Designer: NathanEgan Interiors

The Inspiration: Bold rectangles and squares and vividly patterned lines underscore the room designed by Wayne Nathan and Carol Egan of NathanEgan Interiors. Their jumping-off point: a rug by Sacco Carpet, whose lively patchwork of rich red scrollwork is based on a South African design. “It’s so graphic,” says Egan. “When I first saw it, I thought, This is it!”

The Ideas: “We like furniture that can do two things,” says Egan of the honey-colored walnut settee, which is designed for seating but is also “deep, almost like a daybed, so someone can sleep on it, too.” The designers invented their own coffee table of plywood, facing it with pieces of striped faux leather that complement the rug and the striking, colorful artwork, which is actually a remnant of wallpaper. “The strong lines make the room come alive,” Nathan says.

Designer Tips and Tricks: Rather than spending a lot of money on artwork, say Nathan and Egan, try mounting a piece of beautiful wallpaper on a standard wooden frame (sold at art-supply stores) and hanging it on the wall. Other furnishings in their space have an impact in a quieter way, such as the set of cork bricks that the designers fashioned into an end table and the simple vase of tulips that makes a playful reference to the pattern of the wallpaper.

Source List

Settee: MC & Co., 718-388-3551.
Rug: Sacco Carpet, www.saccocarpet.com.
Wallpaper: Twenty2, www.twenty2.net.
X-Frame Walnut Stool: Jonas Upholstery, 212-691-2777.
Cork Bricks: The Future Perfect, www.thefutureperfect.com.
Pillows: Laidback, www.laidbackhome.com.
Floor Lamp: Aero Studios, www.aerostudios.com.