One of my Granite Bay clients received a six hour home makeover this week.  Of all the design services I offer, Room Service is one of the most gratifying because I get to transform an ordinary space into something completely wonderful in a matter of a day.

Using the client’s existing furniture and accessories we rearranged and re-purposed furnishings from throughout the home, and completely re-styled her living room in four hours.  This is how it was done:

Positioned sofa in front of fireplace.
Moved big chair to face the wall of glass door and windows, and the pool beyond.
Added a small end table that I took from the upstairs guest room.
Added a lamp from the dining room.
Exchanged lamp shades.
Moved a canvas from another room to over the fireplace.
Accessorized the mantel.
Styled the book case.
Removed old coffee table and replaced with rattan chest.  Accessorized with coffee table books, a round tray, and a glass hurricane filled with pine cones.
Hung tree of life and a pair of bronze sconces over piano, accessorized with framed family images.
Added small armless chair from guest room.
Tidied all television cords.
Hung a large mirror over the big chair and flanked with two favorite black and white images.
Added previously unused baskets, vases, florals, and plants from the “pantry”.
Added two primitive horse prints that were not being used.

The trick to doing a makeover is to always visualize from the entrance to the room first.  Standing in the entrance, find the very best floor plan or furniture arrangement you can.  You do this by identifying the best focal point in the room and playing it up.  Place the rug first, then the sofa, then the cocktail table or chest in this case, then the biggest chair/s.  Once you have the floor plan down, you start adding wall accessories and ambient lighting.  Then last, the remaining accessories.  Play with the tablescapes until you get them right.

What initially inspired me in Paula’s living room was the green velvet sofa and chair.  Everything else I did in the room, enhanced their texture and color.

Here is what my client had to say in a letter to me the next day:  “WOW!!! The place looks AMAZING!!  My husband could hardly believe his eyes, and loves it so much!! I cannot believe what a difference it made…Literally.”

Thank you Paula.  I think you practically made my month.  I love that you love it.

Now I’m looking for a couple of covered Parson’s end chairs in a special fabric, a sideboard, a trendy mirror, and paint for her formal dining room.  We are also going to add some floor length drapery panels to go under the existing cornice which needed a little pick me up.  And a bench for a portion of her entry.

I love my job.  Sigh.  

All photography Shiree Hanson Segerstrom.