Friday, March 26, 2010

Nashville decorator on Family rooms. How to make them versatile.

Family rooms are the most versatile rooms in our house. Whatever your lifeSTYLE, they can be used for watching a movie, entertaining guests, doing homework, listening to music or quietly reading a book~assuming you have purchased the right sized lamps!

The most important thing when putting together a family room is a PLAN or as I like to call, the Design Diarys.  Whether the space is big or small, the right furnishings will put more STYLE, personality, and function into your room.

When designing a family room it is important to capture your STYLE, so the room lives and breathes the way you do. For example, if the room will only be used for entertaining and music then there is no reason to spend thousands of dollars on an entertainment unit that holds a TV. You will put yourself at ease by following your design diarie's and tailoring the furnishings accordingly. 
Once you have determined HOW the room will be used, select fabrics that function appropriately for it's use. Obviously if kids will be involved the fabrics need to be prepared for combat. Different fabrics express different levels of formality and they need to sync well with the rooms purpose.

Always dress your windows with draperies. Draperies play a major role in building your STYLE, and they too can determine the formality of the room. Windows without draperies look naked, and the room will look unfinished. BUT make sure they are the correct SCALE, don't throw some Bed, Bath and Beyond draperies up for the sake of having your windows dressed. As a rule of thumb remember, GO BIG or GO HOME. 
Tell a story with your furniture. Don't select the entire suite from the furniture store. Choose pieces that speak to you and your personality. Stick to your diary, and choose items that read closely to your rooms function without sacrificing the end goals. This will give you your STYLE!
Lori Dennis
Lastly, design with flexibility in mind. Always have lightweight options, like stools, that can be easily  moved around. Or leave open space so that chairs or other seating from other rooms can be added. Small tables are lightweight and can easily be moved for different settings.


Troy Beasly
Mix it up have fun, and remember, stick to your diaries so you don't lose your STYLE!






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15 comments:

  1. Great tips, Amanda! A little thought into how you live before deciding on what to put into a room will make sure you are happy with your choices for a long time. I always tell clients not to buy "sets", especially if they are going out on their own to get furniture.

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  2. I am down with not buying sets. I have always been a bit of a rebel goat.

    There is a lot of formality in many of these rooms that I don't typically associate with "family room."

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  3. another excellent post! i love those black shades (the 2nd photo?) and agree with your tips, especially when you have a small living area like i do. after these years in my home, i've realized it's really important, when you first move, to give yourself time to figure out how you'll be using each space. it will help to ensure that the best pieces & colors are selected for each area.

    i'm adding you to my blog roll, too. :)

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  4. yes wonderful rooms, so pleasing on the eye too!

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  5. Gorgeous blog! Loving all of these spaces. You have a new fan and follower. Happy weekend! xo

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  6. Some great tips and photos very inspiring.
    Very good job.
    Thanks

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  7. Great tips and beautiful rooms! Thanks for the kind comments!

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  8. Your pictures are gorgeous! Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog. I am looking forward to reading more of yours. xx

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  9. I love family rooms too, even the name is inviting. Great examples, some great tips too! Thanks.

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  10. Oh, how lovely! Very practical advice! Thanks for stopping by, I am excited to see more! Beautiful stuff!

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  11. Stunning post Amanda!! Love these images!

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  12. WOW! What a Beautiful Rooms!They are soothing to my eyes, So Elegant,Inviting, chic and So Fabulous on every detail.Great tips too! The Photographs are Amazing.So is the Blog.

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  13. Oh I love the spacious living room with the huge grey couches and matching grey-colored throw pillows, It's the second photo from the top. Comfortable, sleek and modern design yet exudes a warm and comfy ambiance.

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