Designer Solutions

Living Room Makeover

Is your home cramped with clutter? Got a room that needs a new look? Designer Solutions can solve your decorating dilemma.

Ricardo Ramos and Sheree Friedman are the principal designers of Studio Nuovo. Ricardo graduated from Virginia Tech University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a minor in interior design. He was also the vice president of industry relations for the International Furnishings and Design Association in 2005.

Sheree earned a Bachelor of Arts in interior design from Marymount University. Together they bring a combined 27 years of experience in planning, architectural construction management, furniture procurement and interior design.

Today, Ricardo was online to discuss his design concept for this edition of Designer Solutions .

The transcript follows below.

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Ricardo Ramos: Hello everyone, thank you for being here and hope that this room helps with some ideas in decorating your homes. I will be more than happy to answer to your questions.

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Bethesda, Md.: I have a cluttered room, how to preserve all the needed clutter while redecorating?

Ricardo Ramos: Relocate it to other areas of the home while the remodeling is taking place. Also, this is a good time to go through items that you do not use anymore and donate them to various organizations. Remember, if you have not used something in the past six months, you most likely you never will. This is the best time to do an early spring cleaning. Blessing in disguise?

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm moving into an older townhouse with baseboard heating in each room -- what looks better placing the bed when you enter a room or you see it off to the side when you enter. Also, is it best not to place a bed underneath a window?

Ricardo Ramos: If you are able, the best way to enter a bedroom is when you see the bed in front of you. Hopefully this will work in your layout.

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Washington, D.C.: Hello. I have a color dilemma for you. I painted our 13x14 bedroom with a deep blue and love it. We have great medium tone wood furniture in the room, but the rug has skinny brown, khaki and beige stripes, so I am struggling to make the blue relate to the rug at all. I want to add some window treatments and bedding to make this color combo make more sense. Any thoughts on what to look for? Many thanks!

Ricardo Ramos: I suggest using some of the colors you have in the rug and bring them up to the curtains. Khaki and beige are great colors to go with. The drapes can have these colors in them. Also, the bedding can receive these colors -- that way you have complemented the room with the ones in the rug, bringing them up to a higher ground level. It will work really well.

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Tysons Corner, Va.: Loved the redesign! What accents or elements do you consider essential when decorating a living room in a Tuscan style? Do you have any local stores where you like to shop for these things?

Ricardo Ramos: Thank you. We look for pieces that have porcelain or painted porcelain. A great place to do this will be on Bethesda Ave. in Bethesda, MD. there is a small shop that imports Italian decorative pieces. Also, go to Georgetown. There are a lot of shops in the Wisconsin Ave. area, above P Street, that carry some good finds for that style.

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Arlington,Va.: Good afternoon. Would you please give me advice, how to best find an architect for residential or home improvement? We are trying to update the outside of the building, as well as modernize the inside, and we have no idea where to start, what questions to ask and what the fees generally are charged. Thank you for your help.

Ricardo Ramos: We do that type of work and are a full service design firm. On the other hand, your best way to find architects is to go to the AIA Web site for those in your area or contact the local chapter of your chamber of commerce. Sometimes they have a list of local architects they have previously worked with.

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Washington, D.C.: I live in a studio apartment and I am trying to keep it from looking cluttered, how would you suggest I do this? Does everything have to be the same color? Should I shun furniture?

Ricardo Ramos: Never shy way from color, strong colors in a small area and used sparingly can enhance the space and even make it look larger. Please keep furniture proportionate to the size of the space and do not over buy pieces. Keep it simple with clean lines and try not to use sectionals which take a lot of space (number one mistake everyone I see makes involves a sectional). Colors of furniture should be soft and monochromatic throughout, use splash of colors with accent pieces such as pillows, vases, art, etc. Keep it simple and functional.

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Cheverly, Md.: I love what you did with the room makeover. What specifically did you do with the fireplace? I'm looking to re-do my fireplace and need suggestions on tile for the surrounding area, hearth and type of mantle. I have a 1940s colonial with a carved wooden mantle and brick surround/hearth, similar to the one in your makeover home.

