Partitions provide privacy, fresh spirit

I love a challenge. It's when I'm faced with a problem that I come up with my best ideas. And I would say the most common challenge in the design world today is working with small spaces. It's ironic that there is more and more to buy, yet in so many cases our living quarters cannot accommodate all the furniture and gadgets.

When you are living in an area of about 525 square feet, every inch counts. This is basic, pared-down living. But it doesn't have to be dull.

The challenge in the open-concept space shown here was to devise a plan to divide up the living and sleeping quarters. A young designer -- one of the proteges from my series "From the Ground Up," came up with a fantastic design for the space. A partition of some sort was in order, and I had employed many different types of fabric in other lofts and condos that worked well. I'd hung everything from painted and tie-dyed sheers or tapestries suspended from the ceiling to custom-built floor screens decorated with paint, paper and moldings. As well as a modicum of privacy, they added fresh spirit to the existing design.

However, for this condo, a dual-purpose partition was created. Custom-built so that the flat-screen TV is able to swivel 180 degrees, the solid media center is designed as a dividing wall that hides all the wires, looks great and capitalizes on space. Now that's clever.

Another challenge is furnishing. There are good arguments for going oversize or small, but why not be daring and pick a few great pieces that capture your imagination? Explore the Web for pieces by innovative designers such as Brent Comber and his fir cube tables, available through www.klausn.com; Hugo love seats and Matt cowhide rocking chair can be found at www.eq3.com. Any of these pieces are intriguing, practical works of art that will raise your living spaces to a whole new level. You know, it used to be only the wealthy or very artsy folks who splurged on furnishings that were outside the norm. Today, furniture designers consider looks and comfort, but also environmentally smart materials, and we, as educated consumers, are more demanding.

Lighting has never been as much fun, and contemporary lighting styles can be pleasingly mixed with traditional styles. The trend is more about choosing light sources that save on electricity and enhance a mood.

Whether you decide to build a media partition or upgrade the lighting in your home, this is the time to hire a good contractor or electrician. Before all those wires get hidden away behind permanent or temporary walls, be sure you have the proper number of outlets and that your service can take the added burden. Don't forget the dimmers; they are essential, and the least-expensive decorating trick around.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.