Interior Design with
Julia Luttrell
Renovating a retirement retreat
So Martha, you say your kids are now grown and gone, and this summer you
will renovate the “camp” to become your final dream home. Wow, what an
exciting way to ward off the snowbound woes of winter, by planning your
perfect retirement retreat!
There are many implications to the adjustment from town to country, from
a larger, to a smaller home. You’ve been looking forward to your move,
however paring down a lifetime’s acquisitions to a scaled down space can
be stressful, so careful planning is paramount.
An appropriate design plan is the key to a hassle-free transition, and
will make your renovation a pleasurable experience that saves you money.
Comfort, function, and easy maintenance should be major considerations,
however a few basic design tricks will also create the illusion of
spaciousness in your new, scaled down space.
It is important to keep the design adage “less is more” in mind for your
new home’s makeover. For a minimalist approach, start by making your
furnishings as multi-functional as possible.
Think of the many functions a custom storage ottoman can provide for
example. It’s fully upholstered body, flip-top storage, and hidden
casters are ideal for more than double-duty décor. Roll it around for
occasional, additional seating anywhere in the house, or use it to store
bedding in a guestroom for instance.
Place a large tray on it’s top, and it becomes a coffee table in the
living room, or a night stand in a guestroom. It’s handy storage
capacity gives welcome and willing service in almost any setting.
Beyond the usual design guidelines, optical illusions that trick the eye
into stretching spaces often require “thinking outside the box” and
doing the unexpected. Sometimes a whimsical idea that provides a
serviceable function can be just the right conversation piece to inject
personality into a place, so don’t be afraid to be creative. In a very
tiny washroom, I once used a charming birdbath for a pedestal sink for
instance!
One tried-and-true trick to increase visual space is to hang the rod for
your window treatments as close to the ceiling as possible. This
‘stretches’ the floor-to-ceiling height. You can widen your window as
well, by extending your window treatment onto the wall on either side.
Covering the least amount of glass makes the window seem to be wider
than it is.
Also, pull your furnishings away from the wall and “float” them in the
middle of the room. This exposes the walls from floor-to-ceiling and
tricks the eye into perceiving an expanded “visual” space. Angling your
area rugs and furnishings will not only enhance this effect, but
improves your traffic patterns as well.
Yes Martha, it’s all in the planning and a qualified designer will arm
you with knowledge, help you visualize the outcome, and let you know
exact costs before you begin. So, plan your project with a professional,
give yourself time for the transition and have fun with the process.
