Our Favorite Decorating Mistakes

Who cares, as long as the people who live there and pay the mortgage like it, what does it matter?  I have a few issues with this....just because some interior designer likes candles spread out all over the room does not mean that mine clustered together is wrong.

Not everyone has a living room the size of taj mahal.  In a living room that is approximately 17 X 12, how do you NOT put your furniture against the walls?  And not displaying family photos?  Ok, it would be weird if someone living alone had several pics of just themselves hung up, but to have photos of your family in your home is pride, not an interior design faux pas.

Uhhh... if my STOVE had to be in the center of my living room, I probably WOULD put it in an armoire.  I've actually noticed a movement to cover up a lot of the appliances even in the kitchen (giving the fridge and dishwasher cabinet fronts) and the removal of upper cabinets to make the kitchen look more like a real living area and less industrial.

Just do what makes you happy and helps you to enjoy your space fully.  I love interior design, but my favorite designers/publications share guidelines and ideas, and do not force their OPINIONS on the entire population as design gospel.  "Professionals" tend to forget that the purpose of interior design is to make a home beautiful and more enjoyable for those living there, NOT to provide the designer with some sort of outlet to express him/herself artistically.

My philosophy is, as a designer you are in the clients home, not yours. Listen to what their likes and dislikes are and if your work does not reflect what THEY WANT, change it until they are satisfied. The saying "less is more" does not always apply to every person or every room. If you can organize it to make it look "like it belongs" go for it.

Implement existing personal memorabilia into the scheme. Just by adding mats and new frames or even changing the color of frames for existing photos makes a huge difference.

 It does not matter if it is Family Photos, NASCAR, your husbands RUGBY team or Equestrian Fox Hunts, gather up what they have and set a specific area for it. Just do not spread it all over the house because then it becomes too much.  I use my hallways as a "family Gallery", then have a few "family pictures" in the game room, as they are "Sports" related photos. This philosophy works for homes of all sizes.

Also, my biggest issue with I.D.s....when you hang pictures..... PLEASE hang it for the "eye height" of the people in the house. Nothing is more insulting then hanging pictures at your height when you are 6' and the owner of the home is 4'9" or visa versa.

The heavy painting can also be a false statement. If a family of five all have the same taste in paint schemes, how boring is that?  My house is loaded with colors for each person in the house. When people come here, I am constantly complimented on how comfortable they are and always made to feel at welcome because of all of the color. I have never had one negative comment. However, I do make sure the colors flow and compliment each other and there is none of the "trendy faux" or other" fad" applications. That stuff gets old fast.  Besides, paint is paint. If you hate it change it. It is the least expensive thing you can "mess up".

For you that have TV issues? For the newer plasmas and LCDs. There are actual screen saver programs that display "works of art" and can be used when the TV is off and you are home.  Or you can run your own programs with family photo screen savers. You hook up an old CPU to the unit or plug in your laptop. It is a wonderful tool that can be used to enhance any style so the "Big black hole" does not suck you in.

 So rock your house! It is yours after all!