How to Steal a $1 Million in Ideas
Color combos
Tomato-puree and Tiffany blue. Burnt mustard and dark roast coffee. Keep an eye out for colors that pair well together and could work well in your home. Also keep in mind what the color will be adjacent to: carpet, wood, tile, etc.
Wall treatments
Wallpaper is back. The key is to use it as an accent or in small spaces a la powder bathrooms. Ask the pros how (and in what rooms) it should be used to avoid looking outdated.
Window treatments
One of the easiest ways to give a room that polished, finished feel. Rich-textured textiles scream luxury.
Mixed woods
You will never see the same wood used throughout a stunning home. Mix and match to achieve that lived-in look.
Kitchen details
Tile backsplashes, hardware on cabinets and drawers, countertop edging, size of an island; these little features were important decisions the designer and home owner made to give the kitchen the title of “Most Important Room in the House.” The latest must-have trend in appliances = the built-in-furniture look (I.e. armoire-type cabinets that reveal a state-of-the-art refrigerator).
Outdoor living spaces
Which plants and trees did they use for the south-facing front yard? Why are retractable screens on three-season porches being used in what seems like every home? Look how landscaping and hardscaping was done to see if you can mimic it in your own yard. Ask why certain selections were made.
Room layout
Never thought having your bed at a diagonal was for you? Look at the room’s shape and how the designer utilized furnishings.
Use of mirrors
One of designers’ favorite tips! Need to increase natural light in a room without adding windows? Notice how mirrors are strategically placed throughout homes.
Kids rooms
Yes they look adorable and you think, “I would love for Joey’s room to look like this but could never afford it.” Look at the basics: Is there carpeting? What color is the trim? How is the room layed out? What are the little details that make this room nostalgic?
Man caves
Men can have it all: TV entertainment, poker tables, wet bars and more. The key is to skip the posters of dogs playing poker, mix dark and light colors, and have ample lighting so the space doesn’t scream “basement hangout for dudes.”
