IneverconsideredawoodtablepartlybecauseI
thinkwoodfurniturecanfeelstodgyandpartlybecausethefloorsarewoodandtheroomisalreadybrown.Iwantedagleamingsurfacethatlookedascrispandcleanasapressedwhitetablecloth.AParsons-stylewhite-laminaterectangulartablefitthebill;everypieceofchina,glass,flower,andlinenlooksgoodonit,it’seasytoclean,doesn’tshowwaterrings,anddoesn’tneedpolishing.ButtokeepthetablefromlookingtoonewandtooslickIpaireditwithasetofoldchairs.Afriendofmine,decoratorMilesRedd,foundthesixredleatherupholsteredFrenchseats,whicharecomfortableandstainproof.Theircurvedbacksandcracklyleathermakethemtheperfectfoilfortheangularandpristinetable.
Itmightseemlikeaglaringoversight(punintended)thatIdon’thaveachandelier,butanypieceofgoodlightingsetsthemood,evensculpturalsconceswithdimmers,whichareaugmentedwithlightfromcandlesandawell-placedmirrorthatdoublestheeffect.(Unlikeachandelier,whichshouldalwayshangoverthecenterpiece,sconcesdon’tlimittheplacementofthediningtable.)
Thelastpuzzlepiecewasartandaccessories.Inthediningroom,guestshaveonlyeachothertoadmireuntilyouaddart.Itdoesn’tsomuchmatterwhatstyleorperiodofartyoulove,it’showyouhangartthatmakesitcount.Createabigstatementwithadozenlittlepictures,orfindawall-fillingsingleimagetocaptivateyouraudience.
BASICS
diningtablesThebestdinnerpartieshave10guestsorfewer,andsoshouldyourdiningtable.Tenpeopleatatablecanmeanthreeconversationsorjustone.(Andifyourguestlistisheftier,justopenupthelivingroomandturnthepartyintoafreewheelingbuffet.)
Whenitcomestoproportion,thesizeoftheroomshoulddictatethesizeofyourdiningtable.Agoodruleofthumbisthatthefootprintofthediningtable(fullyextended)shouldcovernomorethanathirdofthefloor’stotalspace.Remember,you’llneedroomforchairsandstorage—andpeople,too.
Whenshoppingaround,checkthestabilityoftablesbygrabbingandpullingthetabletoptomakesurethetabledoesn’twobbleorsway.Thenpushdownononecornertoensureitdoesn’tflipover.(Butdon’tattempteithermaneuverifthesurfaceisstyledwithcrystal!)
IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO
WHEN YOU’RE PICKING A TABLE, MAKE SURE THERE’S SPACE TO SIT. SOUNDSILLY?MANYTABLESHAVEAWKWARDLYPLACED SUPPORTSTHATTHREATENTOBASHINTOYOURGUESTS’LEGS.ANDMINDTHEAPRON,THATBANDUNDERTHE SURFACE THAT JUTS TOWARD YOUR LAP; IT’S POISED TO CRUSH YOURTHIGHSIFYOURCHAIRSARETOOHIGH.
FLIP!throughtheseimages
typecasting:diningtablesSquareandrectangulartablesarewellsuitedfortheshapeofmostrooms(whichistosayboxy),allowingthemosttableforthespace,thoughcircularmodelsaremoreconducivetoconversationbecausetherearenoblindspotslikethereareonatablewithcorners.Findatablethatfitsyourfamilyplusafewfriendsandthenleavetheresttoaesthetics.
Rectangle.Thetried-and-truepickbecauseitsprofileisanaturalfitformostrooms.Lookforversionswith“leaves,”orinsertsthatexpandthetabletotwiceitssizeormore.Makesuretheleavesareeasytoaddandremoveandthatthey’reaprecisematchwiththetable’scolorandfinish.
Round.Themostconducivetoconversation,andevenallowsextrapeopletosqueezein.Theshapealsobreaksupthemonotonyofsquarefurnishings.Someincludeleavesthatexpandtoanoblongshape.
