PLAY WITH ASYMMETRY
In her Toronto home, designer Montana Labelle says, “We opted for asymmetrical artwork on top of the bed as well as in the hallway to create more visual interest and layers in the room.”
WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
In this midcentury Los Angeles home, designer Garrett Hunter worked with the original floor plan and architectural details like the exposed brick and ceiling beams.
CONCEAL EVERYDAY TECH
Hate the sight of your TV? Put it in a cupboard! Architect Andre Herrero, of Charlap-Hyman Herrero, designed a steel fireplace surround with double doors to conceal the living room TV.
CREATE A GALLERY WALL TO BLEND THE TV
Or, if you’re lacking a decent cabinet, try camouflaging your screens with an artful gallery wall.
BRING THE OUTSIDE IN
If you have lovely views, flaunt them! Designer Lori Deeds of Kemble Interiors created a custom banquette and seating area to take advantage of the garden views of this Palm Beach estate.
USE BLACK AS A BACKDROP
Designer Patrick Mele painted the living room walls of this Upper East Side apartment black, making the perfect background for an abundant art collection and also for large bursts of color elsewhere in the room.
ADD A MOMENT THAT PACKS A PUNCH
In the primary bedroom area designer Augusta Hoffman used a colorful ikat wallcovering to add some interest and fun to an otherwise serene New York apartment.
ENHANCE THE NATURAL LIGHT
To enhance the natural light in a downtown apartment project, design and architecture firm Bachman Brown used a steel and glass enclosure to create a library area rather than closing off the walls.
TAP INTO TAPESTRIES
If you’re looking to create a wow-worthy moment above your headboard, think beyond outsize artworks. Here, in his New York apartment, designer Todd Raymond featured a large tapestry as the focal point of the bedroom.
MIX OLD AND NEW
What do you get when you combine old-world antiques and sleek, modern touches? Instant chic! Just peruse designer Michelle R. Smith’s elegant New Orleans abode for inspo. Here, she contrasted a vintage crystal chandelier with a classic Vitsoe shelving unit.
SELECT STATEMENT LIGHTING
Light fixtures are often referred to as the “jewelry” of a home, so it’s little wonder that—when chosen thoughtfully—they bring a wow factor to even the most staid of spaces.
WORK WITH ARCHITECTURAL QUIRKS
To avoid drawing attention to ceiling beams or other architectural oddities, designer William Cullum and his partner, Jeffery Rhodes, painted the walls, trim, and ceiling the same color blue in the hallway (seen at rear) of their New York City apartment.
BE BOLD WITH COLOR
Literary couple James Fenton and Darryl Pinckney opted for bright, jewel-toned walls in shades of green, blue, yellow—and even purple—throughout their Harlem townhouse.
PLAY UP YOUR LOCATION
At Jean-Louis Deniot’s family retreat on Île de Ré, France, the designer deployed nautical references to emphasize the seaside setting: Maritime rope frames all of the doorways; the steps are hand-painted with wave scenes; and the bedroom wall mural (seen through the doorway here) resembles a sandstorm.
MAKE YOUR MANTEL A MASTERPIECE
In a Toronto home by Colette van den Thillart, the designer decided to replace the original mantel with a sculptural, eye-catching fireplace surround.
PATTERN ON PATTERN ON PATTERN
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and prints. Designer Ramsey Lyons combined different patterns in shades of pink for the sofa and chair upholstery, and yet another one for the curtain fabric in the sunroom of her Pittsburgh home.
USE MIRRORS TO ENHANCE NATURAL LIGHT
In the dining area of Gabriel Hendifar’s downtown Manhattan apartment, a mirrored wall helps to bounce natural light around the room, brightening it in the process.
GO FOR BROKE WITH BOOKSHELVES
In art historian Carolina Vincenti’s apartment in Rome, she painted the bookshelves in the hallway and living area a bright red as an homage to British telephone booths.
MIMIC ARCHITECTURAL SHAPES
Designer Darren Jett echoed the arches of this Brooklyn apartment’s windows in the rounded custom sofa, cushions, cocktail table, and circular rug. A bonus: The rounded seating area gives the clients ample room for entertaining.
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
To make it comfortable and practical, Lawson commissioned bookshelves that match the Shaker style of the house and layered the room with pieces from the homeowner’s travels.