New wood flooring, smooth walls covered in your favorite color and a fireplace and mantle that you’ve always dreamed about.
Who could ask for more in the great room? Everyone! Now the fun begins. Couches, pillows, lamps, artwork, window treatments, tables and candles will turn the basic remodeling affair into a love affair for the eyes.
Design Adventures owner Carolyn Deardorff has served people in their homes and in the classroom at Colorado State University and Arapahoe Community College. Using a master’s degree in interior design, she has assisted Front Range clients for more than 20 years.
Deardorff said she considers several elements when helping clients define their approach to finishing a room.
Once the furniture, tables and lighting are in place, she “puts the icing on the cake.”
Elements include:
• something that grabs the eye
• an antique item, possibly something personal like an old photo
• something with texture that contrasts with its immediate surroundings
• a plant or flowers
• candles – a type that fits the rest of the furnishings
• use odd numbers (decorative pillows and table-top items)
Such embellishments are meant to enhance a new look in a way that is unique to your personality, your family or your lifestyle. “It’s like clothing or art,” Deardorff explains. “You don’t buy a piece of art if it doesn’t speak to you. You do it for emotional reasons.”
Here’s where you set yourself apart from your neighbors or the latest television expert who’s pushing the trend de jour.
If the goal is to help your child find beauty in classical music, maybe it’s time to make room for that grand piano you’ve always wanted. Then rush down to that gallery in the Denver ArtDistrict on Santa Fe and buy that piece you’ve had your eye on – even if it is a touch above the budget.
Although major works of art, large furniture pieces and lighting won’t change much over short periods of time, accessories can and should.
Deardorff views it as an ongoing investment. By spending less money on small items, they can be replaced more often. “You don’t have to spend a fortune on accessories,” she says.
Sometimes, people will move smaller pieces to different rooms or to the closet when change is needed, she said. Or, sometimes the old candles sticks head directly to the thrift store.
Deardorff said the challenges that face 30-somethings are different than those faced by retirement-aged people. The young couple will likely need a bevy of options when furnishing their newly remodeled home. Older folks — with a lifetime of purchases — might have to pick and choose what gets displayed.
Photos provided by Arhaus Furniture
