TIMELESS TWIST TO INTERIORS
Designer Kirkland shares strategies for enlivening the traditional looks
Margaret Kirkland is an interior designer based in Atlanta who is known for her timeless interiors, and has been named a Next Wave designer by House Beautiful. Kirkland answered questions about how to bring a fresh, young approach to traditional design:
Q What are your favourite types of textile floor coverings, and why?
A I think that rugs and carpeting offer so much personality to a room with texture, colour and pattern. They also absorb sound and add instant coziness to a space. We often start from the floor up in our designs, especially if we are using a unique rug. I love vintage and reproduction Oriental rugs, and Oushaks and dhurrie rugs are among my favourites. I also love using sisal and jute rugs and will layer them underneath Oriental rugs. We love wall-towall carpet in textured colours, geometrics, trellis patterns — even animal prints!
Q I want to get slipcovers for the two hideous couches in my rented house, but everything I’ve found costs as much as a new sofa. Where can I look that might not be obvious?
A Ask a local upholsterer or seamstress to make slipcovers and then try to save money on the fabric. I have been known to make slipcovers out of cotton drop cloths from Home Depot just to get a fresh, clean look. For online sources, Ballard Designs, Ikea and vendors on Etsy are great resources.
Q We live in a 1920s brick foursquare home. There is a bank of windows in the living room, across the front of the house. A double-size window is flanked by two single windows. Right now, we have white mini-blinds with swags and jabots, which are very outdated. We do need privacy but like the windows with the mini-blinds pulled up to make the room seem larger. Plantation shutters would not work well with the window arrangement. Our style is English and traditional with a twist of contemporary. Ideas for bringing our living room windows into the 21st century are appreciated.
A First, I would take those jabots and swags down to simplify the look. I would do simple, functional drapery panels across the entire wall to let light in. When you need privacy, you can pull the panels closed. If you cannot easily do draperies across the big and small windows, I would do bamboo matchstick shades. They have a more updated look than blinds and let in much more light than plantation shutters.
Q I have an antique four-poster bed in my bedroom, with wood floors and a Persian rug dominated by burgundy. The curtains are ecru but kind of puffy. It just feels so old! I am looking for a younger touch but would like to keep the rug, because it contains the remnants of so many good memories. Can you give me some ideas that won’t break the bank?
A If you need to keep the rug, I would paint the bed to lighten things up. Paint is always a cheap way to make a change. One of our clients recently transformed her furniture with Chalk Paint. Also, adding bed linens will help freshen up the room. One of our favourite sources is Serena & Lily, which always has great sales. Also, you can buy premade drapery panels to simplify your look. Ballard has great options.
Q Is it better to mix table lamps in a room or keep them the same?
A I always like a good mix of lighting in a room. Don’t get me wrong — it is great to have a pair of lamps flanking a sofa, but a mix of lamps makes the space feel more interesting and allows for different levels of light to offer good task lighting, as well as an overall glow to the room. I love using table lamps on tables, floor lamps next to chairs, sconces on the wall, art lights on art and bookcases, as well as overhead lights to keep your eye interested and make the room feel more alive.
Q We have an Oriental rug (mainly burgundy) in our dining room and need to find a new place to put it. With wood floors throughout the house, you would think it would be easy, but we’re struggling to figure out where it can go without totally replacing things such as bedding. Any ideas for how to move it to, say, our master bedroom (where it should fit)?
A It can be nice to keep a darker rug in a dining room because the red palette will help hide spills. If you want to move it to your bedroom, make sure the walls are painted a light colour. If you keep everything else light and airy, hopefully you will not have to change your bedding.