Sandy's design dilemma

Currently, Sandy's living room looks like this.




SOLUTION
Visually Minimize the Work Station
The most important thing Sandy can do is to visually minimize the work station. To that end, a slim, small desk with closed storage, in white so it blends in with the wall, will keep the computer in a configuration conducive to work while visually hiding it in plain sight.

The furniture placement is a simple matter: the best configuration provides a distinct living room area, a landing strip by the door, and a work station.

The most important purchases are a visually unintrusive desk (such as Ikea's Micke) and a chair that will blend in. An area rug will ground the living area. Two lamps are essential to the space: one should be on the landing strip, the other on the work station.


Chair Placed to Form a Living Area






Alternative chair placement





Shopping list
The items were chosen from the Ikea catalog so as to minimize costs; better quality alternatives could be selected.





The Stockholm Rand rug is suggested because its style complements the existing furniture. However, any large-ish rug will do to ground the space.

Blog neglect

So long since I've written anything at all. For months, I've been working out colors and decor schemes and, lovely as it is to envision my apartment finished, I'm tired of thinking about it as well.

So... about color.

Blocks of color that make one want to weep.

Here is Whistler's Mother, a radically modern painting for its period.



Here is some Rothko. Clearly, Whistler had to paint so that Rothko could too.



Since color has been consuming my life, I am hoping I did a decent job of choosing among the (count them) twenty-three samples I tried out.

Fingers crossed!

Color - green

Green I love and the kitchen is very nice

Painted floors

So...OK. I am frightened of trying to match a wood floor color. I'm also frightened of the cost. Thus, I'm considering painting the floors in my apartment. I want something simple, as I truly want the apartment to be restful and not busy in the least. This blue-gray is nice; perhaps I can find a green-gray?

Color again

I tried several colors on the wall, and the best was Pismo Dunes.

The other possibility is Berber White.

How to hide a closet in plain sight

From Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet: a hall of mirrors

Renovation construction work

Mess I can expect — Yikes!



I believe the order in which to get the contractors over here is as follows:

1. Architect perhaps if I decide to move the living room door so as to make room for I's new closet.

2. Electrician. Must figure out how to add electrical outlets and cable outlets and telephone wiring in places that make sense. Pay attention to kitchen outlets for washer, for appliances, for lighting.

3a. Open the doorway in the living room so that it works for I's closet.

3. Drywaller and plasterer to put up extra walls in the living room and to plaster.

4. Painter.

5. Wood floors in kitchen/dining; repair wood in rest of the apartment.

6. Kitchen designer -- they should do the whole thing because I cannot do this job myself and not screw up.

7. Bathroom renovation. Requires extensive stuff what with mirrors and ceramic and new toilet, sink and tub, new fixtures.

8. Closet people. Want to make I. a wall of closets and put nicer closet in my room as well.

Renovation colors: final decision

OVERWHELMED
The renovation has been difficult to think about, because it is overwhelming. There is the general plan to think about and then a color scheme and so forth.

COLOR SCHEME
Walls and trim will be in these colors, then sofa throw and pillows in the Turkish pewter and the silver.













ARRANGEMENT
I'm torn between pre-planning the eventual incorporation of Igor's storage and just leaving things minimal. For now, it might be best to leave things as minimal as possible so as to enjoy the calm and quiet myself.

Daybed against the wall:


Daybed in front of the windows:
I can use a huge mirror to reflect the space and get a feeling of more spaciousness.

Paint color and son of paint color redux

This no-color color is Martha Stewart's Mouse Gray.

Paint color

Berber White














I believe this may be the definitive paint color

Renovation: to summarize

PAINT COLORS
Color I love



Benjamin Moore 959 Antique Parchment and Pittsburgh Paints 316-4 Golden Ecru


MUST COORDINATE WITH TAPESTRIES



THE DAYBED WILL LIKELY BE A CREAM LEATHER

OTHER FABRICS


Daybed coverlet is Daisy Gamble Pewter
Pillows are in the middle
Silk drapes in a silver-gray

Renovation: colors. I'm so confused

THIS IS THE COLOR AND MATERIAL I LOVE LOVE LOVE


THIS IS BM 959 Antique Parchment
IT GOES WITH THE GREEN HERE



COLOR HAS TO GO WITH THE GREEN HERE
AS I HAVE TWO OF THESE TAPESTRIES
























THIS IS PLEASING; IT GOES WITH THE
TAPESTRIES AND WITH THE WALL COLOR





















I HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE LIVING ROOM COLOR