Design Rules: Unshackle the “chains” and shop everywhere for a more interesting space

Pottery Barn room – Nice, sure, but let’s face it, a bit flat.

If you’re frustrated that your home looks more like a catalog or store vignette than an interesting and unique reflection of your own personality, ask yourself what most of the really gorgeous and “soulful” spaces have in common; you’ll quickly discover that outside the kitchen and bathroom, most of these rooms include a healthy dose of vintage charm and custom pieces from a variety of sources (and not just the big box chain stores).

The good news is, it’s easy (and often inexpensive) to incorporate antiques into your space, whether they’re family heirlooms, flea market finds or high-end classics.

It’s extremely difficult (although not technically impossible) to create an interesting and individual space using only new and typically mass-produced goods. The majority of the time, the finished space feels flat and boring and even when well-decorated, you’ll be fielding comments like, “Oh, beautiful – like Pottery Barn / CB2 / Walter E. Smythe (pick your poison).” If that’s what you want, then please continue. If not, read on.

Continued . . .

Strange Closets logo designer and brand marketing genius, Robert Grillo’s home is decorated with unique pieces, vintage finds and original art.

So Design Rules says, for an interesting space with a bit of soul, do the following:

Buy custom pieces:

This doesn’t have to be as expensive as it sounds. Lots of shops and designers will work with you to create an inexpensive, custom piece. And people like local artist, Ted Harris (and the subject of this week’s Intelligent Design interview), will take a worse-for-the-wear vintage piece and make it spectacular. Guess who else will have it? That’s right, nobody.

Shop everywhere:

Don’t limit yourself to shopping at one store, one area or even from one genre. Shop the world – Craigslist, Ebay, your local vintage boutiques, the Goodwill and other second-hand stores, garage sales, dollar stores, salvage shops, even the house where you grew up. If you spend some time doing this and you still have your eye on that Crate and Barrel lamp, then go for it. This approach will yield many surprises; maybe the dress you fall in love with on the sale rack at Macy’s will make a great pillow fabric. Perhaps the statue at the garden center will make the perfect interesting sculpture.

This is the living room of a Williams Sonoma executive. Do you think they just shop at Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma Home?

Be creative:

Easier said than done, perhaps, but start looking just a bit differently at things. I’m convinced that we are all creative souls, but it’s easy to let that quality be subjugated by life and by often self-designated (I should know) design gurus. If the buffet you’re fantasizing about only comes in wood and you need white to close the deal, investigate having it professionally spray-painted (or learn to do it yourself). If the lamp has the wrong shade, buy another for it (it sounds basic, but I’m always surprised by people’s lack of vision). If the vintage chair is perfect, but the upholstery is worn . . . see where I’m going. People make things to their taste, but don’t let them dictate yours. After a bit of practice, exercising your creativity will change the way you see the world and open up unlimited possibilities.

If all else fails, get professional help:

If the three tenants of DR #12 is just too much for you, get professional help. Perhaps a bit of time on an interior designers sofa will make you appreciate that the fabric can be changed. A good designer will make getting to know you their primary goal. When they have a sense of who you are, the room will decorate itself.

From a future home tour. Custom fabrics, rugs, one-of-a-kind furniture and original art make the room, whether it be your personal taste or not, unique and interesting.

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