On the West Coast, whether urban or suburban, our yearning to settle in for the cooler nights has already begun. The lively summer evenings, when the kitchen served as the heart of the home, have given way to rain on the windows, wool socks, and a slower pace. Now the living room pulls everyone in, from Thanksgiving dinners that stretch well past dessert to lazy Sunday afternoons with a book and a pot of tea. Refreshing a favourite room for fall and winter can be as simple as a few well-chosen pieces.

Start with the spot everyone wants. The Fox Trot Chaise Lounge from Calia Italia is long, deeply quilted, and made for stretching out completely, which makes the chaise the obvious landing place after a holiday meal. Tuck one beneath a window for rainy-day reading, or pair the chaise with other Fox Trot pieces to build a sectional big enough for the whole family and the dog. Fabrics, colours, and configurations can all be customized to suit the room and the household.

Next, a table worth pulling up to. The Caesar Coffee Table from Cattelan Italia is a rounded column of moulded ceramic set on a slim metal base, inspired by the dreamy colonnades of De Chirico. The wide top has room for candles, a cheese board, a deck of cards, and whatever glasses are still going at midnight. Guests will set down their drinks and immediately ask where the table came from.

Then come the chairs with character. Leolux designed the Parabolica Armchair around an asymmetrical shape that works three ways: sit upright, recline, or perch with a laptop on the broad armrest, which doubles as a small desk. On weekday mornings the Parabolica serves as a home office; by evening, a reading nook. The Papageno Armchair, also from Leolux, brings a sense of humour to the room. Small, solid aluminium feet give the chair a cheeky stance, and the cozy form attracts the kind of guest who claims a seat early and refuses to give it up.

Finally, set the mood. Switch off the overheads, turn on the Pigalle Floor Lamp from Cattelan Italia, and the whole room softens. Layers of hand-finished glass in pearly tones scatter a warm, diffused glow that flatters faces and firelight alike. Even switched off, the lamp stands in the corner like a piece of art.

Picture the first dinner of the season in the refreshed room: plates cleared, candles burning low, and someone already asleep on the chaise. Every piece is waiting at INspiration Furniture, Vancouver's home for contemporary and modern furnishings since 2002. Stop by the showroom on West 6th Avenue or book time with the interior design service, and have the room ready before the first frost.