What would you do with a livingroom like this if you had just purchased this house. A lovely room -don't you agree? I think I'd paint all the trim a bright shiny white, the walls a matte french gray, refinish the original herringbone wood floor to a dull sheen and possibly put in a rather simple limestone surround for the fireplace. Definitely keep all that beautifully spotted antique mirror, especially the really damaged one above the fireplace -and hang a painting centered in front of it. Your turn!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
What would you do?
What would you do with a livingroom like this if you had just purchased this house. A lovely room -don't you agree? I think I'd paint all the trim a bright shiny white, the walls a matte french gray, refinish the original herringbone wood floor to a dull sheen and possibly put in a rather simple limestone surround for the fireplace. Definitely keep all that beautifully spotted antique mirror, especially the really damaged one above the fireplace -and hang a painting centered in front of it. Your turn!
So many thoughts that photograph inspires ... nothing like a dilapidated space to get the imagination racing non? One potential scheme would be dirty pink walls, rather like Christopher Hodsoll has used, with the woodwork painted in three shades of soft white; the floor I would strip to the bare wood and merely have waxed and then partly covered with a vast carpet of seagrass; the old mirrored glass must remain intact, and an Egyptian Revival mantel, nothing overwhelming, but definitely Retour d'Egypte in style, made of a pale-coloured stone. Then I would hang masses of 20th-century paintings and watercolors, in tarnished gilt frames, to offset the architecture's period atmosphere. Furniture? A hearty and inviting mixture of Napoléon III buttontufted folderol, a scattering of neoclassical chairs and tables, and a console or two by Hervé Van der Straeten. At least, this is what jumps to mind right away. The chandelier question, however, is vexing. One could commission one (from said Monsieur Van der Straeten) or one could instead hang a massive thing of smoky rock crystal.
ReplyDeleteAAL, your room sounds magical!! You know how to paint a pretty picture with your words and imagination as always :-)
ReplyDeleteOne definitely wants it to be a room with a great deal of life, visually and physically, rather than a salon.
ReplyDeleteI agree, AAL, I would definitely veer away from a 'period feeling' room and doing something that imparts the history of the space. If I had a room like this in my house I would want to LIVE in it, spending all my time there!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the sumptuous rooms designed by Cecil Beaton for the film My Fair Lady? All that wonderful William Morris wallcovering, decorated ceilings, polished woods, and all that pattern and fabulous color? There you go. That's what I see.
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with the white woodwork and refinished herringbone floors, but the mirror over the fireplace is too damaged for use and keeping it intact screams "decorator contrivance." The size of the room seems ample; I think I'd pay homage to Babe Paley's NYC apartment with lots of separate seating areas and a rich mix of elements but NOT Sister Parrish's taxicab yellow walls. Apricot, maybe.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this space?
I believe this is an abandoned ante-bellum mansion down in the south, lecaro. Some people like the aged mirrors, others don't -it's really personal! I like the numerous seating areas as the room is rather big! I agree too that bright wall color would seem inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see herringbone as well. I'd do the walls in a light drabware color with a pale duck egg blue ceiling. I'd use Swedish furniture with blue & white fabrics. I agree exactly with lecaro that the mirror over the fireplace is too damaged. I think it's too big as well. I'd go for a smaller aged mirror. I think I'd do two chandeliers in a smaller scale than one huge one. I agree with Pamela (Hi Pamela about Cecil Beaton's design, with lots of potted palms!
ReplyDeleteShoot - I missed this!!
ReplyDeleteok
- the mirrors would stay of course! A large center table, round from France with a huge crystal chandelier with rock cyrstals including a few in light purples. the walls would be matt ala F&B in hydrangea colors - the browns and lavenders and mossy greens - the no color colors. Seagrass of course. the sofas would be huge with no cushions, feet exposed ala Belgian style. the fabrics would be linen slips with sil velvets and cotton damasks. sconces would line the walls reflected back into mirrors. and a large bed to sleep in there 24/7!!
Joni, you win! Thats my favorite!!
ReplyDelete