Pratt and Lambert - Personal Expressions 2008 - (Page 27)

{5}On the MOve Using your existing furniture in creative new ways can make it look like you redecorated, says Krakora. “Sometimes my clients get hung up on the idea that you have to have two of things — two end tables, two lamps,” she says. w ex fixing faux pas WindoW shop: The stress of picking something combined with the price of customized window treatments can lead people down the wrong path. “Don’t just slap something on your windows,” she warns. “It’s an accessory that can make or break a room.” Whether you’re scavenging through Salvation Army thrift stores or starting new, Krakora says these are the most common design mistakes she sees. The scale doesn’T lie: Furniture that’s too large or the wrong scale for a room can make a space feel crowded or uncomfortable. “If you have an eight-foot ceiling, high back chairs will look ridiculous.” doWnsize: Well-meaning family members and seven stints as a bridesmaid can leave you with a pile of picture frames, candle holders and other trinkets. “As a whole, people have too much stuff. When there’s too much going on in a room, things get lost.” “Usually one is better.” Krakora suggests changing your room by making everything less symmetrical, because design often works best by grouping items off-center and in odd numbers. And remember that rearranging isn’t limited to big items like couches and chairs. “Just moving the artwork to another wall or angling a rug can change the effect,” she says. {6}AccessOrize Area rugs, pillows, lamps and to a room, says Krakora. But proportion is key. “Adding a large piece as a focal point can make a room more visually interesting, but if you surround it with other large pieces, it will lose its power,” she says. {8}hire A Designer Years ago, hiring a designer window treatments add color and texture was like hiring a gardener or a nanny — something only wealthy people did. Not so anymore, says Krakora. “Design is so different today,” she says. “Younger people, who usually don’t have a lot of money to spend, want a beautiful look in their homes.” If you can’t afford to spring for full service, most designers offer consultation services, giving you an a la carte option for getting help where you need it most. Fees start around $100 per hour, but the skills, experience and contacts you get with that investment will save you time and money. “We do this all day,” says Krakora, whose $150-per-hour consultation fee seems like a bargain after you factor in her 25 years of experience as a furniture and accessories buyer, plus her elite contact list that includes some of the best suppliers and contractors in the business. “So in a short amount of time we can help you pick furniture, suggest what to add or eliminate, help you create a floor plan and basically save you a lot of time,” she says. And that is something you can’t put a price tag on. {7}(DiscOunt) shOp ArOunD Flea markets, estate sales, slavage shops and eBay are all great places to find bargains, but you’ll have lots of competition from shoppers, sometimes from around the world. “It helps to think outside the box,” suggests Krakora. “I’ve had clients take an old wrought iron gate from a salvage shop and have it made into a table top,” she says. “Whether or not you like it is more important than whether or not it’s a valuable antique,” she says. (See sidebar for tips on restoring your flea market find.) P R AT T & L A M B E R T 27

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