LISA'S BLOG

Thursday, May 30, 2013


25 Designer Secrets from Lisa Furey – Your Barefoot Designer


      A bed should be no higher than 23” off the floor

        A simple sisal rug in natural or gray is the best way to make a room look elegant and clean
 
        Leather carpet borders always make a room look richer

        The bigger the rug, the better it is – if the rug is undersized for the room, it creates the illusion that the room is very small – best rule of thumb is to keep about 12” exposed around the perimeter

         Use wallpaper in unexpected places: on the ceiling in a paneled room, in your favorite closet, hallways and small foyers – there’s nothing better than a great pattern in small places

         Use an antique table as a kitchen island – it gives the room so much character

         Never push furniture up against the walls. Pull your seating arrangement in (even if just a few inches) – this instantly warms up the space and creates flow

         Use recessed lighting sparingly

         Dining room rugs should extend a minimum of 3’ from the edge of a dining table – dining chairs should always be fully on the rug – not two legs on and two off

         If great art isn’t in your budget, have a framed cutting of a beautiful fabric or wallpaper

         When installing curtains or shades, take them all the way up to the ceiling – it will make it feel  as though the height of the room has increased

         Narrow staircases and narrow hallways look best with runners, not wall to wall carpet – take care to install leaving a 3” border on both sides to make the space seem wider

         If you love a fabric but it seems too strong, check the reverse side – it may just fit the bill

         Install outlets 28” high behind console tables to enable you to add lamps without unsightly dangling cords

         The perfect amount of space between a mirror and the top of a mantle is 7”Don’t hang a mirror between windows – it creates an unpleasant void – and try not to use mirrors as art in every room – mirrors are not art, and rooms need art

         Start your furniture plan with the best seat in the room and work from there

         Hang your chandeliers 60”- 66” above the floor

         A rectangular table is ideal at about 30” in width – this enables easy conversation with your immediate neighbors and those across the table

         Every room needs a touch of something black, just as it needs at least one antique piece

         Typical sconce height for a bathroom is 66”above the finished floor to the center of the fixture

         Optimal coffee table height is between 18” and 20”; however, tea table height (24” to 26”) is a perfect height to set drinks down with ease

         All 36” of space minimum around your dining room table to give your chairs enough room to pull back

         The days of twin beds are coming to an end. Consider a pair of full sized beds instead – they are only 15” wider than twins and much more comfortable

         If you paint your walls white, you need art

         Hang art 63” on center above the floor – this is a great viewing height for most pieces

 

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