10 lessons for deconstructing living and dining rooms

Symmetrical living room

1 Window coverings The off-centre window was made to look perfectly symmetrical by simply hiding it behind a set of drapery panels that extend from wall to wall. This tricks the eye, drawing attention to the drapes instead of the window mullions. 2 Symmetry Symmetry is a key ingredient in a space that boasts a lot of pattern because it has a grounding effect. Here, a pair of floor lamps placed directly across from two identical armchairs offers a sense of balance and serenity. 3 Hues in the room Choosing hues that are opposite each other on the colour wheel – in this case, chartreuse and lavender – heightens visual contrast and prevents the room, which has lots of pastels, from looking like an Easter egg.

Colours and patterns

Toronto designer Samantha Sacks of Sam Sacks design. 4 Colours and patterns Texture in the grasscloth-covered walls, linen and velvet drapery, mohair throw pillow, feather tribal headdress and plush hide rug tempers the bold hits of colour and pattern in the space.

Fabric

5 Fabric The drapery fabric was a huge splurge, but the results justified the investment. To bring the budget back in line, the sofa and armchairs were purchased from a big-box store.

The theme and layers in the space

6 A nature theme The patterns in this room pack a massive punch, but they feel cohesive because they reflect a nature theme. The look is further complemented by the sea urchin artwork and branch-inspired floor lamps. 7 Layers in the space The interplay between matte and shiny materials adds another layer to the space. The grasscloth-covered wall, for instance, is elevated when juxtaposed with a mirror-topped gold-leafed side table.

Walls, furniture and gold accents

8 Covered in grasscloth Originally, the entire space was supposed to be wrapped in grasscloth, but rounded corners on one wall meant that a clean edge couldn’t be achieved. Instead, only three walls were covered and the fourth was painted to match, giving the appearance of a fully papered room. 9 Round furniture At 10 by 22 feet, the living and dining area is long and narrow, so round furniture was used wherever possible to break up the linear lines and increase flow. 10 Gold accents Using gold as an accent instantly adds depth and warmth to a room. While chrome and silver play cool, gold’s amber hue creates a softer sparkle and gentler glow that reads super-sophisticated.