Decorating & Design
May 19, 2017
6 Decor Details With Big Impact
The best designers know that it’s the unexpected touches that make a space memorable. Use these clever moves, big and small, from some of our favorite designers to inspire your next project.
The words “grand staircase” don’t have to conjure an ornate Victorian balustrade. In his Toronto rowhouse, interior designer Jeffrey Douglas dreamt up a graphic wrought-iron railing with a glam glass finial that makes a statement, but still works perfectly with the home’s modern take on classic style.
In the coach house of his Chester, Nova Scotia, home, designer Philip Mitchell built a cozy window seat to camouflage an unsightly radiator at the top of the stairs. This clever move elevates the look of a practical feature and turns an underused nook into an elegant focal point — and the ideal spot to curl up with a book or take in the view.
Painting out the back of a bookshelf or lining it in fabric is a classic decorating move that can bring pattern and texture to a room. In her own home, designer Silvana D’Addazio opted for a subtle cotton-wool fabric and trimmed it with a grosgrain ribbon in a deep rust tone, which plays nicely with her antique books.
A beautiful Greek key trim gives the simple linen drapery in this sitting area by designer Nam Dang-Mitchell a sophisticated upgrade. Its smoky color complements the quiet palette used throughout the space.
An upholstered base with polished nickel trim and legs brings subtle shine to this peaceful bedroom by designer Anne Hepfer. This glam detail ties in with other sparkling accents like the nickel sconces and picture lights and the mica wallcovering above the headboard.
We pay plenty of attention to the hardware in our hardworking spaces, but thinking beyond the standard knobs and pulls can yield fun results — like in this guest bathroom, where a vintage brass hotel room number adds charming detail to the door.