Color Beyond Christmas

I clicked on the subject line “We want color!” and my email popped open. She liked my column! Thank You! I thought. She goes on to write that she wants color and is unsure how that would look. I felt a little like Santa getting a letter and a request! I was so excited that I immediately pulled the photo card out of my camera and stuck it into the computer. It is full of pictures; and I scrolled and scrolled until what to my wondering eyes did appear? An expanded Gardenia model that was transformed in time for all the Christmas Cheer! So, grab your coffee and go sit by the tree, let’s discover together how amazing color can be. When coastal meets farmhouse with a dash of French country and color, the mix is casual and inviting beyond the holiday season. Last week we saw the foyer of this Gardenia model and this week we will see the main body of the home, somewhere in the heart of The Villages.

  •  Living room layout
The placement of the living room windows in this Gardenia are set with the sliding glass doors to the side of the home. There is a beautiful pool beyond the doors and seeing it from the living room is wonderful. In this living room the TV is placed on the wall between the windows and because the room is so large there was really no choice. If the homeowners had placed, it on the wall with the bookcase the TV would have been too far away for anyone to see.

  •  Furniture placement
The homeowners were able to buy two reclining sofas in soft light leather. The sofas are set in an L-shape to create a faux sectional look. Placing two sofas this way allows each person to have a side table and a lamp. Also, the sofas can be rotated from time to time so that one does not get overused. The arms of these sofas have an accent of alligator skin for a truly unique Floridian touch.

  •  Side tables and coffee table
The side table and the coffee table have rustic finish and look but the maker of the tables added a decorative leaf scroll on the legs. These tables marry the rustic look with just a hint of French country.

  •  Swivel chairs
Two rust color swivel chairs round out the seating area on the right of the room. These chairs are easy to move closer into the space if needed.

  •  Bar
Rather than place a sofa table behind the sofa, the homeowners found a bar height table with two chairs that can be stored beneath the table. They use the bar table all the time for leaving out snacks on the way to the pool. The wood on the bar is rustic and warm so it pays homage to the farmhouse house feeling but it does lean a little French country.

  •  Bright rug
The rug is a 9X13 abstract print that swirls all the colors in the space together. If you are combining styles, an abstract rug will become the visual bridge builder in the space.

  •  Chunky bookcase
The homeowners found this amazing and unique bookcase with big chunky crown molding. It fits the back wall of the living room perfectly and has a built-in look. This piece added great storage and display space and can be taken with them if they move.

  •  Dining room
The dining room would have been too big in this expanded space if the homeowners would have left the space on the original plans. However, they borrowed some of the dining room space to create a large walk-in closet in the master bedroom. The wall for the closet created a niche for the chairs in the living room and allowed for a normal size dining room that felt comfortable and cozy.

  •  Long Buffett
Since lack of storage is always a complaint the homeowners chose another long buffet for the dining room. The buffet is big but there is still room to store extra chairs on the side of the buffet.

  •  Round table
The homeowners chose a round table for the dining room, and I think it fits the space well. Round tables are very inviting, and this one has a French country rustic flare that ties into the buffet perfectly.

  •  Large mirror
The homeowners found a large mirror company online that would manufacture the mirror custom to their size and frame it in a rustic frame to match their furniture.

  •  Large art
All of the art is colorful! Some of the art is tropical sunsets. While some of the art is bright pictures of horses. The relationship between the two is found in the colors. You can bring together two different subject matters in art if the colors coordinate.
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