6 Decorating Ideas to Steal from Oprah's Interior Designer

"You will not have to put on heels just to walk into this house," says Rose Tarlow, the designer who's working with Oprah to turn her home into a haven. "Oprah is very elegant and sophisticated, but she's also warm and playful. She likes to put her feet up." One of the redo's key goals: "a living room that can actually be lived in." We asked Tarlow for a peek at the process.

Next: Rose's 6 decorating ideas

"This piece will go under Oprah's favorite painting, Harry Herman Roseland's To the Highest Bidder. It doesn't look especially comfortable, but it is—so deep and wide that you really can lie down on it, and she loves the high back. By the way, I want this to be a room where Oprah could feel at ease wearing a nightgown."

Fabrics: Philip Friedman/Studio D. Painting: To The Highest Bidder, by Harry Herman Roseland, circa 1906. Sofa: Courtesy of Rose Tarlow Design.

"The mirror is an antique from London. It's very large and will sit directly on the fireplace mantel, and when you look in it you'll be able to see the painting, even when you're on the other side of the room."

"Every part of the room will have a place where people can sit and read. This cabinet is for books."

"These chairs will be covered in this fabric."

Fabric: Phillip Friedman/Studio D, Chairs: Courtesy of Rose Tarlow Design

"This chair is from an antiques fair. Oprah and I did some good shopping together."

"The curtain fabric has the same soft tones as the beautiful carpet."

Next: Oprah's home makeover: She's changing everything