Q. and A. Period

so...because you're not busy enough (lol)...I thought I'd throw a suggestion out there. What about a regular post on "simple" q & a's? I have a few questions I'd like to see answered...and it might not be a whole post such as...

Can you mix wood colors in a living room? Or should you stick to one color?

- Jen

Hi Jen,

I like your idea- I thought I would start today.

Can you mix woods colors in a living room, or should you stick to one color? Yes and Yes. You can do either.

Notice the wood in the photo at the top of the post. It is all a dark walnut or ebony stain. the stairway, the floor, the coffee table, legs on sofa, end tables- all essentially the same color.

Now check out the photo below- in just the small section of the room shown you see a dark wood on the sofa, a medium wood on the coffee table- and painted wood on the chair.

Now I'd like you to notice something else about the two photos. The top photo has a very limited color pallet. The designer kept it all very consistent. The second photo has many colors- and is a more eclectic look.

Is one better than the other? Absolutely not. They are both great looks- just different looks.

Should you purchase a set of matching tables- where the coffee table, end tables and sofa table all are from the same series- so they match the very best? No. Almost never is this the best solution. Should you have every leg be the same style? i.e.- all Queen Ann legs, all shaker legs? No. No. No. Go to Borders- look through some good design magazines- do you ever see that done? No. It is simply too boring to be good design.