Q. We want to put in a red mahogany wall-to-wall closet in our principal bedroom to match the furniture. The floor is a lighter wood (laminate). must we tie the two together with an area rug? must the handles be aluminum or brass?
— Kim Spezowka
A. If the new closet matches the mahogany furniture already in your bedroom, don’t worry about the differing floor colour. The closet will look like part of your furniture once it’s complete, which will tie those elements together nicely. An area rug is a terrific idea, but depending on the quality of the laminate, a lighter wood coloured floor and darker wood furniture can be a great contrast. However, if you want to distract the eye from the varying colours, an area rug will work wonders.
If your bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, try coordinating the handles on the new closet with the finish of the faucets and hardware in the bathroom. Brass handles will give the closet a a lot more standard look, while chrome or brushed nickel will give it a a lot more contemporary feel.