Cheryl Perotti

Do your walls speak to your décor? Do they reinforce the style and mood you are trying to achieve? Most important, does the wall color create the sense of space or warmth you are after?

There are so many possibilities when considering how best to cover your wall surfaces. If you are painting- color, texture, finish, faux effects, patterns and accent treatments are decisions that have to be made.

If wallpapering, do you use more than one, do you cover all of the walls or use the paper as an accent, and do you go for texture, pattern or a mural effect?

Beyond the usual paint and paper, there are a myriad of other applications. Mirrors, painted or etched glass, split bamboo or wood, paneling such as bead board, brick, stone, tile, and fabric are just some of the options. Mirrors, glass and Plexiglas can be used to add light, space, and reflection. In addition they can provide a surface for pattern and/or color.

Split bamboo is available in a range of colors, textures, and applications. Accented with wood beams, it can be a very thematic and unexpected accent for a wall. Wood and wood paneling can provide the perfect backdrop for any style – Contemporary, Shabby Chic, Cottage, Rustic or Traditional- depending on the presentation.

Highly textured surfaces such as brick and rock can also find their place among various design styles. Painted brick is perfect for cottage, a rock wall can be the warmth factor in a sleek, modern décor, and antique brick is perfect for a modern industrial look.

Tile is under utilized in design, usually relegated to the kitchen and bath areas of our homes. But with the evolution of so many materials such as glass and metallics, along with stones, porcelains, and ceramics, tile represents one of the greatest opportunities for creating accent areas on our walls!

Fabrics, also rarely used, can be backed for wall application in the same manner as wallpaper. Some of my favorites are denim, suede and leather.

Regardless of the medium you select for your walls, remember that the overall tone can solve problems in your space. Color can cause walls to recede or brighten a dark area and texture can add interest and warmth. And accent walls or moldings are often the answer to unify spaces and create color flow. While tackling all of these decisions, keep in mind the anticipated activities in your space, plus the ambiance you wish to achieve then cover your walls accordingly. After all, when your walls do speak to you, you want to make sure they are speaking YOUR language!!!!

Cheryl Perotti, author of the monthly feature Environs, is the owner of Fountainhead Design, an interior/exterior consulting firm working with residential, as well as, commercial projects. You may contact her at 813.417.9400 

Cheryl Perotti

Rearranging a room, purchasing new furniture, planning a remodel or home purchase? There are a few basics to keep in mind to ensure your new environment will work for you and your family. Let’s break it down room by room!

Beginning with your porch/patio… what? Surprised we started on the outside? Most everyone enjoys the outdoors… it’s a great place to start. Ample lighting that graces your exterior, a ceiling fan for climate control, depth enough to allow for a comfortable porch swing, loveseat, or pair of chairs- this is the stuff of a practical porch.

Now move into the foyer. If small, create presence with a fabulous mirror, adding a rug and, if possible a small chair, display shelf or credenza. In a larger foyer, use pieces with enough weight and style to make a statement, remembering that nothing says welcome like seating!

Whether it is your living room, family room or great room that is your principal gathering space, the rules to embrace remain the same. Keep the furnishings comfortable and inviting. Depending on your family, guests, and life style, this usually will eliminate fragile, light colored upholstery. Think earth tones or strong colors rather than off whites and pastels, remembering that patterns and textures are the most forgiving when dealing with stains and wear and tear. Measure your space carefully while designing the plan and selecting furnishings – allow enough room for traffic patterns, plus side and cocktail tables. Keep your table heights in concert with your arm heights and don’t forget the appeal of ottomans, throws, area rugs, and pillows.

Generally the biggest challenge in planning your gathering space is allowing for AV equipment. You may want it out of sight when not in use, therefore a cabinet that closes or components that raise and lower would be your best option. You definitely don’t want your equipment in a traffic area and your seating should allow for easy viewing, plus conversation! Easy viewing means comfortable height as well as proper distance. Allowing for conversation dictates that some of your seating be capable of swiveling or moving easily from one focal point to another. If you are remodeling, buying or building, layout your floor plan before you commit, locating your media outlets and seating accordingly.

In the dining room, your most crucial dictates are storage, serving space, and pathways around the dining chairs. Allow a minimum of three feet around your table for chairs and walk space, provide for storage (not just display) for your service items, plus consider a buffet, floating shelf or serving cart. Lighting is key to setting the stage in a dining space, including chandeliers, recessed fixtures, up lighting, and candlelight!

In the bedrooms, take into account the location of the headboard in relation to window and door placement…sometimes leaving space for that headboard simply is forgotten in the fenestration (just a fancy word for the placement of windows or entrances) of a home. In addition, most bedrooms include a television which is best located at the foot of the bed – but is usually a really bad look on top of your dresser/mirror combo. Ergo, when laying out your bedrooms, plan for the bed(s) on a large wall across from the doorway, a dresser/mirror on the wall adjacent to the bed and farthest from the doorway and a television hookup across from the footboard. This will place your largest pieces and focal points at a distance from the entry insuring that the room looks spacious. As is the case with all tall furniture, including china cabinets, bookcases and armoires, they should always be placed away from doorways so that you do not feel as if you are walking into the proverbial wall upon entry.

Remember to keep your kitchen in the efficient work triangle pattern and your counter lengths and heights in both kitchen and baths at an appropriate scale for the tasks involved – plus provide for storage and more storage in these areas! When space planning, function and form should go hand in hand…never, ever sacrifice one for the other. With lots of thought in advance, there is always room for both!

Cheryl Perotti
Fountainhead Design

Do you have a design question or dilemma that has you stumped? Email your questions or problems to:

Cheryl Perotti
c/o editor@panachevue.com

We will share your questions and our answers in following issues.