Looking for design inspiration? Consult this advice from legendary decorating experts.
Stick to a muted palette
What
she said: "The fewer colors used in a room, the more
pleasing and restful the result will be," said Edith Wharton
(1862-1937), in The
Decoration of Houses (1897).
Before winning a Pulitzer for The
Age of Innocence,
Wharton was a decorating pioneer, advising people to steer clear of
the overstuffed furniture, the gloomy colors, and the multitude of
knickknacks characteristic of the Victorian era. The Mount, her
estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, was restored in 2002 and is currently
open to the public.
Why
it works: With a restricted palette, colors recede into the
background, allowing the furnishings and the accessories to take
center stage. Here, the limited color scheme lets the curves of the
table and the chairs stand out. The walls are painted in a tone
similar to that of the area rug, and the moldings are painted a
bright white to echo the curtains and the upholstery.
More of Her Advice:
-
On
switching things up: "It (is) not unusual to have
several…sets of curtains and slip-covers…changed with the
seasons. This simple form of decoration has the additional charm of
variety. The hangings…of the queen's bedroom at Versailles were
changed four times a year."
-
On
stair carpets: "(They) should be of a strong full color
and, if possible, without pattern. It is fatiguing to see a design
meant for a horizontal surface constrained to follow the ins and
outs of a flight of steps."
-
On
streamlining a space:"Decorators know how much the simplicity
and dignity of a good room are diminished by crowding it with
useless trifles."
On
switching things up: "It (is) not unusual to have
several…sets of curtains and slip-covers…changed with the
seasons. This simple form of decoration has the additional charm of
variety. The hangings…of the queen's bedroom at Versailles were
changed four times a year."
On
stair carpets: "(They) should be of a strong full color
and, if possible, without pattern. It is fatiguing to see a design
meant for a horizontal surface constrained to follow the ins and
outs of a flight of steps."
On
streamlining a space:"Decorators know how much the simplicity
and dignity of a good room are diminished by crowding it with
useless trifles."
Arrange small pictures on a dresser
What
she said: "Keep the framed photographs on the writing
table, the dressing table, the mantel…but do not hang them on your
walls," said Elsie de Wolfe (1865-1950), in The
House in Good Taste (1913).
De Wolfe's self-proclaimed mission was to lighten up
early-20th-century homes burdened with Victorian excess. She swapped
superfluous bric-a-brac for simple, well-proportioned pieces.
Why
it works: "Small pictures look like visual noise on a
wall," says Andrew Flesher, an interior designer in Minneapolis.
But they can pump up the personality of an otherwise ho-hum table. To
unify a collection of photographs, use frames of the same material
and make sure all the pictures are approximately the same size, so
that none will stand out over the others.
More of Her Advice:
-
On
scale: "A technical knowledge of architecture is not
necessary to know that a huge stuffed leather chair in a tiny gold
and cream room is unsuitable, is hideously complicated, and is as
much out of proportion as the proverbial bull in the china shop."
-
On
simplicity: "It is such a relief to return to the
tranquil, simple forms of furniture, and to decorate our rooms by a
process of elimination. How many rooms have I not cleared of
junk―this heterogenous mass of ornamental 'period' furniture and
bric-a-brac bought to make a room 'look cozy.' Once cleared of
these, the…architectural spaces are freed and now stand in their
proper relation to the furniture."
On
scale: "A technical knowledge of architecture is not
necessary to know that a huge stuffed leather chair in a tiny gold
and cream room is unsuitable, is hideously complicated, and is as
much out of proportion as the proverbial bull in the china shop."
On
simplicity: "It is such a relief to return to the
tranquil, simple forms of furniture, and to decorate our rooms by a
process of elimination. How many rooms have I not cleared of
junk―this heterogenous mass of ornamental 'period' furniture and
bric-a-brac bought to make a room 'look cozy.' Once cleared of
these, the…architectural spaces are freed and now stand in their
proper relation to the furniture."
Top carpeting with an area rug
What
he said: "I like the warm, deep-comfort look of smaller
rugs laid right on top of wall-to-wall carpet. The smaller rug could
be a bigger-scale pattern…or a needlepoint, or a beautiful
Oriental," said Billy Baldwin (1903-1984), inBilly
Baldwin Decorates (1972).
A Princeton-educated decorator whose clients included Truman Capote
and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Baldwin "loosened up traditional
design and made it more inviting," says design historian Judith
Gura.
Why
it works: Layering rugs, like layering clothes, adds texture,
color, and dimension. The effect is "calm and warm," says
interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein. For the best results, start
with a tightly woven, low-pile carpet or sisal in a solid tone.
Complement it with almost any area rug―flat cotton, zebra-print
cowhide, or fluffy flokati.
More of His Advice:
-
On
centerpieces: "When you decorate the tables, beware of
centerpieces with too many flowers in too-big bouquets. Much more
charming is a simple flowering plant in its own clay pot or a little
wicker basket―and please don't have strongly scented flowers. I
remember one dinner party…where the smell of tuberoses…was
enough to knock you down."
-
On
displaying artwork: "The best places to put pictures are
the unexpected ones. I like…taking a typical over-the-sofa
painting and hanging it out in the hall, where you can…see it
rather than sit in its shadow.… In one room, I backed a picture
with plywood for protection and stood it in a window."
On
centerpieces: "When you decorate the tables, beware of
centerpieces with too many flowers in too-big bouquets. Much more
charming is a simple flowering plant in its own clay pot or a little
wicker basket―and please don't have strongly scented flowers. I
remember one dinner party…where the smell of tuberoses…was
enough to knock you down."
On
displaying artwork: "The best places to put pictures are
the unexpected ones. I like…taking a typical over-the-sofa
painting and hanging it out in the hall, where you can…see it
rather than sit in its shadow.… In one room, I backed a picture
with plywood for protection and stood it in a window."
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