Friday, May 15, 2009

Off Center Things


 I worked with a designer who loved asymmetrical things. If I hung a picture straight in the show room, she would come behind me and skew it just a bit. All the furniture in her living room was off centered, just a bit.  We did a Christmas Show Home one year and  one of my jobs was to go behind her and straighten everything. She took great delight in finding a window off center in a room.  She thought it showed some individuality.  I believe I am in the majority when I say that off center windows are really annoying. 


Here’s the thing about architectural elements in a room that you do not find pleasing and you can not change: you can camouflage it, you can ignore it, or you can accent it.


Camouflage it: remember what I’ve said about contrast? Here is a prime example of how to use that knowledge: Make the offending ‘item’ blend into it’s surroundings.


Ignore it:  This is a personal choice. If you have recognized a feature as being ‘bad architecture’ chances are good you will not be able to ignore it; but if you can, go ahead. You are the one who will have to look at it and live with it. 


Accent it: Make a statement out of item.  Draw attention to it, make it the focal point of the room.


I promise you that the most effective way to deal with architecture that you can not change  is to camouflage it. 

Suppose the window is off center.  Use drapes and  have them centered on the wall. Please look at the brown and yellow bedroom  in the Gallery on my website, Designsewlutions.ca for pictures of this problem and the fix. 


You may not care if the wall is in balance or not. If that is so, then put blinds on the window and away you go but remember this: asymmetrical  decorating is very difficult to do well. Unless you are a bit of a genius with balance and scale, no matter what you do the room feel slightly off kilter until you deal with the off center situation. This applies to most architectural  elephants in a room.  The easiest fix of all is to call a professional and get some good advice. 



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