INTERIOR DESIGN Unique touches add pizzazz to makeover

Layering is no longer just for hair and clothes anymore.
By MARGI VORDER BRUEGGE and GEORGE SNEAD
WASHINGTON POST
A client recently invited us to add finishing touches to her home. Her designer had done a wonderful job coordinating colors and fabrics, but the rooms just didn't feel complete.
The makeover process is basically one of layering and can be taken to any level. In a bedroom, the process is usually fairly simple. Most clients have their bed, bedside chests, a dresser and perhaps an armoire for the television. We finished the master bedroom, the stairwell and hallways leading to it, and the daughter's room. In both bedrooms, we accessorized with decorative pillows, accessories and artwork.
The furniture in the master bedroom was basically in the correct position. The bed was on the longest available wall, flanked by bedside tables. When we measured, we found that the bed was about eight inches off-center on the wall between the two windows. Before artwork was hung in the room, this was barely noticeable. However, once the artwork was positioned over the bed, it was obvious that the bed was not centered. The bed was moved to the right and the headboard reanchored to the wall in a centered position.
Artistic touch
Artwork always creates the greatest impact. For some reason, clients never seem to have enough artwork. We hung a series of three costume engravings over the bed. These were of 19th-century French women in provincial costumes and added a soft romantic feeling to the bedroom.
A pair of hand-colored restrikes of parrots were added above the fireplace. Restrikes are engravings that are struck from antique etched metal plates; the image is then hand-colored in watercolor. To the right of the large window, we stacked two butterfly prints with checkerblock/watercolored mats. The color scheme in the bedroom is a very cool pale blue and cream. Decorative embroidered and needlepoint pillows were added to the bed and the chaise lounge.
In the dressing area, we added a pair of white botanical prints from London. A series of botanicals was placed going up the stairwell and on the upstairs landing. The daughter's bedroom needed very little. When we hung the English faerie prints, we didn't realize that the daughter loved fairies. A dancing elephant ballerina was added as a touch of whimsy.
Perfect balance
In the master bedroom, we were able to add an additional layer. The large picture window needed something to anchor it -- there was way too much empty space beneath the window's panels and trimmed valance. Whenever you have a large double or triple window, furniture must be added beneath it to balance the weight of the window treatment's fabrication. We centered a drop-leaf Pembroke table in the window with two Victorian side chairs facing each other on either side, creating a nice place to sit and read or sip tea. These chairs were on either side of the fireplace. The chaise lounge and chairs were originally on one side of the room. Once we moved the chairs to the other side (with the additional table), the room felt balanced. The Pembroke table is a historic Newport reproduction with ebony and satinwood inlaid.
In this room, the existing furniture was the first layer, the additional seating group provided the next layer, and the final layer consisted of all of the artwork and finishing touches. We hope the room looks finished without being overdone.