Furniture

How to Use Paint to Add New Life to Old Furniture /  by Margaret Chambers

The bedside chest in this photo is painted in a neutral wash to balance out the bold oranges in the rest of the room.

Painting is a great way to update old and tired furniture with worn finishes. Painted furniture has been around for hundreds of years, and you can see examples of it in every major interior design style. For example, whitewashed furniture is traditionally used in Sweden to make a room feel brighter during Scandinavia’s dark and dreary winters. In Asia, a lot of antique furniture is painted in a cinnabar color with a high-gloss finish or black lacquer with a little gilding.

That said, with painted furniture, a little goes a long way. Before you pick up a paintbrush, read this design guide for some do’s and don’ts on using painted pieces in a room effectively.

Choosing the Right Color and Finish

Antiqued gold accents on a whitewashed piece of furniture add both dimension and a touch of flair to the piece.

Not all paint colors and finishes are created equal when it comes to furniture. Generally, muted colors are preferable to bright colors: a touch of gray in a color gives it sophistication. Old-fashioned desks or armoires can feel fresh and modern again when painted in an unexpected color, like gray green. Rattan chairs take on a refined air when painted with gray and mixed with modern furniture. However, I personally would never paint a fine antique, especially a piece from the 18th century or older.

At my firm, lately we’ve been lacquering vintage pieces with a high-gloss finish. Sometimes we also whitewash a piece of furniture, then paint the details in a contrasting color or gild them. Metallic paint looks best as subtle accents on painted furniture. With night chests, I like to stain the top and whitewash the bottom. Something to keep in mind is that furniture pieces don’t have to be painted all in one finish.

Mixing and Matching

Many homeowners are afraid to mix furniture with different styles and finishes, but a serious designer will never use a matching set of furniture. The challenge is worth it: in my opinion, rooms are much more interesting when the finishes don’t all match. For example, if you have three painted furniture pieces in a room, you might want to use different shades of the same color. I also like to add stained pieces, which ground the room, in with my painted pieces.

The painted chairs in this Preston Hollow dining room did not come with the table, but still complement it nicely.

On the other hand, using the same paint color for multiple furniture pieces is not a bad idea when you’re bringing together different kinds of chairs in the same seating area. The chairs should ideally be in the same general style and made of similar woods, so that you’ll know that they take paint the same way.

Don’t Rush the Process

The best paint jobs have a lot of prep work put into them. If you’re going to paint your furniture yourself, make sure to sand and prime it well so that the paint won’t chip later.

Also, remember that different types of wood take paint differently. For example, poplar or soft maple yield a smooth finish. Oak plywood is not recommended for painting, as paint or primer will not fill the pores very well.

Use Painted Pieces Sparingly

I only use painted furniture as accent pieces. I would never do a whole room with painted furniture, and the most I would use is three pieces per room. I often like to use a painted bed in my designs and scatter other painted pieces throughout the rest of the house. If you’re not sure whether you want to use one, two, or three painted pieces in a room, try painting just one and living with it for a while.

These leather and cane-back dining chairs, which have painted faux bois frames, are custom designed from The Chambers Collection.

Although painted furniture belongs in any home, no matter the style, it’s tricky for most people to learn how and when to use it. If you would love to extend the life of your vintage pieces but are unsure what finish or paint color would look best, ask an interior designer to look at your collection. This is one of the reasons why people hire interior designers in the first place: combining furniture pieces with different paint colors, wood types, and finishes is a skill that takes years of experience to master. You can schedule a free consultation with us by calling our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or emailing us at info@chambersinteriors.com.

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How to Use Décor to Highlight Your Hardwood Floors /  by Margaret Chambers

The neutral colors and orange accents in this modern Dallas home complement the light wood floors.

