Take these with you when you shop so that you can establish whether a piece of furniture will fit or whether a certain fabric is right for your room. The way furniture is used and arranged today differs dramatically from what was customary two or three hundred years ago. But whilst the twentieth century has invented its own designs, such as the coffee table and the kitchen unit, it can also draw on a wealth of traditional styles. Adaptations of many furniture and fabric designs of the past are now being re-created or re- interpreted for today's market. Furnishings from anyone of these periods will evoke a very distinctive style. So, too, will contemporary designs with their sinuous lines fashioned in wrought-iron and sleek glass that playoff one texture or medium against another?
Although furniture arrangement is now fairly informal (a notable exception is the dining room), convention still dictates that most of the furniture is placed against the walls, even when rooms are large. Yet seating can make a strong impact when placed centrally in a room, with an occasional table decorated with one or two favorite possessions to form a focal point.
More usual focal points include the fireplace, which can be filled with green plants or flowers out of season; paintings grouped on a wall; or the window, especially if this has a striking view. Decorative pieces of furniture also make effective features and have a practical use too. A chest placed between facing sofas or at the foot of a bed can serve as an occasional table and storage unit while a chaise longue provides extra seating as well as looking decorative.
Freestanding wardrobes, perhaps hand painted with stencils or given a paint finish, can make a decorative contribution to a bed- room as well as storing clothes, and a console table can double as a serving table in a dining room. Storage Modern families have more possessions than most homes in the past and this wealth may mean that existing storage is inadequate.
Many period homes have alcoves and recesses which can be converted to take shelves or cupboards. Decorative pieces, china and books, for example, can be displayed effectively on open shelves or in cabinets built each side of a chimneypiece. Supplement them with freestanding furniture in the form of tall bookcases, corner cupboards or glass-fronted cabinets for china, and tallboys or chests on chests for linen - all traditional designs that are equally elegant and practical today.
Dressers can be used for storage and display and provide a useful work surface while chests will hide blankets, toys or books and newspapers from view. Clothing can be hung in pine or mahogany wardrobes, or in cupboards fitted along the wall of a bedroom. Cull storage space from a corner of a landing, attic or hall and paint the shelves to blend with the walls. Preserve that traditional delight, the walk-in larder, which will take all your provisions and often a fridge or freezer too. Seek out space beneath the stairs, in cellars and under the eaves of the house for long-term storage needs.
STRUCTURE & STYLE WAYS TO DISGUISE Not all home comforts are pleasing to the eye, so decide what can be discreetly hidden and choose good contemporary designs for pieces which cannot. Radiators, for example, can be painted to match the walls (try a sponged or dragged finish), or boxed in behind mesh, sheet cane, or fretwork panels. Classic designs work well in most settings: Raeburn and Aga cookers, deep Belfast and London china sinks, bath tubs with Edwardian- style taps and shower cradles all look attractive in the traditional home.