Dropleaf.Idealforsmallspaces,thisstylefoldsintoaslimsideboardwhenitsleavesarecollapsed.Unfortunately,theclosepositioningofthelegsmakessomedinerspronetobumpedknees.
Pedestal.Withasinglecolumnofsupport,thisstyleisfarandawaythemostspaciousforlegs.Thetabletopcanbesquareorrectangular,round,orevenexpandablewithleaves.
PANICBUTTON
JUST FIND AN INEXPENSIVE PARTICLEBOARD TABLE AND THROW ON ANOVERSIZED LINEN TABLECLOTH THAT FALLS TO THE FLOOR. IT’S A SPACE-SAVINGSOLUTION,TOO—USETHEUNDERSIDEFORSTORAGEWHENTHETABLEISN’TSURROUNDEDWITHGUESTS.
LIGHTBULB
NODININGROOM?
NOPROBLEM.THESETIPSMAKEHOSTINGàLALIVINGROOMASNAP.
*USEYOURCOFFEETABLEASTHEPRIMARYSURFACE.
*PROVIDEAMPLESEATINGFORGUESTS,INCLUDINGFLOORCUSHIONS,TOO.
*SERVECOURSESTHATREQUIREJUSTONEPLATEANDONEFORK.
*OFFEROVERSIZEDNAPKINS.
* CLEAR SURFACES FOR DRINKS AND AVOID STEMS BY SERVING BEVERAGESEURO-STYLE,INTUMBLERS.
materialmattersWhenpickingamaterial,thinkofpersonaltasteaswellaspracticality.Agloss-finishwoodiselegantbutpronetonicksandscratchesandrequiresatableclothandheat-protectingpadtoshielditfromscaldingdinnerplates.Anystyletablecanhandlewearandtearaslongasyouprotectitwithatablepadorblanketbeforeyouwhipouttheglitterandglue.
Woodhasawarm,traditionalfeel.Lookforqualitycraftsmanship,includingmortise-and-tenonjoints,inwhichonepieceofwoodfitsintoaslotintheother,ordovetail,wherethepiecesmeetjigsaw-style.AvoidwoodcompositeslikeMDF(mediumdensityfiberboard)andparticleboard,whichareoftenpoorlyconstructedandultimatelydisposable.Forvarnishedwood,bewaryofimperfectionsorbubbles.
Glass-toppedshouldbetemperedmakingitresistanttobreaking,andaimforatabletopthicknessof3/4ormore.
Marbleisachallengetokeeppristineasitscratcheseasilyandstainsunlesssealedregularly;butsomeownersthinkimperfectionsonlyaddtoitsallure.Lookforsolidtabletopsthatarefinelyhonedandsealed.
Lacquerisacatchallphrasetodescribeawoodproductfinishedinahard,coloredcoatingthatisfrequentlyhigh—gloss(trueJapaneselacquer,orJapanning,iscostlyandrare).LaminateisaplasticorpolyurethaneveneerfusedtoawoodorMDF.Bothofferastaggeringchoiceofcolorsandcansometimesbecustomizedtomatchapaintorfabricswatch.
WHYNOTTRY
TREATINGYOURHEIRLOOMTOAFRESHCOATOFPAINT.THEDININGROOMIS
OFTENAWASTELANDFORHAND-ME-DOWNBUFFETS,TABLES,ANDCHAIRS,BUTANY DREARY ANTIQUE CAN LOOKSMART WHEN SLICKED WITH WHITE (ORBLACK)PAINT.TRUSTME,YOURGRANDMOTHERWOULDWANTYOUTOUSEIT.
BASICS
diningchairsThepost-mealslouchshouldbeasenjoyableasthemeal,sodon’tinvitebonybacksandpricklystrawseatstoyourdinnertable.Instead,perusechairsthatinviteafter-dinnerloungingandavoidone-clickpurchasing,whichisbasedonaestheticsalone.
