DECORATING INSPIRATION IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Stuck for ideas? Look in your closet for clues
Decorator and style expert Elizabeth Mayhew is brand editor for Reese Witherspoon’s Southern-inspired brand, Draper James and a contributing editor at NBC’s Today show. If you’re struggling to pinpoint your personal style, turn to your closet. Your favourite clothing items, says Mayhew, can be reflective of taste and help inspire your decorating choices, especially if you’re paralyzed when it comes to making choices.
If that doesn’t work then start your design journey by choosing grey — it goes with every colour in the spectrum, says Mayhew, who answers more of design questions:
Q I have always been unwilling to buy furniture online, regardless of how nice it looks, because I don’t know how it will look or feel in person. I would appreciate your thoughts on this dilemma as a designer.
A Comfort is personal. Think of Goldilocks: We all want something that’s “just right.” Ordering online can be tricky, which is why I typically suggest clients go sit on a sofa or chair before they purchase it. If that is not an option, at least go to a local store to educate yourself so that you can be a savvier shopper. Do you like foam or feather inserts? Or a combination? How deep do you want the piece to be? Once you gather your preferences, you will be better off making smart decisions.
Q I moved into my house five years ago. I have done major kitchen, bath and closet remodels, and I love them. However, I cannot seem to decorate or buy wall art. My bedroom has white Hemnes furniture from Ikea, and I painted the walls pink Damask by Benjamin Moore. I want a carpet and something on the walls, but there’s just so much empty space that I can’t seem to figure out how to start.
A You need to find one thing — rug, art or fabric — that inspires you. From that you will find your way! Without knowing your style, it’s hard to give sound advice, but another thing to do is to look inside your closet. Do you have a favourite piece of clothing ? Maybe a coloured shirt or patterned sweater? Typically, I find this is very helpful for people who are stuck in a decorating rut. What you wear can be very helpful in deciding your decorating style.
Q I recently bought a rowhome in Philadelphia and would like to stay true to the Colonial style of the home. I am thinking of painting its walls white and the trim matte black. Do you have suggestions for specific paint colours?
A I love white walls with black painted window trim — very cool and of the moment! I tend to like Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White, but it doesn’t work for every project. It can appear too grey in some rooms.
Q I have a tiny house with a small, open-concept living room, dining room and kitchen combo. What do you think about having the entire wall in the living room section covered in mirror to make the space look bigger?
A This concerns me for a few reasons. First, mirror is not easy to keep clean. Second, mirrors only really work when they reflect beautiful things. Lastly, you will be left with apparent seams for large surfaces. You could think about doing aged mirror, but it is not inexpensive! Perhaps you could get away with a collection of mirrors? Q I’m thinking of painting my small master bedroom a dark inky blue and keeping the ceiling white to camouflage the smoke alarm and sprinkler heads. Should the trim stay white or match the new paint? Do you have any suggestions for paint colours for the walls?
A I love Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray, which is actually a blue. It’s an amazing colour! You can go either way with the trim. If you keep the trim dark, the room will be super cosy and actually feel bigger. If you paint it white, the colour will pop more.
Q We have a modern leather recliner that my husband has claimed and spends most evenings in. The leather is in great shape and the mechanism still works well. However, we seem to have lost all the support in the seat cushion. From underneath, there’s really nothing I can see wrong. Webbing is intact. Is it possible to have the cushioning replaced inside the existing leather? Who would do this kind of repair?
A Take the cushion to an upholsterer. Likely it just needs new padding. My guess is they can open the leather at the seam, so it won’t be that hard of a repair.
Q I just ordered a 10-foot square jute rug but didn’t order the pad. What is the best pad? It will be on hardwood flooring in a beach house on Cape Cod. A I always just go online and order the pad from wherever I bought the rug. Crate and Barrel also has good ones.
Q The original 1930s powder room located next to our front door needs a complete overhaul. It’s a tiny (3.5 by 3.5 feet), space and I’d like it to look like a timeless jewel box. Any furniture recommendations? Also, where can I find a small sink that would fit in our 18-inch space?
A Powder rooms are the perfect place to do something amazing and wonderful, and I love your idea of making it a jewel box. To that effect, you could do something whimsical, like hang a fun wallpaper, paint it great colour (I lacquered one client’s powder room in Tiffany Blue), or do what I did: I hung my collection of black-and-white photos in my powder room floor to ceiling. For many years I had my extensive collection of antique purses hanging in my powder room; they were graphic, interesting and always fodder for conversation.
Q My living room is at the front of my house, with a northnorthwest exposure, which means it gets little light in the morning and is bright in the afternoon. I’m looking to repaint the walls (which are currently an old, ubiquitous pale yellow), and I’d like a neutral. Is there a Benjamin Moore paint colour you’d recommend for a living room with a northnorthwest exposure?
A Try Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl! Also if you could go for a beautiful light blue/grey, have your paint store colour-match Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light.
Q I am drawn to grey and white. Can you suggest a gender-neutral accent colour for nursery accessories (paint colours also welcome), that will work with grey and white furniture, bedding, etc.? I have considered turquoise and soft mint green. A The best thing about grey is that is goes with everything! There is not a colour in the whole spectrum that it doesn’t work with — pink, yellow, green, blue, you name it.