Ricardo Ramos: It was a simple solution with wood trim and marble clad on painted wood surrounding the opening. Although, you need to worry about how much the clad on extends past the existing opening of the fireplace; usually no more than 1" or 1.5." You do not want to interrupt the air flow for the fireplace to recycle the hot vs. cold air thus interrupting the smoke flow out off the house. We decided to make it very tight to the fireplace.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi, Ricardo. I love the arrangement of the living room. Will a sofa with a low back work in place of the chaise? What is in the corner beside the black console? What color are the linen curtains, and are they solid or do they have a pattern?

Ricardo Ramos: Yes, a small 76" to 78" wide sofa with a low back (approx. 29" to 31" in height) will do the job (see Century Furniture -- Oscar de La Renta collection). The drape panels are an almond color and are also solid. At the corner is a floor lamp in to balance the lighting in the room and fill that small area.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hello. I have looked forward to the "solutions" found by designers in this new column. Still, I have been somewhat disappointed that so much goes into purchasing high end items (lamps, etc). I live in a home built in 1941 with many lovely traditional things (good woodwork, arched entrances, lovely wood floors) and many hard-to-work-with spaces (small enclosed kitchen, a negligible entrance). I was hoping for some creative interpretations of "problem" spaces that worked with what the family had. I have never found it difficult to imagine decorating with a limitless budget but it's not normative. Thanks for the input, I am sure that many of your readers are in my shoes and will soon grow bored with such simple but costly improvements.

Ricardo Ramos: If you look at the cost of the furniture listed, these are retail prices that you can go to the stores and purchase. Yes, there are some that are only to the trade in this room. Furniture is expensive no matter where you go. Although, there are places such as furniture consignment stores in the area that you may find more suitable items for your budget.

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Southern Maryland: I want to put an addition on the back of my house. A "bonus room" of sorts that I plan to use as a dining room. I have no idea where to start! Do I call an architect? A contractor? General builder? How does this process work? Any recommendations for firms/contractors located in Calvert County, Md.? Thanks.

Ricardo Ramos: If the budget is comfortable, your best start will be with an architect. If your budget is somewhat limited, I recommend going with a design and building company. In your area the best way to do find a company to do this type of design would be through your local chamber of commerce or go to the ASID Web site at www.ASID.com. They have a list of reputable firms.

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Washington, D.C.: My wife and I are purchasing a mantle for our fireplace. Our wood floors are a light color, but our media center (which is next to the fireplace) is dark. In addition, our apartment does not get much natural light. Should we go with a light colored mantle or a dark one? Also, I don't suppose you know of any place that carries/specializes in mantles in the D.C. area?

Ricardo Ramos: Without seeing the room or a plan of it and depending on the size of the area, I will use a darker mantle since it will define the fireplace better and would anchor it. The mantle will not make the room smaller visually, but the furniture and wall colors do have tremendous impact on this part of a design. Make sure that you do not have to many bulky furniture pieces.

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Silver Spring, Md.: What are the "hot colors" for a small space -- two bedroom condo. I like the tropical/Miami influenced colors but I don't want to mix too many different colors on the walls. Should I paint the ceilings too?

Ricardo Ramos: I'd suggest foam green, light yellows and some cream colors in your fabrics. Also, some light gold tones are always in style. Especially the antiqued silvers with a hint of gold. Black accent pieces are very elegant if used sparingly. Blue hues are starting to be more popular, especially the powder blues with a hint of lavender in it. The ceiling is always easy to forget about. I highly recommend painting the ceiling other than simply white. It is amazing what this small detail can do to a room. Be careful though! If the ceiling is low (8'-5") stay away from dark tones.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi. I recently moved into a studio apartment, and I am lost on the how to's of interior design. In terms to limited space, color and style, which interior designs would best suit a studio apartment?

Ricardo Ramos: I think I mentioned this to someone before in the chat line, but if you keep furniture to scale (avoid sectionals) and concentrate on creating simple, clean lines (more contemporary in design), you will be able to accomplish a nice balanced space with these things in mind. Keep color tones light with some splash of colors with your accent pieces (pillows, art, vases, etc).

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Mt. Vernon, Va.: What colors are "in" now? I love the light smoky blue paint that I see everywhere now. What are some brighter colors that will pair well with that?

Ricardo Ramos: Yellows with a gold tone or gray background. The blue you describe tends to be very powerful, so be careful about your fabrics in the room and make them light in tone. Use some mocha and cream to add balance!

