Working for twentysomethings on a budget, expert Diane Gordy wanted to incorporate the roommates' existing furniture into her design. The home is located near historic Old Town, Va., which Gordy says helped influenced her furniture selection; she opted to use traditional finishes on the home's existing furniture, then supplement it with some newer pieces.

Rotating the existing rug away from the wall, Gordy says, created an outline by which she could rearrange furniture. She also chose to position the loveseat facing the French doors, which open up to a garden.

One of the roommates' biggest concerns was having enough space to work on arts and crafts. Gordy kept their dining tables, moving the smaller round one and side chairs into a corner by the stairs. The rectangular table and remaining chairs were placed behind the loveseat. Refinishing them in black, she suggested, offers a contemporary feel.

Using the rug as the room's color palette, Gordy chose a blue tone-on-tone fabric for the loveseat slipcover. She also reupholstered a pair of armchairs with the same fabric and placed them opposite the loveseat. In between the two chairs, Gordy placed a porcelain garden seat. To complete the seating area, she set two end tables at either side of the armchairs.

Leaving the windows bare lets more light in the room, says Gordy, and can give the illusion of more space. Lastly, she suggests the roommates consider purchasing a plasma TV to save space. Doing this, she says, would continue the overall goal of minimizing bulky furniture.

While some of the furniture pieces featured are pricey, says Gordy, it's an example of the style that should be used here. Home dwellers on a budget can make this look their own by shopping for similar versions at low-cost retail stores.

audio from the designer

Expert Diane Gordy explains how to create a design theme that fits multiple style preferences.

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