In my last design article, I discussed the different kinds of hardwood flooring available and the pros and cons of each. This follow-up article is aimed at homeowners who already have hardwood flooring but could use some help complementing it with the right décor. If you’ve ever wondered which wall paint colors go best with dark wood floors, which colors are best for light floors, or when to use rugs (and when not to), look no further: I’ll answer these questions and more here.

Start by Identifying Your Wood’s Color Tone

Ideally, the color scheme for a room should harmonize with the wood floor’s undertone color. Depending on its species or finish, wood can have tints of gray, red, orange, or yellow. Oak, for example, can be red or white (I personally prefer white oak because I think it makes a prettier brown). Pastel blue, cream, or apricot are good wall paint colors for a room with red oak floors. Meanwhile, charcoal gray or light gray are attractive wall colors for rooms with white oak floors.

How to Make Dark Wood Floors Shine

Grey paint, as seen here in the library of a Kessler Park home, is a good wall color to go with dark hardwood floors.

Rooms with dark wood floors need to have light walls to prevent the room from becoming too dark and cave-like. That said, this still leaves a wide variety of paint color options, from cream, to light gray, bronze, light blue, or pale green. Some people will also use painted furniture in light colors to create contrast against the dark floor. A more formal look can be achieved by using dark wood furniture that is a slightly lighter shade than the floors.

Incorporating plants is also a good idea: the bright greenery will really pop against the dark base. Natural light also reflects beautifully against the grain of dark-stained wood, so try to let in as much natural light as possible.

Tips for Working with Light Hardwood Floors

The best wall colors for rooms with light hardwood tend to be neutrals. Off-white will give the room an airy feel, cool gray will create an aura of relaxation, and warm gray will make the room seem cozy and inviting.

White furniture, a sandy brown rug, colorful accents, and gold or silver accessories are a winning combination for light hardwood floors. Some other area rug colors to consider are earth tones, burgundy, and peach. For the furnishings, you could go with grey or black furniture.

Almost every home with hardwood floors should use rugs.

A Word About Area Rugs

Area rugs are almost always a must for hardwood floors. They protect your floors from daily wear and tear while also softening footfalls. If you have wood furniture that is similar in color or tone to your wood floors, you can use a contrasting rug to create a buffer between them so that they don’t blend together.

Parquet floors are one of the only types of hardwood floors that I wouldn’t recommend using rugs on. Sometimes, the inlaid wood pattern is so busy that it would be overwhelming to break it up even further with rugs.

If your home has wood floors, don’t use all wood furniture. You can introduce more variety by including upholstery and pieces made of glass or metal.

Don’t Forget to Mix Up Materials

Though hardwood floors can complement other woods in the same color family, you’ll also need to mix things up by incorporating other materials in the room. Woven fabrics, leather, metal, and upholstery introduce an appealing variety of textures in a room.

As an example, rich brown hardwood goes well with organic materials, such as a natural stone fireplace. If your wood floor has a bright sheen, you can add some softness into the room with upholstered, curvaceous furniture. Metallics and glass will bring a sleek touch to a modern or contemporary home with white oak floors.

Hardwood is the most sought-after kind of flooring, so if you have it, you’ll naturally want to show it off. By harmonizing your hardwood floors with the right paint colors, furnishings, and fabrics, the process becomes much easier. Those who still find the prospect intimidating would do well to work with a designer.

An experienced designer like myself can take one look at a room with hardwood floors and know exactly which colors and style of furnishings will work best with it and its architecture. If you'd like to work with Chambers Interiors, give us a call at 214-651-7665 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.

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Four Crucial Steps for Designing an Open Concept Space /  by Margaret Chambers

This project has an open concept space where the dining room, kitchen, morning room, and living room are all connected.

This project has an open concept space where the dining room, kitchen, morning room, and living room are all connected.

There’s a reason why open floor plans have become so ubiquitous in Dallas homes over the last few decades. Open concept interior design promotes a feeling of togetherness, which is especially attractive to young families with busy schedules.

