Go-to pieces for designers
Who wouldn’t want to go shopping alongside an interior designer? Although it’s true that pros generally purchase most furniture and other decorative items from tradespecific vendors, many also rely on tried-and-true retailers accessible to the general public. We asked designers to share their favorite pieces that anyone can buy. Here are some picks.
Case goods
Why not invest in a piece that can serve multiple purposes? Designer Peti Lau likes the Channing three-drawer console table from Jonathan Adler ($1,995, jonathanadler.com), because, with its drawers and narrow footprint, it can “function either as a desk or a console.” “I like the simple white lacquer and silver metal finishes, which give it a more timeless look,” says Lau, who does work in Los Angeles, New York, London and Thailand.
Lighting
No room is complete without layers of lighting, including overhead fixtures and task pieces. Picture lighting is a simple way to bring a museumlike quality to any home. Tucson designer Priya McCulloch suggests the 18-inch brass picture light from Circa Lighting ($399, circalighting.com). “I love using these for built-in bookshelves or to highlight art,” she says. They also are available in bronze and antique or polished nickel and “add a classic touch to any space,” McCulloch says.
A lampshade is another
less-expensive way to make a major style statement. Laura Hur, a designer in Kensington, Md., is partial to the linen shades, handmade in Denmark, from the Etsy shop LeKrazyHorse (etsy.com/shop/ LeKrazyHorse). They can give an old lamp a chic update, she says. She also likes that they are pleated,
because “they bring a sense of texture, movement and playfulness to any space,” she says. “Pair one with a sculptural ceramic base, and it is suddenly much more interesting. Pair one with a playful squiggle base, and it feels like a party.”
Seating
A go-to accent chair is a must for residential and commercial spaces. Montclair, N.J., designer Blanche Garcia says Blu Dot’s Puff Puff lounge chair ($1,195-$1,395, bludot.com), available in multiple fabrics and colors, is a recent favorite. “It’s sculptural with a stunning tomato-red
velvet fabric, and for the price, it just can’t be beat,” she says. Whether paired with a neutral sofa or jazzed up with a vibrant throw pillow or two, the piece can be styled to appeal to minimalists and maximalists.
Rugs
An area rug can cozy up wooden floors, be layered above wall-to-wall carpeting or be used to create a distinct zone within a larger space. Boston-based designer Desiree Burns keeps coming back to West Elm’s jute boucle rug ($30$1,099, westelm.com). “It’s great quality for the price point and goes with just about anything,” she says. “I’ve used it for ... coastal bedrooms (and) more contemporary living rooms, and it’s always a winner.”
And if you find yourself dealing with messes fairly often, there’s something for you, too. Christine Turknett Ho, a designer in Austin, says she is “obsessed” with Chilewich’s woven floor mats (from $130 depending on style, chilewich.com) for the dining room. “They are super durable [to combat] any food spills, and the designs are timeless,” she says. “My favorite is the basket-weave woven floor mat, which I have in my own home in oyster.”