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AUGUST 9 , 2024 COASTALREALESTATEGUIDE . COM
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LAURA RESEN too saturated .”
From millwork and wall paint to Tibetan rugs and textured fabrics , blue is a color Hill integrates frequently , mostly at the behest of clients who seem to have taken a liking to it since the pandemic , she says .
While there ’ s no limit to the number of different colors that Hill will include in one room , the nature of a space determines hue . “ For example , a study or living area can [ handle ] more vibrance , while a bedroom should be more subdued ,” she says . Think muted blue-grays complemented by soft greens and cream to foster tranquility and rest .
Many Prairie clients favor McLaren ’ s earthy bent . “ Our palette is mostly neutral , and then we ’ ll pick one or two bright colors to pop in ,” she says . “ You have to be careful with color . … It ’ s a dance to find balance . … Too much , and it can look childish very quickly .”
Her solution ( so long as the client agrees , of course ) is to pick one item in a room to be the focal point of color — such as an emerald-print stair runner , a patterned sofa or even a piece of hotpink pop art — and pare it down with neutrals . She defines neutral as “ any color that is found in nature and has a little bit of brown in it — olive green , mustard yellow .”
Color cohesiveness is also something to consider , McLaren adds . “ Rooms don ’ t have to be twins , but they do have to be friends .” She suggests choosing a group of colors to be repeated throughout the home . “ Maybe one room is wild and the next is a little quieter , … but every room should connect in vibe and palette . … All rooms in a house should feel like they were [ decorated ] at the same time .”
ART DECO DETAILS Rising in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s , hallmarks of art deco style include bold geometric prints , rich color and lots of visual drama . ( Think “ The Great Gatsby ” or “ Midnight in Paris .”)
Some home design forecasters say this style is returning . McLaren suggests small details to hint at the time period rather than an all-over transformation . “ I appreciate this style , but it can get kitsch real fast ,” says McLaren , who finds subtler ways to satisfy a craving for decadent flair , like brass hardware ( faucets and light fixtures ) or a cascading glass chandelier to catch the eye .
“ A lot of people like art deco wallpaper , but it ’ s a little too aggressive for me personally ,” she adds . If you ’ re feeling playful with your space , she advises , “ a powder room is a great place to experiment .” Second best : a formal dining room that ’ s a hightraffic area , but not a room you use often enough to grow tired of it .
When it comes to Hill ’ s approach , she loves to create a “ wow ” factor with a mix of softer geometric patterns ( think small floral vines and Indian block prints versus converging lines or concentric circles that are common with art deco ). “ There ’ s so much research and thought behind these designs ,” she says of ancient textiles that have been reimagined . Curtains , custom lamp shades , and walls in powder rooms and dressing rooms are a few examples of areas to play with patterns .
“ The key to mixing prints is to look at the scale ,” Hill says . “ If I have a big print , I won ’ t [ pair ] it with a second big print but will instead use a small floral or an interesting stripe or something that has geometry to it to offset that big floral . … The ‘ hero print ’ of the room is the big floral , while the others are supporting roles .”
MADE BY NATURE From curtailing environmental impacts to reducing health hazards , there are many reasons to use natural materials — such as wood , stone , cork and natural fibers , which are growing in popularity — when designing and decorating a home . Aesthetics are an added benefit .
“ The wear and tear of natural marble , for example , is really beautiful because it shows patina ,” notes Hill , who hones the stone for a velvety touch on kitchen countertops . “ It shows that you ’ ve enjoyed the space — cooked in it , had dinner parties , spilled the red wine . It should be celebrated .”
Soapstone is another of Hill ’ s favorites for kitchen countertops , while limestone works well for everything from fireplace mantels to floors in bathrooms and laundry rooms . Cooler materials are offset by warmer ones , like reclaimed oak — a rule of balance she carries into her furnishings by mixing wood pieces with steel or concrete .
McLaren notes that natural elements add a certain quality that typically isn ’ t found with synthetic materials .
“ I like imperfection in design , which you get with natural materials over manufactured ones ,” she says . “ I love a piece of wood with [ color ] variants in the grain , because it adds depth and warmth to a space .”