The Rebuffel Flannery cheat sheet
Art show: “Landscape paintings are great for depth, especially in a small room or a room that has no notable view. Keep in mind that you can often commission a particular size from an artist, if you love their work but are having difficulty finding the right-size piece. Michael Marlowe, represented by the Søren Christensen gallery in New Orleans, did a piece for a client that fit the wall in the dining room exactly, turning a boring wall into a great view! And for a different price point, try meandering the Alameda Point Antiques Faire on the first Sunday of every month.” (www.sor engallery.com, www.alamedapointantiquesfaire.com)
Sleep on it: “I like white sheets and pillowcases; white keeps it fresh and simple, and I am a huge fan of linen sheets. But for decorative pillows on the bed and a duvet cover, this is a big opportunity to inject your personality into the room. Create a restful, happy bedroom. You spend a lot of time in bed so make it count.” Paint preference: “High-gloss, oil-based paints by Benjamin Moore or Farrow & Ball can transform anything pedestrian into high fashion.” (www.benjaminmoore.com, www.farrow-ball.com)
Clutter control: “As far as baskets for storage go, it’s hard to beat the pretty hyacinth braided ones from Mecox Gardens, especially for kids’ toys in the family room or shoes at the entry. They encourage everyone to clean up and keep things neat — and they look good!” (www.mecoxgardens.com)
Playing around: “Wooden and vintage games like an oversize Connect Four or a sexy set of bocce balls can make for unique decorative accents that are also lots of fun. Some interesting insights always come from a good game, especially paired with a glass of wine. Jaques has some great ideas, and Etsy and eBay are also really good resources.” (www. jaquesamerica.com, www.etsy.com, www.ebay.com)
Color your world: “Inject color into a space with products that are color customizable – such as BlueStar stoves, Studio Marler cabinetry and Emma Gardner rugs. The stove does not have to be stainless, the cabinetry does not have to be in a wood finish, and the rug can be anything you want, so go for it.” (www.bluestarcooking.com, www.studiomarler.com, www.emmagardnerdesign.com)