This leather chair with its lived-in look is comfortable and surprisingly durable.

The chairs in your home might seem like the simplest part of your décor, but they can actually be the star of the show.

For example, retro chairs are coming back in style. Remember the bubble chairs from the 70s? They are finding new life in mid-century modern designs and other contemporary homes. And that’s a chair that makes a statement, even if it is stuck in the corner!

Of course, most houses can’t manage such a distinctive chair but that doesn’t mean your seating has to be boring. In a living room or family room, a good way to give the space a custom look is to use different arm styles and fabrics on your chairs and sofa rather than a matched set. For your sofa, for example, you might select a thicker, padded arm, while the chairs get a more elegant arm that doesn’t take up as much space.

Chairs can make their own design statement, like this gray-washed dome chair.

Nothing looks more inviting than an aged leather chair—so why not group four of them facing each other for a conversation area? Or flank either side of a living room fireplace with chairs (see photo) that might not be super comfortable like those in your family room but that really make a striking design statement. Just be careful that your chairs are proportionate to their surroundings—they should be accents, not overwhelming. If the chairs are much larger than the sofa, your room takes on an Alice in Wonderland effect.

Your home's chairs shouldn't be boring – they can be artistic and useful.

And don’t forget the backs of your chairs if they don’t face a wall. One of my most recent favorite custom chairs had an inside back and seat upholstered in gray velvet and the back (the exterior portion) covered in a large cherry blossom pattern. The chair was like a piece of art floating in the room, which was a dramatic space itself with a chandelier and dark wood floors. Gorgeous!

When you are buying chairs, keep their use in mind. As I said earlier, a formal living room chair doesn’t need to be as useful as a chair where you’ll be watching TV every night. Always “test drive” a chair in your home before you commit to it so you can assess it for your own personal preferences and fit.

Looking for the perfect chair? We might have it at our exclusive Style Marketplace (click here). If not, we can help you select or custom-design just the right chair for your space. Please click here to contact us.

You can buy see-through book shelves to fit your style and create the room separation you need.

Living spaces that include “great rooms” or combination living/dining areas are terrific for entertaining and for families, but sometimes they can appear cavernous and cold if they aren’t designed properly. And on the other end of the spectrum, a small condo or apartment needs to have delineated places for living, dining and cooking. Fortunately, in both of these situations it’s possible to use furniture and accessories to divide the space without creating permanent walls.

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, it was popular to partition a home’s entryway with a half-wall topped by pillars so you could see through to the door but still have a sense of separation. Of course that look is dated now, but the same concept remains. By using a simple partition, you can give the feel of boundaries but you don’t block off light and views.

A fireplace makes an ideal space divider.

For example, I really like to use a freestanding bookcase that is open from both sides. IKEA’s Billy line works well for this approach, or you can use a more high-end version in a variety of styles and materials. Either way, the bookcase lets in light from both sides and it provides a showcase for holding accessories and accents, such as vases, trinkets from your latest travels, books or plants.

A large screen is an obvious choice for dividing a space. Look for a screen that complements your décor but still allows light through rather than a completely opaque screen that forms a wall. Instead of anchoring the screen from wall to the other, bring it in six to nine feet so it generates its own space.

Simply installing a swivel TV can give the feel of two rooms in one.

You can also use items that can be arranged to give the impression of a wall. For instance, a group of large pots in different sizes sets space apart. I also like wide floor lamps uplighting tall bamboo plants that add texture and bring in the outdoors. If you are remodeling, consider a two-sided fireplace that gives off warmth and ambience to both sides of the room, or install a swivel TV.

As you can see, there are many ways to creatively assign your living space without giving up an overall feeling of airiness. Just be sure to think from both sides of the “wall” so you aren’t facing a beautiful view from one side of the unit and a less-than-desirable look from the other.

If we can help with any of your decorating or remodeling needs, please contact us.

When the TV returns to inside the cabinet, the top surface is another useable space.

Even with compact flat screens, sometimes TVs are problematic to decorating. Perhaps you don’t have enough wall space in your bedroom for a TV. Or maybe you want a TV in a more formal room but you don’t want it to conflict with your décor. If you are trying to reduce TV watching in your home – but don’t want to eliminate the TV completely – you might be looking for a complete storage solution.

I have the answer for you: a cabinet or console with a TV lift installed.

These are perfect for anyone who wants occasional use of a TV because the TV actually drops into the cabinet, giving you a smooth surface on top. When you’re ready to watch the TV, you simply punch a remote control and it rises from the cabinet. When you’re finished, hit the button and it returns to its hiding place.

I recently had one of these installed for a client who wanted a TV but the walkways in her living space made a wall-hung or tabletop TV impossible. We placed the lifted TV inside a console table, and now she can access it when her family is ready for TV yet it’s not in the way at other times.

Components for your lifted TV can also be hidden in the cabinet so they don't distract from your decor.

Another client only had adequate wall space for a dresser mirror but also wanted a TV. Our technician mounted the TV inside her dresser, so now it can be raised to watch TV from the bed or lowered for full access to the mirror above it. The dresser’s drawers remain useable, although they are shallower to make room for the lift mechanism.

This concept works especially well for rooms full of windows, such as a high-rise where the focus is on the view. Plus we can add a 360-degree swivel base to make the TV visible from any angle in the room. And since lifted TVs can be added to virtually any type of cabinet or console, you don’t sacrifice function for beauty. You can also hide your media components inside the unit, providing a clean look.

If we can help with creating a TV lift cabinet for you, or with any of your design needs, please contact us.

Reclaimed wood works well as a rustic dining room table.