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Westfield, N.J.: Hi. We've recently moved and thrown away a lot of things and need to find some art work for the walls -- but it can't be very expensive. Any ideas? I've looked at one of the poster sites and they have thousands of prints with many that are affordable. Is it cheaper to frame them yourself or necessary to have them framed? Any overall suggestions in regards to prints/art work? These will be hung be living room over the sofa and, over a desk/computer. The sofa, hutch and desk are all in a row along one wall of the living room. The other side is the dining room.

Ricardo Ramos: For this kind of situation, I recommend going to some local art shows held in hotels in your area. They tend to have not-so exiting pieces but with patience, you will find a good piece. Have them framed by a local framer/art shop who knows what they are doing. Nevertheless, if you are the craft oriented person, the art suppliers in your area can direct you to the right matting, etc., to use. Posters are a great way to decorate on a budget conscious design and they add a lot of color to the room without the high cost.

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Anne Arundel, Md.: I have a couple of items -- there seems to be a sea of legs in the new room, and no storage. Where would one put newspapers, catalogs, etc.? The color and texture of the room is great.

Ricardo Ramos: Are you talking about the room posted? If so, we can have magazine racks for that use. Another way to have storage will be using nice leather bound boxes in the étagère we provided for the room as you enter it. When trying to get storage for an existing place, the best thing to do is locate space in it and buy low shelves that can be used as side tables.

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Bowie, Md.: My house is on the market but I have not yet allowed any buyers in to see my home because my kitchen counter tops and cabinets are scratched and a bit dated. I plan to paint the cabinets (beige) to match the appliances. Can you give me a few ideas on how to update the countertops on a budget? The current countertops are laminate (wood design). Can I place new laminate on top of the current cover? Can I paint them?

Ricardo Ramos: Unfortunately, the only solution to this issue is to replace what you have. It will only add value to your home. I recommend to check the other homes in the area. If they are still using laminates, go ahead and replace it with that. My best suggestion is that everyone is used to seeing granite tops, although it is costly. It will absolutely be the best solution and will add tremendous value to your home's re-sale.

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Rockville, Md.: Where can I find a big, and not too ugly backboard/cork board to use behind my dart board?

Ricardo Ramos: I recommend going to your local flooring showroom and ask if they sell cork flooring tiles. This way you can create a great design with it, apply to wall with recommended glues by your vendor and frame it. Make sure it is large enough area to make a statement with the pattern you might use. They have great textures and colors available in the market.

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Washington, D.C.: Why didn't you go with another sofa instead of more chairs?

Ricardo Ramos: If you look at the plan, there is a chaise that serves both purposes as you enter the room. The idea is to have a room with multiple uses, specially living rooms which are hardly used nowadays. With the various chairs, the client has the opportunity to re-arrange the room more easily; thus, avoiding the typical use of typical enclosed sofas and being a little more flexible in the use of this small room.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Back to the tropical colors again, thanks for your suggestions on the tropical colors -- however, I have a sage green sofa and one salmon colored wall -- what color should I use to complement those?

Ricardo Ramos: I would use cream colors. Salmon and sage together are very strong! Use the cream to pull them together.

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Chicago, Ill.: Ok, I don't mean to sound rude but that makeover looks like a waiting room. How practical is it to have people with their backs to one another, even if in theory the seating is easy to move around? This configuration is the same as my own family room and I admit it is a problem. What other suggestions did you offer for this type of space before deciding on this design?

Ricardo Ramos: Look at the floor plan and you might be able to see the actual configuration of the room. The rendering shows just a portion of the room.

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Anonymous: Do you have suggestions for where to go to look for 20th Century modern pieces -- such as a chair or coffee table? It would be to surprise my husband and it would go in our living room. He got us a subscription to Dwell, if that tells you anything about his sensibilities. Right now our living room looks like a waiting room, with a few chairs and a wide open space in the middle -- we have a long ways to go in setting the room up.

Ricardo Ramos: If you are in the D.C. area, you are in luck! Nowadays, we have several areas to go to. One is M2L -- which is about to open in Georgetown, another is Artefacto also in Georgetown. If you are looking for classic modern 20th century, go to Knoll in downtown D.C. Although, they sell to the trade only. You can also visit Design Within Reach for a reproductions at a lower price tag than those found at Knoll. Bo Concepts in Adams Morgan is a good place also. Hope it helps.