Diningchairsshouldbeeasytomoveforallyourguests,childrenincluded.Chairswithcumbersomeprofiles,over-stuffedseats,ordramaticallysplayedlegsmakeittrickyforgueststogetinandout.
Onethingthatprobablyshouldn’tbeonthemenu:adiningroommatchingsuiteorset.Instead,mixitupwithcontrastingcolorsandmaterials.Darkwoodchairs?Tryamarbletabletop.Antiquemahoganytable?Addwhite-framemodernchairs.Asurefirewaytomakeyourdiningroomchicistoblendstylesandfinishes:oldwithnew,lightwithdark,slickwithaged.
LIGHTBULB
SEATSWITHDELICATEFRAMES,SEE-THROUGHBACKS—ORNOBACKSATALL—WON’TCLUTTERASMALLSPACE.
MEASUREFORMEASURE
TO ENSURE YOUR CHAIRSWILL FIT UNDER YOUR TABLE, ALLOW A FOOT OFSPACEBETWEENTHESEATHEIGHTANDTABLESURFACE.THATMEANSIFYOURTABLEISACOMMON29INCHES,AIMFORCHAIRSEATSTHATAREAROUND17INCHESHIGH.ANDGIVEEACHDINERABOUT2FEETOFELBOWROOMANDATLEAST2FEETOFSPACETOSCOOCHBACKTHEIRCHAIR.
typecasting:diningchairsEvenifyoudon’tcraveaperiodroom,considerpickingfromthestaggeringnumberofantique,vintage,andreproductionchairsonthemarket,whichbringabitofold-timegracetodinner.Or,ifyourtableisalreadysteepedinalegacyofitsown,looktomid-centurystylesandbeyond,whichwillbringanantiqueup-to-date.Eitherway,it’stablefirst,thenchairs.
Gustavian.Swedishandneoclassicalwithasquarebody,groovedlimbs,andcarvedornament;oftenpaintedandveryfeminine.
Louis–style.NamedforFrenchkings,LouisXIVhashighbacksandscrollarms,XVislighterandRococofeeling,XVIisscaledback,withtaperedlegsandsmallornaments.
ChineseChippendale.Thankstoitsgraphicfretworkback,thisAsian-inspiredchair(createdbythefamedBritdesigner)looksparticularlydashinginacoatofbrightpaintsuchaswhite,red,orevenlimeorturquoise.
Bentwood.TypifiedbytheworkofGerman-AustriandesignerThonet,theseseatsaresimpleandelegantwithacurved,openbackmadefromwoodinachoiceoffinishes.
Tulip.DesignerEeroSaarinenpioneeredthiscomfortablemolded-plasticseatthat’spredominantlyseeninwhitewithabrightlycoloredfabricseatcushion(seethispage).
Bertoia.Thiswire-meshchair,namedfordesignerHarryBertoia,comesinadiamondorL-shapeprofilesandhasaseat(andsometimesback)cushionandachromeorpowder-coatedfinish.
Contemporary.Currentstylesvarywildly,butaneutral,tightlyupholsteredL-shapechairisanall-purposefavorite.
Super-modern.Italiandesignerspioneeredthisstylethatusesmoldedplywood,acrylic,poly-blends,ormetaltomakehigh-styleseatsthatareeasytostackanddurable.TheAntchairandPhilippeStarck’sacrylicLouisGhostchair(seethispage)areexamplesofmodernclassics.
WHYNOTTRY
THEOLDMAXIM ISTRUE:OPPOSITESATTRACT.CONSIDERTHESEFOOLPROOFPAIRINGSFORDININGCHAIRSANDTABLE.
* MODERN MOLDED-PLYWOOD CHAIRS WITH AN OLD WOODEN FARMHOUSETABLE
*WHITE-FRAMEGUSTAVIANSANDAMODERNLACQUERPEDESTALTABLE
*LOUIS-STYLECHAIRSWITHABOXY,SUPERMODERNTABLE
*DELICATEBENTWOODCHAIRSATAMODERNPEDESTALTABLE
*MODERNWIREBERTOIACHAIRSWITHAROUNDMARBLE-TOPTABLE
materialmattersThequestionofachair’smaterialsisreallyaquestionoftolerance:Areyouwillingtopolishandscrubyourchairs,orisaonce-in-a-whilewipe-downasfaryou’llgo?Thinkaboutyourneedsfirstandthenmakesurethatyou’regettingthebestconstructionforyourdollar.
