You know those people who seem to have great taste without even trying? You're about to be one of them. Here, top designers share the best insider tips and tricks in the business.
For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. "I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room," reveals Gary McBournie, a designer based in Boston. "It plays itself out in different ways in different rooms."
"Create strong verticals and avoid the horizontal," recommends designer Todd Romano. "I adore large mirrors because they add scale to a room. I also kept the furniture low-slung, so the rooms seem taller."
"I'm really into saturated color with white to balance it out so it doesn’t feel over-whelming," says Joanna Gaines, the star of HGTV's Fixer Upper and mastermind behind Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Paint in partnership with Kilz. Having trouble picking out a bold color? Gaines recommends green, because it's found in nature and timeless.
If you truly love something, you'll want to put it on display. "Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in a utilitarian room like the bathroom," advises designer Bunny Williams.
Neutral decor can be interesting — just include a variety of materials. "I used a range — from fine-gauge and open-weave linen, to raw silk and taffeta, to cotton velvet and distressed velvet," says California-based designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano. "Not only that, there's also the contrast of matte sheens that absorb the light, and lustrous sheens that reflect it."
For the perfect color family, mix one batch of paint 50% lighter than the base and another 150% darker. "That's a failsafe method for striping a wall," says Mary Douglas Drysdale, who designed this bold blue kitchen. "It's also a very architectural way of using color."
"I don't think it will last too long, but the look of velvet is a big trend," says TV personality and designer on the new season of Trading Spaces, Sabrina Soto. She embraced this material by buying a deep blue velvet couch for her formal living room, but if you want a safer choice, go with a soft gray.
Small living spaces don't have to feel cramped. "See how these living room chairs have smallish arms," says designer Elizabeth Pyne. "Most of their square footage is given to the seat, so you can curl up in them. They feel luxurious and roomy even though they're not big."
"For classic side panels, you really have to go all the way to the floor," designer Scot Meacham Wood says. "If you're looking at ready-made drapes, make sure that they touch the floor, even if you have to buy the next size up and have them hemmed."
A temporary space can look beautiful, even with a small budget. "We are so used to having painters sand for ages to produce mirror-smooth walls, but I wasn't about to spend the money to do that in a rental," says designer Max Sinsteden of his bright green entryway. "It turns out the irregular surface just sparkles all the more."
Matching can be so overrated — and expensive. Look online (and in thrift shops) for beautiful sets of antique china and silver flatware, recommends Williams. You'll save money and the place settings will feel more special to guests than brand-new ones.
Metallic finishes already add plenty of sparkle, but the sheen will make a bigger impact in a variety of colors. "I don't know why people don't mix gold with silver more often — they look so smart together," says designer John De Bastiani. "The key is to use a lot of both; you can't be shy with one or the other."
One pair of pillows always looks skimpy, says Melissa Warner, a California-based designer. Use two pairs, in contrasting patterns, colors, and textures. De Bastiani agrees: "I don't do dinky accents...small pillows look like something that came with the furniture."
Most people opt for a frosted glass or an opaque curtain for extra privacy, but there's something to be said for transparency. Glass shower doors, like in this guest bathroom by designer Amy Meier, add instant square footage. To complete the illusion, run the floor tiles straight into the stall. "It makes the room feel larger," adds designer Alla Akimova. "If I had changed materials, it would have interrupted the space."
Dining room benches might not be conventional, but they sure are cozy. "You automatically feel more friendly when you're sharing a seat," points out designer Thom Filicia. "It could quickly become corporate if you were looking at a room full of chairs." Vicente Wolf, also a designer, agrees on mixing it up: "You wouldn't have eight identical chairs in your living area."
If the size of the space mandates where the furniture goes, think about the pieces strategically. For example, if a bed has to go against a window wall, choose a headboard that still lets sunlight in, like this Florida bedroom by Todd Romano.
Cleaning up clutter can be a good thing, but there's one thing hosts should never stow away. "Show, don't tell, what you're serving with a well-appointed bar," says Bunny Williams. "Guests feel more at home when they can help themselves."
Original article and pictures take www.housebeautiful.com site
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