Marika Meyer, an interior designer, has been featured in HGTV, Home & Design and Luxe magazines, as well as on Martha Stewart Living Radio. She joined Jura Koncius, staff writer for The Washington Post, recently on it’s Home Front online chat to talk about how to freshen your home for summer. Here is an edited excerpt:
Q: Every summer I dream of owning a beach house but until then, I often think of decorating just one room that has that beach-house feel. Any suggestions on where I can buy items that I can store and bring out in the summer?Nothing too big, just small items that say “beach.”
A: I love spending time at the beach and have found my own way of bringing that aesthetic home. I love to accessorize with shells and coral. On my bookcases in my library I have a few pieces of brain coral and favorite shells that I keep out year-round; every time I see them I think of lazy afternoons by the ocean. These items can be collected on trips or bought.
Q: We love your website, meyerinteriors.com, and noticed how you often use built-ins in rooms and decorate behind the shelving. We’d like to give that a try in our living room. Can you recommend a custom mill work company and also how do we select the wallpaper or paint for the back?
A: The back of bookcases is a great place to have a little fun. I often will use a bold patterned wallpaper to add some punch to a room. One of my favorite tricks is to paper back fabric and then have that installed. I like adding fabric or a textured wall covering because it helps to soften the feel of mill work.
Q: We rarely use our living room these days. We’ve often thought of turning it into a place for just adults. Have you done this? And if so, what are some suggestions for starting the process?
A: You are not alone. I love using our living room because it is a true escape from toys and the chaos of family life. On many of our projects clients ask to turn the living room into a space that can really be a retreat for parents at the end of a long day. Using comfortable but elegant upholstery is the first step - something that will welcome you at the end of a long day but be fashionable enough for cocktails with friends. Pairing comfort with case goods and tables that are reflective of your style will help translate the space into one that welcomes you rather than feels unapproachable.
Q: We have a great family room and it’s kid friendly but not very attractive. Any suggestions for window treatments and accessories to make a space the whole family can enjoy?
A: Window treatments are always a great way to transform a space. Depending on the window type plus the age of your children, you can either do drapery panels or roman shades. Panels can add height to a room by creating a strong vertical line but I know how little ones like to play in them. Roman shades are a great way to soften a window as well, and if you do an outside mount, Roman shades can help a small window feel much larger. For accessories, try a fun tray for a cocktail table or an unusual collection of boxes for the side table.
Q: We just painted our family room and bought some furniture but can’t decide on art or finishing touches. We have two young children and want the space to be fun for them but a bit grown up for us, too. Any suggestions?
A: Congratulations on making progress to fix up your home. For family room spaces you can get away with more colorful accessories since the “volume of life” is louder in that space. Fun pillows with a great pattern and in punch colors along with a coordinating throw create great accents. For art in family space we often have custom frames made that we cycle children’s art through. When someone comes home from school with a new piece of art it can easily be displayed.
Q: I always aspire to have my home - or at least one room in the house - look as good as a room in a magazine. What are some baby steps to get there?
A: It’s important to try to address all the areas in each room rather than filling out various rooms partially. For example, many people buy furniture but ignore the windows and floor, which leave a space feeling cold and uninviting. In magazine spreads, each room has been filled with finishing touches and accessories. For your sofa, select the right pillows and throw, add decorative items to bookcases and the mantel, and never underestimate the power of fresh flowers.
Q: There are so many options for paint colors, especially the neutral tones. We’d like to find a main color that we might use throughout the house so we don’t want to make a mistake. Where do we start to find the right color?
A: For neutral tones I often turn to Benjamin Moore. For a first step it’s important to figure out if you want the space to have a cool or warm feel. Once that decision has been made, I suggest looking through their off-white and historical colors. Some of my favorite go-to neutrals are Manchester Tan and Baby Fawn.
HomeStyle, Pages 38 on 06/15/2013