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10 Daring Design Tips to Take Your Home to the Next Level
When it comes to home decor, sometimes bolder is better. From a pop of color on an accent wall (or all walls, for that matter) to turning your door into the focal point, there are so many ways you can take your interiors to daring new heights. Here, we tapped interior designer Nick Olsen, who is known for his mixture of antique and modern elements, to give us 10 of his ultimate design tips to help inspire the undaunted side of your home decor. So lacquer up, mix your patterns, and discover the gorgeousness of a grand gesture.
"Don't listen to your friends, neighbors or the peanut gallery: decorate for yourself and your family. Same goes for hesitation over the concept of resale value. If you want an all-black kitchen, carpe diem!"
"Don't be burdened too much by deadlines or missing elements—take your time and find the best piece for your style and budget. I'd rather sleep on a mattress on the floor (and I have) than live with a mediocre headboard."
"Seek inspiration from great shop window designers like David Hoey (Bergdorf's) and Gene Moore (Tiffany's) and use repetition to maximum effect. If you collect objects—blue and white porcelain, African masks—why not display them all together in one tight grouping above your living room sofa?"
"Work through any fears of the vintage or antique: new is not necessarily better! And no one wants to live in a showroom. The art and antiques dealer Gerald Bland makes 19th Century pieces feel modern with rich colors and novel upholstery details, and by pairing them with contemporary artwork."
Gerald Bland benches, price upon request, geraldbland.com.
"Play with scale, especially in small rooms. Perhaps an armless sofa takes up the entire width of the room and you hang wall lamps in lieu of side tables? Or hang a giant mirror that stretches from the top of the sofa to the cornice."
"Rooms follow the same logic as outfits: too much matchy-matchy throws the whole thing off. Look for a few carpets and fabrics in complimentary tones but don't feel compelled to match them exactly. A French chair in acid green leather, for instance, would feel like a fabulous piece of jewelry in a predominantly camel-colored room."
"Have at least one element in a room that plays against its setting. I love using sisal or abaca mats in capital-F-Fancy living rooms because it takes silk velvet and Georgian mirrors down a peg. Same for the occasional giltwood mirror in a beach house—it creates a fun tension."
"Invest in statement light fixtures (and soft bulbs!) and use them in unexpected settings. These Apparatus sconces would look stunning in a modern loft and even moreso in a 18th century farmhouse."
Apparatus sconces, $1,420, apparatusstudio.com.
"Paint is your friend. It's cheap and reversible and the easiest way to transform a room. If you don't have fourteen-inch tall baseboards and plaster cornices, why not paint the walls, trim and ceiling the same bold color?"
"My friend and former mentor Miles Redd taught me to "decorate your door." Consider contrast paint (glossy black is a favorite) or trompe l'oeil moldings, which most house painters or Type A common folk could handle in a couple hours with blue tape. The luxe route is door upholstery—in cowhide, suede, or silk satin for the Jean Harlow devotees amongst us."