If you’ve shopped for furniture at any of the popular furnishings stores lately, you’ve probably seen a surge in reclaimed woods paired with metals such as factory zinc and cast iron. Restoration Hardware has been particularly fond of this style, but you’ll also find it at places such as Pottery Barn, Cost Plus and West Elm.

I’m a big fan of this look and used it when I recently redecorated my own home. Because the materials are reclaimed, they have a lot of durability, which is great for those of us who have kids. Since they already have a “lived in” look, another knick in the wood just adds to the character.

For some people, though, this is a little too rustic. For example, reclaimed wood can be difficult to clean – if you drop a glass of red wine on it, you won’t be able to wipe it up. If you think about an old French farmhouse, a little more red wine would just add to the table’s character. But if that’s not your style, you could still feature reclaimed wood by perhaps using a glass or metal top with a wood stand, or having the wood top sanded and refinished with a cleanable polyurethane.

Another consideration is the color. Some reclaimed wood is more of a gray while other types are a little warmer. Deciding on the look you want – more or less neutral – is an important first step to using reclaimed wood. If you lean toward more neutral, you can add interest to the room with black and white framed photos, and textures such as jutes, mohairs, and leathers to avoid creating a “flat” room with no character.

Reclaimed wood can also be part of a more contemporary look, depending on how it is styled.

If you prefer a little more color, add colorful rugs or throw pillows, upholster chairs in bright prints, and include potted plants. (Reupholstering chairs doesn’t have to be expensive – if you’re buying new, just order them in the most affordable fabric and then take them to an upholsterer who can customize them for you at less than $75 per chair.)

Don’t forget to add accessories to your new room. Antiques and vintage-style pieces go well with the reclaimed wood look. Shop around and you might find an old toolbox, for instance, that can serve as a storage spot for TV remotes. Or hang a large metal clock on the wall. The idea is to provide warmth through fun and interesting pieces, whatever that might mean to you and your family, so you can enjoy your home.

If we can help you blend reclaimed woods with your décor, or with any of your design needs, please contact us.

This stacked-stone fireplace with floating mantel is traditional but updated.

Baby, it’s cold outside – time to light the fireplace! This often overlooked accessory is actually a centerpiece in most rooms, so it’s important that it has the look you want, especially since it is a focal point during the chilly months. Here are a few ways you can update your fireplace.

Unlike most parts of your house, a fireplace can get a fresh look relatively inexpensively. For example, simply re-facing the front of the fireplace with stacked stone (see photo) can really make it pop and give it new life.

Large tile is a popular choice for fireplaces but I generally avoid it for a couple of reasons. One, the wide grout is difficult to clean, and it does get dirty from the fire smoke. And two, tile is tricky to cut around the fireplace opening, which means it doesn’t arrange correctly on the space. That leaves half-tiles and a cluttered look. Instead, choose from cultured or natural stone, or small tile.

If your fireplace has a floor-to-ceiling surround, you can remove all of it and then add new facing just to the bottom. Then drywall and paint the top, which will provide space for artwork, a mirror or a flat-screen TV.

Some fireplaces have no design – they’re more like a hole in the wall. If that’s your situation, we can have our custom woodworker make a mantel with columns that extend to the floor, framing your fireplace. I just did this for a client and it took their fireplace from dull to elegant in one step.

If you are only replacing the mantel, be sure it balances with the fireplace size, meaning your mantel shouldn’t be significantly smaller or larger than the fireplace itself. A floating mantel (see photo) is a contemporary option that works well with more rustic styles too depending on the wood you choose for the mantel itself.

A new mantel makes gives this fireplace presence and adds a decorative touch.

As you plan your fireplace redesign, stick with neutral colors. It can be fun to use colorful tile, for example, but if you want to change your décor later, the tile might have become dated. Instead, go for clean and classic, and add color through other room accessories. Also consider converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas. It will be easier and less expensive to operate, and it eliminates flying embers that could end up on your beautiful rugs and furniture.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with remodeling your fireplace, or any of your home design needs.

I’ll be honest: When we work with people to design or remodel their homes, we typically deal with the woman of the house. The guys might offer their opinions here and there, but that’s about it.

Until we start talking TVs.

Men are all about their televisions, right? The TV can never be too big, too loud or too much a part of the space. For guys, a TV that is front and center is just fine, thanks.

So when we designers propose hanging the TV over a fireplace, those men we rarely hear from during a remodel suddenly come alive. They are always worried a TV installed over the fireplace will be too high and uncomfortable for viewing. I understand—after years of TVs near the floor, it might feel odd to imagine your TV hanging like a picture over the mantel.

Once I convince them they are going to like the result, we go ahead with placing the TV on that fireplace wall. It’s not an easy process—an electrician has to run the wires behind the drywall and then the wall needs to be patched and painted. But the results are so great that it’s well worth it.

Why? First of all, the obvious: you don’t see the wires coming from the TV when they are neatly tucked into the wall. From a space perspective, though, having the TV above the fireplace creates one focal point in the room. When you don’t need an additional spot for the TV, you open up multiple seating and storage options. Plus you can enjoy the fireplace while watching your favorite TV show or movie.

To avoid neck strain, we always have our clients’ TVs hung on mounts that allow them to tilt the unit up or down. If you don’t like the look of a TV over your fireplace, you can hide it with specially crafted wood cabinets that fold over the TV when it’s not in use.

Something many of our clients have found useful is a new infrared device called RedEye that allows you to store your TV and sound system components in another room or closet. You simply use your smartphone to access RedEye and operate all your media equipment from wherever is comfortable. Pretty cool!

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with any of your home design needs.