Sometimes the biggest challenge in decorating is preventing an area from seeming bland. You may have plenty of space and furniture grouped nicely by function, but if everything is monochromatic, you may have created a study in beige. Designer Craig Olsen adds color and pizzazz to a stark white great room to turn it into a comfortable and cozy family living space. Because the dining room, family room and kitchen are combined in a great room, it's important to achieve a sense of design continuity. Similar color-washed paintings in the living room and dining room create complementary color palettes for the two rooms. A vibrant seascape above the mantel, loaded with a wash of green, blue, salmon, yellow and white, is the inspiration for brightening the room. An abstract tribal-design rug defines the seating area, and two new emerald-green leather sofas are piled with multicolored fleece pillows for just the right combination of durability, comfort and color. In the dining room, a colorful abstract painting brings cranberry and hints of purple to the new color scheme. The formerly blinding-white room is grounded with a dark-patterned rug and complementary cranberry-striped upholstered chairs. The purple of the painting is echoed in shapely modern barstools that reflect the home's contemporary look.
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