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Designing Dilemmas
Expressing Your own Unique Style
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Dear Designing Solutions: My husband and I are trying to go it alone and decorate our new home by ourselves to save some money. Are there techniques you recommend to amateurs that will help them express their own personal style instead of doing rooms from magazine and catalog pictures? Elisse
Dear Elisse: Here's what I recommend, amateur or not, to bring out your individual style in room décor:
1. Examine your lifestyle: Busy working families have little time for formal furnishings that require care or primping, so you'll be happiest when choosing styles that fit the way you really live.
2. Match Your Personality: If you love hand-made jewelry, colorful clothing and funky accessories you will probably prefer a more eclectic, colorful home with some one-of-a-kind pieces. If you prefer classics and opt for Brooks Brothers, even during down time, you might prefer furnishings with classic lines and symmetry.
3. Are You Hot or Cold: To begin a color palette for the home's design, know which temperature you're aiming for. Use the magazine and catalog pictures to gauge which color tones you prefer- warm and cozy or cool and open.
4. Size Matters: To me, it's not just matching the scale of the furniture to the room, but to the client as well. Nothing's worse than ordering an oversized chair that leaves your feet dangling or a very deep sofa that you can't get out of comfortably without a crane. The same is true with a straight back dining chair, a small settee or armless upholstered chair. Even if you like the look of the oversized or undersized pieces, do a "test drive" to know if your desired look matches your desired level of comfort.
5. Investing in the Future: I do encourage you, no matter how tight the budget, to leave room for one "investment" quality piece that fits your color scheme and style. The carpet and chairs may get stained and recovered, the room will ultimately be repainted and the window treatments may need replacing, but a carefully chosen piece that speaks to your heart will move from home to home with you, go from room to room and be a lasting treasure. I usually recommend something like:
- A Keith Fritz handmade mirror
- A David Hymes coffee or console table (both Keith Fritz and David Hymes are local artists, thus the recommendation)
- A custom made or high quality one-of-a-kind wool rug.
- A great piece of art, such as an oil painting or table sculpture
- An antique side table, chair or small chest of drawers
6. Accessorize with Passion: Your interests and hobbies should come through in room design. Whether it's the kids' well-framed artwork, leather-bound books, decorative plates, baseball cards or boomerang collection, I think a finished room/home should tell a story about the family/client that lives in it. Even the most timid client (and I do not believe in PUSHING clients, just EDUCATING them about design possibilities) who can't think beyond a tan and white room will take a chance and display a few of their personal mementos and favorite children's' art. In fact, these collections and displays may inspire the whole room design itself. Sometimes it's better to work backwards and build a design plan that will incorporate all the right colors and pieces to hi-light your hobby/passion/collection.
Deborah Wiener is the owner of Designing Solutions in Silver Spring, MD. You can e-mail her your questions by visiting the firm's web site, www.MyDesigningSolutions.com and clicking on "Email Us Your Designing Dilemma."
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