A comfortable sofa is a must-have
New York designer and author Victoria Hagan joined staff writer Jura Koncius last week on The Washington Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt.
A: I certainly wanted to respect the history and traditions of the Naval Observatory, but at the same time I wanted to convey a welcoming feeling as it was the Bidens’ family home. No matter who you are or where you’re from, feeling welcome always makes you feel good.
A: Lighting is very important. I typically like lamps that have shades to soften the light. And never overlook your bedding. Make sure it’s something you’re happy with. And lots of soft pillows and throws.
A: A comfortable sofa, a comfortable chair and a great reading light. The rest is easy.
A: Benjamin Moore Simply White is the color in my Nantucket home — it’s crisp but slightly warm. Benjamin Moore Mountain Peak White is the white I chose for the New York pied-a-terre in my book; it’s even warmer. But please remember to always make a sample — finishes always turn out a differently.
Q : I keep reading that white kitchens are on their way out. Any ideas for a modern and fresh update?
A: I don’t tend to go with trends, but we’ve done some soft gray-blue kitchens, as well as soft sage. I tend to use lighter finishes in smaller spaces, but that’s just me! If you like a white kitchen but want to add some interest, you could try changing the color of the island or the base cabinets and get the best of both worlds.
A: Adding different pillows and a throw can add texture and interest to any space, including the bedroom.
A: I use wallpaper in powder room and bedrooms most frequently. And absolutely! Sometimes we use a couple of different papers in one room to accent one wall from the other. son-in-law just bought their f irst house, which is, shall we say, full of potential. All the walls and floors need to be cleaned, repaired, ref inished and/or painted, and the possibilities are overwhelming. How can they come up with a plan for what to do to a blank slate? They’re still in the student-loan-payoff stage, so they don’t yet own any signature piece around which to build a design.
A: I’ve done a lot of Ikea shopping. I think you can find great quality at a good price point, and it’s important to buy things that you love. It sounds crazy, but I still own all of the pieces from my first apartment — I just move them around. That being said, a good sofa is always a good starting point.
A: To me, creativity is about not escaping problems but solving them. I always love a good challenge and sometimes when a home or space is not working architecturally, you need to go back, review and get the bones right. That’s when really unique projects come about — when you have a team of professionals all working their hardest to solve problems creatively.
A: My work is about lifestyles that are constantly evolving and changing. When I see a need for something in the marketplace, I like to design a piece that I can’t find. I always say my day job is like working with a focus group — I listen and try to solve the problems. Comfort and scale are always so important to my work, it’s amazing what adjusting a dimension by an inch can do. door to the back yard on one side and an equally large entrance to the living room directly opposite. Would I be better off with a sofa and ottoman A: I have never found a comfortable reclining sofa — and they do tend to eat up a space — so I would definitely go for a comfortable sofa and ottoman.
A: I think having a comfortable sofa is important. I know the fashion today is to have things lower to the floor, but I don’t know many people who really love that. We typically like a 17-inch seat height.
I think there’s a happy medium — I wouldn’t buy the most expensive, or the least expensive — somewhere in the middle, you will get good quality. Just pick a fabric that’s not too fragile you would have to worry about and you should be good for the long haul.