Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
RUBY-COLOURED walls with touches of Mayan gold, burlap cushions, red tapestry on the dining room chairs and a garland of red and gold have transformed Anicia and Leighton Thomas' living/dining room into a feast for the eyes.
Two weeks ago Lifestyle featured the bland off-white walls of the Thomas' living/dining room on Long Mountain which overlooks Mountain View Avenue in St. Andrew. The couple and their three children had recently relocated from Smokey Vale, St. Andrew, (their house was damaged by the passage of Hurricane Ivan) and was looking to put some pizzazz into their living space with a hearty dose of Christmas cheer.
Anicia Thomas, a senior producer for the local television cable channel CETv, invited interior designer Franciene Chin of Adams Design to pump up the Christmas spirit on a budget of $10,000.
Thomas says in Christmases past the only festive decoration in her house was the Christmas tree, which had proved too large for new space.
The makeover, which took the better part of two days, was completed last Thursday and the results are fabulous.
WHAT WAS DONE...
WALLS
The first thing interior designer Franceine Chin did was to paint the off-white walls in a dazzling ruby slippers and Mayan gold.
"I knew what I wanted to see, I wanted it to feel warm," she explained. "I also knew I was going to use ruby slipper so I started with the colours and the tapestry (on the chairs) made a big difference," said Chin.
CURTAINS AND CUSHIONS
The Thomas' wanted to keep their brown sectional sofa so Chin incorporated it into her decor. She had her seamstress Sharon Plummer make slip covers for the cushions using brown burlap and red tapestry which was also used on the dining chairs.
She also used burlap for the curtains, which blended perfectly with the brown sofa.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Instead of buying a Christmas tree, Chin got a simple branch (leftovers from Ivan) which she painted red. It was then decorated with pepper lights.
THE DINING TABLEThe chairs were wrapped with red tapestry and draped with red organza. The centrepiece was made using twigs (that you can find in your back yard). Chin painted the twigs red and added Christmas decorations.
Pinecones (spray painted gold) were used with ribbon to make miniature sleighs and leftover burlap from the cushions were used to make placemats.
"The centrepiece for the table shows my creative spirit," said Chin who added that she was particularly proud of this creation.
