Visit our new neighborhood pages where you can send in photos, find quick information and news and join our message boards. Visit our new neighborhood pages where you can send in photos, find quick information and news and join our message boards. Question: I live in a tiny apartment and have dedicated a small corner for dining. Have you any tips for dressing up this area for a special-occasion dinner on an equally tiny budget? Answer: You don't require much space to deliver an impact. Working in a reduced space is actually an asset. The object is to build an intimate mood, one that invites quiet conversation while sharing a meal. It's about making you and your company feel special. Choose colors and fabrics that have an air of opulence. Persimmon-red walls radiate warmth and can be sexy or consoling depending on the setting. Choose some feature to designate the special purpose of the space. If it isn't feasible to paint, you can introduce color behind the table with a large painting or tapestry. A pair of light sconces is always a romantic gesture. Deep-red walls paired with golden-hued metallics, such as brass sconces and candlesticks and gilded frame portraits, have been favored for centuries. A vintage-style tablecloth transforms the simplest table. Any china and glassware looks richer against the embossed sheen of damask or starched white linens. Select an artful centerpiece as a quiet focal point. The antique crackled porcelain and bronze Chinese bowl on our table is a family heirloom that reflects the intricate pattern and colors of this traditional setting. If your style is more contemporary, it could be a clear glass bowl or a silver box-shaped container. If you're on a tight budget, shop secondhand stores for brilliant finds. There are always vintage lamps, dishes, linens and frames that are waiting to embellish a new home. A few well-chosen pieces sparkling in candlelight, and you'll have a memorable setting. Q: We have moved to a house that overlooks the ocean in British Columbia. While the views are spectacular, we are having trouble adjusting to the western architecture. The house has vaulted ceilings, and we feel lost. Last night while I was having a bath, I felt like I was bathing in the hallway of a public building . . . all I could see was a far-too-high ceiling and large angles over a narrow room. Any suggestions? A: The expanse of interior space provided by vaulted ceilings is as welcome as fresh ocean air to some, while others, like you, don't feel comfortable in such an open setting. I suggest you compromise and enclose the most intimate rooms -- particularly the bathroom. Have an architect or contractor design a ceiling that is compatible with the existing interior lines. In the main living area, set up furniture groupings and area carpets that define the spaces for relaxing and dining. One or two tall room screens will help compartmentalize. Choose midtone to dark, saturated colors for upholstery and tables, and textured cushions and throws. These should help create a cozier atmosphere. Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. You can e-mail your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Question: I live in a tiny apartment and have dedicated a small corner for dining. Have you any tips for dressing up this area for a special-occasion dinner on an equally tiny budget? Answer: You don't require much space to deliver an impact. Working in a reduced space is actually an asset. The object is to build an intimate mood, one that invites quiet conversation while sharing a meal. It's about making you and your company feel special. Choose colors and fabrics that have an air of opulence. Persimmon-red walls radiate warmth and can be sexy or consoling depending on the setting. Choose some feature to designate the special purpose of the space. If it isn't feasible to paint, you can introduce color behind the table with a large painting or tapestry. A pair of light sconces is always a romantic gesture. Deep-red walls paired with golden-hued metallics, such as brass sconces and candle
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