[…] allows for color variety in curtains, upholstery and decorative touches.
If you decide on white, make certain you avoid a sterile clinical look by using
vivid colors elsewhere. Or, if you select a bold background color, then be
prepared to limit your use of color in the rest of your furnishings.
Rugs were used here as a technique for defining different areas. There's a rich reddish yellow carpet in the breakfast area, a cool and elegant green and turquoise Spanish-style rug in the dining area and a luxurious shaggy white rug in the living area, made by lying nine goat skin rugs side by side. A small ‘reception' area, which brings the other areas together and had once been a drab landing, is offset by a brilliant pink and orange rug.
Radiators are another feature which help to establish various areas, as well as adding a bold touch of color. Rather than apologetically attempting to disguise the radiators, they were brought out into the open by painting them bright greens, reds or yellows to fit in suitably with the surrounding decor. They were specially made to fit the various wall lengths which makes them a colorful decorative accent as well as a functional object.
Don't neglect giving full consideration to items like rugs and radiators. It's too easy to expend all your energy in selecting the primary furnishings like a couch or wall-to-wall carpeting, while forgetting the secondary ones like cushions and wall decorations. The rugs and radiators in this house are instrumental in creating a visual impact.
The apple green radiator of the dining room is picked up in the cool hues of the handsome rug which sets off the light and delicate chrome and ...
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Above left. A cool and streamlined dining room simply done in stunning green
and blue. A Spanish-style rug frames the light table and chairs. Above the
colorful radiator on the right is an eye-catching grouping of pictures. ---
Above right. Night view of a living room glowing with warmth. Fascinating shadows,
created from the modem mobile, bounce off the ceiling. The shaggy rug was made
by lying nine goatskin rugs side by side. Brightly colored cushions give a
cheerful look to the otherwise undecorated windows.
… glass table, designed by Mr. Ellis. Decorative items include a potted floor plant and a cluster of pictures that cover an entire wall. Mr. Ellis made the frames from plywood, varying the thickness according to the picture size. He then screwed chrome mirror clips into the side which holds the picture, wood and glass securely in place.
A feature such as this grouping of pictures can often make the difference between an average room and a visually outstanding one.
A further feature worth noting is found in the luxurious living area. Space was saved by building quadrant-shaped supports on the wall to house a hi-fi unit. The supports were made from blockboard, with curved hardboard fronts.
Rather than looking for a spare corner to tuck away the hi-fi equipment, it‘s become an integral part of the decoration, adding to the appeal in the room. It is also an excellent way of keeping it out of reach from little children and eliminates annoying stains from party drinks.
Another idea for making a feature of your hi-fi is to install it in a chimney breast that has been made obsolete by central heating.
Emulsion paint, applied directly to the wall, was used for the bold cylinder wall graphic. The red in the wall design is then repeated in the smooth curves of the two perspex coffee tables which were unusually positioned in opposition to one another. More splashes of color are seen on the window sill where there is an abundant display of cushions, made from old mattress foam, in the 'sunshine' colors of golds, reds and oranges. These bold and brilliant colors can be used effectively here because of the neutral and restful background color.
The lighting throughout this first-floor con version is strategic. Parabolic spotlights in vivid colors were positioned to maximize color and shape, giving a dramatic and visually appealing mood to the rooms. Lighting is one of the most important elements for creating an atmosphere and warmth in interior design and careful thought should be given to selecting the most effective and useful method.
One original and eye-catching feature that benefits from lighting is a modern display unit which emerges from five cube-shaped boxes, stacked one on top of the other. Made from perspex and steel, it is ideal for displays in that it doesn't need a routine dusting, doesn't take up much wall or floor space and adds an individual touch.
The unit had first been used to hold literature at an exhibition. Designed by Mr. Ellis, he was able to bring it home from the exhibition for his own use. A good eye for adapting items, like this display complex, for new uses, goes a long way to enhancing an interior decor-and usually saves money.
From a featureless Victorian house, Mr. Ellis has created a home, characterized by vivid color, bold design and imaginative ideas.