BEFORE: The living room has potential to be so much more. Note the classic mistake of pushing all the furniture against the walls.

AFTER: The room is lighter and more inviting. Keep going to see how we changed it into an intimate, beautiful room. 

BEFORE: Note the problems with furniture placement alone. Is a guest seated in the corner chair expected to speak to anyone? Where would traffic from the entrance between the chair and loveseat walk? Anybody want to sit next to the fireplace? Note also the dated style of the furniture and cold feel of the room. Look at the fireplace mantle. We'll create a lot more drama there.

AFTER: You can see how these issues were resolved. The fireplace has become a focal point. Now, a guest in the corner has a light to read by and a comfortable, inviting spot out of traffic. Seats are moved in around the fireplace for easy conversation.

AFTER: Although the seating is moved close together, the room looks bigger because the furniture is away from the walls. Traffic through the room does not interrupt conversation.

AFTER: Traffic through the room has been cleared and the visibility of the walls gives the appearance of spaciousness.  There seems to be less clutter. The design and color is integrated without being boring or predictable.

BEFORE: This is another view from above that shows how guests would tend to feel like naughty children when seated in the room -- each sent to their own corner!  The carpet is bland and the kitchen tile is dated. 

AFTER: The living room now has carpet in a defined seating and conversation area. The frame of bare wood floors highlighted with an accent stripe refines and unifies the appearance of the whole. We get the beauty of hardwood floors without the wasted expense of using hardwood where it would be hidden under an area rug.

AFTER: Notice the hearth and how we've created a new focal point for conversation.

AFTER: This is a good view to illustrate the placement of certain decorative elements.  Check out the fireplace mantel and columns.  Now go back and look at the before pictures of the fireplace.  Do you notice how the darker mantle and added columns soften the brick surround?  Notice the placement of lamps, flowers, candles and artwork. Balanced and uncluttered.

BEFORE:The solarium is a kind of peculiar space. A couch viewing the window is obstructed by a bar table and chairs. It almost looks like a cell, with cold "Dutch diner" floor tiles and dark eyebrows for window treatments.  The purpose of the room is not clear. But it is conveniently located right next to the kitchen.

AFTER: What purpose indeed!  It has been transormed into an inviting dining area after the redesign. Removing the constricting French doors and using a unified warm rose color scheme and darker floor tiles has made the difference. Now you can dine surrounded with a delicious view. The windows are open to bring the outdoors inside.

AFTER: You can see how the removal of the French doors really invites you into the room. Note the new apparent height of the room and the art gallery on the wall.

AFTER: This is a feature shot of the window treatments to show how they contribute to height while carrying the color theme. They also add a plant motif accent to connect with the outdoor scenery. 

BEFORE: What about the previous dining area? Before, it jarred you into an "old country charm" era that seemed out of place compared to the rest of the home. Plus, the family seldom if ever used the space.

BEFORE: The dining room seemed separated from the rest of the home and at odds with its environment.

AFTER: It's hard to believe that this new and intimate lounge was once the dining room. See how easy it is to repurpose rooms?

AFTER: Lighter, and stylistically consistent, the new room invites relaxation and uses the room's isolation to promote intimacy and comfort.  Intense color and patterns are used to accent rather than dominate the environment. Lamps are coordinating but need not be matching.

A settee in the bay window encourages reading, and the TV across from comfortable seating facilitates viewing.

At the right is another pair of chairs with task lighting for reading or conversation.  This room would be a retreat in any home.

BEFORE: A direct view into the kitchen from the living room reveals just how jarring the "Dutch diner" floor tiles and patterned wallpaper truly are. The seating at the island obstructs traffic in the work area and is not comfortable for eating either.

AFTER: The change in the kitchen is dramatic! A butcher block island is reduced in width and allows a better traffic flow. Rugs are place in "spill" areas. The floor is now hardwood, carrying the color theme of the cabinets. The wallpaper is gone in favor of paint, and task lighting over the island replaces a nearly useless fluorescent ceiling fixture. WOW!

NOW, when a late-night snack calls for simple seating, VOILA!  The island opens to a normal height table, and chairs are brought in from the adjacent dining area (remember the obstructing French doors are gone!).

This view from the second level does not have an exact "before" picture, but you can imagine how much more inviting it is to descend into the living room without fear of walking in front of conversing guests.

Similarly, this view illustrates an open area for greeting guests. A wall hanging with cord and rosette adds height without requiring a peculiar shape for the art and its frame.

A view from the living room toward the entry reveals that the open look as well.  Updated celing fans now complement a more modern look.

This view of the entry emphasizes the transition to the out-of-doors with natural plant accents and a convenient "take your boots off here" bench.