100 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2021
HOW TO CREATE AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT SPACES TO ‘WOW’ YOUR HOLIDAY GUESTS
continued from page 99
BTW: Serving carts are versatile and
can also be used for tea/coff ee time, or
for storing small appliances.
“First impressions count. When it comes
to creating beautiful entertaining
spaces, for me, there are always two
factors that determine the overall
design scheme and layout of a room,”
Grunberger off ers.
THE FIRST IS FUNCTION
“How many people need to be accommodated?
I love to incorporate fl exible
seating and dining arrangements that
can function for smaller or larger gatherings:
dining tables with extension
leaves, additional chairs and benches in
a corner of the dining room or in front
of a window,” she explains. “These are
never matchy-matchy pieces because
it›s all about adding visual interest. I
prefer to opt for a different silhouette
and choose upholstery material in
a contrasting fabric. It›s an opportunity
to introduce a touch of the unexpected.”
CREATE WELCOMING
CONVERSATION AREAS WITH
YOUR FURNITURE LAYOUT
“Ottomans not only add comfort, but can
do double duty as additional seating, be
part of a cocktail table arrangement,
or tucked away under a console table,”
Grunberger adds. “How about a pair of
slipper chairs in a corner of the room
which can be pulled up and added to
your seating group?”
LOOK TO THE PAST
FOR INSPIRATION: BAR
CABINETS ARE POPULAR
AGAIN
“Today’s tall, freestanding cabinets are
designed to look like jewelry in the
room. When you open them up, the
interior is illuminated, mirrored, and
has gorgeous storage compartments
and racks for suspending glassware.
They make a stunning addition to your
living room and are a must-have for
people who like to entertain in style,”
she says.
THE SECOND FACTOR:
YOUR STYLE DETERMINES
THAT DESIGN SCHEME
How do you want the room to feel?
Amazing entertainment spaces have
one thing in common: They are skillfully
layered. According to Grunberger:
“From a gorgeous area rug, rich woods
and metal accents, luxurious fabrics,
statement lighting fi xtures and lamps,
bespoke window treatments, wallcoverings,
pillows, and curated accessories.
All add richness to a space and make it
feel inviting and comfortable, no matter
what design style you favor.”
ON A TIGHT BUDGET? HERE
ARE HER TOP TIPS
�� Color is crucial in conveying a rich
aesthetic
�� Go bold – opt for deep, saturated
tones on walls
�� Add colorful accents throughout
�� With rugs, bigger is always better
�� Lots of lamps for mood (overhead
lighting isn’t enough)
�� Oversized artwork creates a focal
point
�� Cozy living/family rooms are the goto
spots where folks gather for the
holidays. Sandra Asdourian of Sandra
Asdourian Interiors in Babylon
says the key ingredients for a great
design on a budget are:
�� Comfortable seating: oversized sofas/
sectionals with built-in lounge
seating
�� Room-darkening window treatments
�� Deep, non nonrefl ective wall/ceiling
colors (like moody blues)
�� Rugs/carpets to minimize sounds
Then, add some festive accessories.
“I fi nd the best way to transform a room
in time for the holidays – in a cost-eff ective
way – is to change the paint color,”
adds Mary Middlemiss of Twice As
Nice Interiors in East Islip. And who
wouldn’t love her swell multipurpose
game room, showcasing a fancy billiard
table? On the fl ip side, a small game
table, where the fam and guests can
play cards or do puzzles, also creates
a fun vibe, she says. And how about
enhancing that bland sofa with some
faux fur (or sequin) pillows and a plush
animal print throw, to make it more
inviting?
PRESS HOME
Adriana Pisani (age 8)
wanted to raise money to feed 100
families who didn't have food for
Thanksgiving. Her dad, Danny Pisani,
gave her access to social media. She
made posts, followed up with everyone,
donated $50 from her own piggy bank
and raised enough money to feed 120
families for Thanksgiving. This is
something she spent a lot of her free
time on and really took it seriously, as
she has traveled everywhere and has
seen what it's like to not have money.
"I have never seen her so laser focused on anything before like
she was for this,," said her proud dad.
The charity that she raised the money for was Branches of Long
Island, run by Samantha Morales in Middle Island.
"Seeing her interest was really heartwarming," said Samantha
Morales, founder, Branches Long Island. "It’s not often young
kids get involved, so to watch her success was really such a
beautiful thing. We are very proud of her!"
PISTOL PERMITS
FAST MONEY
BACK IF DENIED
DON'T GET RIPPED OFF BY COPYCATS
• CARRY
• WE CAN COME TO YOU
• PERSONAL
• FREE RANGES
• ARMED GUARDS
THE ORIGINAL • SINCE 1965
PROTECT YOURSELF
WWW.PISTOLPERMITS.COM
1-800-520-1440
COVID SAFE
ALL TRANSACTIONS
ARE CONTACTLESS
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/WWW.PISTOLPERMITS.COM
