Rules of attraction Carolyn Burns-McCrave shares her design rules

HOUSE RULES: HIGH STAKES INTERIORS GURU CAROLYN BURNS-McCRAVE SAYS TO START WITH THE BASICS FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOME. HERE, SHE SHARES THE DESIGN RULES SHE LIVES

1 COLOUR, COLOUR, COLOUR

“My home is a kaleidoscope: introducing colour is easy and there are so many ways to do it. I think wallpaper is one of the best design tools at our disposal. I would wallpaper the world if I could! I don’t think I’ve ever done a project without it.”

2

“MOST PEOPLE ARE FRIGHTENED OF PATTERN. I LOVE MIXING PATTERNS, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT IT TAKES A PRACTISED EYE, SO I DON’T ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRY IT THEMSELVES. MY CLIENTS ON THIS PROJECT HAD FANTASTIC STYLE AND WERE INTO JAPANESE DESIGN. WHILE THIS WAS A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH FOR THEM, IT INJECTED GREAT PERSONALITY INTO A STREAMLINED SPACE.”

DON’T BE AFRAID OF PATTERN 3 BUY WELL, BUY ONCE

“I absolutely love furniture that is gorgeous to look at and serves a purpose. That’s why I think sideboards are really coming back. The Zuster range is lovely – heirloom pieces even. Expect to buy the piece and then hand it down to your children.”

4 CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS

“CONSIDER THE SIGHTLINES FROM ROOM-TO-ROOM AND HAVE THEM CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. IT’S ONE OF THOSE DELIGHTFUL SURPRISES THAT GIVE A HOME ITS SOUL AND ITS CHARACTER.”

5 USE THE FIFTH WALL

“SOME PEOPLE FORGET THE CEILING, BUT I LOVE COLOUR AND WALLPAPER ON CEILINGS. DARK HUES WORK ON THERE TOO, SO DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT. COLOURED CEILINGS ARE GOING TO BE BIG.”

6 LOOK TO MID-CENTURY PIECES

“You can never go wrong with mid-century modern pieces as they work with almost anything. There is just something that’s so elegant about that era of design. If I’m working on a new house, I try and find some vintage furniture. Its elegance and proportions are timeless.”

“FOLLOW YOUR OWN STYLE, NOT A PASSING TREND” ~ CAROLYN BURNS-McCRAVE

PLAN YOUR SPACE

“I’d always ask a professional to do your spatial planning. You might think that a new kitchen will change your life, but it’s counterproductive if it’s actually where the living room should be. I would rather spend less on finishes and invest more in the design and layout of the space.”