Wood,whenwellmadeandwellmaintained,willlastlifetimes.Pickaframethat’ssupportedwithcornerblocks,whichmakeitsturdy.Likewithdiningtables,lookforwell-craftedjointsandavoidMDFandveneers,whichcanchipovertime.Lookcloselyforimperfectionsinthewoodorfinish.
Upholsteredleatherseatsarelonglastingandeasytocleanwhilepatternedfabricshidestains.Manydesignersnowturntothenewestoutdoorfabrics,whicharesoft,stylish,andspill-andstainproof.Therulesforbuyingasofa(seethispage)stillapply.Askwhat’sinside,lookforhand-tiedsprings,andtrybeforeyoubuy.
Acrylicandplasticareman-madematerialsthatrequiretheleastmaintenanceandareoftenthemostdurable.Manystylesinthiscategoryarealsostackable.
LIGHTBULB
IFYOUPURCHASEASLIPCOVEREDCHAIR,BUYANEXTRACOVERORTWOANDSTASHTHEMFOREMERGENCIES.
typecasting:alternativeseatingDon’tlimityourselftoahalf-dozenidenticalchairs.Alternatetheseatshalfandhalforfindsixoreight(orten!)differentstyles.Keepthelookuniformbypickingacommoncolorormaterial,suchasmahoganyorwhitepaint.Orforgettraditionalchairsaltogetherandtryoneofthese.
Benches.Foracasualapproachthat’srightforspeedymorningormiddaymeals,trydiningpicnictable–style.It’sfamily-friendlyandperfectforwhenyouneedtosqueezeinacrowd.
Settee.Thissmallupholsteredseattypicallyfitsjusttwopeople,makingitafunoptionforcouplesandkids.Itsbacksupportmakesitagoodpickforeveningaffairs.Tryoneateachendofthetable.
Folding.Manyofthesemodelscollapseintoathincolumnandstorewithease.Apaircaneasilyfitunderabed.Foldingchairsoftenrunsmallsolookforoneswithgenerousseats.
WHYNOTTRY
PUTTINGAFAVORITECOMFORTABLESEATORSMALLSOFANEARTHEWINDOWIN THE DINING ROOM SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY THE ROOM WHEN IT’SBETWEENMEALS.
MEASUREFORMEASURE
IFYOU’REDARINGENOUGHTOUSEARUGINTHEDININGROOM,THEPERFECTSIZEISONETHAT’SFOURFEETLARGERTHANTHEWIDTHANDLENGTHOFTHETABLE.THERUGSHOULDBELARGEENOUGHSOTHATTHECHAIRSCANMOVEAWAYFROMTHETABLEWITHOUTTHEMFALLINGOFFOFTHEEDGE.STORAGEFURNITURELIKETHECHINACABINETORSERVINGPIECESSHOULDBEONTHEFLOOR,NOTONTHERUG.
BASICS
lightingWhenlightingisideal,ittendstogounnoticed,butwhenit’sharsh—thinkhigh-schoolgymnasium—it’llbetheonlythingonyourmind.Sure,lightingexistsprimarilytohelpyousee,butit’salsoanelementthroughwhichyoucanrevealyourpersonality.Thetableandchairsestablishalook.Thinkofthoseastheshirtandpantsofyourdiningroomoutfitandthelightingasthejewelry.Lightfixturesdressup(ordown)yourstyle.
Fixturesrunthegamutfromritzyrockcrystaltoausterealuminum.Nomatterthelook,whenthesunsets,takeacuefromyourfavoriterestaurantandkeepthelightslow.Ifyouhaveseverallightsources,keepeachataflicker.Thereshouldbeenoughilluminationtohelpyougetaroundtheroom,butatthetable,lowwattagewillkeepyouandyourguestslookingattractiveallthewayfromappetizertodessert.
IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO
INSTALLDIMMERS.THEYWORKINEVERYROOM,BUTTHEY’REESSENTIALHEREWHERE DIFFERENT PURPOSES (SETTING THE TABLE VS. DINNER ITSELF)REQUIREVARYINGWATTAGE.
LAMPS CAN BE OUTFITTED WITH CLIP-ON DIMMERS FOR AROUND $15 EACHAND YOU CAN INSTALL WALL DIMMERS FOR SCONCES AND OVERHEADSYOURSELF.BUTIFYOU’REWARYOFCROSSINGYOURWIRES,HIREAPRO.
typecasting:lightingAnyfixturewithalightbulbwillfitthefunctionalitybill,butdiningroomlightingisreallyaquestionofmood.Pickapairofsconcesoradazzlingoverheadandthenlightcandlestoratchetuptheglamour.
Sconces.Thesewall-mountedfixturesprovidepocketsoflightwithoutoverpoweringaroom.Theylookbestwhenhunginpairsonthelongestwindowlesswallintheroom.Mostsocketswon’tacceptbulbsover40watts,butasubdued15wattsusuallydoesthetrick,andkeepinmindthatamirroredsconcewilldoublethelightbulb’seffect.
Chandelier.Chooseaglitzycrystal-encrustedoneoraslick,modernversion.Bothpromisetheultimateinmoodlighting,especiallywhenfittedwithclearbulbs,whichhelplightrefract.
Candlelight.Simpleandelegant.Forthemostflatteringlight,letadozenormorewhitevotivesandtealightsaddbrightnesstoaroomwithlow-litsconcesorachandelier.
MEASUREFORMEASURE
TOMAKETHEMOSTOFYOURLIGHTING,HANG ITCORRECTLY.THEBULBS INSCONCESSHOULDBEAROUND5.5TO6FEETHIGHFROMTHEFLOORANDTHEBOTTOM OF A CHANDELIER SHOULD HANG ABOUT 30 INCHES ABOVE THETABLETOP.
WHYNOTTRY
INSTALLINGPINKLIGHTBULBS INDININGROOMFIXTURESTOBRINGOUTTHEROSYGLOWOFYOUANDYOURTABLEMATES.
waxonTherearescoresofcandlestylesandeachonesendsadifferentmessagewithitsflicker.
Tealights,votives,andothersmall,lowcandlesareidealforthediningtablebecausetheydon’thindereyecontact.
Taperslendaformalfeelwhenplacedinshapelysilvercandlesticksandaredownrightregalincandelabras.
Pillars,whichrangeinheightandthickness,areromanticandlookespeciallymodernwhenalignedinashallowtray(seethispage).
HOWTOREMOVECANDLEWAXFROMATABLECLOTH
BEGIN BY CHIPPING AWAY EXCESS WAX WITH A BUTTER KNIFE, SPOON, ORYOURFINGERNAIL.
LAYTHETABLECLOTHONANIRONINGBOARDANDPLACEAPLAINBROWNBAG—WITHOUTANYWRITINGONIT—OVERTHEREMAININGWAX.
APPLYAWARMIRONTOTHEPAPER.THEWAXWILLADHERETOTHEPAPER.REPLACETHEWAX-COVEREDBAGASNEEDED.
CONTINUELIFTINGWAXFROMTHECLOTHUNTILITISGONE.
FOR COLORED CANDLE WAX STAINS, FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ABOVE, BUT THETREATSPOTWITHAPREWASHSTAINREMOVERBEFOREWASHING.
BASICS
storageMakingroomforstorageinornearthediningroomisessentialbecausesouptureensandonce-a-yearsilvercandelabrasarebestkeptoutofpreciouskitchenrealestate,whichshouldbededicatedtoutility.
