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We
just finished redoing the master bathroom floor in a soft marble,
complementing the marble countertops and bath surround. Then we
added an antique crystal chandelier over the bathtub in the middle
of a large window overlooking the Virginia countryside.
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The
revamping nearly complete, we started to add a silk Persian rug
on the marble floor. It looked lovely, but too much Taj Mahal, we
agreed. The rug was removed. Still the formality and stiffness of
the room troubled us a little. Now we will add two country baskets
overflowing with an unruly flowering plant - perhaps begonias or
azaleas - to place on the tub surround, a relaxed counterpoint to
the marble and crystal.
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This
process brought to mind an important design process: consideration
of both ying and yang - masculine and feminine - soft and hard -
sinuous and rectilinear -- in the same space.
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The
concept of juxtaposing the expected with the unexpected is one heartily
embraced by the French and seen vividly throughout French design
history. The use of color as a counterpoint to furniture design
is also evident. A room filled with the femininity and sensuous
curves of 18th century furniture might benefit from bold -- even
masculine -- wall colors. At the time of Louis XV's reign, when
furniture was curvy and very feminine, the walls and window treatments
were bold yellows and eye-popping reds. By contrast, the more restrained
and harder edges of Louis XVI period furniture were set against
softer and more feminine colors of moss greens and grays and bright
blues. The unexpected visual thrill is found through surprising
contrasts.
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For
us, the most stultifying and visually boring rooms are arranged
in perfect symmetry - sleep medicine for the eyes. The easy way
out in design is to paint everything beige, purchase beige furniture,
carpet with beige sisal on the floor, arrange the room symmetrically
and throw in a white orchid for an added cliché.
For those fortunate enough to travel to Paris, there is a home design
store on Rue du Cherche Midi, called MIS
EN DEMEURE, where they change the wall colors and showroom
design every couple months. It is always exciting, always beautiful,
always unexpected… We recommend a visit.
Jane
Pierce Losson
Interior Design Consulting
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