A BEAUTIFUL TOUCH SHAPES DECOR IDEAS
Sophie Donelson is the editor-in-chief of House Beautiful magazine, which celebrates its 120th-anniversary with this month’s issue. Donelson was tapped to lead the longest-published home magazine in February 2015. The magazine, which debuted in 1896, has
Q I am looking for an everyday sofa that will be used as much as eight hours a day (I tend to work on my laptop while sitting on the sofa). I’d like it to be comfortable and not too low. We don’t have pets or children, but I definitely don’t want anything too fussy. I am willing to pay for quality. Also, how long should a sofa last? Can you steer me toward brands? A A sofa can last a lifetime — and beyond. Well-made sofas have wood frames with cushions made from feather-wrapped foam. (The percentage of feathers to foam is what makes it firmer or squishier.) A sofa is exactly where you should dedicate a large chunk of your budget because it’ll get a lot of action.
Q I’ve collected small, coloured glass objects from all over the world (bottles and figurines, mainly) and used to house them all in a tall, glass-fronted cabinet. In a recent move, I gave up the cabinet and now have far less space to display these objects. What do I do with the half-collection that isn’t on display? Save it for posterity in a box? Give it away? I am not organized enough to swap out the items occasionally, so whatever is not on display now will never be seen. A I love something I saw recently at designer Molly Luetkemeyer’s house in Los Angeles: It’s a tabletop display case, like a shadow box. Save your very favourites and try displaying them in something like a large brass glass display/jewelry box from Crate & Barrel.
Q We worked with a professional designer 10 years ago to do our living room and were delighted with the results. We still love it, but we’d like to shake it up more than just changing a few chairs and pillows. (It doesn’t have window treatments.) Of course, it’s best to work with a designer, but I hope this is an easy question: Is it too risky to paint it a new colour? It’s currently white, and we’re thinking grey. It’s a large, open loft-like space. A Go for it! Also: Why not give your designer or the firm a ring? They probably remember your project and could recommend a terrific grey — gratis, I’d hope. Otherwise, indeed: Go for it. Buy some sample pots or giant swatches and place around the space. The right colour is really about the combination of colour and light, so test it first.
Q I want to paint my ceiling a light blue. Do paint colours look more intense on the ceiling than on walls? Should I go lighter than I might have planned? The walls will be a darker, complementary blue. A Indeed — exactly what you said. Again, make sure to test, test, test it! But yes, in general, because most ceilings don’t receive much light, it can read darker.
Q Do you have any tips for decorating a nursery or child’s room? We don’t know the sex of the child, and the room will be shared with our three-year-old daughter. A Do something you enjoy. It’s a fun place to take a risk or have a little fun with colour or art. Susanna Salk did a great book on kids’ rooms (Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play). Perhaps you can start there for inspiration.
Q We have a huge open basement with a wine/bar area, home theatre area, and a nook with a table for the kids to play games and do crafts. But we still have two spaces that are open and empty. One is between the bar area and theatre, and the other is a long, narrow area in the other half of the room with large windows that take up about half the wall. Do you have any creative ideas (beyond a pool table) for either of these spaces? There are no walls; everything is totally open. A Lucky you that you have so much space! My first thought is plants. How about a pair of waist-high planters brimming with something leafy? Or a few potted palms? So many great planters and urns on the market today.
Q I’m planning a kitchen remodel and initially was planning to have an island that matches the cabinets and counters. It’s going to end up being more money than I expected, and I don’t think it’s a sound investment. Would a large cart on wheels be a good alternative? Any other ideas? We have white cabinets and Ella from Cambria counters. I haven’t decided on hardware or fixtures yet. A A cart on wheels totally works. I’d also recommend a fresh coat of paint and new counters (Cambria is good, and check out Dekton, too.). With the island, counters and paint, your kitchen will feel brand new.