Creating design that stands the test of time
/Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• April 12, 2014
Photo: Pottery Barn.
Finding the perfect design for your home is a bit like putting together a wardrobe: if you go with all of the latest trends you are likely going to want to redecorate every year. And you are guaranteed to have a few items hanging in your closet that will still have the tags on them because they were never worn.
In other words, you will never feel completely happy with your decor (or your wardrobe).
The trick is to purchase wisely. Build a foundation of timeless design that you will love for years to come. A style that is relaxed, uncomplicated, uncluttered. That's timeless design.
As a Fort Myers Interior decorator, I work with my clients to make sure their decor is a reflection of who they are and not the latest trends. Few of us have a budget that allows us major changes every few years and the best news of all, timeless design will save hours of work, dollars and you will have a calmer home that you love.
When purchasing new furnishings, the goal is to make everything work no matter where you live now or where you may move in the future. Timeless design fits and flows smoothly in a beach house or a condo or an estate home. And what fits in your southwest Florida home will also work in any home that you may move to in any part of the country. Because it is timeless. Like a Chanel purse.
Photo: Ballard Designs
Lauri Ward, author of Use What You Have Decorating, says that like fashion, a well designed interior relies on having classic pieces at its foundation.
"Take a look back at rooms designed decades ago: you’ll find a pair of armless slipper chairs, a tufted Chesterfield sofa and a couple of brass pharmacy lamps that can still be found in the best rooms today. All still look stylish and will be, eternally, no matter where they are placed.”
Chesterfield sofa from Pottery Barn. Photo: Pottery Barn.
Building a design scheme that will stand the test of time takes some thought and planning. These tips will help you to think about your design style and keep you from wasting money on trendy items that will soon be tossed aside:
Color. Forget the color of the year as a palette. Go with muted colors as a backdrop and it will lend itself to different styles and accent colors. Pops of color come from artwork, pillows, accent pieces.
Add texture. Fabric. Wall hangings. Metal. Glass. Stone. Wood. These all give our homes a feeling of permanence. And timelessness.
Lighten up. Eliminate heavy window treatments and bring in as much natural light as possible. Layer your lighting with an overhead fixture and multiple lamps with soft wattages, placed properly in each room.
Blend antiques. When done properly, this works beautifully.
Warm it up. Add rugs to your design plan. They tie a room together and give warmth to tile or hardwood floors.
Photo: Ballard Designs.
Splurge on quality. Not quantity. Invest in that chandelier that you have always wanted. Or the heavenly bed that you know you will have forever and it will guarantee sweet dreams. Or the classic sofa that you love and will recover many times because you will never find one that you love as much.
Less is always more. Don't over accessorize. Instead, select carefully and only use what means something to you.
Establish a focal point. This is what designers do. It may be a piece of furniture, an architectural detail, a beautiful view or a painting. Once this is determined, everything else flows from the focal point.
Make mindful choices. Before making impulse purchases(we have all done it) to fill space, take a breath. Decide what you really want. What you love. Whether your style is modern, contemporary, traditional or eclectic, some honest, thoughtful planning will result in a timeless design.
And save the trendy purchases and the color of the year for a pillow or candle or other accessory that you will not mind saying to next year when there is a new trend!
Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator. Her practical and affordable interior decorating helps clients transform a house into a beautiful home.Home Inspirations appears the first Saturday of each month. Visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 949-1808 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog
