Redesign How To's
September 2010
Greetings,

This newsletter salutes the beginning of Fall by shining a spotlight on how to make a focal wall statement with a bookshelf redesign.  Plus, we continue the series on Redesign How To's with a feature on diagonal furniture placement.

Happy reading!
In This Issue
Make a Statement with Bookshelves
Redesign 101: Diagonality - What it Is ...Why it Works
 Make a Statement with Bookshelves

Recently, To a T completed a makeover for these built-in bookshelves. The client's objectives were:

Bookshelves Before Redesign


* make the shelves more of a focal point for the family room;

* keep the collection of Chinese pottery a centerpiece of the display.




Redesigned Bookshelves
Redesigned Bookshelves

With the above in mind, To a T helped pick the paint color for the back of the shelves and shopped the client's home for additional items to mix in to the display. Voila, we now have a whole new look:



We asked our client for feedback on her experience, and here's what she had to say:

"I have always been cautious about using color, especially anything that was too "extreme".  I had tried to introduce another color into my family room and Susan helped me get comfortable that a deep red would be a good accent color to use.  I had redecorated those shelves so often since we moved into the house nearly 15 years ago but they never felt quite right. Susan brought in a mix of colors and textures that added so much interest and shows off the Chinese pieces to the best advantage. My thanks to To a T Interiors for giving a professional touch to my shelves. I am so pleased with them."

--Karen, Bethesda, MD

And thanks to Karen for giving To a T the opportunity to make a difference in her home.

Redesign 101: Diagonality - What it Is,
Why it Works
Never heard of 'diagonality'? You won't find it in Websters, but we decided to coin it after hearing a client use it to describe her To a T furniture arrangement.   In a nutshell, diagonality describes the placement of furniture on the diagonal, e.g., not against a wall.  In our last newsletter, you heard that furniture placement is the key foundation of good functional design.  With that in mind, here are five reasons why diagonality works well in so many furniture layouts. 

1)  Its important to honor an existing angle created by architecture or furniture, e.g., angled entry step or baby grand piano.  Furniture placement should relate to the line of the pre-existing angle. 

Living Room Before
Living Room Before

Living Room After
Living Room After











2)  Angled furniture fosters a cohesive conversation area
(8'- 10' is the rule of thumb for comfortable furniture spacing that promotes conversation).

3)  Angles create visual interest upon entering a room.  They are less static than placement against a wall and therefore, more dynamic and inviting.

Family Room Before
Family Room Before











Family Room After
Family Room After









4)  Angling furniture allows views to multiple focal areas within one room (e.g., windows with a view and TV watching).

5)  Use angles to blend multiple functional areas within a room or to make a narrow room appear wider.

Living Room Before

Living Room Before












Living Room After

Living Room After












You can see diagonality at work in more To a T designed rooms at: To a T Interiors Design Portfolio.




As always, if you need help making your home the inviting, comfortable space you envision, call To a T Interiors.  We can help you select the perfect paint color, find solutions to corral the clutter that accumulates for busy families or redesign your living spaces to enhance the beauty and function for the whole family. 


Susan
To a T Interiors
301-467-3563
www.toatinteriors.com
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