Interior Design Concepts by Dr. Decorator

An empty room is a six-sided box comprised of four walls, a floor, and a ceiling. When a designer plans a space, the procedure is to study each of these elements.

The first step is to measure the space and create a furniture floor plan. The floor plan determines the use of the space, the traffic pattern, and any specialized needs. In the process, a shopping list of items and their sizes is generated.

The reason it is called a “floor plan” is because it deals with what will be sitting on the floor. But this does not tell the total design story. Before furniture can be set up, it is imperative to create the decorative background. The background will set the mood for a space and tell the story of the room. It is often more important and more lasting than the individual furnishings. A room has only one floor, but it has four walls. The walls envelop the furnishings, and if not properly designed can over- whelm or undermine the rest of the decorative scheme.

Color is possibly the most important element in wall decor and in creating a successful room. Color can enlarge or shrink a space, make walls or ceilings more or less prominent, and alter people’s moods. It is also the biggest decorating bargain around. Change the color of your walls and you can create a new room without changing your furnishings. Different colors set different tones. Yellow is cheerful, pastels are calming, deep colors are rich and dramatic. There is no color that is right or wrong—only what is right or wrong for the person who will be using the space.

Texture is another valuable element in wall decor. It can be created by using wall coverings or any of the multitude of decorative painted finishes that are so popular today. Like color, texture and pattern are mood creators. Linen- or suede-covered walls can give a space a masculine character or library ambience. Florals, on the other hand, will impart a softer, more feminine mood.

Moldings are an additional means of building texture into a space. The use of decorative moldings can transform a plain box into an elegant, classical space. It is another decorative bargain which can totally change the look of your home.

Flooring is another important part of the decorative palette. The floor is the anchor for the space. Flooring choices must be functional and durable,but also aesthetic. The variety of available flooring choices is mind-boggling and endless. There are multitudes of woods, tiles, stones, and carpets which can be used alone or in tandem. Again, no one choice is right or wrong—it is a personal selection that is right or wrong for a particular individual.

Windows offer another opportunity for decorating-inspired headaches. Window coverings are hardworking members of the decorative scheme. They must provide privacy and light control while always looking good. Window coverings fall into two categories. The “hard” treatments are the elements that sit directly on the window and open and close according to personal needs. The fabric coverings on a window are called “soft” treatments, and are more focused on creating a decorative mood. The variety of choices is, once again, vast and overwhelming.

The last and most frequently overlooked part of a room is the ceiling. Generally, ceilings are simply painted white and forgotten about. This is often a wasted design opportunity. Paint a ceiling in a pale yellow hue and you will feel like the sun is always shining. If a space has a very high ceiling, the use of a darker color will bring the ceiling down and create a sense of intimacy. If a ceiling is low, light tones should be used to make the ceiling seem higher.

The room photographed above in both “before” and “after” views is an example of working a decorative scheme on every level. The floor is carpeted in a wool mini-print which is dark enough to be durable, yet patterned enough to be interesting. The walls are painted a pale shade of sage green with subtle sponged shadings. Windows are treated to a layered effect. The hard treatment is a woven wood shade which goes up and down for privacy and light control. The tie-back curtain is an animal motif textured lace-type woven fabric. The top treatment is a satiny stripe which is draped over a pole for drama and elegance. The same stripe is also used as a door drape to create a peek-a-boo effect where the original wooden door was removed. One of the most interesting elements in the room is the vaulted barrel ceiling which was faux-painted in swirling shades of pale blue to create an open-to-the-sky feeling.

Furnishings are a mix of exotic textures and colors. The design intent was to create a guest bedroom/sitting room which would be tailored enough for a man but decorative enough for a woman. This was accomplished through the mix of fabrics and furnishings and the use of the British Colonial decorative scheme. Fabrics are shiny and glamorous while the furniture is English and masculine. The end result is a comfortable and inviting space which is sophisticated without being intimidating. The decorative backgrounds create the mood and set the proper stage for the furnishings to complete the space. Take the furniture out, and the decorative backgrounds will still tell an interesting story.

