3 Things You'll Never See In My Clients' Homes (or in mine)
One: Cold Gray Walls
I can’t even tell you how happy I am that the everything-gray trend is finally done (for now)! Over the past decade, there was so much gray that it seemed like we were doomed never to be creative with neutrals again, as if humanity forgot that there’s a whole palette of other beautiful neutrals to choose from.
The wrong gray can be way too dark when chosen haphazardly, and way too depressing when nothing else in the room balances it out. There’s enough other stuff in the world to be depressed about–why add your home to that list?
I do think that when it's used for exterior applications, the right gray looks sharp with light trim work, pretty landscaping and surrounding greenery. And a warm, pale gray can look nice indoors on cabinetry or trim. But still, it won’t be my choice for interior wall paint in the near future. I’m relieved to break out of this box of boredom, and the design industry finally agrees.
Tip: check out the warm neutral section of the paint chip display when you’re ready to ditch this trend. And if you need help with that, reply below and I can give you a hand.
Two: Clear Light Bulbs Without Shades
It’s almost like looking directly into the sun. Honestly, I think a bare light bulb with clear glass is just too much on the eyes.
In addition to the clear glass incandescent bulb, the Edison-style light bulb popped up everywhere a few years ago (especially in the UK), with its yellow-orange filament and vintage-y shape. Chandeliers look really cool with these bulbs, especially in restaurants and bigger spaces where the fixtures hang above eye level. Large public spaces need a lot of light, and these types of bulbs can look great in the right setting.
However, use caution with clear glass or Edison bulbs in your home. Sure they look cool when they’re turned off, but when you flip the switch, look away because they’re extremely bright. We need lighting, but ironically, not at the expense of our eyesight.
Tip: get an LED bulb that’s frosted inside, or choose a lamp with a light-colored shade that allows for gentle diffused light around the room. Safety first–check your fixture specifications and make sure to get the right bulb for that fixture.
Three: Leather Sofas
You know how a fine leather bag looks better and better as it gets older, with a beautiful aged patina? Well, not so much with a leather sofa.
One of my clients had an entire set of white leather seating in her living room, and by the time she called me, she couldn’t wait to donate it because it had gotten irrevocably dirty by then. Not the best investment, since high-quality leather furniture can cost up to three times more than its fabric-covered cousins.
When it’s super hot and humid outside and you’re wearing shorts or a skirt, beware of the leather sofa. While your front half cools down, your back half stays sweaty and sticky because leather upholstery doesn’t really breathe. And eventually you discover that your thighs are firmly stuck to the leather, which makes standing up a little risky and possibly awkward.
A leather sofa isn’t soft or inviting, either. Lying down to take a nap or watch a movie means enduring that pokey self-welting around the cushion edges as it digs into your side. Placing a blanket over the cushions is a good idea until….it slides off the slippery surface as you move around.
If you have pets, a leather sofa is just begging to be permanently scratched and damaged by claws; it’s nearly impossible to hide or repair these marks, unless the duct tape look is your thing. And speaking of animals, it takes roughly 6 cow hides to make one leather sofa.
Tip: It takes no animal hides to make a fabric sofa. Look for medium to dark neutrals in performance fabrics that will last for years and adapt to color palette changes over time.
There you have it–my design rant on three things that I never recommend to clients. And you can bet that you’ll never see these things in my home, either.
Cheers,
Nan
About Nan
I’m an interior designer who helps people turn their homes into their sanctuaries without the pain of renovating. I’ve been working as a professional designer since 1995 and one thing I love about interior design is how it can evoke a mood and create whatever feeling you want in your space. In that way, it’s kind of magical.
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