{Interiors} 3 FOF Interior Designers Tell All

LEAVE A COMMENT 2010 August 5

To find out the best way to spruce up your FOF digs, we went straight to the source… 3 interior designers who are FOFs themselves. Here they share their favorite design books, tips, tricks and even the websites they shop. Do you have a favorite design tip or resource? Share it with us by commenting below.

1. Terri Symington

T. Symington & Co. Interiors

Brenham, Texas

Her Resources:
–Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn set the standard in terms of resources available to the general public.
–1stDibs.com –Shop owners across the country show some of their pieces there. The best part: Even though they may list prices, you can usually contact the retailer and negotiate.
–The Roundtop Antique Fair – Twice a year in spring and fall people come from all over the country to get great deals on antiques and housewares.

Takeaway Tips:
-Don’t follow trends. Define your own personal style. The biggest mistake that women make is listening to too many other people.
-Stay away from anything cute unless it’s for a nursery.
-Think of the architecture of the space, and don’t try to create a theme. I detest themes. If you have a taste for country French, but you don’t personalize it, the look becomes too much.
-Group collections together; don’t spread them out all over your house.
-Keep your space clean and simple. It makes it so much easier to enjoy life….

2. Kristin Drohan
The Kristin Drohan Collection

Concord, Massachusetts

Her Resources:
For furniture, linens, textile, fabrics and accessories: www.zgallerie.com, www.surya.com, www.ballarddesign.com and www.homedecorators.com
Exclusively for furniture: www.hardenedfurniture.com and www.hickorychair.com “I like how eco-friendly the Hickory Chair is.”

Takeaway Tips:
-Paint the quirky accents that come with the home to match your color scheme and decor. In a room I designed, there were these medallions on the ceiling that I didn’t like so I painted those and the chandelier black.
-To marry the color palettes of two rooms together, use one color in both rooms at least three times.
-Add trim or a fabric band to the bottom of JCPenny Antique Satin Drapes to get a more expensive look for less.

3. Sheree Vincent
Fusion Designed
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Her Resources:
-For global objects: “I always try to shop in fair-trade stores. One I like is Alsadu in Minneapolis or online at www.Alsadu.com.”
-For small, trendy home accessories: Homegoods, Marshalls, Pottery Barn and thrift stores. “You can get good deals at these stores and if something goes out of style it’s not such a big deal to swap it out for something new.”

Takeaway Tips:
-Less is more but sometimes it is hard to minimize. Collections are wonderful but if you put out every piece, the beauty of the individual items gets lost. Instead display two or three items at a time and rotate the collection by swapping in new pieces every few months.
-Choose pieces and colors that make you happy. Looking at different colors in a paint store can be overwhelming. I recommend sampling four to five colors (many paint stores now let you do this) and painting squares on your wall. After a week living with the colors it will become clear which one you like best.
-Find unexpected purposes in common objects. I’ve used baskets as wall art and pottery as water fountains!

{Interiors} Karen Fisher Knows Design

LEAVE A COMMENT 2010 August 4

Every eight-to-ten years, FOF design expert Karen Fisher revamps her Gramercy Park penthouse. Each design reflects a different stage in her life.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Karen was an editor of top style and design magazines, American Home and Women’s Wear Daily. Her apartment was decorated in a “European Country” style: Provencal gold walls, rich eggplant furniture and oriental rugs. “I wanted something showy,” says Karen. “I was dressing showier; I needed it more than I do now.”

In 1985, Karen started Designer Previews, a design matchmaking service that pairs residential and commercial clients with world famous designers. Shortly after, she decided her apartment needed a do-over to coincide with her new career. With a Rolodex of top decorators at her fingertips, Karen selected Clodagh to create an Armani-inspired haven. They chose taupe- and beige-colored Stucco Veneziano for her walls with furniture and accent pieces in grays, silvers and dark wood tones. “It’s contemporary and chic as hell,” she says. “I’m working with over 400 designers and overseeing 200 jobs–I don’t need any more pillows in my life.”

This year, Karen prepares to overhaul the 500 square-foot space yet again. What will it look like next? “I know it will have more contrast, dark floors, light walls, crisper color,” she says. “But sometimes it’s a surprise to me and that is the fun of decorating.”

Karen’s Take-Away Tips for Designing Small Spaces:

-Work with a designer who shares your aesthetic, has a personality that you enjoy, and will spend your money in a way that meets your approval. Read Karen’s guide to hiring an interior designer here.
-Think big, even with small space. In Karen’s own apartment, a low bookshelf in her living room allows for a large mirror, one she says normally would be used in a hotel lobby–not a NYC apartment.
-For workspaces, try vertical slats instead of filing cabinets. You will find they keep loose papers more organized and provide easier access to books and files.
-For small spaces, barn sliding doors take up less space than traditional doors.
-It’s a misconception that a ceiling should always be painted white. The ceiling should be painted the same color as the wall to create the illusion of boundless space.

Photos by Katherine McPherson for faboverfifty.com