Five Designer Tips

I sat down with Suzanne this past week and asked her to share some of her favorite design secrets.  I wanted to know what are some of the most common mistakes she sees, and more importantly, how can we fix them.  Here are a few tips:

1. Bring color in with accessories or things can easily change.  It's great to follow the trends, and a lot of people love to use color and pattern to do just that.  But you have to ask yourself if the color will be relevant next season or if it will quickly date the room.  It's much easier to switch out drapes, a painting, or some throw pillows than risk purchasing a sofa in a color that may go out of style in a few seasons.

2. Keep expensive pieces neutral.  At The Lucketts Store, we tend to keep our furniture and big items neutral.  Most pieces are in shades of white, black, grey, or natural wood tones.  This creates a nice backdrop for accessories which can be toned up and down according to the season and switched out according to trends.

3. Don't do dinky!  If you have a small room, it is okay (repeat after me ---- it is okay) to have a big piece of furniture.  There is nothing worse than walking into a room with ten pieces of furniture that are on the wrong scale and serve no real purpose.  Suzanne mentioned a client's office that had a little desk that could barely fit a laptop, next to an itty bitty bookcase which held only a fraction of owner's books, next to a tiny side table.  None of the pieces were functional, but the homeowner felt because she had a small space, everything should be on a small scale.  Remember that large pieces provide a lot of storage and make a statement.

4. Remember to maintain balance.  A lot of clients have huge flat screen televisions hung on the wall surrounded by furniture.  While grouping furniture around the t.v. seems natural and functional, Suzanne said it often looks like everyone is staring at a black hole.  Suzanne likes to balance the "black hole" with another large piece or dark item on the other side of the room.  This way, one side of the room isn't heavy and concentrated while the other side of the room seems like it's floating away.

5. Yes, anything CAN go together.  Suzanne mentioned the importance of buying pieces you love and colors that you're attracted to.  Everything doesn't need to be matchy-matchy.  You also don't need to limit yourself to a strict number of colors in a room.   The trick is to find a piece of art (the larger, the better) or fabric you love that ties everything together and has all of the colors you are using in the room.  You can easily pull together a room full of seemingly mismatched accessories and make it look like everything was meant to go together in the first place.

Throughout the store and in the April Design House, you'll see these principles put into practice.  We're using a lot of blue accessories to provide fresh pop for spring, and as a bonus, these colors will nicely carry through the summer too.  We hope to see you this weekend!

Think Spring!

Well spring arrived, and then it....well, left.  It's been so cold outside lately, but thankfully the shop is in full bloom.  You'll see touches of green throughout, rabbits and Easter-themed goodies, bird nests, flower accents, and boxwood topiaries.   The air is fresh, the green is out, and the shop seems altogether lighter and brighter!

I know we like to keep the Design House a suprise and wow you each month.  I heard a rumor that the words used to describe this month's Design House are:  uncomplicated, elegant, and spring.  We will try to sneak back into the Design House tomorrow and get you some pictures of all the goodies available at this month's event.  Be on the lookout for updates tomorrow on the Design House.

If you haven't been to the Design House before, you're in for a treat.  The Design House is a monthly designer showcase where an entire home is redecorated every month with current trends and fresh ideas.  All of the unique furnishings are available for purchase and you can take them with you the same day.  Photos of prior Design House events can be viewed here.  Check back for new photos posted monthly, and be sure to visit us for the April Design House, located on the same property as The Lucketts Store.  The Lucketts Store and the Design House are located at 42350 Lucketts Road in Leesburg, VA.  We are at the only stoplight in Lucketts.  Our main building is the large green building on the corner; the Design House is at the end of the parking lot, right past the iron yard and the barn.

We look forward to seeing you, April 1st, 2nd, & 3rd, and please think SPRING!

March Design House - Industrial Chic

The March Design House is just a few days away. We thought we'd give you a sneak peek and go over our interpretation of one of the hottest interior trends right now - industrial.  As you walk through the house this month, you'll see great salvaged and repurposed pieces, wood pieces in a variety of natural finishes, and heavy metal accent pieces.  The rooms are painted in gorgeous shades of grey, which reminds me of concrete - only more chic and sophisticated.  Don't fear, the ladies have paired this more masculine trend with the appropriate level of feminity.  All of the masculine energy is tempered with lighter accents and overstuffed upholstered pieces, because after all, you don't want to overdo it and look like you're living in a factory!   

Here are some pictures from the March Design House and some things to think about when trying to complete the industrial look for your home.

1.  Natural, No Fuss Wood.  Look for natural finish woods, rough-hewn woods, and furniture made from repurposed or salvaged materials.  The industrial look is not fussy, so if you already own reclaimed wood or natural wood pieces, they work well for this look too.  In the March Design House, we have a huge variety of reclaimed wood pieces, like the one in this photo.  Complete your industrial look with one of our buffets, dining tables, over sized bookcases, or side tables.	2.  Masculine and Metal.  Industrial design is also about metal.  Look for galvanized or rusted finishes, or anything with a great patina.  We just love this industrial cart.  Its dark color and sturdy appearance really anchors the corner of the room upstairs.  When experimenting with metal pieces, remember that just because something is metal and masculine does not mean it can't also be feminine.  Notice how we've paired this metal cart with a sweet bird canvas and wiry metal accents.  By using color and lighter textures, we've kept a nice balance with the substantial metal piece.
3.  Rethink.  Repurpose.  Industrial is about repurposing the unassuming into something unique.  Take a utilitarian object that served another purpose at one time and rethink how to use it.  You'll notice here how we've turned these old beakers into unique vases.  We are also repurposing this metal parts cabinet, which can easily add tons of storage to any room.  We're also using oversized metal baskets upstairs to store extra pillows and textiles.	4.  Salvage and Recycle.  Industrial design is all about recycling and reusing what is available.   Aside from all of the salvaged wood furniture, we offer other salvaged pieces.   Mirrors are big in the March Design House - literally.  The girls have brought us a great variety of over sized wood mirrors which appear to be from salvaged architectural pieces, like the one in this picture.  You'll also find great mirrors remade from tin remnants throughout the house.

I know I've focused on the heavier side of the Design House in this post, but we haven't forgotten that spring is here.  There are plenty of spring touches throughout the house, including botanical prints, butterflies and bugs, and garden accents.  Venture upstairs and see how the rabbits have multiplied!

Industrial pieces are hot right now, and we have them in spades in the March Design House.  Please stop by the Design House March 4, 5, & 6 and let us help you find the perfect piece for your home.