From House To Home

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Vivid hints of color and interesting shapes are brightening a canvas that was once white or neutral not so long ago. Because the process of adding color may be new for some people, several home design pros known for their innovative use of furnishings and color savvy offer worry-free guidance on making color your friend with a couple of well-selected furniture pieces.

“The advice I give to clients is to keep the backgrounds subtle while adding depth with artwork and smaller pieces of furniture,” advises Suzanne Furst, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers featured on HGTV‘s Designers’ Challenge. “[What you choose] should complement your home the way the right clothing and accessories would.”

Chicago-based ASID member Suzanne Maviano, recently featured on HGTV’s New Spaces, agrees, “While the art breaks up a neutral wall, an ottoman, chair, or even a large pillow should be added to pick up one of the colors on the canvas.

Lamps are also a lovely way to bring color, with so many options suiting either contemporary or traditional tastes. And, speaking of lighting, colored pillar candles, either arranged on a table or in sconces, bring in color and warmth. To enliven a simple coffee table, coffee table books bring a touch of personality into a room as well as visual appeal.”

Out west, these notions appear. “Once you’ve pinpointed your desired colors, it’s just a matter of bringing a couple of choice furnishings or accents with those colors into your living space.” Kathleen Koszyk, owner of Art Dreams Home adds, “If you wear a color frequently, you will also love looking at it in your house. If you hate red, you won’t want a red chair. [On the other hand], it’s best to start small and add new things and new colors as you become more confident.

There is an explosion of people willing to experiment, thanks in part to the many home-oriented television shows putting these notions to work.”

Penny Haptor-Barrett, whose concept rooms at her 30,000-square-foot Haptor-Barrett Showroom in the L.A. Mart appeared on Designers’ Challenge and Designing for the Sexes, says that because “theatre is important in a room,” artistic accessories and furnishings should not be purchased to match the sofa, but to create a sense of drama. If you own collectibles (like Chinese fans, vases, or stamps), group them together. Noting colors that emerge can help you select harmonious accent pieces. While she encourages professional designers to make major investment furniture and redecorating decisions, when time and budget is an issues, home stores offer excellent inspirations with “color stories” that emerge in their room displays.

Jill Sands, of Louisiana-based manufacturer/retailer Toland Enterprises, points out that accessories such as rugs, pillows, vases, and small furnishings allow you to embrace color without a major financial commitment. However, she also advises spending a little extra on higher-quality items with character. “My primary design philosophy, regardless of the trend du jour, is to have fun with big pieces, such as a great oversized pillow with embroidery,” Sands says. “It provides a dramatic color thrill that you don’t have to live with forever. Better yet, you can update effortlessly and switch pieces out.”

When it comes to choosing the right accents in addition to color, Los Angeles interior designer David de Russy advises to pay close attention to the architectural style and era of your home and refer to magazines to see what kinds of pieces are added to homes and rooms similar to yours to help you achieve your desired look. “Adding color to your home (in any form) is a personal thing,” says de Russy. “You are not selling goods but making your environment more pleasing to you and true to your personality.”