25 Designer
Secrets from Lisa Furey – Your Barefoot Designer
A bed should be no higher than 23” off the floor
A simple sisal rug in natural or gray is the best
way to make a room look elegant and clean
Leather carpet borders always make a room look
richer
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The bigger the rug, the better it is – if the rug is
undersized for the room, it creates the illusion that the room is very small –
best rule of thumb is to keep about 12” exposed around the perimeter
Use wallpaper in unexpected places: on the ceiling
in a paneled room, in your favorite closet, hallways and small foyers – there’s
nothing better than a great pattern in small places
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Use an antique table as a kitchen island – it gives
the room so much character
Never push furniture up against the walls. Pull your
seating arrangement in (even if just a few inches) – this instantly warms up
the space and creates flow
Use recessed lighting sparingly
Dining room rugs should extend a minimum of 3’ from
the edge of a dining table – dining chairs should always be fully on the rug –
not two legs on and two off
If great art isn’t in your budget, have a framed
cutting of a beautiful fabric or wallpaper
When installing curtains or shades, take them all
the way up to the ceiling – it will make it feel as though the height of the room has increased
Narrow staircases and Narrow hallways look best with
runners, not wall to wall carpet – take care to install leaving a 3” border on
both sides to make the space seem wider
If you love a fabric but it seems too strong, check
the reverse side – it may just fit the bill
Install outlets 28” high behind console tables to enable
you to add lamps without unsightly dangling cords
The perfect amount of space between a mirror and the
top of a mantle is 7”
Don’t hang a mirror between windows – it creates an
unpleasant void – and try not to use mirrors as art in every room – mirrors are
not art, and rooms need art
Start your furniture plan with the best seat in the
room and work from there
Hang your chandeliers 60”- 66” above the floor
A rectangular table is ideal at about 30” in width –
this enables easy conversation with your immediate neighbors and those across
the table
Every room needs a touch of something black, just as
it needs at least one antique piece
Typical sconce height for a bathroom is 66”above the
finished floor to the center of the fixture
Optimal coffee table height is between 18” and 20”;
however, tea table height (24” to 26”) is a perfect height to set drinks down
with ease
All 36” of space minimum around your dining room
table to give your chairs enough room to pull back
The days of twin beds are coming to an end. Consider
a pair of full sized beds instead – they are only 15” wider than twins and much
more comfortable