Question: We're planning to remodel our late '60s ranch. The kitchen, which has dark wood cabinets, flows into a family room. The new kitchen/breakfast room floor will be Kahrs' Sucupira Stockholm, which will blend with the current floating hardwood floor in the family room. The kitchen cabinets will be natural maple, the counters will be Colombo Juperana granite (charcoal, mauve and white) and the appliances and sink will be stainless steel.

There's little money left in the budget for the family room but we wish to have it complement the kitchen. Can you suggest something to make it look up- to-date and smashing for little expenditure?

BETTY AND GIL SPURR, San Rafael

Answer: Congratulations on your kitchen remodel plans. And, yes, if there's money left over, it's an excellent idea to continue the changes into the family room so there is a gentle transition from one room to the next.

Here are a few suggestions you can incorporate into the family room that aren't expensive but will make a huge difference.

During the 1950s it was popular to use paneling in the construction of the family room. This paneling was often made of a thin, luan-type wood with lines etched into it to give the appearance of tongue-and-groove paneling boards. Sometimes this paneling was stained dark or, over time, it aged and darkened naturally.

Now the challenge is to update the look of this multipurpose room without the expense and mess of removing the paneling and replacing it with plaster board and paint or wallpaper.

Paint is a solution to your paneling dilemma, but not necessarily the best one. No matter what color paint you choose, the etched "board" lines will always be there, reminding you of what the walls really are.

If you choose to paint the paneling, it's important to prepare the walls properly, otherwise the results will have a poor quality finish, or worse, the paint will literally slide down the walls, creating a greater problem than the one you started with.

Another, and perhaps more effective, solution is to choose a wallpaper and put it directly over the paneling. You might think, "Wallpaper? I don't want flowers in my contemporary house. What is she thinking?"

But, wait! There are literally thousands of wallpaper styles to choose from that have the potential to give the room a much more elegant and sophisticated appearance than painting will give you.

Choose a paper that has some density to it because there are the etched lines to cover and you don't want the paper to follow the contours of the walls to such a degree that the lines show when the paste dries. Also, think about a wallpaper that has some texture in it; i.e., vertical strings designed to enhance the natural lines of the walls, or a cloth-style paper with a roughness and texture that will hide a multitude of sins. Make sure the paper has a thick backing.

Again, proper preparation of the walls is important. Use the correct paste for the job and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

For the ceiling, select a paint color that complements the wallpaper, and remember to paint the beams.

Use the same wallpaper in the bookcases on the back wall behind the shelves.

It continues the color of the walls and makes a handsome backdrop for books and interesting items you've collected.

Consider putting a molding on the face of the bookcase shelves to create an illusion that the shelves are made of thicker boards than they actually are. This face molding also serves to hide strips of light that illuminate the inside of the shelves. An elegant effect is achieved and simultaneously adds illumination to the room.

The fireplace bricks work well with your new plans. Adding a simple, clean- lined mantel will create a focal point in the room and tie the two bookcases to each other visually. This horizontal line gives visual continuity and creates the illusion the room is larger than it actually is by keeping the eye moving from one side to the other.

Using the same granite for the counter in the bar in the family room as you used in the kitchen will keep the continuity you're striving for and is a good surface for the function of the space.

Perhaps fewer shelves in the bar will create a less-cluttered appearance, especially if the shelves are used for an interesting collection of large objects instead of lots of glasses. If storing and retrieving glasses is necessary, perhaps the top two shelves could be enclosed behind doors and one remaining shelf can be made of glass and used for presenting an interesting collection. Again, this will visually expand the horizontal lines of the space and keep it simple and elegant.

If there's anything left in the budget, you might consider replacing the 1950s-style glass doors with sliders that are more in keeping with the updated look you're striving for in the remodeling of your home.

Because there are so many materials to choose, remember to work with colors and textures that complement each other. Adding a "surprise" material in one area keeps a room interesting and, when selected judiciously, can be the one thing guests will "ooh" and "ah" over when they comment on all your hard work.

 

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