Home Makeover--Why it Works

Redesigning an unbalanced space, designer Leonard Braunschweiger focused on natural materials and proportion to restore unity. He ended up with a minimalist look in natural maple and walnut with wool and leather accents. The neutral color scheme and straight, pared down lines could have made these rooms look a bit on the cold side, but Braunschweiger prevented that.

Here's how––

It's Only Natural
Woods, wools and leathers are warm, materials people respond to in a positive way. We equate them with nature and think of them as welcoming.

Loosen Up
Curvaceous shapes add character and a lighthearted affect to the minimalist straight lines. See them in the Joy Brown sculpture, undulating cabinet pulls and organic objects in the dining room.

Color Me Happy
Unexpected jolts of color let us know this space isn't too buttoned up. Check out the hand-painted chandelier from Peter Mangan--just like those he created for Wolfgang Puck's restaurant extraordinaire Spago–– and the bunch of huge green leaves on the storage cabinet.

See the whole makeover from before to after in Balancing Act.

Technorati Tags: Home Makeover , Minimalism, Interior design, Modern Design