Married.....with Furniture:
Blending Yours and Mine to Make Ours

Design advice for couples who are merging homes plus a sure-to-be appreciated wedding gift.

by Lee Mink, ASID

Here comes the bride! And groom. Unlike a generation ago, many of today’s soon-to-be married couples have already been living on their own and along the way have accumulated all sorts of furnishings - some borrowed, some bought, some hand-me-downs.  In their separate spaces, her style is most likely quite different than his style. It all adds up to a collection of mis-matched, odd assortment as they are setting up a new stage in their lives.

So what would be the best way to help them get off to the right start? One very useful idea is to help them find an interior designer who would be happy to get them started on the right foot. There may be someone that is known to the family and therefore would have a working knowledge of taste preferences and budget guidelines. Another way is to visit the ASID website for a local chapter to look for designers with appropriate portfolios and have years of experience.

Assuming their first home will be an apartment or a small house, these recommendations, either for a gift or as a couple’s guide, will make their married living space their own.

Keep the scale small.  I never recommend a sofa of more than 86 inches long to people who most likely have a future ahead of moving. A small secretary or armoire could be a small home office or a charming tucked-away bar. A dining table that has drop leaves can be used for dining and then placed behind a sofa as a lamp table or serving piece later on. Look for pieces that will be more usable in many incarnations as the years pass.

Beware of delicate fabrics and finishes. Most newlyweds are going to experience babies as well as visits from old college friends or even that adorable new puppy! All of these can wreck a fine silk or chintz or wonderful tassel fringe in no time. Keep choices to sturdy cottons, linens, sail cloth, denim, or corduroy. Have a soil shield finish put on every thing that doesn't move. Select patterns; they will camouflage all sorts of spills and wear and tear. Finishes on tables and chests should be "user friendly." My best advice is to start with a distressed finish, either faux or real, for a look that will last, without tears shed over frayed, scuffed fancy finishes. High polish lacquer, Lucite, metal, and similar finishes show every scratch. Choose them sparingly. A skirted table, while it provides some hidden storage space, the fabric does have to washed or dry cleaned from time to time for freshness. As protection, top it with a 3/8" glass round with a "pencil polished" edge. Then, wet drinks can be set on the glass surface without a coaster.

Buy the best quality possible.  This may sound extravagant because minds, tastes, and space do change over the years. However, the initial purchase of a quality sofa with hand tied springs and a dovetailed, hardwood frame, will hold up well through a dozen re-upholsters and still look good by the 50th wedding anniversary. Choose a classic design so you won’t tire of it as it reappears in new fabric.

The same holds true with well-made furniture “case” pieces, which can be re-purposed elsewhere in a larger home or refinished as time goes by. Avoid buying antique chairs; they won't last as well as reproductions. We all weigh more now and those shaky chairs may not hold up to modern American proportions.  On the other hand, antique occasional tables are very useful. They are small and interesting and will tuck into many a corner and work with many different styles of design.

Give the gift of design consulting. That may be the best way for a couple with divergent tastes to begin creating a blend. Yet, select one who is prepared to handle the couple’s dynamics. For instance, our design services include a personality profile test, created by a marriage and family counselor, which the couple takes. This test measures taste overlaps, points out conflict areas and even recommends which colors would best work with their personalities. A gift of decorating services, especially for busy career couples, will be unlike any other received.... and very much appreciated

Starting married life in a living space means discovering their personal styles and tastes. Balancing them with wise furnishing choices each likes adds to the joy of coming home as husband and wife. Decorating assistance, either as a gift or as a service they seek out, is a memory-maker ... and memorable.

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Lee Mink, ASID, heads Lee Mink & Associates Interiors, Pasadena, California, which provides residential and commercial design, space planning, and custom designed furnishings services. She can be reached at (626) 796-3900 or email: lee@leeminkinteriors.com

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