Mostdiningroomshavetoomuchspacetonothavestorageunits.Becauseactioniscenteredatthetable,youcandedicateatleastonewalltostoragewithoutitbeingobtrusive.Lookforunitsthatareroomybutnotgargantuan.Thenfillitwithessentialsforservingandentertaining,fromfinechinaandservingpiecestonapkins,candles,andmatches,soyouwon’thavetorummagethroughyourkitchencabinetswhiledinner’sgettingcold.
typecasting:storageFirstdeterminewhatyou’restoringandthendecidewhattypeofpiece(orpieces)fityourneedsandnotethenumberofshelves,plustheirheightanddepth.Andmakesureyourchoicewon’toverwhelmtheroom.
Sideboard.Longandlow,thispiece,oftencalledabuffet,hascoveredshelvesandanexpansivesurfaceforarrangingflowers,candles,orobjects—orservingafull-onfeast.Inalivingroom,asimilarstyleisreferredtoasacredenza.
Armoireorchinacabinet.Thiscoveredorglass-enclosedpieceemphasizesverticalspaceandframesporcelainorobjectswhileprotectingthemfromdust.Placeflatwareorsilverindrawerslinedwithfeltorsilvercloth;bothcanbeboughtbytheyardandcuttofit.
Bookcaseorétagère.Analternativetotraditionalstorageisshallowshelvingorabookcase.Inexpensiveversionsarearound12to16inchesdeep.Boxesontheshelvescanhousesmallobjectswhilestacksofplates,niceservingpieces,andbookscanremainexposed.
WHATBELONGSINDININGROOMSTORAGE
LINENS
(TABLECLOTHS,DINNERNAPKINS,COCKTAILNAPKINS)
FINECHINA
SERVINGPIECES
(PLATTERS,TRAYS,CONDIMENTDISHES)
FLATWAREANDSILVER
PLACECARDS
CANDLESANDMATCHES
GLASSWAREANDSTEMWARE
(HIGHBALL GLASSES, TUMBLERS, MARTINI GLASSES, SNIFTERS, FLUTES, ANDWINEGLASSES)
BARWARE
(CORKSCREWANDBOTTLEOPENER
ICEBUCKETANDTONGS
PAPERCOCKTAILNAPKINS)
BASICS
mirrorsTobringevenmoredramatoabeautifullylitroom,hangawell-placedmirror.Itwillprovideastylishopticalillusion,transformingeventheteensiestofspacesintoaglamorousparlor.
Alongmirrormountedverticallydrawstheeyeupward,accentuatingheight,eveninaroomwithloworaverageceilings.Hunghorizontallyateyelevel,it’llcatchlightfromcandlesorsconcesanddoubletheperceptionoftheroom.Ifit’shungnearyourguests,makesureit’sflattering.Itshouldn’tcutyouoffattheneck(toohigh)orreflectonlyyourmidsection(toolow).
Framestyleshouldbetheyintoyourfurnitureyang.Ifyouhaveasquaretable,pickaroundmirror.Ifyourfurnishingsaresleekandmodern,tryanornatecarvedframe.Ifamassivesideboardsitsalongonewall,trymountingaseriesofsmallmirrorsaboveittohelpbreakupitsheft.Thekeyisforittobeproportionatewiththefurnitureintheroom—amirror(orcompositionofmirrorsandart)willlookmostpleasingifit’sthesamewidthasthefurniturebelowit.
WHYNOTTRY
USEYOURMIRRORTOMAKEMAGIC:
*HANG ITDIRECTLYACROSSTHEROOMFROMAWINDOWTODOUBLEYOURVIEW.
*USEITTOCHANNELLIGHTFROMONEROOMINTOADARKSPOT.
*LETITREFLECTBEAUTYBYDIRECTINGITTOWARDFLOWERSORART.
* HANG A GENEROUS MIRROR AT EYE-LEVEL TO MAKE THE ROOM APPEARBIGGER.
*ALLOWITTODOUBLETHEAMBIENCEINACANDLELITROOM.