However, people who are furnishing an open concept home for the first time may be intimidated by all the extra room. How do you make sure that your home feels warm and inviting instead of empty and cold? How do you balance the lighting and ensure that you’re getting the most use out of the space? For answers to these questions and more, read on.

Step 1: Choosing Flooring and Paint Colors

If you’re building a new home or having one remodeled, you should try to use the same flooring material throughout your open concept space. For paint colors, we as designers suggest choosing a neutral color for the walls. Some open concept homes feature an accent wall painted in a different color. Even in this case, I would recommend painting the trim all in the same color (or even the same color as the walls) for a feeling of continuity in the room.

If you have a high ceiling, you might also consider painting the ceiling a darker shade, which helps the room feel cozy and cave-like. Regardless of what paint colors you choose, don’t leave your walls bare: make sure to fill all that open wall space with art and mirrors.

Large windows filter light into this open concept kitchen during the day, while chandeliers illuminate it at night.

Large windows filter light into this open concept kitchen during the day, while chandeliers illuminate it at night.

Step 2: Plan Your Lighting Ahead of Time

It’s very important that your open concept space be well-lit at all times of the day. An open floor plan that is shadowy in spots feels unbalanced and unwelcoming. The easiest way to create an even coverage is by installing overhead lights and scattering lamps across the space. When I design an open concept space, I make sure to plan the positions of the furniture and floor outlets ahead of time. That way, we can plug the lamps in the floor outlets without running the cords across the floor.

Step 3: Furniture Shopping

If you have an especially large open floor, you’ll want to “anchor” it with appropriately sized furniture, such as a large dining table and large sofas. You can then pair your bulky pieces with slender furniture. Whenever you can, include multifunctional pieces. Putting a writing desk in your den area makes that space also function as a home office.

This Dallas living area features the same rust, beige, green, and cream colors that we used in the open concept kitchen.

This Dallas living area features the same rust, beige, green, and cream colors that we used in the open concept kitchen.

It’s generally not advised to push your furniture up against the walls, so keep in mind that your furniture will be seen from all sides. Make sure to buy pieces that you think look great at any angle.

Step 4: Use Furniture and Rugs to Divide the Space

Once you have your color scheme, furnishings, and lighting fixtures ready to go, the next step is to use them to divide the floor into functional spaces. A good place to start is by identifying a focal point in your room and then organizing a seating area around it. Examples of focal points in an open concept space include gallery walls, large windows, and fireplaces.

Seen here is an open concept morning room. The swivel chairs can be turned towards the fireplace or the kitchen.

Seen here is an open concept morning room. The swivel chairs can be turned towards the fireplace or the kitchen.

Rugs are one of your best tools for visually breaking up a large space and marking off seating areas. By having the legs of your furniture touching a single area rug, it helps bring them together. You can also create separate areas in your space by using shelving units, decorative screens, sectionals, or console tables.

To prevent each of these areas from clashing too much, coordinate them by using similar colors and materials in each zone. It’s not necessary to use the same colors and patterns throughout your whole house, but in the open concept space, everything within eyesight needs to harmonize.

Learning how to decorate an open concept space is an important skill even if you’re not currently living in one. After all, most newly built homes these days have a floor that connects the family room and kitchen area, so it’s likely that your next home will be open concept.

By planning the space thoughtfully, or working with an interior designer who is experienced with open concept design, you can create a space that feels spacious but also comforting. If you're interested in working with Chambers Interiors for your upcoming project, call our Dallas office at 214-232-9501 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.

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What to Look for When You Shop for Upholstery Fabric /  by Margaret Chambers

Furniture with curves, like the Art Deco chairs seen to the right, often look best upholstered in solid colored fabric.

Furniture with curves, like the Art Deco chairs seen to the right, often look best upholstered in solid colored fabric.

To work as a professional interior designer, you need to know your fabric. When I take on a new design job, many times my client asks me to reupholster an heirloom piece with beautiful bones but outdated fabric. Although antique and vintage furniture was built to last for generations, oftentimes these pieces need to be reupholstered to fit in with modern day décor.

