Design dilemmas: Summertime facelifts and fan facts

Tag : Chenille Curtains



QUESTION: My family room needs a facelift for the summer. It’s acasual room with an oversized sofa and chair. The fabric is achenille in dark brown. The area rugs are also on the dark side andmy curtains are old and drab looking. Any suggestions thatwon’t cost a lot of money?
ANSWER: I have many suggestions. First of all, the fact that the sofa isoversized makes it a perfect partner for a slipcover. Purchase onein cotton, twill or canvas. Stick to a neutral color such as tan,beige or off-white. Add some fun pillows in a textured fabric withan interesting weave. Stay away from shiny fabrics, they tend togive a room a more formal look.
With just this inexpensive change your room will take on a wholenew look. It will have a fresh, summery feel. Next, roll up thatdark area rug and replace it with a sisal (not the real thing),Berber or woven rug from your local home improvement store. Take alook at your accessories. If there are many dark, heavy objects,pack them away for the summer and replace them with candles, glassand wicker. As far as your window treatments go, opt for a romanshade in a woven fabric or maybe wood blinds. This will lighten upthe room considerably. If you prefer window panels, make sureyou purchase them in a softer, lighter, sheer fabric. This willprovide an airy feel and let the sunshine in. The lighter the wood,the more open the room will feel. If you have a dark coffee table,ottomans are hot items right now. Top one with a wood or rattantray and it will easily convert to a coffee table. Remember, casualrooms have simple details, lots of texture and soft, comfortableseating. Whatever you pack away for the summer months can be addedback into the room in the fall. You will feel like you have atotally new look. Have fun, this is the perfect time of year tolighten up your room and enjoy a soft, light, summery feel.
QUESTION: With the soaring costs of energy and the pure guilt of using ourair conditioner, we have decided to install ceiling fans. Do youhave any suggestions or ideas?
ANSWER: I was never a big “fan” of ceiling fans (no punintended), but in the past few years they have designed so many newoptions, colors and styles that they are definitely being used moreoften than ever. With the high cost of energy, it’s a greattime to consider a fan. It will certainly help cool your rooms inthe hot summer months ahead. Remember that a ceiling fan just movesthe air around. But many times that’s all you really need.There are a variety of sizes and styles available at your localhome improvement store to fit any budget and decor. A few tips:Make sure you purchase the correct size fan for your room or elseit will be worthless. Obviously, the larger the room the larger thefan needed. Fans generally range in size from 28 to 53 inches.Measure the square footage of your room and have that informationwith you when you are purchasing the fan. This way you will be sureto buy the correct size. Another fact a lot of people aren’taware of is that the rotation of the blades matters. The blades onyour fan should rotate counter-clockwise in the summer to give youa cool breeze. In the cold winter months, the blades should go inthe opposite direction (clockwise). This will force the warm airdown and help “heat” your room. Ceiling fans are agreat energy efficient option and I commend you for installing newfans and turning down that air-conditioning unit.
Linda Brigida is the owner of Interiors, a new decorating businesslocated in Plymouth and specializing in window treatments, roomdesign, color choices and furniture selection. Design dilemmasappears in Town Commons every other week. E-mail your questions tointeriors07@aim.com or call Interiors at 508-746-2166.