Long considered a secret space to be hidden behind closed doors, the plain-Jane bathroom of the past has become today’s bathing beauty. Bathrooms have gone glamorous and are being treated to a variety of fantastic finishes and fixtures, the variety of which simply boggles the mind. Most aspiring home remodelers will anticipate an instant headache when simply considering the choices of flooring, cabinets, tiles, faucets, and plumbing fixtures.

The selection process can be made a little easier by dividing the decision-making procedure into a series of steps. The first one is to decide on your aesthetic style. Will you go country or formal, contemporary or traditional? Once you make this choice, you will be selecting products based on what is appropriate for your personal taste.

The next steps involve deciding on colors, plumbing choices, and materials. Granite and marble are wonderful for countertops. Flooring choices must be easy to care for and water resistant. Porcelain, used to simulate many of today’s natural materials, is often a better choice for bathrooms than the “real thing.” It is an extremely strong surface, not porous, and maintenance free.

Cabinets should provide storage as well as utility. Unless your decor is cutting-edge contemporary, my preference is for built-in products to be timeless and dateless. If your favorite color is turquoise, for example, use it in towels, not your tile floors. Why? Because turquoise is a color you may tire of. Also, it may not be the color of choice for potential buyers when the time comes to sell your humble, but tastefully remodeled, abode.

The bathroom has definitely become one of the dressier rooms in the house. The cabinet industry is trying to play catch-up with the request for bath cabinets that look like elegant furniture instead of bland boxes. Many furniture companies have entered the bath business and are offering beautifully styled cabinets. These often come complete with countertops, sinks, faucets, and offer homeowners cost-effective and handsome option bath decor.

When a homeowner is unable find just the right thing among commercially available bath cabinets, many designers will utilize an antique or reproduction cabinet and retrofit it for bathroom utility. The photograph shown here illustrates this. An antique reproduction cabinet had just the look needed to give an old-world appearance to a newly created bath. The cabinet top was cut out to accommodate the sink and faucets. The interior drawers were adjusted to allow plumbing clearance and still permit generous storage. When enhanced with a beautiful, cut-glass, Venetian-style mirror, the bath becomes an elegant answer to utilitarian needs.

Wall decor is another important decorative element. Mosaic tiles can be used to create wall art in a variety of motifs. Metal tiles and glass tiles create interesting borders that can highlight neutral-toned field tiles. Wood moldings can be used to divide a space with chair-rail moldings or to create inset panel effects. Wall coverings offer instant character and can be combined with other materials. Applied wood molding that is used to create the look of wall panels can be further enhanced when wall coverings are popped inside the panels.

The vast variety of wall-covering motifs can instantly change a bathroom’s decor. Take a plain white bath with basic tiles and fixtures and dress it up with wall coverings. Presto chango! Toile wallpaper creates a classical French motif. A gingham check gives country charm. Damask or moire patterns offer traditional elegance. The options are endless. Wallpaper is like a magic wand which permits you to change your mind and your decor with just the wave of a hand-or a wallpaper roller.

The before-and-after photos shown here illustrate the dramatic impact of a wall treatment. A plain bath was dressed up just by changing the decorative elements. The original tub was maintained. The walls were treated with a wall covering that simulates grass cloth but is actually a heavy-duty waterproof vinyl. Above the tub is a hand-painted mural that was painted on heavy canvas in an artist’s studio and then installed, like wallpaper. The scene behind the tub creates an endless vista and transports the viewer to a Caribbean isle. Not just pretty, but also practical: the canvas is treated with polyurethane so it is protected from the natural moisture in the bath.

Fabric is the finishing touch, with tie-back curtains framing both the tub and the mural. The end result is a dramatic change from bland and boring to bold and beautiful.

All of these elements can be utilized in your home. Bathrooms are smaller spaces that you visit for limited periods of time. They can take an extra dramatic touch. Be creative-and be yourself!

Walls are the largest physical element in a design space, but they are often the most neglected. People expend a lot of time and attention in selecting their furniture and accessories. They obsess about picking just the right sofa and just the right table. Yet most of us will paint our walls white or beige and think that we are finished with our decorative efforts. The furniture will end up looking bland and boring and we wonder what went wrong. A design detective might call this “The Case of the Missing Wall Color.” Dr. Decorator calls this an overlooked design opportunity.

