THE PROBLEMA long, narrow living and dining space had been left unadorned, rather like a blank canvas. The homeowners wanted to turn this uninspiring room into a playful "parlor" that would showcase some of their paintings.
THE SOLUTIONDesigner Candice Olson blended bold colors and bright artwork to create the ultimate party parlor.
HOW IT HAPPENED• New plaster crown moldings injected a sense of character and elegance.
• A bright neutral cream color on the walls created a backdrop to let the art speak for itself.
• The space was divided into two functional areas: a large, comfortable lounge and a smaller games area. Floral linen drapery panels with accents in red, teal, gold and green help define and separate the two areas.
• Olson says when hanging artwork, you should first position your furniture. So in came a red velvet chair, a funky patterned chair and ottoman, along with a mirrored coffee table. The real wow factor was the 8-foot, tufted-back teal sofa, above which she hung 15 small floral paintings by the homeowners' favorite artist arranged in a large block.
• A fluted fan-shaped plaster ceiling medallion inside two larger ceiling rings anchors a striking chandelier in the games area. The back wall was painted a rich teal inspired by the sofa, and a mirrored-back shelving unit was placed against it. The couple's existing chairs were painted the same teal as the wall, and the seats were recovered in a vibrant striped fabric.
BEST TRICKOlson says a vital aspect of designing with art is having proper lighting. She chose halogen for the recessed lights on the ceiling because they give off a bright white light, which renders the true colors of the artwork best. She then added a pendant and several table lamps for additional ambient lighting.
