Redecorating advice for do-it-yourselfers
LINDA BRIGIDA GateHouse News Service
Question: We have just added a new family room to our house. I cannot afford an interior designer but was wondering if you could give me some advice. How do you decide where furniture and accessories should be placed?

Answer: When I begin a job, the first thing I do is figure out what the specific space will be used for. That means figuring out how many people the room will hold, what the room will be used for, and whether it should be pet friendly, kid friendly, etc. Also, how much storage and how should it be incorporated into that room - built-ins, cupboards, etc.

Secondly, is there a focal point in the room such as a fireplace? If the room is going to have upholstered furniture in it (which yours will) I lay it out on a piece of graph paper to scale and try different configurations. When I decide what one will work the best for the client I will then, on that same graph paper, add cocktail tables, bookcases, armoires, lamps and accessories.

This will then be presented to the client and hopefully, if I have listened to my client and done my job correctly, the room will accommodate them to a T. Every room has different options and you can alwaysmove things around if you don't like your original plan. The most important thing is to have fun!

Question: I have a question about Roman shades. Is there a specific room I should use them in or are they appropriate for any room?

Answer: I love Roman shades. The beauty of them is they can be used in almost any place in your house if the correct fabric and style is chosen.

For example, a flat Roman, which is a classic style, hangs flat when lowered and folds neatly when raised; a hobbled Roman stacks in overlapping folds; and a balloon shade has inverted pleats and will cascade into poufs along the bottomof the treatment.

A Roman shade is a bit more casual, so in my opinion they would not be my first choice in a very formal living or dining room. One of the advantages of a Roman is it can be used alone but also looks great when paired with panels or valances for a more layered look.