5 Biggest Decorating Mistakes & How To Fix Them

Your home may have the look and feel you've desired, but there's something's that can be reflected upon, in a mindful manner. There may be a few design ideas that can be improved upon. I have noticed barriers that people struggle with and I  would like to share a few ways you can break through them. Below are the top five decorating faux pas committed in so many homes today and ways to fix them.

1. Hanging Artwork To High Or To Low

Art should be hung approximately 58" from the floor. It is important that your pieces are near eye level. Scale and proportion are important for the art to work well in a room. You want your eyes to rest, so you don't have to hang a piece on every wall. If you are using a piece of art as the focal point in a room, make it count.

2. Poorly Painted Walls

Paint is one of the most immediate and easiest design fix. Poor or old paint can ruin a homes look. After you have freshly painted a space, I encourage you to keep extra paint and brushes on hand. They will come in handy when it's time for touchups. It's important to keep your space feeling fresh and clean, at all times.

3. Furniture Overload

You may have fallen in love with a gorgeous antique Edwardian bowfront sideboard,  but when placed in your dining room it takes over the space or doesn't fit. Similar to artwork,  scale and proportion are crucial when you are purchasing furniture. You want you pieces to have similar proportions and too many pieces of furniture in a room doesn't allow the space to breathe. You must pre-plan any space before purchasing the pieces to fill it. It will save you time and money if you bring your rooms measurements when you are selecting your furniture. .

 4.  Displaying An Over Abundance Of Knickknacks

 After you have displayed a couple of accessories, take a few steps back and look at the room as a whole. Count the number of framed photos, objects on the coffee table and knickknacks on the mantel.  If there is an overabundance of accessories in one spot, you must edit! You may need to take away a few items or group similar items together.  Take your favorite pieces and make them the focal point of the space. Allow them to shine without competing with an overabundance of meaningless accessories.

5: Skipping Window Treatments

Window treatments are the shoes to your outfit. Their practical and functional properties add style, color and texture to a space. Without window treatments, windows feel visually disruptive and the space incomplete. There should always be some kind of treatment on every window.  The big question you should ask yourself before selecting your window treatment is weather you are looking for privacy or light. You may want both and with proper selections you can achieve it. I love when sheer curtains or shades are also used to soften up a room. They can  filter light in the most elegant ways.

Antiques, A Passion & A Cause

I’m passionate about antiques. They individualize a room that reflects one’s own unique taste and persona. Pairing functioning antiques with modern or industrial pieces of furniture,  have been a recent design aesthetic I've recently enjoyed.  I believe the right antique can be used to break up the metonymy of a room. They can serve as a focal point while giving off a captivating fragrance of confidence, with ease. I have a fondness for their ability to tell a story without emitting a word, but once their story has been told, their stillness can transform into movement in the most captivating way. Similar to actors in my favorite movie, antiques can play a variety of roles in a home. They can play the desirable leading role or an intriguing extra who shines from afar. Regardless of the role, each are equally important to the complexity  and completion of a film. Capturing their audience one moment at a time. I love their uncanny way of bringing warmth and culture to a room, which always ignites a fire and curiosity within me.During my recent stay in NYC I came across ads for the upcoming American, English, European and Asian decorative and fine arts, Winter Antique Show. America’s most renowned antique show will be celebrating its 61^st year, this month. I wish I could be there to embrace its culture and sediment. Held at the historic Park Avenue Armory in NYC, with a total of 73 exhibitors. The show provides design professionals, curators, habitual collectors and first time buyers to view and purchase the prodigious antiques. First time buyers can purchase antiques with ease and confidence, for the precious pieces are authenticated by a committee of 160 experts.

Not only will you walk away with a unique collectible, but 2015’s loan exhibition, Ahead of the Curve net proceeds will benefit East Side House Settlement. ESHS’s purpose is to help motivated students in the poverty stricken South Bronx. They help students graduate from high school, enroll in college and strengthen the skills necessary to attain good jobs. With quality education and technology training, ESHS helps build an armor of confidence and the freedom of economic and civil opportunities.

