THE CHIMNEY SHOWHOUSE
A classic 1920's structure, large rectangular living room, fireplaces at each side of the short ends,hardwood floors and
lots of windows for light.
Too much seating would be have been redundant and boring. Ostensibly the living room, could serve other functions?
I treated the room as a combination sitting room, conservatory and music room. I broke the room in half, with major seating at the two ends of the room centered around the matching fireplaces. To shake things up a bit, a baby grand piano was angled to one side of one of the fireplaces, so that you enjoyed the graceful curve of the piano as you viewed the room and the piano player was looking into the room as he played. The arrangement of furniture was not symmetricial, so that the space looked almost like two different rooms.
To accentuate this feeling, styles were mixed, creating a very eclectic look. A Sisal rug at one end , Oriental at the other. Neoclassicial furniture was mixed with Art Deco. Classical cast bronze statutes weighted opposite sides of the room in whimisical juxtaposition to lighter, airier potted parlor palms.
The paint selection was a crisp and current - warm marigold walls popped against an architectural white trim. Contemporary artwork was hung across from gesso panels depicting scenes from Herculaneum and Pompeii. Transitional glass topped tables were placed in near proximity to Art Nouveau consoles. French carved stools in one vignette contrasted with playful round contemporary stools in another.