IFTHEREISONETHINGYOUDO
MAKESUREYOURMIRRORREFLECTSBEAUTYONLY.REMEMBERTHEPHRASE,“IFYOUDON’THAVEANYTHINGNICETOSAY…”MYCREDOFORMIRRORS ISSIMILAR: IFYOUDON’THAVEANYTHINGNICETOSHOW…THEMERITSOFALOOKINGGLASSARELOSTIFTHEONLYTHINGITREFLECTSISAPILEOFJUNK.
BASICS
hangingartDinersareacaptiveaudience,sohangyourfavoriteartsurroundingthetablewhereitcanprovideconversationfodderandenhanceabeautifulmeal.Arttiesaroomtogetherandaddsinterestanddramatoemptyspaces.
Moreoftenthannotpeoplehangarttoohigh,toospacedout,ortheyjustdon’thangitatall.Whenmountedproperly,itdrawsyoureyeup,down,andaroundtheroom.Displayartthatyoulove,beitoneortwodramaticphotographsorcanvases,aseriesofpostcard-sizewatercolors,oranantiqueobject.
Therearetwowaystotestpictureplacement:
1.TracetheframesontoKraftpaper,cutoutdummies.Thentapethemtothewall.2.Usepainter’stapetooutlineshapesandpossiblecompositionsonthewall.Livewiththewallmock-upforafewdays.
typecasting:hangingartLetyourroomtellyouwhatitrequiresfromtheartdepartment.Ifyourfurnitureisarrangedsymmetrically,mixitupwithanoffbeatcomposition.Ifyou’vealreadybeendaringwithfurnitureshapeandcolor,tryauniformgrid.Butbeforeyougrabyourhammer,youshouldknowexactlywhereyou’regoingtoplacethatnail.
Freeform.Thisapproachworksbestforhangingmanydisparatepiecestogetherononewall.Whenpiecesvaryinsizeandshape,firstarrangethemonthefloorandthentransferthecompositiontothewall.Startbyplacingthebiggestpiece,whichcanbeatthecenterofofftoaside.Arrangesmallerworksaroundit,keepingthesamedistancebetweenframes.Makesurecolorandintensityisspreadthroughout.
Gridlock.Astriking,graphicmethodistohangworksofidenticalsizeinanorderlygrid.Determinetheamountofspaceseparatingthem,suchasthreeinches,andusethatasthemarginaroundalloftheframes.
Goingoutonaledge.Foracasual,layeredfeelthatletsyouswapoutworksfrequently,mountoneormoreledgesonawall.Leanframedartontheledgeandlettheedgesoverlap,whichgivesitacarefree,bohemianvibe.Asimilartechniqueworkswithlargerpiecesarrangedonasideboardormantel.
MEASUREFORMEASURE
THE CENTER OF YOUR FRAMEDWORK SHOULD BE EYE-LEVEL. OR, POSITIONTHE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME ABOUT 3 TO 6 INCHES ABOVE A PIECE OFFURNITURE. IF IT IS A ROOM WHERE PEOPLE ARE SITTING, MAKE SUREYOUTAKE THAT LOWER VANTAGE POINT INTO ACCOUNT AND ADJUSTACCORDINGLY.
hanginghelpersWhenitcomestohangingart,youreyeissometimesmorehelpfulthanatapemeasureandalevel.Enlistafriendtohelportryityourselfwithoneoftheseeasyhangingmethods.
Method1
UseaBook.Whenhangingagroupofpicturesinaclusterorgrid,findabookwithabindingthat’sthesamewidthorheightasthedistanceyoudesirebetweenframesverticallyorhorizontally.Thenuseitasaguidetospacethepicturesevenly.
IFTHERE’SONETHINGYOUDO
FINDASPOTFORPERSONAL,FRAMEDFAMILYPHOTOS(ANDTHOSEOFDOGS,TOO) AND KEEP THEM CONTAINED THERE INSTEAD OF SPREADING THEMTHROUGHOUTYOURHOME.
