It’s that time of year again when ghosts, goblins, and ghouls make their annual appearance, but some design mistakes haunt homes all year long. These 7 Deadly Design Sins might not rattle chains in the night, but they can certainly send shivers down a designer’s spine. Don’t worry, though, this isn’t a horror story without hope. With a few tricks (and some design treats), you can banish these bad habits for good! #1 Dead Space: The Design Graveyard Every home has it, that awkward corner or empty wall that just seems to exist without purpose. Maybe it’s the space under the stairs or that lonely spot beside the sofa where nothing seems to fit. This “dead space” can make your home feel incomplete and lifeless. To revive it, think of every inch of your home as an opportunity. Add a cozy reading chair, a tall plant, or a console table with styled décor to bring energy and intention to forgotten areas. Even a well-placed piece of art can resurrect a neglected corner. A well-designed home doesn’t leave any space to rest in peace. #2 Poorly Placed Lighting: The Phantom of the Flat Room There’s nothing scarier than bad lighting, it […]

The kitchen is my favorite room. The cabinet detailing, marble backsplash and countertops and color-coordinated island are fabulous. Love, love, love. This same color combination and “modern” touch is mimicked in the master bathroom. The staircase is also amazing. Maintaining the 1915 look and feel, the homeowners kept the spindles and stained glass window.

Whether they’re lighting a half bath or a grand entryway, globe fixtures have a way of giving a room understated polish. In fact, I’ve had to hold myself back from using them in too many rooms in my house, lest my home begin to look like a planetary constellation. Still, I find myself drawn to images of rooms lit by gorgeous glowing spheres as I continually seek out new ways to use them in my home that won’t make my family feel like we’re living in the International Space Station.

What Goes With Floral Upholstery? …Everything! It happened — you fell in love. And the object of your affection (while utterly charming at first) now seems too loud, too wild, too … something. What to do? If you’re thinking of your love life, we can’t help you. But if your troubles are caused by hard-to-match floral upholstery, these options for decorating around it should make life a little easier:

Once you have figured out what style of interior you want and how much you want to spend, your next decision is: What colors should you use?