New to the event, the highly respected firm Thomas Coulborn & Sons Ltd. The family business is known for specializing in 18^th century and Regency furniture. They continue to participate in preeminent fairs in the UK and abroad. The Terrestial Pocket Globe and Case above was made by John Cary and William Cary of London, and shows the world as it was known in 1791.

Conner • Rosenkranz, LLC, is another newcomer this year. Their gallery in New York, NY emphasis’s on 19^th and 20^th century American sculptures, including neoclassical, Beaux Arts, and modernist works as well as garden sculptures from all periods.  This marble bust Proserpine by American sculptor Hiram Powers depicts the ancient Roman goddess whose cult, myths, and mysteries were based on those of the Greek goddess Persephone and her mother Demeter.

Luxury: What inspires an interior designer to design high end home.

Inspire Me

 Where does my inspiration come from? What gets the creative juices flowing? My inspirations evolve, transform, and circulate through my mind. Inspiration doesn’t always come in expected ways. It can ignite from an experience or gift. They can be dramatic, sweet, artistic, luxurious,  whimsical, and luxurious.  They are in unexpected places that may trigger the fire within me.  The fire that brings my client’s dream home to fruition. It's integral to have conversations with our clients that reveal elements of their lives. These conversations inform our design decisions. A happy client makes for a happy life, in my world.

 Colorful doors of Malta inspire me. They tell a story on their own. They leave me wondering who lives behind the tall, ornate statuesque figures. The colors speak for themselves and I am inspired to incorporate them into the interiors of homes as well. I can see a pop of color used on an accent wall, occasional chairs, a throw blanket, or pillow. I can see incorporating a bright color in the artwork as well. That prefect punch of color can adds character  to a room’s aesthetics. The aesthetics that are an extension on my experiences.

 

The color blue represents abundance and prosperity. It is said to be a great Feng Shui color, as well. With all the variations of blue out there, there may be one that strikes a cord within you.

A red door means welcome in old early American tradition. I love the vibrancy of this color. It’s a statement all on its own.  I compare it to a neck tie. It’s not the largest clothing piece you have on, but a red tie is a reaffirmation of strength. The color red catches our eye and keeps us focused on the beholder of the home.

The beach has been an inspiration of mine for a long time. Our design work in Florida has allowed this inspiration to prosper. The sand’s soft tones and variety of hues are replicated in my designs. The neutral pallet speaks of calmness and peacefulness. Shades of cream and tan elevate the home to a welcoming and inviting level. The soft tones say luxury and are timeless as Grace Kelly’s beauty.

 

Artwork inspires me in many ways, they are trampolines for great ideas.  It speaks to me in words sometimes I can only hear. It is used to make a statement and a platform for design.  I have been inspired by contemporary, classical, pop, realism and impressionistic paintings. One piece of artwork can be the inspiration for the whole room, stirring  the creative process.  They are canvases for creative ideas that can set the tone for the space.  The femininity of a painting can inspire a designer to create soft lines within the space. Pop art may inspire 60’s style furniture. I may use egg armchairs or minimalist sofas that share the space with pop art.

 

  

Photo: www.leftbankart.com

Luxury; Accessories are like the jewelry to your home.

Accessories- The Jewelry to Your Home

There once was a beautiful woman who wore the most exquisite emerald green dress. The fit was flawless, draping across her perfectly manicured toes. Her hair swept up in an undeniably chic chignon.  Her long neck and ears yearned for that perfect adornment, but none was had. As elegant and timeless as the dress was, as picturesque as she was, her look wasn’t complete in all its entirety.  Jewelry  was absent, the accessories that would of completed her look..  I imagined that emerald dress paired with Harry Winston’s Holly Wreath necklace. The necklace would have been the violin to her orchestra. It would have completed her look, her presence, what she wanted to say to the world.

