When homeowner Laurie MacDowell wants to remodel her home, she simply loads up her paint palette and dusts off her brushes. Bright, colorful paint decorates every inch of her home, including furniture, walls and floors. Her personality and creativity are on constant display. Laurie's dining-room walls are painted a bold red, with accents of lime green and periwinkle blue and dashes of orange and yellow (figure A). An antique oil painting, needlepoint pillows and traditional candlesticks help give the room a sophisticated look. Painting a hardwood floor effectively hides unsightly scars and worn wood while adding color to a room. Laurie angled a square area rug beneath an 1840s farm table to reveal more of her painted wood floor (figure B). The design used on the floor also graces the wall border and kitchen chairs. Miniature lampshades provide a perfect way to add color and charm to a chandelier. Laurie created a contemporary look for her chandelier with handmade wire shades embellished with bulky gems and beads (figure C). Her wire shades wrap around the light bulbs and are interchangeable with lampshades. Turn furniture into functional pieces of art with a little paint and lots of imagination. Laurie designed a bright and whimsical chair that features an extra storage compartment. Her coffee table and entertainment system are also brightly painted. On the fireplace mantel, meaningful quotes and phrases are lettered in bright shades of red, blue and green (figure D). Bunches of grapes adorn the doorframes, adding interest without detracting from the room's other colorful designs. Laurie's advice: Get brave with color and have fun with it. Just grab a paintbrush and color the house.
RESOURCES :
Laurie MacDowell, Designer
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