Rent in Style

Create a Focal Point

The apartment's square white rooms presented a problem when it came to arranging furniture. To give the living room some direction, it needed a focal point. A vintage mantel -- a piece of architectural salvage purchased at a flea market -- helped dictate the furniture layout.

Because the mantel needed a bit more presence, Caroline stacked about 250 bricks behind it to create a faux hearth. A piece of plastic painting cloth underneath protects the carpet from being discolored by the bricks. All can be easily disassembled when she moves.