Method2
UseaYardstick.Hammera1.5-inchfinishingnailthroughthecenterofayardstick,makingsurethatitpokesoutthebackendandthattheheadofthenailisn’tcompletelyflushwiththeyardstick.Hangthewireorbracketofthepicturefromthenailhead.(Donotresttheentireweightofthepictureonthenail,butenoughtomakesurethatthewireistaut.)Pointthenailatthewall,adjustingthestickuntilitrestswhereyouwantittohang.Gentlypresstheyardstickagainstthewall,justhardenoughforthenailtomakeamarkonthewall.Removethepictureandyardstickandinstallyourpicturehanger;remembertoadjustforthedistancebetweenthenailandtheactualhook;youwanttheVofthehooktobeexactlywhereyouroriginaldepressionis.
finishingtouchesAbaretableisaninvitationtoaddaneye-appealingtableau.Youshouldhaveafewcenterpieceideasonhand—somethatexpire,likefruitandflowers,andothers,suchasagroupingofvases,thatlastthewholeseason.
1.ONE-KIND-OF-FRUITBOWLFEATURINGJUSTORANGES,JUSTAPPLES,ETC.
2.ANODDNUMBEROFSIMILAR-COLORVASESINDIFFERENTSHAPESANDSTYLES.
3.AVASEFILLEDWITHASINGLEVARIETY,BUTALWAYSATLEASTTHREETIMESMOREFLOWERSTHANYOUTHINKNECESSARY.
4.WHITEPILLARCANDLESINVARIOUSSHAPESANDSIZES.
5.ACONTAINERFILLEDWITHGREENSFROMYOURLOCALMARKETORPICKTHEMFROMTHENEARESTTREEINYOURYARD.
acknowledgments
Mythanks,love,andrespect…
Firstandforemosttomypatientfamilywhohasputupwithmyimpulsiveneedtorepaint,reupholster,andrearrangetheworldaroundme.Tomymother,JaneySchecter,whotaughtmeeverythingIknowandwhowasable,withamoment’snotice,towhipuptheincredibleillustrationsinthisbook.Tomyfather,RobertSchecter,foralwayssupportingbothofus.ToTriciaDavey,withoutwhosegentlenudgingIwouldhavenevermadeitthroughthisprocess.ToVanessaHoldenforinitiallycapturingmyvisionsoclearly.ToSophieDonelsonforhersolidresearchandforhelpingmetransfermywordsandideastopaper.ToPamelaCannonandRandomHousefortakingachanceonmeandforallowingmetopursuemyvision.ToAnnieSchlechterforherkeeneyeanduncannyabilitytospotamustache.ToDylanChandler,forhisdigitalprowessandfantasticorganizationalskills.ToMarkHartmanforcomingoutofretirementandforbeingmyheavylifter.ToGiorgioBaravalleforgivingFlip!afreshface.ToConnieNewberry(andTom)forgraciouslyopeningyourdoorstomewhenIwasinneedofthecolorred(andwheneverIaminneedofabigkitchen)!ToVickiLoveSalnikoffforalwayshelpingmefindtheartIloveandwanttokeep.ToMilesReddandRobertLindgrenfortheirdecoratingexpertise.ToMarianMcEvoyforshowingmethattolovewhatyoudoisthebestwaytosucceedinacareer.ToeveryoneattheTodayshow,formakingmeapartofyourfamily.ToTobyYoung,AnitaCalero,andmyotherfellowVirgos—onlyyoureallyeverunderstand.ToMaryElizabethLawrenceandAmandaPottersforyoursoundadviceandfriendship.TotheladiesofD.V.—thankyoufornotcomplainingwhenIansweredaworkcallorsentane-mailfromthechairlift!
abouttheauthor
ElizabethMayhewisthelifestyleexpertforNBC’sTodayshowandisspecialprojectseditorforHouseBeautifulmagazine.PreviouslyshewaseditorialdevelopmentdirectoratRealSimplemagazine.AnativeofLouisville,Kentucky,shenowlivesinNewYorkCitywithherhusbandandtwochildren.
PHOTO:ANNESCHLECHTER