THINK DESIGN TIPS

“It’s all about the chandelier,” I said in all seriousness to my friend Traci after I walked into her newly decorated living room. The room was large with a lot of natural light and very comfortable furnishings. The walls were painted a light shade of buttercup, so not to be overpowering, nor non existent. Photos of friends and family dotted the landscape while large indoor palms created a green dream that any eco friendly activist would embrace. If I was to describe the style, the best I could do would be stylish bohemian with a measured dose of Shabby Chic.

I knew I was in trouble when Traci’s back stiffened while she slowly turned her head, in the same way that little girl did in the first Exorcist movie, and with nothing short of Asp venom spewing from her mouth proceeded to tell me that in no uncertain terms was the room only about the chandelier. She went on about the way the couches were of a certain height, so not to block the windows, that the flow of the room was very feng shui, that the natural light reflected so well off the yellow which made the room a very happy place to be while, last but not least on her list, was the fact that the dark green of the Palms co-existed so well with the pillows and throws that everyone loved to snuggle up to. I could only laugh nervously. I contemplated giving her a valium and the name of a good therapist since she obviously had some anger issues that morning, but I held my tongue.

Fearing for my own safety, since she was already deep into punishing a loaf of white bread that was now rendered unedible and blocking the only escape route, I agreed that the room was beautiful and that yes, all the things she said were true. She had truly done a beautiful job of redecorating. But I reminded her that she purposefully kept this very large and quite spectacular hand blown glass and antiqued wood chandelier that she found at a flea market in Paris, shipped back to her home in Boston and had restored for quite a bit of money. I had actually offered to buy it from her when she started the remodel, but she said then that the whole room was going to revolve around this grand dame of lighting. During dinner parties that she and her husband throw periodically, the chandelier dominates the conversation whenever first time guests arrive. It’s like having a best friend or sibling that is smarter or better looking than you. You hate them for a while but come to admire them as you grow older. Well, some of us do, but that is another story. This chandelier is sort of the same thing for Traci. All her hard work and people will still only notice the chandelier.

I personally love taking one special piece of furniture and create a story around it. You don’t need much. A few well placed and well thought out pieces will do more to make people feel comfortable or inspired in your space than if you loaded it up with jumble. The fact that Traci carefully “curated” her living room, showed all the way through the footprint, right down to the tassels on the window coverings. I use the word curate because that’s what she did. Traci took into account the chandelier and chose furnishings and accessories that added to the story. She noted the light painted hues on the wood stem and the raw curvilinear shape of the small glass bowls surrounding the bulbs. Her sanctuary is a place where great conversations will be started, cocktails will be drunk, sleepovers will be had and books will be read. All the while, that Parisian chandelier will be keeping vigil over the stories yet to be told.

Oh, and in case you are wondering Traci and I are still great friends. I just don’t talk about you know what anymore!