Design Rules

There are many aspects of design and decor that are flexible.  Scale is one of them. Balance isn't.  Here are my top 5 rules of thumb that make interior spaces dynamite instead of droll.

1. Area rugs should be balanced in a room.  Place all of the furniture in your room either all off your rug, or all on.  Having some pieces on and some off looks, well, off.  I like to leave at least a foot of floor showing, even in small rooms, so the area rug remains an accent piece rather than looking like wall-to-wall carpeting.

2. When hanging a chandelier over a table, install it about 32-36" above the table surface.  Too high and it looks 'lost', too low and it's not balanced in the room or functional when dining.
















3. Artwork can be its own focal point, but can be grouped with furniture to create an overall vignette. I like to have odd numbers in my group, and hang pieces of similar composition, color, or with 'like' frames together.  The closer you hang art in your vignette to each other, the more impact your grouping will have.

4. How large is the right cocktail table?  Two-thirds the width of the sofa is always right
















5. When mixing fabrics in a room, you should designate your color scheme and work within its varying hues and complementary colors.  I generally select one main pattern - floral, damask, paisley, etc...- and work in smaller scale prints, stripes, plaids and tone on tone so that each fabric has a purpose and is balanced in the overall space.  A good rule of thumb is to use 60% of one color in varying hues and patterns, add two equal amounts of accent hue to get 30%, then one bold or dramatic color is the remaining 10%.

Enter here!

Does your entry say what you want about the rest of your home?  This is one space, indoors and out, that sets the tone for the rest of your home. These are my top quick fixes for the inside space.

1) Flooring.  It often creates nice separation, not to mention a practical way to keep the entry clean, to have a different floor surface in the entry.  If your entry merges with the living area this is a perfect time to create separation.   Even a small area rug, provides delineation from the rest of your home. Be sure to secure area rugs with pads or tape. 

2) Stash space.  It's smart to keep your entry neat. I recommend using a console, bench or other area where you can drop mail, keys and more.  Affixing a small board to the wall and adding front legs, creates a perfect stash space in an apartment or condo where there is no obvious entry area. Using a small wall-hung shelf or a bookshelf to divide the entry from the rest of the space, work well for organization and separation.   Once you've got the surface, you can add baskets, containers and bowls to collect what you drop, making a design statement as well as containing clutter.

3) Mirrors. Reflect light into the space by adding a mirror.  A unique, framed mirror can make an artistic statement. It also serves as a place for guests to check themselves before entering, and you to take a last look before you go out!  

4) Lighting. The best way to change the apparent space is with lighting. Brighten a narrow space with wall sconces, hang a chandelier to dramatize a grand space, bring a dark corner into play with up-lights, and if you can,  hang picture lights over your art. 

5) Artwork.  Personalize your entry to reflects you and the style of your home. Whether that translates to a sculpture, a mobile, pottery, or wall art, an item you love can be worked into your entryway. This is a ideal time to use travel collectibles, your favorite ceramics, a fabric you love (framed or as a bench cover) to add color, texture, pattern and personalization.

6) Color. Bold or neutral, soft or dramatic, color sets the stage. In an entry, you can often find a space for a unique wall treatment. In this tiny apartment entry, a bold vase, stair runner and scarf hanging on a grand hook, say enough!