Remodeling
Same Stuff, New Look
A minimal makeover might be just what your room needs

THE CHALLENGE: A family that loves to entertain needs a space that is inviting and welcoming to their guests, but Susan and Mike Hurt’s Queen Anne townhouse felt cramped and overwhelmed by the furniture. Facing away from the entry, the L-shaped sofa created a barrier to the room. The dining table was pushed against the wall, limiting entertaining space, and eight chairs crammed together made for awkward seating. The uncomfortable space—paired with the predictable furniture arrangement—made the room “boring, square and flat,” says Eduardo Mendoza, interior designer and owner of The Enhanced Home.

THE SOLUTION: The Hurts had what they needed, but their large furniture needed to be rearranged so it didn’t overwhelm the small space, explains Mendoza, a specialist in redesigning homes to “resell, resize and refresh” using existing furniture. “Sometimes people just need to update the space they have, with what they have,” he says. The designer repositioned the sofa at a slight angle with its back to the windows, making more space for the dining table, which he pulled away from the wall. He also removed two of the chairs. Now the room is functional and interesting. “The whole layout says ‘welcome’ as you walk in,” Mendoza says. 


  • Gold accents, such as pillows and lamps, help incorporate the family’s antique, gold-framed portraits.
  • A pasta-filled vase adds interest and creates vertical lines and height to balance the horizontal lines of the table and sofa.
  • Reorganizing bookshelves eliminated clutter, and reducing the number of family photos made them a stronger focal point.

Design Details

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Eduardo Mendoza, The Enhanced Home
(206) 409-3665