Michigan Design Center invites top designers to transform our lobby each month, creating an ever-changing environment that reflects very diverse design aesthetics. Designers select items from our showrooms, design the space, and share their tips for pulling it all together.
As 2015 draws to an end, we thought it appropriate to revisit each of these unique lobby designs and share the design tips from the talented designers who created them.
ANN-MARIE'S TOP TIPS
- Incorporate art into your interior in unexpected ways. The wallpaper by Detroit Wallpaper Company features graffiti, which is art unto itself. It anchors the room and adds interest and whimsy.
- Celebrate different eras, styles, and designers in your interiors. Mixing wallpaper with a grunge feel with a contemporary rug from The Ghiordes Knot and a sophisticated velvet tufted sofa from Henredon shows a harmonious space that is interesting.
- When mixing different aesthetics together use a common element that will tie it all together such as color or shape.
- Make sure a room is balanced in terms of scale, color, and dark vs. light. The strong pattern and color of the wallpaper in this space is balanced by the dark leather chairs.
– Ann-Marie Anton, It’s Personal Design
VALERIE'S TOP TIPS
- Dress up your home for the holidays by mixing traditional pieces with new contemporary ones. This traditional mirror adds shine to the wool sweater sofa and compliments the blue “Starry Night” wall.
- Mixing pattern on pattern creates movement and originality throughout the space to keep it active, but draws guests in to relax.
- A well-dressed table will always pull together any holiday meal. Adding warm lighting and your very best china makes the perfect setting for a holiday toast.
– Valerie Young, Valerie Young Interiors
ANDY'S ADVICE
- Using a smaller scale wallpaper pattern can allow you to use colors that are more vibrant or rich without overpowering a room.
- Wallpaper doesn’t have to be an anchor point for color in a room. Using a neutral tone-on-tone colorway will allow you to add pattern or texture to a room without expanding a palette or competing with other color points.
- Using customizable wallpaper which allows you to choose your own color pallet lets you to refresh a room without having to build around the paper. Instead, you can build the paper around the room and conform to your existing design and palette.
- Wallpaper, contrary to its name, isn’t just for walls. Wallpapering a ceiling can be an unexpected surprise in a space.
– Andi Kubacki, Detroit Wallpaper Company
COLLEEN'S TOP TIPS
- Timeless pieces never tire, and neutrals are a great base to support color scheme changes. It makes good sense to keep this in mind when committing to major furniture items.
- Color and pattern is fun and can easily change the mood and feeling of a space. However, reserve color and pattern for pieces that can readily be moved or replaced.
- Bigger is often better. A few well-chosen accessories of grand scale add greater dramatic impact than a multitude of small items.
– Colleen Farrell, Colleen Farrell Design
MARGARET SAYS...
- Choose an item which can inspire a color scheme for your room like this rug from The Ghiordes Knot. The rug has many tones, but you can choose just one or two to carry throughout.
- If you’re highlighting one color in a space, use varying hues and intensities of that color to create a common thread with some diversity like the yellow tones used here.
- Make sure you mix in neutrals or muted tones to create a place to rest your eyes. In this space, the upholstered items were kept neutral so that the accents come forward.
- Changing accent colors over time is an affordable way to give a room a whole new look.
- Don’t just think of color as fabrics and wallcoverings. Metal and wood have color and can warm and brighten a space as well.
– Margaret Skinner, Margeaux Interiors
PAUL'S POINTERS FOR CREATING A GREAT OUTDOOR SPACE
- Set the mood! Hang unique chandeliers outside for some sparkle and added light.
- Try a pergola to define an outdoor space and provide shade.
- Install a vertical fireplace to create a focal point. It will become your favorite gathering spot!
- A fountain will add a peaceful, zen-like feeling and help conceal traffic noise.
- Add monogram toss pillows and colorful accessories to make your outdoor space yours.
– Paul Feiten, Paul Feiten Design
Be sure to stop by the main lobby next month to view January’s lobby transformation, designed by Amanda Sinistaj of Ellwood Interiors.