ASK PAMELA
 
Editor's Note: Hudson interior designer Pamela Bayer helps solve readers' design dilemmas. Have a problem you'd love solved by Pamela? E-mail here or go to her Web site.

[Unedited question as submitted]:

Pamela Bayer

Dear Pamela: We have been in our condo at Chagrin Knolls for 6 years and I am finding the Wheeling Beige, a shade of taupe in our downstairs area very blah. Am thinking of painting the 16 by 12 room silver or pewter. The floors are hardwood and there is a double slider across the back to the patio. The room is terribly small (downsized) so I do not cover the windows, it is against a landscaped hill so no one can see in and it provides the light needed. We have been married for 45 years and the furnishings that we have collected run the gamut from modern to Antiques all over the house.  We have a loft with furniture that could be exchanged for the down stairs area.  We do not have a dining room but we do have a very large country kitchen that is done rather modern. Granite, hickory cupboards, stainless steel appliances, modern light fixtures and a Danish Modern table with pull out leaves on either end and six very modern leather (all the way down the legs) chairs in brown from Design Union now out of business in this area. The Kitchen has a two story ceiling and a bay with Plantation Shutters. It is wallpapered in a tile (milk chocolate, beige/taupe with a touch of purple effect, also a little hint of silver). There are mirrors behind the backsplash to reflect light as there are no side window except one plus the bay in front with a window on either side, all windows in the kitchen are shuttered.
 
This could be exciting but I need help. I have a cheetah chase up in the loft and zebra pull up chair in the living room, an open cane ends couch with wooden legs exposed covered in off white and an off white love seat that is terribly deep and uncomfortable, thin that the chase may be good downstairs on a angle, also have chair that is over 50 years old marked Denmark. It has a molded curved wooden back a wrought iron legs and a scoop seat. Have a very modern red rug with some abstract panel of color on maybe 3 of the square edges under the high rather large square coffee table.  Bought a chandelier that has royal blue lights inside of bubble glass globes (Danish) but have never put it up. Want a modern painting or art work in that room.  Also have a very large ottoman in the garage that needs to be recovered.  At the present there is Birdseye maple secretary with glass doors in that room and a round table covered to the floor, has become boring to me. Also there are a number of mirrors and an Antique wooden lawyers safe from Belgium, very old... There are 3 table lamps, 2 from China that are most interesting with the old light pull chains and a floor lamp with a snakeskin shade and one other height twisted wood lamp with a globe that take a fat bulb and it had a square shade. The art work is Picasso print with two Picasso silk pillows. There is a landscape painting of the Julian Alps in Slovenia (inherited) on the wall behind the couch and does not really fit the scene!!!!!!  The room needs HELP and is quite a challenge to me as I have too much furniture in it I would like it to be more appealing!!!!!  No TV ever in our living rooms through the years.
 
My husband will soon be 78 and thinks it is fine.
I just turned 75 and need some excitement in this room!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for your consideration.  Can not send a photo right now as my digital camera got stolen and I have not replaced it yet.
 
Very Truly Yours,
 
Beverly Pockar

Dear Beverly: Now is the perfect time to reduce the expansive, eclectic inventory of furniture and accessories you've collected over the years. Once you do, your space will become uncluttered and your mind freer to create. Some tips for streamlining:

Hand down or donate the love seat that's "terribly deep and uncomfortable."

Get rid of items that don't excite you, such as the covered round table.

Paint those blah beige walls silver or pewter with touches of yellow. These are "in" colors.

Nix the cheetah chaise and keep the zebra chair. Animal prints are in, but should be used sparingly. Your very modern red rug should go well with zebra print.

Hold on to treasures like your lamps. They can brighten and add interest to any room.

Combine special antique and modernist pieces and artwork for a unique but minimalist look.

Dress your living room windows with drapes to let in natural sunlight without obstructing the view.

With so much going on in your condo, it's a little challenging to address all your issues sight unseen. I think you're an ideal candidate for a design consultation. This could really help you cleanse your palate, and start anew with hope and excitement.

Pamela