Room makeover, a before & after: Making the inside as lovely as the outside

A client recently called me with a challenge: She was tired of the layout of her family room/dining room, which had essentially been the same for 20 years.

The challenge: The room was already quite nice, with beautiful furniture and a fine layout. Its water view along an entire wall didn't hurt either.

But I did see a few ways to improve the room. Notice how boxy and square the furniture arrangements were, both in the living area and the dining area in the "before" photo? I put the dining table at an angle to add some interest.

And I place the sofas opposite one another. This not only adds furniture on the water side (the room was a bit furniture heavy on the non-water side before), but now you get a direct view of the fireplace as you walk in the room.

Overall, the arrangement really opens up the room, giving you an expansive feeling, similar to what you get when you look out the windows at all that water.

The room also felt too brown before. I borrowed red accents and accessories from other rooms to add splashes of color.

Finally, I created a third use for the large room. The table that used to be behind the sofa is now in a corner, where it can serve as a desk or a spot to play a game...or stare at that view...

And she has impeccable fashion sense

There's a new kitten at Casa At Home Redesigns. Her name is Clare and she's about 8 weeks old, a pound kitten with a feisty personality and a need to snuggle.

But how to nuzzle Clare and type? I created the Kitty Sling, using a generous scarf. So I can work at my computer. And it makes breast-feeding easier, too.

Dozens of little kids at my house: Now that's scary

We had a Halloween party this weekend that culminated with a parade down the street. So I thought I'd salute this most entertaining of holidays with another parade of sorts here:

Room makeover, a before & after: Creating a cozy living room

A client of mine recently moved into a home that the family had previously used only for vacations. She needed to incorporate some pieces from both homes and start to think of this house in terms of year-round use.

I thought the living room redesign was a good way to illustrate a few decorating tips. In the before photo above, you can see that the furniture was essentially pushed up against the walls.

In the makeover, I positioned the furniture in the center of the room, creating a cozy sitting area with the fireplace as the focus. There's still plenty of room behind that sofa to make your way to another part of the house.

If your furniture is up against the walls at your house, try moving some pieces into the middle. You may be surprised at how that transforms the room. Just leave yourself obvious paths through the room and into other spaces.

This room was also helped by the addition of lamps. Even if there are lots of overhead lights or sconces, nothing warms up a room like lamps. And, we used small wicker boxes that the home owner's daughter was storing toys in as end tables.

It's always a good idea to have somewhere to place a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while you sit and admire your new room.

We should have named him Luke instead

As soon as he's off the school bus every afternoon from kindergarten, Jude wants to know if I think Max is home. Can Max come over to play? Or maybe he could go over Max's?

Max lives across the street. They are two boys who are only children. They are in the yard playing Star Wars, with Jude a Jedi Knight and Max, Darth Vader. The Jedi is saying this is the end for Darth.

I think he's pretending. I hope he is. We need Max.

Putting art to work

Have you priced really large chalkboards? They can get expensive. I love this idea I spotted at an antiques show this year.

Just get an old frame (and old frames without pictures are pretty cheap). Spray paint a piece of board with chalkboard paint and attach. Or even better, first with magnetic paint and then chalkboard paint. That way you can use it as a magnetic memo board, too. Easy. And good-looking. (Just like my friends. Yea, I'm talking about you.)

I bet I could get a government grant to study this

A corn maze might make a good test for determining personality type.

My husband buys the map and resists suggestions to wing it.

Our son wants one of us in front of him, one in the back, so he is safe to impersonate Darth Vader, killing the corn stalks with an imaginary laser as we go.

I hang back, take a few false turns, hoping to make them think they've lost me. No one is riled. Mom is always doing stuff like that.

Jude and I decide to imitate Dad as he walks and he obliges by spinning and wiggling his rear.

Finally, I'm hungry and need to use the restroom. Glad someone has been paying attention to that map after all.