Live ¢c

TAKE a good look at the
space you live in. Is your
home a comfortable retreat or
a place where you and your
possessions are in constant
competition for space?

Assuming, that if it were desired
and possible vou would already have
moved to a larger place, there are wavs
te live comfortably in small spaces.

Since it’s always best to start with
the rules, number one is to reditce
chatter. Interior decorator and design
instructor John Richards savs chatter
can be reduced by limiting furniture.

“Use a desk as a nightstand, trv to
make vour furniture do double duty”
says Richards. Yes, thar wii mean get-
ting rid of or finding a home for
everything that resides in, or on, the
night table.

Pay attention to lighting. “Too few
lights can create shadows thar con-
sume visual space, so make sure there
is enough lighting to reduce the shad-
ows,” says Richards. Position can
lighting on the tloor behind plants, so
it shines up, eating the shadows. Alsu
try wall-mounted lights to fee up
table tap space and. simplity interior
views.

Use heavy textures sparingly.

The 3-D effect of cextures visuaily
expands into the space, so lots of
heavy textures will create a closed-in
feeling. That said, do use texture in
smailer iteins, as accents that will add
interest, especially in a neutral or
monochromatic colour scheme.

Flooring provides an excellent way
tc fool the eve and open up a space. Hf
using wood flooring in a long narrow
room, use wider planks and set them
to run. "el vo the shortest wall ro
widen: ace, Then use area rugs to
break t:. .xpanse into dining, living
or work arcas, depending on your
needs. When choosing tile tor small

fo

areas, always dook fora larger. rather
than smaller tile and think about ser-
ung then on a diagonal line to expand
the space by drawing eves ro the cor:
ners of the room.

In low ceiling rooms, visual space
can be created by using vertical lines.
Adding vertical lines includes things as
simple as vertical blinds, a tall narrow
bookcase, a tall curie cabinet or paint-
ed stripes or wallpaper.

Lengthen a room with horizontal
fines of a tony sofa, narrow horizontal
art and rectangular tables to draw the
eve along the length of a room.
Mouldings are an exeeilent way to add
horizontal lines -— from. chair rail
mouldings to comice (crown) mould-
ings

entially there are three colour
schemes that work best in’ small
spaces. A neutral scheme — with
whites, blacks, grevs, beiges and
creams — uses tint, tone and shade to
add interest.

A monochromatic scheme uses
one hue, or colour, creating interest
by adding white to the colour to light-
en, grey to soften and mute, or black
to darken and warm the colour.

Texture, and some favourite
colours for contrast, play a larger rele
in neutral or monochromatic colour
schemes.

More difficult and colourful, an
analogous scheme can be used in
three or five colours. The essence is to
choose a colour and then use the
cofours on either side of tt on a colour
wheel. For example choosing blue
would result in blue, blue green and
green being the three colours.

“Akhough much brighter than the
other colour schemes, it works
because the colours blend into each
other. Ie’s a very tricky colour scheme
to use in five colours,” says Richards,
“and is not recommended fer the faint
of heart.”

Ir’s all very fine to make a place

Friday, February 5, 1999 - North Shore News - 55

ly ina small

space

f
ZB

Photos Christopher Stanford

By feliowing some simple guidelines you can make any recom
into a larger and more comfortable retreat. Colors, textures and
where you position smaller pieces of furniture are key elements.

look bigger —- out one still needs to
find a place to put the vacuum clean-
er.

“Any and all organizers are
absalutely necessary,” says Richards.
“All closets should have geod orga-
nizers in them.”

Look for ways to build in starage
— like window seats with under seat
storage, cr shelves and cupboards in
the living room, and use smaller pieces
of furniture.

VEHRNAZ CHITSAZ

“O" SUN 2-4 P

935-1321

RE/MAX*Crest Realty

#409-2004
FULLERTON

LOCATION!
CONVENIENCE:
SECURITY!

* South facing corner unit
* Overlooking Cap. River
* 2 bedroom, ft bath

* 2 storage

« New dishwasher

“f.

List Your Home

With A Recifor Who Adveriises

in The North Shore News Homes Section

if you are in the market for a new home don't make a
rove without consuiting our Real Estate Homes

Every Friday we deliver our Reoi Estate Homes section to.
Canada's nighest percentage of home owner

section first.

ina community.

cali 985-6982

: CLASSY UPDATES!
@ * Uncbstrucied VIEW to the west
§ « Updating includes: tile and hardwoods
Pius new kitchen and bathroom
« One bedroom incl. closet organizers

| #1602-145 ST.

placing a sturdy, decorative screen ina
corner and then using the space
behind for storing items. “Put hooks
on che back of the sereen and in the
summer you have a perfect place for
winter coats that frees up closet
space.”

The leaner, more simple lines Gf a
contemporary style are better suited
to 4 small space bur don’t be afraid zo
mix styles and pieces. Be heartened to
know there is a style called eclectic,
which, in the true sense of the word,
shall remain undefined.

one

OPEN SATURDAY 2-4
CONVENIENT LOCATION

* Vancouver special, 1754 sq.ft.

* 2 yrs old, shows better than new
* 4 bdrms plus ful! 3 baths

¢ Potential in-law accormmodation
GEORGES AVENUE 1520 HUNTER STREET

$232,060

ST

yn Beye WESTHIL

public schoois.

Qutsianding views from this high quality 4 bd. house. Enjoy the
City lights while preparing your dinner or watch the sunrise’
whtie having your morning coffee. Fioor to ceiling windows for
extended view and natural light. 3 gas firepiaces tor warmer
atmosphere during winter rainy days. French doors off the fam-
ay foom leading 1% 3 orvate backyard with neated swimming
pool and jacuzzi Located on the high side of the cul-de-sze
in the Most prestigious neighbourhood 15 minutes to
shopping, recreation & the best West Vancouver private &

3 bdrm 5 split levels townhouse in mint condition, Very
quiet south facing sunny garden patio and another one
with fish pond off the kiichen. Finished basement.
Potential for 4th bdrm, New roof. Weill kept secure com-
plex. Walk fo Schools, shopping, recreation, restaurants
amd parks. Excellent value for central Lonsdale. Be first
with $12,000 down and $1,390/month to own it,