THE PROBLEM Stairwells, catwalks of open-concept home posed safety problems for new baby.
THE SOLUTION Turn sunken living room into a modern, kidproof space for living, entertaining.
HOW IT HAPPENED • Picked black and white to complement adjacent kitchen; accented feature wall with iridescent fireplace tiles. • Took cue from tiles for color scheme of fuchsia, peacock and mirrored surfaces. • Designed zones for living, dining and office connected with a maple floor. • Created black veneer cabinetry to store baby toys. • Used easy-to-clean leather-like material for the sofa. • Installed dining table that can expand for six or contract for two. • Clad the back of the hazardous open stairs with wood, added tempered glass panels to the side of the open stair railing. BEST TRICK Tucked a small office area under the stairs.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. Interior decorator Candice Olson hosts "Divine Design," which appears Thursdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m.
