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Show - (j ' - r .. . n- ' - - V , - , t f - ' - J -J f - -T 3 : ---fWia t Owners created an attractive country look that's easy to maintain in this "after" photo by adding new low-maintenance siding, aided by designer front door, porch posts, and lantersn. Note the relocation of the entry to make a better floorplan inside. Design bedroom for living These days few of us can afford a house large enough to have rooms used for only one thing. Think about your bedroom -considering your lifestyle, what can it do for you that it's not doing now? -A quiet corner - a comfortable seating area for reading or relaxing - is perfect in a bedroom. Your hideaway can be limited in scale: a single chaise lounge or easy chair and an ottoman tucked into a corner with a good lamp, your needlework and a stack of best-sellers nearby. If space permits, you might try something more ambitious: a loveseat, two side chairs and a butler's tray table, or a pair of wing chairs with a candle stand between to hold your cappucino. -Secluded and intimate dining in your bedroom transforms the ordinary stew into beef bourguignonne. Just include a small 'able, flattop table desk or nest of tables in your floor plan. With chairs or a love seat covered in your bedroom fabric, you'll have an alternative to your formal dining area. --While you may not want a full-blown office in the bedroom, most of us need a spot to balance the checkbook, write letters and plan vacations. You can add a small drop-front secretary to the room plan or position a desk next to your bed to double as a bedside table. Any type of table can be used as a work surface - just have large covered baskets and fabric-covered files on hand in which to sweep your office clutter. If you're planning to make a wall system part of your bedroom decor, don't forget to include the desk option in one of the units. You can fold it up and out of the way when it's not in use. --There's certainly no better seat in the house for the late late show than the middle of your bed, but TV's and stereos don't contribute much in the way of a decorative atmosphere. One way around this dilemma is to install all your electronic paraphernalia inside an armoire to banish tangled wires and unsightly un-sightly cable boxes from view. Note that armoires also can be filled with spare bed linens, comforters and quilts or clothes. -Depending on the shape and size of your bedroom, you may be able to use built-ins to add the flexibility you've always wanted. If you hinge the top of a banquette or window seat you create instant storage space for seldom-used items like the punch bowl, the fondue pot or just general overflow. Window seats fit neatly into recessed windows while banquettes can run along the wall or be built into a corner. -Additional hints for your bedroom: Lined draperies, wall-to-wall carpeting and fabric-covered walls absorb sound for a super-quiet bedroom. If you're easily disturbed by light, have windows fitted with room-darkening shades. For those who want both light and privacy, try double shirring a curtain on the lower window sash and hang a classic swag above to match. BEDROOM - You can expand the usefulness of your bedroom by using appropriate furniture and decorating techniques. Sketch by Robert Penny. |