How to Select a Focal Points in a Room
Have you ever walked into a room where everything is virtually screaming at you? A room where everything competes for attention in placement, style, scale, color and texture?
One of the ways to avoid that type of chaos is to understand the function of the room, make a decision about where the focal point (or points) will be located and create surroundings that “complement” that piece. For instance, take this Dining Room I designed (see picture). Early on I decided I wanted the dining table in the center of the room to be the focal point. After that decision was made, I made sure that all larger surfaces in the room remain un-patterned or just slightly patterned:
1) The background wall is silver leafed, you can see the slight differentiation of the rectangular silver leaves, but it works as a dull mirror that helps the glass table sparkle even more.
2) Draperies consist of flat sliding panels of lined silk with a subtle tone on tone pattern; their unmannered design is also meant to visually reinforce the table).
3) The aubergine wool rug has a barely noticeable small pattern and its main function is to provide a strong contrasting color to the table base.
4) The light fixture consists of a curved hand-blown glass suspended by steel cables and illuminated from the ceiling by low voltage fixtures, its function is to appear like a “floating” leaf above the table. A heavier fixture or chandelier would have competed with the table.
5) The more traditional looking chairs are upholstered in solid off-white velvet and their wooden frames, slightly brushed in antique gold, were deliberately chosen to contrast with the sharp, contemporary crackled glass of the table base.
As I always say: a well designed room is one where there was a "commitment" made to its function, feel and style long before anything is selected.
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