Add contrast through accessories

DEAR DESIGNER: I am planning a new home and considering bamboo floors in a very dark brown. My question is how do you keep wood furniture from disappearing into the floors? I don't like case goods any lighter than a fruitwood tone, but prefer even darker. But, I don't want light wood floors. Is this where rugs come in to play? I've always had wall-to-wall carpets, but have this opportunity to start from the ground up and want to go a completely new direction. Thanks very much. -- Jennifer.

DEAR JENNIFER: Wood flooring is a handsome way to start from the ground up. Setting like-colored wood furniture and cabinets directly on the wood floor is completely acceptable when done with forethought.

Wood furniture disappearing into the floor is not always a bad thing. However, if you have a special piece of furniture that you want to direct attention to, you will want to set it on top of a simple contrasting rug. For the most part, wood furniture doesn't need that much attention. Allowing it to blend into the floor is often a good thing.

It is a misconception that there must be a contrast between the various woods of furniture, cabinets and floors. This simply isn't true. Although contrast between furniture and flooring can look lovely, if not done correctly, it can often look choppy and cheap. In many posh rooms, the wood tones are mixed varieties of wood but similar in finish.

Contrast may be necessary so your room doesn't look like a dark cave, but it doesn't have to come from contrasting the various woods. Contrast can be added by using light-colored countertops, upholstery and accessories. That being said, it would, however, be a mistake to have a large area with a luscious wood floor and no rugs whatsoever to define the living space.

A well-placed rug is useful for many reasons. As mentioned, it separates the wood furniture from the wood flooring. Other advantages include protecting your wood floor from scratches; defining area such as a sitting area or dining room; anchoring a room; and setting the style of a room.

A logical place to put a large rug is under your dining room table -- for all of the above reasons, with emphasis on protecting the wood floor.

If these reasons aren't yet enough to convince you that a well-placed rug is a good idea, I have one more. When you have too many solid surfaces, noise can bounce around the room hitting the hard surfaces, causing an echo effect. For that reason it is beneficial to add a decorative rug to your seating area or living room. The fibers in the rug will absorb sound and help stop the echo.

While defining a living area with an area rug that comes in a standard size, you may need to be creative about where to position the rug under your furniture. It's great if it fits completely under all the furniture and it is also acceptable to allow your end tables to sit directly on the wood flooring or half on and half off the rug.

In summary, pick your favorite flooring to go with your favorite wood furniture. Place wood furniture on wood floors with no worries about contrasting the wood. Introduce contrast to your room through upholstery fabrics, accessories and countertops. Add a rug to divide the space and protect the floor under chairs that might be moved a lot, like those in a dining room. Most importantly, have fun with your placement of rugs. They will add warmth and a creative edge to your warm-wood flooring.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner@projectdesign interiors.com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesigninteriors.com.