I have two excellent vintage bamboo chairs that I'd like to put in my living room. Do I have to paint the bamboo to give it an indoor look?
Absolutely not! The natural brown colour of the bamboo is authentic and elegant. These iconic pieces can go anywhere. What you should address are the seat cushions. In the past, such chairs were often placed in conservatory settings and their cushions would inevitably sport a garden pattern, but we've come a long way since then. I love the idea of putting the chairs in the living room, pairing the vintage frames with a modern, even over-the-top upholstery, such as an embossed Scalamandre fabric or boldly patterned vinyl.
Architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace is the president of Taylor Hannah Architect Inc. in Toronto. Have a design question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.