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YOUR QUESTIONS
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Q: I do not want to see my TV video satellite box in our lounge. I would like some options if there are some around.
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A:
The living room is a multi-functional room yet a versatile one. This room is
used to unwind and relax, interaction takes place, guests are entertained
and tranquil moments are shared. We're asking quite a lot of it really. So
it is nice not to have modern technology dominate this space and become the
focus of the room.
So often you see chairs angled towards a black box and away from each other.
This narrows down the function of the room and gives off anti-social vibes.
Recreational habits are very personal and there is usually more than person
in the household who has a view.
Re-assess your viewing requirements. Could you live with a smaller TV or is
a large screen important? Once you are settled on this you then know what
you have to disguise.
If you can live with a smaller TV it opens up more scope for disguising it.
A smaller set could fit onto a shelf of a book case or even into an existing
cupboard.
The VCR and satellite box could then be separated from the TV, (you will
have to re-route the cables). Then there is less to hide.
They are quite slim and inoffensive, it's the TV that's hard to hide.
You could then use something like the cherry wood coffee table by Galimberti
Nino (1) against a wall, for the two boxes. There is ample room for them
underneath, semi-hidden by the wooden detailing. It's useful for clutter
clearing too, having storage at each end for books and videos.
Galimberti Nino also make a lovely TV cabinet (2), custom made with all the
right spaces and dimensions, using either cherry wood or walnut in a
traditional style that doesn't have the feel some repro TV cabinets do. It's
a lovely piece of furniture.
Other options are more drastic, like mounting the equipment on casters and
storing them away, and wheeling them out when needed.
Or converting an unused fireplace (if you have one) into a storage area for
entertainment equipment. It's amazing how much space there is in a chimney
breast. Flush fitting doors with simple handles will hide them away totally. |
 (1)
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Q: I am looking for a daybed - something for a traditional room that is a
study/spare bedroom. It could be upholstered or wooden with matching ends, no back.
Any ideas?
A: It is a
lovely idea to have a day bed in a spare room or study rather than
a sofabed. Not only do they take up less room but they are more
stylish.
You could achieve a simple daybed with a divan and a few cushions, but
why
not push the boat out, or even the boat bed out. Have a look at the wooden traditional beds. By placing a single bed
sideways along a wall, you can make a wallbed. Wall beds combine the look of a
sofa
with the comfort of a proper bed. The single boat bed by
Galimberti
Nino (3) or
Ottocento (4) would do this well. They could both be customised using two
foot
boards instead of a head board, to give equal ends. Then sumptuous
bolsters
and cushions would turn the bed into a fantastic sofa.
Another wooden ended bed that would work well as a wall bed is
Venexia (5). You could even go as far as tenting it
with
silk.
Your house guests will be fighting each other over who will sleep in
it!
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Q:
We have an old cast iron claw foot bath in our bathroom which is set
away from the wall. We would like to have some sort of shelving or table
next to or somehow around the bath slightly to allow us to put soaps and
fresh folded towels etc. The bath is quite a feature and we wouldn't want
to detract from that and are having difficulty in thinking what we could
do.
Any ideas?
A: One of the drawbacks of a free standing, roll top bath is: where do
you put
the soap? One
solution is to have something beside the bath. Have a look at the Achille
shelf (6) by
Halifax. It's dimensions are only 20x30x202 cm. A heavy stone base ensures
stability while allowing tall, elegant storage in it's pigeonholes for
shampoo and soap.
Another possibility would be the wrought iron clothes
hanger (7) by Maggioni International. This could stand beside the
bath and hold toiletries on the small shelf as well as a towel on the
back. You could even hang glass lanterns for candles off the looped ends.
Alternatively,
to crib an idea from Arne Jacobsen, the Danish designer and architect,
make your own soap magnet. You will need quite a strong magnet (available
from art shops). Embed this into a soap bar and attach it to the side of
the bath. Beats soap on a rope!
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Page 2 of 3
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Our team at Europe by Net can help you find items to
complement what you already have or would like to have. We will source items
for you either on or off the site. Give us a brief and we will come up with
some solutions. What will complete your look? Maybe you have seen something
you like somewhere and want to recreate it. Remember you will pay less
through our site and have none of the hassle of trawling through the shops!
If you have a question or would like some suggestions from our designer,
email us at DesignersCorner@europebynet.com.
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