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Vienna, Va.: The design solution you've proposed doesn't include the TV that is in the "before" photo. Where would you put the TV in this room?

Ricardo Ramos: TVs should have their home in family rooms or dens; my suggestion would be to have a flat screen LCD or Plasma TV placed on the wall above the fireplace or above the table desk/console to the left of the room.

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Anonymous: Regarding the cork board: Buy a large cork board cover with 1/4 inch batting, and then cover with a fabric that will complement your room. The batting and fabric are pulled tight and stapled (heavy duty) on the back. This looks much better than plain cork.

Ricardo Ramos: Fabric, unless it is the commercial grade exclusively for tagging use, not available in stores -- only to the trade -- will get destroyed with the darts hitting it. It may look cute with the fabric complementing the room, but it will tend to rip and show holes, eventually deteriorating, becoming an eyesore.

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Woodbridge, Va: We have a very large finished basement with good light and nine foot ceilings (so it's not really basement-looking). We have beige Berber carpet and dark brown leather sofas. What paint color would you recommend to add warmth and style to the room? Thanks!

Ricardo Ramos: Use khaki colors and soft greens with a hint of gray background within the greens. It will make the room updated and warm, as well as providing you with a good backgorund for art placement.

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Washington D.C.: I live in a split-level apartment in D.C. and I have 14-ft ceiling in my living room. I've been living in it for more than four years and one wall in the living room is still empty. The challenge is it is so big I don't know whether I should use some big furniture to "break" it and then hang some large prints/posters. Any suggestions? Thanks very much!

Ricardo Ramos: Without seeing the room my suggestion is to get art pieces that will help you balance the height of one of the walls that is empty. Create a grouping of paintings with various colors and media. Select larger frames. Make the eyes go to the top and bottom of the room, you may not need more furniture. The idea is to keep your eyes moving in the three planes of a room --low, mid and high.

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Delran, N.J.: Ricardo,We have a newly built home in a development. We have an area the builder calls "a tech center". Its an open space around 12' x 18' with a window, a closet in the corner and recessed lighting and sits between two bedrooms. We each have an IKEA-style computer hutch and a small TV. Is there anyway to organize the space without cluttering and closing the area up? We love the airy layout of our home. Any advice?

Ricardo Ramos: Look for furniture that houses the computer and TV in one plane. This way you avoid the multiple use of furniture pieces to house these usually bulky items. The seating should take advantage of the window and be directed to the TV and computer. A small sectional, meaning a chaise and corner unit seat plus a comfortable lounge chair would do the job. Keep it simple!

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Arlington, Va: For those of us without the extra room to put a TV, any suggestions for concealing it in the living room so it doesn't become the focal point of the room?

Ricardo Ramos: Always a TV armoire is recommended; although, if you have a plasma or LCD flat screen, there are now screens that are mounted over the unit to conceal it. These come with different designs but mostly in the Oriental style. These work as an art piece that have two sliding doors parting from the center out.

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Hyattsville, Md.: Unfortunately, I do not have a dishwasher in my home, but want to have one installed. Most home stores will only replace an existing one. Who would I turn to to possibly convert existing cabinet space to accommodate a built in dishwasher without having to redesign my entire kitchen and cabinets?

Ricardo Ramos: Reico in Rockville has designers to help you solve that problem, they have a lot of options for this condition by using their various makers of semi-custom cabinets.

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Nashville, Tenn.: Against the advice of friends, I chose marble countertops for my new kitchen. They are beautiful, but already spotted even though I have been so very careful. The expensive marble cleaner recommended by the installers does not work. Experts say maybe my marble was not sealed properly. What is your take on this? Suggestions? Thanks!

Ricardo Ramos: You are right. Marble is not the best surface for the kitchen unless you do not mind the spots! There is not really a good sealer for it, eventually, it will wear off. Remember, marble has a porous surface and it tends to act as a sponge. Some people use it because they do like the "worn out" look. Unfortunately, changing to a well-sealed and high-polished granite top will work best.

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Ricardo Ramos: Thank you to all that wrote. Unfortunately, time is up. Your questions were great and your comments welcomed! I hope we can do this again.

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