Friday, July 19, 1991 - North Shore News - 19

Soe

Oasis of Calm

in a Busy World

IMAGINE HAVING the power to create your own en-
vironment. That is exactly what you are doing when
you purchase furniture and accessories.

It doesnt happen very often but
once in a while you may get the op-
portunity to decorate a new home,
add a piece of furniture to your ex-
isting collection, or indulge in the
luxury of shaping a whole new lock
for a room or several rooms.

That fook depends on your
creative ability and the amount
and effort you invest in collecting
your ideas and information.

Dont despair if you feel you're not
imaginative enough to choose the
tight furniture and accessories. All
you need is the ambition fo achieve
great resulis and a willingness to
put thought into the project.

Developing an interior design for
your home can be an exciting pro-
cess and easy if you are willing to
apply youself.

The pay off is that you most cer-
tainly end up with something that
is right for you: an environment that
is comfortable, looks good, and is
a true representation of your
character.

GETTING STARTED

initially you may feel intimidated
by the idea of naving to select furn-
iture styles, color schemes and ac-
cessory pieces.

Some people may not be sure
about what they want. Others may
not feel creative enough to ac-
cumulaie ideas on design and fur-
niture.

In some cases, you may wish to
hire an interior designer. If you want
to put it ali together yourself,
however, there cre plenty of helpful
hints available to get you started.

“took in magazines and books
and see whai appeais to you.” says
Mario Szijarto, a local builder and
designer whose client list includes
many prominent BC. residents.

Take advantage of all the visual
media in our society. Pay attention
to settings you like in television
shows, store-front show rooms and
all print materials.

You will begin to create o picture
in your mind of what you would like

to see in your home. if you can
draw, put your talent to work by pro-
ducing a sketch and take it with you
when you visit the furniture shops.

if you are designing more than
one room you may want to con:
sider decorating them in different
styles. Examples include a country
kitchen, modern and antique
bedreoms, a traditional study and
a Canadiana living room.
Don't forget to be creative in terms
of theme. A room reflecting your in-
terest in music, Indian art, teddy
bears or ships can be fun to create,
comfortable to spend time in, and
interesting to guests.

HELPFUL HINTS

Create an environment in which
you will be able to relax and feel
comfortable, Says Szijartc: “Put a lot
of thought into what you're doing:
remember you have to live with the
end result.”

Teday furniture selections are
available in an array of styles and
colors. Feel free to purchase trendy
items, Dut make sure you feel cer-
tain about remaining happy with
the itern when the trend becomes
passe.

You may decide fo stay with the
basics. Szijarto suggests black,
brown or beige furniture. You can
then create a striking room by ad-
ding elegant accessories in pastel

A FEATURE LOOK AT QUALITY FURNITURE FASHIONS AND ACCESSORIES.

shades or vibrant, colored accent
pieces. Investigate different fabrics
but be sure to choose one you find
comfortable.

Remember your home reflects
you, your character and your
lifestyle. Invest some time and
thought into your design plan. The
results will be rewarding.

— By Ann Hamilton
Contributing Writer