The living room is the main area which collects many different aromas from many different places. These conflicting scents create a whirlpool or vibrations, each one clashing with another. Aromas in the living room come from chemicals in furniture polish, window view, upholstery, carpet, fabrics and also from people's clothes, as well as their auric scents. To create a harmonious environment where our family and friends can relax and enjoy comfortably, we need to arrange these conflicting aromas and instill a new and coordinated mix of scents.

This week, we focus on a very simple and smart living room. The land lady made this apartment for a tenant, so we did a simple basic interior keeping in mind any kind of smart arrangement. The floor is simple; thirty two inch porcelain beige colour tiles, and similar close shade tiles are used for border and skirting. The main ceiling is white and its simple height creates an elegant impression. The windows are big enough, so natural light is sufficient for this living room. I designed a wall in a different way, using simple beige rustic tiles to cover one wall and thus enhance the whole living space.

The tenant is a Spanish lady. She has been in Dhaka for many years for her garments business. She has smart comfy upholstered sofa for sitting. Sofas are straight in shape with almost a box pattern but very comfortable for sitting. Actually these brown sofas are very contemporary. Two two-seater sofas are placed in an L-shaped way and one single unit of upholstered bench sofa is set on the opposite side. The central tables are square, well-designed with a heavy wooden look. They are placed in a very interesting way; one is a little forward and another one is a little backward but both together the tables look like one unique centre piece. A perfectly straight line is not likely to occur in the natural world; it is a product of human strength and ingenuity. Straight lines may be perceived as forceful and stabilising. Columns supporting a doorway or beams across the ceiling suggest power and quickly draw our attention. At the same time, there is a sense of tension in lines that are perfectly straight.

On one side, two symmetrical pairs of book shelves are placed. The middle one comes with a smaller cabinet for a TV. Although they aren't a set, we placed one next to the other. The complete open cabinets for books, some favourite collections and unit for TV are very functional. Book shelves are square in shape, very unique and edgy. The book-shelves are made of wood, and have deep brown polish. According to Zen Buddhist beliefs, the straight line suggests supreme serenity. Placing nine books on a shelf—instead of eight or ten—may bring an inexplicable tranquillity. Numerologists would say that even the dimensions we are scarcely aware of, such as the length of tables or the height of shelves, will be more calming if they are in multiples of three. It's as though the number is encoded in our psyche, reminding us that we live in a safe and orderly universe.

The room colour is light beige and it's a really good platform for deep shade furniture. The curtains are simple; the lady carefully chose white cotton fabric for her window. So, the living room looks neutral with all shades of deep and light brown.

Art always enriches a home. The traditional wooden console table is an ideal match for a modern – setting living room. Nuria arranged a very good painting for top of the console table. Accessories are the last touch-up for any room. She arranged lovely local cushions and covers for the sofa, a white vase and flowers are used to create a romantic niche on top of the white coffee table.

Interior Consultant

JOURNEYMAN

E-mail: journeyman.interiors@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Tamim Sujat

Special Thanks: Nuria Lopaz Labrador