By Audrey Sellers
Just splurged on a hand-knotted Aubusson rug or opulent woven tapestries? You might want to brace yourself. While the decadent luxury of Old World-style décor once graced many a home in Southlake, consider this trend officially out. If you find yourself muttering, “Say it isn’t so!” from atop a scrollwork-patterned chaise, you may need a crash course in interior design. It’s an ever-evolving world of colors and styles, and when one fad goes out, another one comes in. br
As for what's in now? Just look to the experts. We asked a few design-minded professionals for their pointers on creating a fashionable, comfortable home bursting with your own unique style and personality.
LESSON NO. 1:
LET YOUR LIFESTYLE GUIDE YOUR HOME DÉCOR
It doesn't matter how many inspiring ideas you discover on Pinterest or Houzz; if they don't mesh with your lifestyle and passions, they don't belong in your home. “Your family has to be able to live in your home,” says Carol Jones, an advisor with Engel & Völkers. “It has to be comfy and cozy. Home is a space to create, laugh, live, rest and love.”
Jones worked with Sara Quinn of 13thirty Designs to remodel her Southlake home with a goal to reflect her personal style, which she calls “comfortable but with a little bit of edge and luxe.” Quinn helped Jones revamp her home’s kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms in an eight-week labor of love that was absolutely worth it. “Your home is where you have meals, laugh and share with your family,” Jones says. “Take the time to make your home unique for you and your people.”
Her favorite room? The master bathroom. “I love the clean white marble and the chain-link chandelier,” she says. “And of course the tub! I'm a bath girl.”
Jones discovered a freestanding stainless steel tub online that was both beautiful and functional. Many tubs of this type offer great looks but are too narrow to be enjoyed comfortably. So for Jones, this bathroom find fit the bill perfectly. The mom of three, who relishes a relaxing bath, now has her own sophisticated space with touches that speak to her personal style.
LESSON NO. 2:
AIM FOR TIMELESS OVER TRENDY
Whether you want to make some simple updates to your home or you're doing some major renovations, the pros agree: There's no need to take a sweeping approach to all the latest fads. It's best to opt for a classic style instead of ultra-modern. Elizabeth Huffman with Black Door Home Co. advises picking timeless items and adding trendy touches—such as curtains and pillows—that can easily be switched out as seasons and fads change.
“Timeless items don't scream trend, and that feel is definitely coming back,” she says. “Think Southern Living. People want pretty homes.”
Huffman embraces the timeless design element in her home and through the name of her business. Less than enthused with her home's builder-grade interior doors, Huffman wanted a more personal, unique feel. So she painted her doors black, giving them a clean and classic look that will endure interior design trends that come and go. Some other design ideas with timeless appeal? Huffman likes ceiling treatments as well as painted porches, both of which she has embraced in her own home.
LESSON NO. 3:
INCORPORATE WHAT'S ALREADY IN YOUR HOME
Modernizing your home doesn't necessarily mean out with the old and in with the new. If you ask Casey Hall of Lonesome Dove Design, LLC, there’s nothing more satisfying than helping clients incorporate special pieces they want to keep. Have a cushy, oversized armchair that’s your go-to spot every evening? Or a dining room table that’s been in your family for years? Don’t get rid of it—work with it.
“Rarely are we presented with a clean slate to start fresh. Most of the time we are asked to utilize some or much of what a client already owns,” Hall says. “We love to do that because we believe strongly in rearranging and repurposing.”
By using existing furniture and items, not only will your home feel like home, you'll create a curated effect. Rather than your home looking like it was ripped from the pages of a catalog, it will look as though furniture and accessories were carefully chosen over time, Hall says. Keeping purchases to a minimum also allows you to keep your costs down. Instead of making big splurges, make a big impact with existing items.
LESSON NO. 4:
MAKE SMALL CHANGES FOR A POWERFUL IMPACT
Don't think you need to overhaul your entire home to get it looking its best. Even a few small tweaks will yield a noticeable improvement. If you're looking to refresh your home's style, Huffman recommends tackling the top three: paint, counters and flooring.
“Paint goes a long way,” she says, “and updating counters and backsplashes can also make a huge change.”
When it comes to flooring, Huffman likes to carry a particular style through different doorways. “It makes the space feel bigger so you don't feel like you're in separate rooms when the floor changes,” she says.
Sometimes just a simple shift is all it takes to breathe new life into a room. “Furniture and accessory placement can make a huge difference in how a space feels,” says Hall.
Consider the placement of your TV, which should be as close to eye level as possible when you're seated. If your gaze is currently upward at a television positioned above your fireplace, you might consider reconfiguring your room. One of the hottest trends now is placing your flat-screen on the wall above a large console or media cabinet and surrounding it with floating shelves.
LESSON NO. 5:
TAKE A CUE FROM THE CATWALK
The next time you're meandering around Town Square or browsing your favorite boutiques, pay attention to what you see in store windows—what's hot in the fashion world translates into interior design.
“Home trends definitely follow runway trends,” says Jones. “Ralph Lauren speaks to it with pink, navy and gray. Tom Ford is all about pink and cream, dark brown and black.”
In her home, Jones particularly loves Sherwin Williams' Black Fox, an off-black shade with warm chocolate undertones. While Jones says neutrals such as beige, gray and cream will always be en vogue, bold colors—think vibrant jewel tones and bright pops of pink—are having a major moment in interior design.
Runway trends extend beyond color, though. Hall notes that when trends such as faux fur and mixed metals appear in the fashion realm, they start popping up in interior design, as well. “To a certain extent, one complements the other,” she says.
That's not to say you need to stay up to date on fashion blogs or jet off to New York Fashion Week. Just do what Huffman does—aim for your home to be a reflection of your own personal style. Rather than weave in haute couture, Huffman likes her home to feel like “a great pair of jeans but dressed up with a necklace and cool heels.
“It's not necessarily runway, but style in general,” she continues. “I like a comfortable but beautiful look—very Anthropologie. I want people to feel at home and relaxed.”
LESSON NO. 6:
DON'T OVERLOOK THE DETAILS
When you think interior design, the big items such as furniture and flooring might come to mind, but it's the small touches that make all the difference. “Design is in the details,” says Jones. “I see hardware and lighting as jewelry for the home. It separates you from your neighbor.”
If you're looking to make a splash with details, some of the hottest trends today are throwbacks such as gold hardware and wallpaper. “Brass hardware is making a comeback and true gold is also back,” says Hall. “Trendy wallpapers and grasscloths are being used selectively on accent walls, in powder baths and below chair rails.”
Huffman's personal favorite is gold hardware—from faucets and knobs to cabinet pulls and light fixtures. “To me, it's like, where does it stop? I love it everywhere,” she says.
Whether you adore brass fixtures or hot-pink stripes on your ceiling, if you love it, go for it. “Visualize what you want in your space,” says Huffman, “and don't be afraid to do it.”