Furniture by Andre Originals

Underestimating the importance of wall colors or design treatments is a huge mistake. Walls are the most dominant element in your home. Colors and treatments should be carefully selected to complement your furnishings, environment, and mood. The options for wall treatments are infinite and can be limited only by lack of imagination.

Furniture by Andre Originals

Brilliant fuscia tones provide a dramatic contrast to the white furnishings.
The high contrast of the furniture and the walls provide a contemporary pop for
classic styled furniture.  This is a very popular design trend — white furniture and
strongly colored walls — which will create instant drama for any setting.

Paint colors are more varied and dramatic than ever before. Paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore offer a vast rainbow of color options. Making color selections can often be a dizzying and distressing task. Fortunately, computer technology has come to the rescue of the indecisive paint buyer. Go to the Benjamin Moore website and you can seethe effect of varying paint choices. The Benjamin Moore personal color user offers the ability to view an infinite number of choices on your own digital photos. Just click on a color and change the look of your room. There is no correct color choice, only the one that is correct for you. The same space will look dramatically different with different choices. “Pretty in Pink” could be the name of the bedroom shown here. The vibrant wall color of a fuchsia tone pink provides a striking contrast to the white furnishings. The room would be just as attractive if the accent color were blue or green or yellow. Paint the walls lavender and it could be called “Pretty in Purple.”

Decorative paint is the title given to a vast array of custom wall treatments. These include sponging, color wash, strie, marbleizing, Venetian Plaster and a number of other decorative treatments. Faux artists can simulate the sky on your ceiling, wood grain on your trim, or create fanciful murals on your walls. There is no limit to what an artist’s craft can accomplish. A simple room can be transformed into a Venetian villa with the application of the painter’s palette. The bathroom shown here becomes a wondrous retreat because of the murals that are painted on the walls. The objective was to create the mood of arched windows overlooking the vista of a tropical resort. The artist measured the space, painted the scene on canvas, and installed the canvas like wall covering. The result is a bathroom which greatly transcends its utilitarian origins.

Wallpaper is a wonderful decorating quick fix. Change the paper and the entire mood of a space is altered. Wall coverings add visual drama, texture and even durability. Textured vinyl papers can simulate any texture and pattern and add to the life of wall surfaces. In a recent project my clients had a very large stairwell and hall area. They requested a stucco type textured wall treatment for these areas. I recommended against the actual stucco treatment for a variety of reasons. Firstly, stucco that is plastered on the walls becomes a permanent installation. If the homeowner changes their décor, they will have to install new sheet rock to eliminate the stucco surfaces. In addition, the stucco can catch on clothing as people walk past it. It is also difficult to clean when soiled. All of these issues were easily resolved when I suggested a commercial quality stucco textured wall covering. The surfaces and texture are uniform across the large wall panels. There is no rough area to snag the clothing of people passing through the halls. It is easily washable and – most important – it is easily changed if and when the homeowner tires of stucco as a decorative element.

Patterned wall covering is an instant means of changing the ambiance of a space. I am particularly fond of wall covering in a powder room or bathroom. Plain tile and wood surfaces get instant drama when enhanced by the pattern of the wall covering. European toile papers create a classical French mood. Paisley and plaid papers impart an English clubby look. Library motif papers create a library look. Florals and trellis patterns will give a garden look. Pick your paper and pick your look.

The mix of wallpaper and moldings is a wonderful visual enhancement. I often use applied moldings to create wall panels into which I then install a wall covering. This creates an elegant classic décor which is suitable for hallways, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Another popular combo of wallpaper and wood moldings is to enhance a room with crown, chair rail molding, and applied wood panels below the chair rail. I then install wall coverings above the chair rail. The wallpaper makes a dramatic design statement which is balanced by the texture of the wood moldings. The dining room photograph illustrates this technique. Classical toile wallpaper is complemented by the wood moldings, classical furniture mix, and elegant window treatments.

Wallpaper patterns may change over the years, but the enhancement to the spaces they adorn is unchanging. Whether dramatic or mellow in tone, paint colors set the mood for your décor. For those who want a custom touch, decorative artists can transform dreams into visual reality. The list of options is endless. The motto is – change your walls and transform your décor.

