By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

An olive-hue paint for the walls with accent shades for the ceiling and crown molding to bring out the architecture. Sheer lime-colored drapery, tall palm trees in urns and an open-back settee to allow conversation to flow freely between guests were just a few of the nuances interior designer Christopher Lowell chose for Dick and Carol Rohner's Buckley home.

Yes, the Christopher Lowell - television personality, Emmy-award winning host, nationally-known interior designer and author.

The Rohners met with Lowell, who was in Puyallup signing copies of his latest book "The Hassle Free Host," Saturday morning and went over his design for their family room at Newell Hunt Furniture Gallery in Puyallup.

In May, the Rohners won a national Christopher Lowell virtual makeover contest. In addition to Saturday's consultation, the couple won $20,000 in Christopher Lowell brand furniture, paint, window coverings, lighting and greenery.

"It actually seems a little surreal," Carol Rohner said.

"We're going to have fun. It's exciting. It's really hard to believe it's us, usually it happens to somebody else."

"It's pretty exciting to win something nationwide," Dick Rohner said.

"It's a great package," said Arla Cuddie, the Enumclaw High School graduate who owns Newell Hunt Furniture Gallery.

The Rohners were looking for a bookcase at the Puyallup furniture store and entered the room makeover giveaway drawing.

"When you enter never in your wildest dreams do you expect to win," Carol Rohner said.

This summer, Cuddie and an associate measured the Rohners' home and took photographs and sent all the information to Lowell.

The Rohners, who have lived in Buckley for close to 30 years, are looking to spruce up the dining and living room of the home they built three years ago.

"These rooms didn't feel separate," Lowell said as he went over his design with the Rohners. "This room went from a formal dining room that you don't use every day to a practical, useable space."

The design Lowell came up with even allows the Rohners to keep a couple of family heirlooms.

"We still have mom's sofa which means so much to me," Carol Rohner said when she discovered it would fit into the decor with a little upholstery magic. "To be able to still have that and incorporate it in. It means so much to me."

Lowell said the plan was to keep it classic. He selected a color and furniture that would be timeless and accessories that make it up to date.

"It's just a base. As you feather your nest you can add to it," he said.

"We love color," the Rohners said. "We've kind of kept everything neutral and have been starting to add color."

"Everything really popped out," Carol Rohner said. "It's just gorgeous. We never visualized it like that."

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.