I see a lot of designers, both locally and spread through the U.S. making videos telling people what is out of style and fashion where design is concerned. I always think, “that must be one bad designer.” I feel it is our job to understand our clients needs. We need to consider their daily activities as well as how they entertain family and friends. What makes them want to come home. What colors appeal to them. What do they want their home to say about them. The answers to some of these questions just might lead me down the path of past or current trends. It might lead me to use colors and styles that don’t appeal to the mass public. It is the designers work to make things work. To simply blow off any design element just because the designer says so is that of a simple minded artist with limited resources.
Having the resources to find the perfect fit for clients is key. Also, balance in scale and color is important. But this has NOTHING to do with trends or personal preference of the designer.
So, now that you know I will never tell someone that something is off trend or out of style, let me express some ideas on how to make something work that you might have been told is not a good idea to use.
If you are handed down a family heirloom, be it furniture, art, a rug or even an accessory that doesn’t seem to work with your design aesthetic it might be a good idea to not just fit it into the room, but to make it shine! Make a statement out of it. Make it feel so unusual that it commands respect. I love nothing more than to add a very contemporary piece into a traditional setting and also the opposite.
An abstract piece of art can look great in a traditional setting. Place it as the focal pint in the room. And if it doesn’t shine enough, paint the wall around it in a complementary color to make it really pop. Add an art lamp to really grab the attention!
A traditional and worn Asian rug can add great warmth to a more contemporary setting. Layering two or three can make a room feel super cozy!
If the piece of off furniture doesn’t work well in the room because of it’s use, consider repurposing the use of the piece. Your grandfathers old bureau might make a great bar. A glass doored cabinet once used in a dining room might work great in the bath, holding towels and bath salts!
And as I always discuss, always group small decor items together. Tell a story. If you have an artifact pertaining to a loved one, add a framed photo of that person next to the object. Add a green and ground these items on a book. Place a candle near and at nighttime you have a lovely moment.
If your dining room has dated trim such as the standard crown molding and chair rail, consider an inexpensive option. Color drench the room. That is, paint the baseboard, walls, below and above the chair rail, the chair rail and the crown molding all the same color. Add a pop of color. This is a secondary room that is rarely used, so you won’t get tired of it as quickly as a more used room.
I think so many times an item might feel not right is because it looks like an after thought. Make it larger than it is. Make it make a statement and then it will look intentional!
Michael Siewert is an interior designer in Augusta who also has a lifestyles television show on WRDW that runs Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
