In interior decorating, if you want overstuffed luxury throw pillows, your best choice is to make them yourself. In the picture, I replaced a set of Armani silk and golden silk wool pillow covers with a custom Mood Fabrics screenprint and silver glow in viscose-linen blends. The cost of fabric for designer pillow covers is…
Tag: contemporary living spaces
Furniture mods: how to Hollywood your sofa
Reupholstering a sofa with a custom-made cover is the first step in transforming a living room from coastal vibes to a Hollywood allure. Picking the right upholstery silhouette and fabric takes a few weeks to do. The sofa in the picture started with a contemporary off-white cover in an Upper East Side apartment. Living on…
Custom decor: the power of an exclusive book
A well placed coffee table book that is exclusive and meaningful both brings authenticity to a space and inspires conversation. My sorority recently published a special edition book as part of the Gamma Phi Beta 150th Anniversary Oral History Project 2024. The Gamma Phi Beta book, In My Words, includes stories and photographs from thousands…
Professional design: making an interior healthy
Healthful living starts with a healthy interior environment. Before undertaking an interior decorating project, it’s helpful to review your built environment against healthy building standards. For example, upgrades to paint colours and lighting will not have the desired impact on your wellbeing if your space doesn’t have thoughtfully installed windows. As an athletic young woman…
Furniture mods: upholstering like an expert
Upholstering your furniture with professional results does not require extensive interior design expertise. The papasan chair in the picture was transformed from a modern vibe to a rustic lodge aesthetic with a natural wool pillow cover. I used a wool wash with lanolin to soften the cover for an extra-cozy touch. Pillow covers versus upholstering…
Holiday decor: how to pick Christmas tree fence
Picking out a simple Christmas tree fence or collar can make it practical to set up a real tree that toddlers and puppies can enjoy. A little fence won’t stop anyone from munching on pine needles entirely, but it will make playtime near the tree a lot easier to supervise. There are a few pre-made…
Puppy decor: space for a new puppy
Setting up an inviting sleep-and play space for a new puppy is easy if you think from the puppy’s point of view. Dogs need furnishings and toys that are washable and replaceable. If you have a young puppy that hasn’t finished teething, they also need to be able to chew on everything without hurting a…
#LKRB principle of design: love before you buy
The most important reason to purchase inexpensive furniture as a young adult isn’t to save money, but rather to make sure that when you do buy high quality furniture, you love what you buy. Shopping for antiques and custom-made decor takes patience and persistence. If you don’t hire an interior designer to do your shopping…
Custom decor: better than a corkboard
Thanks to the proliferation of do-it-yourself crafters, there are a lot of bulletin board alternatives today that are visually appealing. The custom-made rattan board in the picture supports clips or pegs that can be permanently attached and won’t fall to the floor. I added this rattan board to the wall next to my front door…
Furniture shopping: storage the family will love
When you have a growing family, choosing furniture for storage can seem like a game of musical chairs. Rearranging belongings for young children and pets that get bigger every day, while prioritizing safety and trying to make everything visually appealing, doesn’t require being a natural-born Marie Kondo. With young children or pets, you may find…