Primary Room:  Great Room, including dining room; primary residence

The Clients: The clients are a couple in their mid-50's.  He is an attorney; she is a community volunteer.  Their children are grown and no longer living at home.  The "empty nest" created as their children vacated was not experienced by either as difficult.  Their children live nearby and are in and out frequently.  They have two large dogs who are very much a part of their family.

In the past 24 months, they have moved from a townhouse to their present home, but have remained within the same geographical area.  He has had hip-replacement surgery and she has had knee-replacement surgery.  Both surgeries were successful, but healing is ongoing.  They love being at home alone and entertaining groups of friends.  They also own an additional home three hours away that they use as a weekend retreat.

Notable Features:

• Living and dining rooms comprise a great room with the kitchen adjoining.  The house’s front door enters into the dining area.  All spaces (different task areas) blend easily with and are delineated by the use of unobtrusive traffic patterns, plentiful natural light from windows and doors, walls and ceiling.
• The ceiling is cathedral.  The walls are a variety of geometric  shapes (symmetrical and asymmetrical) in response to recessed lighting soffitts.  The effect of the ceiling and walls creates architectural interest (to be discussed in terms of a paint plan).
• The window/door wall leading onto the deck integrates the     beautifully landscaped mountainous community with the great  room.  Windows and glass doors and thus an abundance of natural light abound in every area.  Recessed lighting is used in the entertainment alcove (wall-mounted plasma television), as well as the kitchen.
• The fireplace occupies a corner.  It also has an architectural     dramatic presence due to its placement and materials: black    marble and wood paneling.  It has a ceiling eye-ball for emphasis.
• Hardwood floors (honey oak) throughout; white walls and trim; window treatments = existing red honeycomb shades (living area) and existing green honeycomb shades (dining room).
• Natural light orientation: Ample natural light dictates the use of bright, strong, dramatic color and textures in fabrics and     accessories.  If color/texture are neglected, the presence of so much natural light in a room with tall ceilings may result in a living space that feels vacant and cold rather than cozy and  regenerative.
• The exterior of the home is nestled in a natural setting as part of a community.  The vegetation is lush and mature. Mountainous views from the great room are spectacular year-round.

Design Objectives:

The clients have defined their taste as “contemporary.”  This means (to them) clean, uncluttered furnishings; a “modern” flair; a tasteful blending of different mediums (wood, leather, fabric, marble); and a home that is a bit off-beat (asymmetry in their wall shapes).  From an environmental psychology perspective, in response to their surgeries, both clients expressed a need for more "energy" to deal positively with the chronic fatigue of surgical recovery.

With this in mind, we will utilize paint color and home furnishings/products to:

• enhance and complement the room’s architectural features     (cathedral ceilings, multiple shaped walls, window/door wall,    corner fireplace, easy flow and connectedness);
• balance a sofa or loveseat and accent chairs with the already  existing recliners, brightly colored drurey rugs, corner cupboard, dining chairs, and television alcove;
• take what is already lovely and put the clients’ touch to it, as well as infusing the rooms with "energy;"
• create a warm, receptive, enjoyable and INTERESTING room for use by the clients and their friends.

Color Preferences:

Walls are painted white; moldings and trims are crisp white.  The clients prefer dramatic colors – red, orange, bright yellow – all of which can be found in existing area rugs.  The white walls and trim maximize the drama of strong colors.  Nothing energizes and is more psychologically lifting than brown-based red, hence the artistic and consistent use of red walls and furnishings.

Items Remaining:

Recliners and companion floor lamps; rugs; dining chairs; bar-stools.

Recommendations:

The different activity areas of the great room are defined, i.e.,  television alcove, positioning of recliners, formal dining area.    There is a need for a large loveseat or sofa and two snazzy accent chairs, end and accent tables, a round dining table, and perhaps one lamp.  (See Floor Plan.)

• Because of the cathedral ceilings, task and ambient lighting at the  “human level” are critical.  The great room requires 7-8 such light sources and they are present in the ceiling fan light fixture, the dining room chandelier, a decorative “eye-ball” focusing on the fireplace, and companion floor lamps to the recliners.
• It is recommended that new globes replace the existing ones in the fan fixture.  As well, the brass/glass sconces on the wall leading down to the basement and the dining/kitchen ceiling fixtures can be replaced with more contemporary black wrought iron.  The black will accentuate the black marble on the fireplace and the black fabric and leather on the furniture.
• Furniture fabric/leather selections will provide warmth, comfort, texture and welcoming invitation so that the great room is optimally enjoyable from a design perspective as well as for living enjoyment.
• Paint Plan
• Accessories: The mantle needs development.  There are places for a few decorative pictures.  However, the lack of accessories speaks to a more contemporary feeling, a well as the clients’ desire to avoid clutter.

Lastly:

Downstairs Den: move existing entertainment components, black leather chairs and ottomans, and end/coffee tables downstairs to complete the room as the female client moves her office into the newly-created room.

Her new home office: existing glass-top dining table to be used as work table; purchase new computer station, credenza, two-drawer file cabinet, and day-bed (for the dogs).