Photo credit: Mike Dalton Photography

It is an age-old adage that the kitchen is the heart of the home. But 20th century technology is giving that theory a healthy dose of competition. The heart of the house has become the room that has the largest television in the house.

In some homes, the television and kitchen are sharing the hearth concept. The great room concept — where kitchen and family room and dining area share a large open space – has become an almost ubiquitous architectural theme in new home building. The family and their guests can focus on daily living while keeping their eye on the big screen. The open design plan allows for viewing from all over the room.

This elegant setting showcases many of the important features of a successful home theater. the plush carpet, padded walls, and curtain panels help to modulate the sound-control elements and will keep sound from resonating throughout the space. 

For those fortunate home owners with the extra space, the newest “must have” room in the home theater or “media” room. It can be installed anywhere in the home in a variety of spaces ranging from a finished basement, a first floor living area, or even an attic retreat. The only requirements are for generous seating, a large screen, storage for audio/video equipment, and sound control from the rest of the house.

In many homes, the media room is the most popular room in the house. My firm recently designed a home theater in a beautiful Long Island home. The house was under construction and the husband and wife were in dispute as to whether to use a particular space as a library or a home theater. The husband wanted a library to function as his private retreat. The wife favored a media room because she felt that it would bring pleasure to the entire family. After numerous conversations, the wife won the dispute. Our firm then went to work to create a beautiful family oriented media room.

The requirements for creating a media room go beyond the audio and video equipment.

Sleek black leather is a worry-free option for the theater-style seating. Other options include a variety of leather and plush fabric coverings.

The room needs seating, flooring, and other functional and decorative elements. Window and wall treatments are needed to control light and sound. There was lots of work needed in creating this family fun space. Platforms were built and carpeted, walls were paneled in wood and upholstered in ultrasuede, movie theater style leather seating was installed. And Voila – the family had their own private movie theater. The bonus is that the hesitant husband now says that his is his favorite room in the house.

When creating a home theater or media room there are many elements to consider. Firstly, the equipment must be selected. An expert in the audio video field must be consulted because the technology changes rapidly. The next requirement is to create the layout. Ceiling heights are very important in the decision as to whether to install platforms and theater style seating. Seating is available in a variety of styles and materials and colors but leather seems to be the favorite because of durability.

This home theater features a chair-mounted control panel. This is a practical and comfortable update on the concept of the hand-held remote.

Sound control is a crucial element. Carpeted floors and padded walls keep the sounds from vibrating and modulate the tones of television viewing. Any hard surface will reflect sound. Reverberations and echoes are unpleasant distractions from serious movie viewing. The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association recommends that 25 percent of the surfaces in a room be absorptive and 25 percent be diffusive, the latter of which helps to spread the sound around the room. Absorptive materials include carpets, padded walls, upholstery, and window coverings.

Window coverings serve a dual function for both sound control and light control. Motor operated blinds and curtains are often selected for ease of controlling exterior light sources. This is especially important in rooms where there are large walls of windows. This is great for admiring the view but not as good for watching a movie. Too much light will wash out the picture.

Cabinetry is also important to hide the varying types of equipment that are needed to create an audio video space. Another popular element in cabinetry is to install a bar or mini kitchen. Movie goers can get hungry and they don’t want to travel very far for their snacks. Cabinets can also be used to hide speakers. When this is not an option, wall mounted speakers should be painted the color of the walls to make them less visually prominent. Ceiling mounted speakers are a viable and less obtrusive alternative to in wall speakers.

Once the functional requirements have been accomplished, it is time to think about fun. The aesthetics of the space can create a showcase for personal taste. Where one homeowner wants his media space to simulate an old time movie theater, another may select a space ship décor or any other fantasy theme. This is a room created for fun and gives us the opportunity to have some fun in creating the décor. Decorative selections can run the gamut from old time movie posters to a ceiling painted to replicated the night time sky. The options are endless. Once the space is created, just sit back and have fun. You are at the movies. The rest of the world should fade away as you are absorbed in the new world being created on the screen in front of you.