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| Rush, cane, wicker, and bamboo bring warm, natural colors and textures. Natural products are versatile and will blend well into a modern or traditional setting or many constitute the entire decor of a room, with furniture, blinds, matting, pictures frames, flower pots all in rush, cane or wicker. The materials are hardwearing, but attract dust, so would be washed regularly. A scrub-down with warm salt water will remove stains and bleach cane, and a coat of French polish will add a tinge of color or a slight sheen to the surface. A Formal Setting Bamboo or cane blinds can be used to soften a cold, harsh light from the windows. Elegantly shaped cane furniture in an expansive setting gives a clean, sophisticated air in an otherwise cold and dark room. A Domestic Setting Golden cane and wicker give a warm, sunny feel in daylight and blend naturally with houseplants. The slatted and latticed patterns in cane can also be used to good and cast delicate shadows. |
| Coordinating Carpets |
| Choosing a carpet is an expensive decision, so it is tempting to "play safe" and settle for a plain carpet that will not "date" and will not need replacing with every decorations. Nevertheless, a carpet can help to unity and bring life to a room. But a carpet must be made to "work" with the decorating scheme. Its most important role is to coordinate with the walls, the furniture, furnishings and accessories. Traditional Design The rich color of oriental carpets create an appropriate, dignified backcloth for a traditional setting. Warm reds and golds breathe life into a subdued room and bring a luxurious, cozy feel to a study. Smaller oriental carpets and rugs laid in simple rooms often reflect Far Eastern culture and lend an ethnic touch. Modern Design Geometrics are cool, clean and allow you to play games with shapes. A carpet with parallel stripes for example, draws the eye from wall to wall and appears to elongate the room. A diagonal stripe creates an intriguing network of the banisters, and harmonizes with the conflicting shapes. Achieving Color Balance Traditionally, a carpet forms part of the basic color or the second color in a room, since it covers a large area. However, bright, accenting colors, introduced in the carpet can have an unusual and enlivening effect. |
| Effects with Hardwood Floors |
| Wooden floors can look effective in both traditional and modern homes. The most luxurious effects are usually obtained with hardwood floors, whether they are woodstrip or woodblock types. Narrow woodstrips can emphasize the length of a room, while parquet, laid in basket weave form, provides an attractive yet unobtrusive pattern. Another effect of this type of flooring is that gives a room unity. Wooden floors set off a wide range of furnishings, from antique to ultra-modern, and help them look good together. An expanse of wooden flooring, for example, may echo the color and grain in wooden furniture while it offsets brighter fabrics. A selection of ethnic or oriental rugs help to add color, softness and comfort. A Modern Interior The large windows and empty central area of modern room would look stark and cold if it were not for the polished woodstrip floor. Its color adds warmth, and its lines guide the eye from the furniture at one end to the rug and chair at the other, making it seem less empty. A Patterned Effect Parquet flooring creates a subtle pattern that does not dominate a room. Strongly patterned rugs can be placed on parquet without creating disharmony. |
| (Source: The Good Housekeeping by John McGowan & Roger DuBern) |
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