Dorsch Interiors
 214-683-4249

The following article appeared in the April edition of "Frisco's Home and Garden Remodeling" 

Then & Now  - A Taste of the Tropics
BY Allison Hatfield
Earnest Hemingway would have loved it.  Homeowners mark and Aleta Brown certainly do.  Their eclectic living room, replete with warm colors, a variety of textures and the flavor of the West Indies, is a beautiful example of refined tropical. 
The couple recently purchased a home in Richardson and has been furnishing it one room at a time.  After discovering that getting a decorator look without professional help can be difficult, the Browns contacted interior decorator Alba Dorsch.

In a matter of hours, Dorsch transformed their spacious living room from a stark, open area into some place thoroughly inviting and down right enchanting – by simply rearranging their furniture and adding a few pieces of artwork and accessories.
The Browns, empty-nesters who both work from home, charged Dorsch with combining their penchant for British Colonial flair with their new contemporary sofa, chair and ottoman to create a comfortable and polished living area where they can watch TV, visit with friends or simply sit by the fire and read.

Before

The approximately 18 - by - 22 foot room has 21 foot ceilings and lots of architecture.  One side of the room features seven arched openings in varying sizes and at different heights.  The other has four tall windows stacked two on two, a fireplace and built-in cabinets.  The key, Dorsch says, in room design, is to have the largest seating piece facing the architectural focal point – in this case, the fireplace.  Also, she says, you want to create an intimate conversation area.

To do this, the designer grouped the sofa and chair together near the fireplace, using the couple’s lovely contemporary rug to define the conversation area.  She also brought in a chair and side table previously located in the foyer to round out the seating group.  Rather than situate the sofa parallel to the fireplace, Dorsch positioned it at an angle, creating a bit of drama.  Moving the sofa off the wall toward the center of the room created a traffic path that allows family members and guests to move through the room without disturbing those that are watching television or enjoying one another’s company. 

The Browns had no art on their living room walls, no accessories, no window treatments and only a single lamp.  Without such elements, the space appeared bleak.  Dorsch set about to remedy that, first with custom window treatments of gold silk on the lower windows and matching throw pillows to soften the impact of the cranberry leather sofa.  She then added a trio of fun lamps and a few tabletop accessories.  To balance the massive fireplace, she hung a smaller scale print over the mantle, to which she added candles and greenery.  On the wall opposite the fireplace she hung a large architectural piece and a round mirror.  A pair of trees, one on either side of the room, help create atmosphere and anchor the space.   
 After
A casual dining area adjoins the living room, and Dorsch repeated the angle of the sofa when she turned the table in that room to run parallel with it.  A bit of greenery and four prints help bring the West Indies feel into that room.  The designer also placed a red glass bowl filled with colorful tropical fruits on the table to bring the red from the living room into the eating area. 

The entire makeover cost the Browns $2,400, which includes the designers consulting fee.  They say it’s well worth it, for they now can look forward to cozy days and nights in a striking space that once felt cold and unwelcoming. 

A professional in the field of interior redesign, Alba Dorsch owns Dorsch Interiors (formerly Decorating Alternatives), a design company that specializes in furniture placement.  She has transformed hundreds of rooms from boring to beautiful in Miami, Greensboro, NC, and the Dallas Metroplex.  You may contact Dorsch at 214-683-4249 or online at alba@dorschinteriors.com