Designing Duo: That's not the half of it

THE ROOM:

A large sun-filled family room off the kitchen. Hardwood floors. Nine-foot ceilings. One end of the room bumps out as an octagaonal solarium ... floor-to-ceiling windows. Large stone fireplace opposite the great view from the solarium.

THE CHALLENGE:

n How to address competing focal points at the short ends of a very rectangular space.

n How to plan the furniture so that one half of the room works with the other.

n How to address rug placement in such a space.

THE SOLUTION:

When you have equally compelling focal points at opposite ends of a room, you must find ways to address both of them or simply ignore one. In this case we decided to break the room in the middle, with the furniture "back to back," giving each end of the room equal play.

This is one of the few situations where we recommend two matching sofas in a room. Not identical just in style and length, but also in fabric covering. When two matching upholstered pieces are placed this close together, as a pair almost, they need to be covered in the same fabric. You can mix up the pillows if you want an eclectic look. A large console table between the two gives them some breathing space and allows a surface for lamps, plants, books -- whatever will give visual interest and height in the center of the room. The chairs and coffee table and/or ottoman relating to each group should be completely different from each other. On one side we paired the sofa with a matching chair and a half. On the other end, we angled two large barrel chairs in the octagonal bay window.

You can either use one huge rug or two smaller ones. One large rug really anchors the room, but at least half is completely hidden under the sofas and console table between them. If you use two smaller carpets they should complement each other without being identical.

This cozy family room with deep, cushy sofas and chairs provides ample seating to enjoy each of its focal points without seeming too crowded.

Fairfield County and Palm Beach, Fla., interior designers Margi Vorder Bruegge and George Snead wowed "The Oprah Winfrey Show" audience with their room makeovers in a day. Contact them at

561-459-7214 or roommakovr@aol.com.