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Jaclyn Smith Collections
| Lounge |
The lounge or living room is such an important part of the home. Like the
kitchen it is a meeting place to share thoughts, discuss topics and to kick
back and relax but the kitchen tends to be more for family get togethers
and the living room the place where you entertain your guests. It is
therefore important to get the ambiance right. The room should reflect
your style and sense of fashion. It is a static display that exhibits your own
creativity. So get it right. Don’t rush at it like a bull at a gate. Take time,
pen and paper and do research. There’s a lot to consider.
One important factor is lighting. Do you like subdued lighting, a soft
flickering candlelight or a bright light, a bold glare: no wrinkle hidden,
light? Dimmer switches are great as you can adjust the light according to
your mood. Smaller tables with table lamps make a room more homely and
give a more ‘lived in’ feel and standard lamps can be moved to any area.
Up-lights and shades give a brighter look than down-lights and shades.
One important aspect to take into consideration is the shadows that the
shades and lights reflect. There is nothing worse than sitting back to relax
in a room which casts gloomy shadows everywhere.
Underfoot do you prefer carpet, tile or wood? Carpet is warmer, tile colder
and harder on your back and wood always looks great.
Carpet: From the Oriental rugs, to the wild shaggy pile of the sixties where
you could lose a small alpaca to the revolutionary Stainfree carpets of the
eighties there is an ideal choice for you. Going to a showroom can be
bewildering so endeavor to ascertain your preference before leaving
home or better still have a reputable company bring their samples to you
so that you can actually view and compare them in the comfort of your own
home.
Pros: Pleasing and comfortable underfoot and your home feels warmer
and cozier when it’s chilly.
Cons: Requires replacing after a few years although some short pile wool
carpets are extremely durable.
Tile: Can be a great investment. Just look at the marble floors in Greece.
A well laid tile floor can look stunning. However there are a couple of
caveats. Tiled floors can be heavy going on your back over a protracted
length of time. If they chip they look unsightly and need professional repair
or replacement and those wonderful travertine tiles are made with natural
material which requires a filler in areas which degrades, loosens and falls
out.
Wood: This has a timeless quality. When you think of the great rooms in
history they have well polished wood floors. You can visualize the great
writers and thinkers at their desks and their feet resting on a rug adorning
a parquet. I love wood but it needs to be sealed, protected and fed to
keep it’s reflective and scratch resistant properties and of course try not to
get it too wet.
Rugs: These are a great idea and can be a good investment if you
purchase a quality Afghan or Chinese rug. They give the warmth to a
room but have an advantage over wall to wall carpeting as being movable
heavy tread areas can be alternated and they can easily be changed to
suit new decor. Additionally if they are soiled can be taken to a
professional cleaners.
Check back for advice on seating, decor and furnishings.