Interior Design with Julia Luttrell
Multi-functional furniture key to quality interior design
Multi-functional furniture key to quality interior design �A place for everything and everything in its place,� my mother used to say.
A tidy little phrase that neatly describes one of the basic elements of really fine interior design.
A neat and orderly environment is fundamental to a well-designed space. In the ancient art of Feng Shui for instance, the well-considered placement and organized arrangement of furnishings and objects is the most basic aspect of design.
Form does indeed follow function. I�ve always believed that wherever one�s eye comes to rest in a room, there should be beauty. And that while making that beauty functional is highly desirable, to achieve multi-function is the ultimate measure of a truly successful design.
For design-obsessed beings such as myself, these are the thoughts that wake us in the night with a jolt of inspiration.
Let me share with you the delightful design result of one such inspiration I had. It�s a single piece of furniture embodying all the elements of double duty d�cor and provides multi-function galore!
Picture this�.a beautifully upholstered, oversized ottoman, trimmed at it�s middle with a handsome, double-band of woven upholstery detail. This double band is edged top and bottom with a lush rayon rope and punctuated with an elegant, single silk tassel. The silk tassel indicates the location of the opening, for what is actually a hinged lid! The lid opens to reveal a generous �storage box� interior.
The entire unit, 36 by 24 by 16-inches high, rolls around on casters that are hidden by a simple black toe-kick, which is recessed on all four sides. This recessed toe-kick creates the visual effect that the piece is �floating� lightly above the floor, which balances the impact of its substantial size.
In it�s natural form, this custom-designed piece behaves as a tastefully oversized ottoman. Put a large tray on it and it becomes a coffee table. Remove the tray and it provides additional seating for those crowded holiday gatherings.
Tuck it under a hall table as the perfect element in a well-appointed foyer. It�s an elegant place for guests to perch while they remove their boots, with provision for storage of various hats, gloves, scarves and handbags in it�s interior.
Like the �little black cocktail dress,�� this versatile little number can be taken anywhere. You can dress it up or down, according to the type of fabric used and it can adapt to practically any location in the home.
Of all its various applications, I have always found that its most �user-friendly� situation is in a guestroom.
Guestrooms are often rather small in scale and ideally they perform various other functions (as a study or a den for instance), when not housing guests. Here is where multi-functional furnishings really come in handy and the custom-designed storage ottoman can be put to excellent use.
Store the bedding and pillows for the pullout sofa during the day, then at night simply roll it off to the side, place a reading lamp on it and it becomes an instant night table.
Ah, the possibilities are seemingly limitless!
