After my parents died, I stored mom and dad's furniture in my one bedroom condo in Newport. Their belongings were hard to part with. During this time I was watching as Karen Paul of Karen Paul Interiors transformed our condominium building lobby from a dark, drab, cave into a sunny, Newport landing, the perfect entrance to our building. Light grey walls and floor tile, sturdy, “less is more” furniture, colorful accessories.
One night Karen took a peek at my troubled home and said, “I can help you.” I asked her only to pick the furniture that needed to be removed. She said, “All of it…or practically all of it.”
Eight months later I am living a dream. My small space looks gargantuan. Restricting the number of pieces of furniture, removing all the doo-dads, lightening the floor tile color (porcelain tile wood finish blanc) and slightly darkening the walls to give a rosy grey cast,(a color which Karen mixed herself) consolidating 5 bulging bookcases into one recessed built-in, and whitening all trim and shutters, took Karen a scant 2 months. “We might as well do the kitchen,” she sighed, which hadn’t been changed since 1980. A luscious date colored counter top accented by a mosaic look splash took care of that.
I had two pieces of furniture that I could not part with: my piano, and a large, bulky walnut desk which had belonged to Dad and was in our home from my birth. The desk was the elephant in the room. Karen had an ingenious scheme: move the living room into the dining room, set the dining room table in front of the built in bookcase and “float” the desk in front of the stark white shutters, giving it a space of its own and extending the library look.
Only three new pieces of furniture to buy: a couch, chair and dining set. All remaining doo dads went into new cabinets she had built in what had been the kitchen bar area.
Crowning the room were the lights she designed. I have a northwest exposure, very thin sun. She had lights installed to illuminate, but also added spotlights over the couch, dining area, piano, and of course, Dad’s desk!
I still miss my parents. Just enough of their things are still in my home. Their memories are in my heart . Karen showed me how important it is to clear away, lighten, and then add back slowly and tastefully those things that need to be in my life.
Helen F. McClure
Here are some pictures of the results. For more pictures, take a look at my Ideabook.
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