When to Float the Furniture

Rose Gilbert
Sun, 31 Aug 2014 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Q: I can't figure how to arrange the furniture in our living room. One wall is all glass, leading out to the deck. I can't put anything against the glass — I don't want to be out on the deck looking at the back of the sofa, do I?

A: Your best answer is to float the seating arrangement in the center of your living room, well away from the glass wall.

Here's a good example: This arrangement even accommodates two sofas, one on each side. A pair of alert-looking chairs, plus that large central ottoman — which also serves as a cocktail table — allows ample seating for a crowd.
Updated: Mon Sep 01, 2014

Q: I can't figure how to arrange the furniture in our living room. One wall is all glass, leading out to the deck. I can't put anything against the glass — I don't want to be out on the deck looking at the back of the sofa, do I?

A: Your best answer is to float the seating arrangement in the center of your living room, well away from the glass wall.

Here's a good example: This arrangement even accommodates two sofas, one on each side. A pair of alert-looking chairs, plus that large central ottoman — which also serves as a cocktail table — allows ample seating for a crowd.

Two things to remember when you float seating pieces this way:

1. Always provide a surface within easy reach where people can put down drinks, glasses, whatever. Small tables between chairs and narrow tables snug up behind a sofa are good solutions. In this room, a large tray on the ottoman would do the trick, too.

2. Be sure to provide good "task" light for reading from table lamps and/or floor lamps standing behind the seating pieces. Ambient — or general — lighting comes from overhead fixtures or wall sconces.

Here, the overhead light is also a work of art: a sculptured fixture by designer Kenneth Cobonpue (kennethcobonpueshop.com) that's well worth looking up to.

Q: I hate the knotty pine paneling in the den of the house we just bought. Our contractor says if we try to paint over it the dark knots will eventually show through. We don't want the expense of removing the paneling. Do we have any other alternatives?

A. Consider pickling the paneling, that is, using diluted white paint to dull and soften the finish and subdue the dark knots.

It's an easy process to do yourself: Just add water to the paint, brush it on the wall and wait a little while before wiping most of the color off. Final step: Spray on two coats of clear varnish.

Q: The guest bedroom is in the back of the house and kind of dark. Any suggestions on how to brighten it up? We're not interested in any major remodeling.

A: If you don't consider this "major remodeling," change out the door to the guest room. A glass-paneled French door — curtained in sheer fabric for privacy — will not only let in more actual light, it will open things up psychologically, as well.

Then rely on the capability of color and light to push back the gloom. Paint the walls white or a bright pastel; ditto the ceiling. And do use a torchere — a floor lamp that aims its light up and over the ceiling— to illuminate the entire room (you will still need reading lamps on either side of the bed).

Finally, laying a light-colored rug will help bounce the light back up and around the room to brighten things up for your guests.

. Designed to accommodate a crowd, an ample furniture arrangement floats under a work-of-art light fixture. Photo: Courtesy Kenneth Cobonpue.

Rose Bennett Gilbert is the co-author of "Manhattan Style" and six other books on interior design. To find out more about Rose Bennett Gilbert and read features by Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website and www.CREATORS.com.