If you’re thinking of updating the furniture in your Dallas home but have never shopped for upholstery fabric before, you might be feeling overwhelmed with your choices. However, once you know what to look for, you can narrow down your options pretty quickly.

For Heavily-Used Furniture, Look for Durable Fabrics

Before you think about color and pattern, consider durability. Will your furniture get everyday use? Do you have young children or pets? In either case, durability should be your top priority. One easy way to check the durability of a fabric is to look at its rub test score.

Fabric manufacturers test their products by performing a rub test, using a machine to rub the fabric in a back-in-forth motion until it finally shows signs of wear. As you shop, keep the following numbers in mind:

For the most durability, consider using outdoor-friendly fabric brands.

For the most durability, consider using outdoor-friendly fabric brands.

  • 3000 double rubs: Light use only.

  • 9000 double rubs: Medium duty. Suitable for infrequent use, like formal dining chairs.

  • 15,000 or more double rubs: Heavy duty, suitable for frequent use.

  • 50,000 or more double rubs: Suitable for commercial use.

Durable fabrics that are “life-friendly” include Sunbrella indoor or outdoor fabric, faux suede, and Crypton fabrics (which are water and stain resistant). You should also double-check whether your fabric will be fade resistant if your room gets a lot of sun.

For Decorative Furniture, Go for Style

On the other hand, if you’re buying fabric for a decorative piece that won’t be sat on very often, your options are wide open. Silk is a delicate fabric that should only be used in low-traffic areas where messes and spills are unlikely to happen. Tibetan wool and Belgian linen are other deluxe options if durability is unimportant. Bedroom headboards, decorative pillows, and chairs in formal living rooms are great places to use that delicate fabric that you love.

In this Dallas bedroom, you can see an example of an upholstered headboard as well as an upholstered, striped bench.

In this Dallas bedroom, you can see an example of an upholstered headboard as well as an upholstered, striped bench.

Mixing the Right Textures

Texture is something to think about when you’re redesigning a whole room. You can keep things interesting by mixing different upholstery textures in the space: leather, velvet, wool, linen, and cotton all have their own unique textures that can play off each other.

Lots of different upholstery textures play off of each other in this game room we designed.

Lots of different upholstery textures play off of each other in this game room we designed.

For thread counts, generally the higher, the better, as they increase the longevity of the fabric. Long, natural fibers with a fluffy texture are not advised for allergy sufferers because they collect dirt, dust, and pet hairs.

Picking the Best Colors and Patterns for Your Piece

Whenever possible, try to see the fabrics you’re interested in in person, or ask for a swatch. Most designers recommend choosing a neutral color for your sofa upholstery instead of a bold color or pattern. The risk in choosing a trendy color or pattern is that you may tire of it in a few years. You can always add more color and personality to your sofa with patterned throw pillows.

A pair of upholstered mohair chairs provide additional seating in this north Dallas home office.

A pair of upholstered mohair chairs provide additional seating in this north Dallas home office.

Keep in mind that curvaceous furniture looks best with solid color fabric. If you try to get your curvy furniture upholstered with a pattern, especially a striped pattern, it may look “choppy” and flow poorly over the lines of your piece. Solid color fabrics can also help tone down a piece of furniture with unusual shapes and lines.

Dark colors, beiges, and grays are the best colors for concealing dirt. That said, dark fabrics will also fade in sunlight more quickly, so light fabrics are better for sunny rooms.

There’s nothing quite like seeing an old piece of furniture come back from the upholsterer, transformed in its new fabric. Now that you know what to look for, you’re that much closer to finding the perfect fabric for your project.

If you still feel limited by the options you see in the store, you can also work with an interior designer—designers can connect you with a wider variety of fabrics and will know the best upholsterers working in your area. To schedule a free consultation with us, send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com or call our Dallas office at 214-232-9501.

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