My feelings are parallel when it comes to home design. The accessories in a room bring the room to life.  They have a powerful voice and presence in a home. They can bring color, warmth,  uniqueness and an air of sophistication to a room.  An interior designer can also bring out their clients personal style, interests and passions with accessories.  Accessories should be well thought out in choice and placement. They shouldn’t overwhelm a room or take away from any architectural details. They should complement the room, just as a piece of jewelry complements an outfit.

 In the beginning phases of design I like to ask my clients their interests. Are they world travelers? Do they like fashion or are they interested in architecture?  I use this information in many aspects of the design of the home.  I enjoy adding books to their décor.  Displaying beautiful books for my clients to enjoy is like unveiling a buffet of delicately constructed desserts.   I want them to peak the interest of their guests.  Their multi functional purpose is very appealing to me. Two of my favorite coffee table books are, Collections and Creations by Daniele Bolt (Chanel) and The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany by James Bentley & Hugh Palmer.

Mirrors bring light, and depth into a room. They can be used to create dramatic focal points to the room. They can make a statement and can be the perfect centerpiece.  They have great reflective properties. If a space is lacking in windows, mirrors can mimic the look of them. They are like magicians, magically making a room appear larger than it actually is. Large floor mirrors can give a dramatic feel to the room. Decorative mirrors can also replace a piece of artwork.

You can go bold by adding a pop of color with accent pillows. It’s a great way to throw an unexpected color into a room.   You can also add texture and patterns to a room, with the addition of a few custom  pillows. I like to add funky pillows that are geared to a  clients playful side.

 Coffee table accessories can range from fresh flowers, vases and candles to books. I love adding  a floral to the table. Not only are they visually appealing they bring a scents of beauty and luxury to the space. I love the look of a monochromatic arrangement coupled with a simple vase.Photo frames can be the most personal and symbolic accessory to your home. They speak of who you are and where you have been. We ask our clients what message do they want to convey in each room. Every room tells a different story and it’s our job to make sure their story is well received. I enjoy cultivating a habitat that reflects each homeowners life.

    

I believe a  home should have personality.  Incorporating a sculpture is a great way of elevating the appeal to a room.  They can be used to add a little surprise and pop to the space. Small sculptures can be placed a clients foyer table, welcoming their guests or on a console table.  Larger, more statuesque sculptures can add a bit more drama to a room.

   

Amazing and Inspiring Product Designer, Karim Rashid,

A look at Product and Industrial Designer  Karim RashidKarim Rashid, who Time magazine describes as the “most famous industrial designer in all the Americas” was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1960 and was raised in Canada.  In his Bio on Design Within Reach (DWR) he states “What I am trying to do is use furniture as a medium to talk a little more evanescently about the qualities of the digital age”.  Karim's holistic approach to product design is evident with one look at each final product.  They are soft, fluid biomorphic forms that convey his desire to actualize the contemporary zeitgeist of virtual reality and underground music culture.  He utilizes modern materials such as plastics, foams and synthetic fabrics to form his design vision for a vast amount of companies.  You've probably come across one of his designs without even realizing it was his! Karim will appear on behalf of Purho,  Maison & Objet this month in Paris if any of you are in the area!OH Chair for UmbraThis was Umbra’s first piece of furniture in 1999.  Karim designed this product for Umbra and their need for an inexpensive, well-designed chair in the marketplace.  Like many of Rashid’s designs, the OH chair is a true beauty of form and function and was honored with the silver award in the furniture category for the 1999 Industrial Design Excellence Awards. TLENTE Collection by Karim RashidKarim designed this outdoor furniture collection for Henry Hall Designs.  It’s made of aluminum and steel mesh with an ergonomic shape reminiscent of a wave. The design is so simple yet genius. The clean undulating lines provide comfort and visual beauty at the same time, as seen throughout Rashid’s designs. Well done Mr. Rashid! Here are some products you have seen on the shelf at the store but might have never known were by Karim Rashid!

 

The Dirt Devil Redesign 

Method Soap at Target