Keys To A Successful Interior Design Project | One of the keys to a successful interior design project is to attend not only to the big items, but the smaller ones as well. Often referred to as 'finishing touches', these elements are crucial to making a space feel, and look completed.
Many times a client will contact me to report that they purchased all new furniture, but something 'is missing'. 99% of the time what is missing are the finishing touches.
So what are finishing touches? Generally speaking, finishing touches are decorative items that add color, texture, dimension and personality to a room. If chosen well, the finishing touches will reflect YOUR personality and essentially stamp the house as YOUR home.
Finishing touches can be defined as the following:
• Decorative window treatments such as window valances, or drapery
• Accessories for table tops, or mantel tops
• Artwork for the walls
• Mood creating lighting
• Area rugs
• Throw Pillows
• Decorative hardware on cabinets or dressers
• Plants; either live or artificial
Kitchens with high ceilings and associated 'pot shelves' above the cabinets are one of the most challenging spaces to decorate. The scale of the accessories needs to be appropriate for the height distance from the top of the cabinet to the ceiling. Placing small, interesting artwork, or low bowls in these spaces will not work well. Thought should also be given to the 'dust collection factor'. Although you might believe you will get out the ladder and dust off the space, reality is very often different. Silk plants should be used in moderation up in high spots as these are notorious dust collectors.
Bathrooms should not be overlooked especially the powder rooms that your guests will be using. In master bathrooms with stand alone tubs, the tub surround area is an important place to use accessories. Depending on the mood and style you prefer, things such as tall candlesticks that hold chunky pillar style candles, decorative vases with flowers and silk plants can be used in the tub surround space. In a powder room, let your unique personality shine through. Hang a sparkly mini-chandelier, Use shelves to display small pieces of art that can lean against the wall.
Decorative window treatments are essential to making a room feel complete. For those of you who cringe at this and think of your grandmother's damask drapes be assured the term 'decorative window treatment' goes way beyond that. To guard against the brutal Arizona sun, we need to have functional window treatments. Functional window treatments are things such as shutters, and cellular shades. Decorative window treatments bring the color, texture and dimension to the window, and often the entire room. A simple swag of well coordinated fabric, a valance (many style options exist!), or in-stock or custom drapery panels placed to soften the edges of the window can work wonders for a room be it a kitchen, family room or bedroom.
So, the next time you want to make a change to your existing decor, or if you just invested in new furniture and your room doesn't quite feel completed, think about investing in the crucial 'finishing touches'.
By:Suzanne Lasky
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