Finding the focal point in any room is like getting to the pot of gold. Defined as the center of activity or interest in my thesaurus, the focal point is the design feature that grabs my attention as I enter a room, inviting me in and encouraging me to look further. The focal point anchors a space -without one I feel chaos and distress. My mission is often like that book, “Where’s Waldo”, parting the waters and sifting through the distraction to locate or create a unique focal point, restoring balance and harmony to the space.
Sometimes it’s really easy. If a room has an architectural element -a fireplace, a picture window, a well crafted built-in or extraordinary ceiling –I can really zero in. Highlighting a fireplace with color and anchoring the mantle with a mirror or clock draws the eye immediately. A conversation area and a few well placed accessories, and there you go, focal point accomplished. One of my clients recently bought an arts and crafts house in White Plains, New York. On my first visit to the home, we discussed restoring the fireplace and adding some detail molding above to bring the eye to the 11 ft ceilings. What hadn’t crossed her mind was that the incredible coffered ceiling, was a potential focal point! Painted in a blah monotone of decorator white by the previous owner, that ceiling receded into the walls and were begging for some color. And that’s exactly what we did- we used three different whites and Sherwin Williams toasted pine nut to create depth and dimension-adding a killer black crystal chandelier for the finishing touch. We used shades of straw, metallics and blacks for the rest of the room, to maintain the balance and harmony we had worked so hard to achieve. In this arts and crafts house, there were so many architectural elements to choose from that I was challenged to select the one that would give her space the most bang for the buck.
A featureless room presents its own challenges. Many homes that I encounter are boxy and spare, with no special features to highlight and enhance. This is particularly true of apartment buildings built in the 1950’s and 60’s and raised ranches built around the same time. In these situations, molding, beadboard and one fabulous piece of furniture often does the trick. A special desk or console, flanked by a fabulous mirror or clock and some strategically placed hard cover books draws the eye and creates a wonderful vignette. I recently added beadboard to the flat, dreary wall of an entryway. Bingo, instant dimension and a natural place for color, contrast and family photos to welcome you in. Instant focal point.
Personally, I’m a fan of using the floor to create the focal point. Orientals, kilims, or whatever your pleasure will draw the eye in, forcing you to focus by defining the space. Used on hard woods, granite or tile, a gorgeous rug immediately delivers warmth and color. And for clients who travel, I often recommend they consider buying home furnishings on their trips – unique conversation pieces which create a focal point in any space.
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