Design Tip: How to take a tired room and refresh it with cosmetic changes. This house had a living room with stunning 80s architecture. Unfortunately the nice architecture was overshadowed by an ocean of berber carpet that was screaming for a change. Helene Bonello-Strauss convinced the owner to swap the carpet to a bamboo wood floor that would provide a durable solution for this room while giving it an updated feel. The walls in flat white did not do anything for the visuals so a coat of paint in a neutral almond paste color gave it some sophistication. The wall to the left needed some focal point. A high quality art piece gave the room some interest. The furnishings were more traditional in nature, focusing on the comfortable side of life. The sofa and loveseat were arranged off the walls and in an angle to the room, to grab more of the space and to break up the lines. Instead of matching chairs, the designer added a fabric accent chair and a wicker Chaise to provide a contrast in textures to the leather of the couches. This helps to give the room a more eclectic feel. For some green in the room Helen just cut a few philodendron leafs from the yard and placed them in a vase. A much better solution than dusty silk flowers. Accent iron pieces populate the vacant space over the sliding doors and simple drapes give the back wall some contrast and warm up the room. This design has some contemporary aspects like the  bamboo floors, the large art pieces and the use of a wicker chaise, while maintaining s otherwise more traditional design language. This room speaks to a large audience. Good design does not have to be cold or uncomfortable but can be easy to digest if done right.