We were so excited to be able to film this round of Designer Q&A in our new space, which opens tomorrow!! Learn more about it in the clip below, and to view the full Q&A, check out our YouTube channel!
We are excited (and a little nervous!) to be starting something new with the Designer Q&A. You’ve had so many excellent questions, and we thought it might be fun to to get together every so often to answer them in person. We’ve included a few here, but to see the full slate, check out our YouTube channel!
This new feature is such fun. As with last month, we picked out a few of your questions from IG stories to answer here on the blog, and we’ll add some to Instagram as well — stay tuned for more “Ask the Designer” next month!
Sure! Ceiling heights and scale of the light will come into play. It’s best to have any lighting that someone will walk underneath a minimum of 7’ above the floor (there are some additional rules for very height ceilings). Some of our favorites pictured below!
-Vanessa
You can definitely add darker pieces to an already airy space. We always like a pop of darkness in a room to offer contrast and a place for your eye to go. Creamy white walls, light drapery, and layering in texture and pattern through with colors will help balance the palette and create an inviting space.
-Erica
For narrow staircases, avoid artwork that could get bumped and fall. Play up the texture and subtle details and incorporate wall moulding details, like a chair rail with wainscoting and an integrated handrail. Add a wool stair runner to wood stairs. You can also add shallow depth sconces (4” to 6″ overall projection) at the base and the top of the staircase to create more interest and drama.
– Joanna
YES!!! Velvet—love. Brown—love!
-Vanessa
Some quick fixes to warm up the cool tones of a home would be to swap out light fixtures to a warm brass metal. Incorporate some warm wood furniture pieces and create softness by layering accessories such as vintage rugs, textured and warm toned pillows, throws and artwork. Bring in more ambient lighting with table and floor lamps and change bulbs to 2700k for a warmer glow. (Learn more about color temps in our recent post on the topic.)
-Joanna
We love the use of frame TVs! This allows for the space to become very versatile. It looks beautiful when not in use and becomes a finished piece. If space allows, we will also add a picture light to give the look of real artwork. Frame TVs also offer the ability to display your own family photos, which is such a treat!
-Emma
We think it makes such an impact to do so.
-Vanessa
Mix! Representing a variety of eras can work beautifully as long as you consider the overall effect as you add color, texture and pattern.
-Joanna
There are many combinations to consider from a variety of patterns, scale, color and texture. If all the rugs are patterned, it can be overwhelming. Try incorporating a vintage patterned rug with a coordinating textural/solid rug, like a sisal or a wool loop pile with a subtle pattern. A traditional rug can balance nicely with something abstract. A rug with a large scale pattern can work well with a small scale, or subtle pattern. It’s all about finding the right mix to create interest and balance!
-Joanna
We love to combine a mixture of patterns when it comes to pillows, bedding, and other aspects of the home.
Try to offer a variety in the space. You can start with a small pattern, a large scale pattern, and a solid texture in between to break it up. Keep a color theme in mind.
Here is an example of a navy theme pillow scheme. A small scale patterened lumbar pillow, a dark solid euro pillow behind, and large scale stripe bedding.
-Susie
You asked…we answered! We loved seeing all your questions come in through Instagram stories last week. We picked out a few to answer here on the blog, plus some on Instagram — stay tuned for more “Ask the Designer” next month!
Embrace the cozy element that an 8’ ceiling brings to a home but at the same time use some tricks to make the ceilings feel taller: bring your drapery and drapery hardware from the ceiling to just kissing the floor; bring cabinetry and built-ins to the ceiling; choose one color for the room (base, wall and crown), choose furniture that scales nicely in the space and isn’t too big and overpowering.
-Vanessa
There are certain tricks and careful consideration with scale of furniture. Mount your drapery rods close to the ceiling or crown so your panels are as long as possible, it helps create the illusion of greater height. Also opting for taller baseboards, like 7” is a subtle change that gives the sense of more height. Remove any soffits and anything built in should extend up to the ceiling, such as kitchen cabinets. In a small room, furniture should not be oversized, consider a sofa that is 34-36” deep, rather than 40-42”, and always be mindful that your flush mount light fixtures don’t drop too low.
–Joanna
The key to mixing light fixtures is focusing on different types of lights and making intentional changes.
Mixing metals is great, but keep them in the same warm tone. For instance, polished nickel with brass are two different metals, but both have a warm undertone.
Another tip is to mix fixture types. One can be shaded, while the other has an exposed bulb or globe. One can be a linear light, while the other is a pendant.
Mix dimensions and width for added layers of interest and your space will look timeless and collected.
PS: Stick to the same color temperature! Around Just under 4000 lumen will give you a natural and neutral warmth.
-Susie
It is best to approach this type of room by playing into the asymmetry. Designers like Darryl Carter aim for this style by keeping layout eclectic and creating separate, smaller vignettes of seating areas throughout the room. This design style is great at tricking the eye. You can also level out some of the asymmetry and achieve a balance by adding a tall bookcase beside an off center window and matching that height on the other side of the window with a taller floor lamp and wall art.
-Erica
It’s helpful to lay out a palette in front of you, in this case paint samples! We recommend seeing the paint color in different light throughout the day to help make a decision. A few of my favorites are Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore, Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball, and Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams.
-Giselle
Sherwin Williams
Farrow & Ball
Benjamin Moore
It depends on the space. Generally, start by looking where your cans would be placed in a room. In most cases, you can reference this and this is where you could place the mini flush mounts. Consider symmetry, and creating a leading line when placing these. Features in the room like windows, fireplaces can be another aspect you would plan their placement around.
-Emma
Absolutely not! With the way homes are designed and/or reconstructed today, clients oftentimes omit a formal dining room in leu of a Great Rooms, which are a combination of kitchen/dining/family rooms.
With this design change, people are often left with a kitchen size that is conducive to two islands.
Rather than incorporating two visually heavy islands within a space, we will typically designate the island closer to the perimeter wall as the ‘work horse’ island, which houses the main sink, dishwasher, trash roll out etc. while maximizing the storage capabilities.
This offers us the opportunity to design a second island to read more like a furniture piece while still complimenting the kitchen built-in design. This also provides our clients the ultimate counterspace for more casual gatherings as well as a sizeable dining table for more formal celebrations.
-Patricia
