A couple weeks ago I did my first Designer FAQ post about “Where to Invest”. Today I’d like to do a second post on jumping off points.
Often times, the most difficult part of tackling a design project on your own is choosing a starting point. When you work with a designer, they choose that for you. But independently people often feel intimated by the number of options. Do you choose your biggest piece first? Your investment piece? Your color scheme?
My starting point is more often than not, based on a textile. I choose something I love and everything else always seems to fall into place for me. So here are a couple examples from my own home.
For my bedroom in our old house, I fell in love with the watercolor Rubelli fabric that I ultimately only used as a small lumbar pillows. Using that fabric I chose the fabric for my headboard, as well as the rest of my bedding and wall color. I knew I needed to balance the bold choices with more subtle ones, hence the glass lamps, white shades and white nightstands. The polka dot duvet and shams from Biscuit provided a small scale pattern to balance the bold floral.
Photo by Anjali Pinto
My living room all began with Kelly Wearstler’s Bengal Bazaar fabric. All of the other pieces fell into place after I had chosen that. I knew I needed more pattern, but more simple, two-color patterns to pair with it. The ikat provided me with a perfect color base and served as the stand out piece in the space, but the layers are what made it feel complete. With the the bold pattern, I chose solid, neutral sofa and a glass coffee table to avoid having the chairs feel too heavy.
Photo by Danielle Moss
I happen to love fabric. It serves as one of my biggest sources of inspiration, so its no surprise that it is the perfect jumping off point for me. So, in the end, choose something that inspires you. Something that can carry a room and everything else will start to fall into place. Don’t rush. Create a plan before you move forward.
Any other Designer FAQs you’d like addressed?
