Welcome to All in
the Detail... I am so glad you are here!
1.
Pick the perfect paint color.
When you go to pick paint, either go for a perfect shade
of gray or white, a color that flatters every skin tone, or go for bold in a dark shade
of red or brown or even black. Ceilings painted white or cream tend to make the room
feel larger.
2. Make your bathroom look like a hotel.
This means a counter free of products except a couple
that have pretty packaging. Rolled up white towels in a basket and a potted plant
look clean.
3. Add a bedroom seating area.
It seems counterintuitive to pack in more furniture, but if
you have the space put an upholstered bench or chair and a side table in a
corner. It'll give the impression that the room is larger.
4. Style your coffee table like a pro.
When designing the top of your coffee table, start with
something large and wonderful in the middle: a floral in an interesting pot, a
huge bowl (maybe filled with sea urchins or something else interesting). Then
build out from that: stacks of art books, candles, sculpture or pottery. Make
it interesting and change it regularly.
5. Layer the lighting.
Ambient lighting makes a room. Place floor and table
lamps at different heights around the room...it is the essence of design
romance. Hanging lights (pendants and chandeliers) can be low over dining tables
but need to otherwise be high enough so that tall people don't bump their
heads. Sconces look great in larger rooms but tend to hoard wall space and
limit options in small rooms.
6. Quickly tie a room together.
Whenever I put live white orchids or tulips in a room, it
instantly looks fresh and inviting. Place a throw on the sofa. Plump the
pillows, open an art book to a beautiful photograph... and turn the page when
you get bored with it. Group together the ‘like items’ of accessories: little white vases or jars of sharp pencils (if it's an office).
7. Don't forget about the outdoors.
Think about it as you do the indoors and divide the
outdoor space into rooms. What will you be doing in each room? If you have the
space, do a dining room and living room. The furnishings should relate to what
you will be doing in each space. Put two chairs and a little drinks table in an
area that no one uses and suddenly you have a new room!
8. Make a good first impression for your guests.
Statistically, you have eight seconds at the front door
to get a favorable emotional response from guests. Paint your front door an
unexpected color. It sends the message that your home is well cared for.
9. Heighten your ceiling.
To create an illusion of taller ceiling or larger
windows, hang curtains from as high up as possible!
10. Don't be boring.
I like to vary sizes and shapes of decorative pillows to
add interest. Every now and then stick a round one in the mix. Nothing is more
boring that going to a dinner party with all the same types of people, right?
Same with pillows. Make it interesting!
