Shooting Star
HGTV’s Design Star judge—and Midwestern gal!—Genevieve Gorder gives us the goods on fixing common home-décor flubs.
EVEN FOR DESIGN PROS, some of the simplest home-decorating tasks can be outrageously challenging. Throw in 24-hour camera crews, incredibly tight deadlines and a whole lot of design divas and you get the show I’m working on now, Design Star, where 11 contestants compete to win their own show on HGTV. As a judge I’m anything but easy on these folks; after all, one of them will win the same job that I’ve worked for almost 10 years to get. Here are some common pitfalls that I’ve seen on both of my shows, and my favorite fixes you can try in your own home. (PS: My mom lives on Chicago’s North Shore, so you never know when I’ll be in town, peeking in your windows, scouting locations for the second season of my show, Dear Genevieve.)
COLOR: Spare me the monochromatic beige lovefest! Yes, it’s a great base, but with any palette, diversifi cation is absolutely necessary to create a complete look. Just like with a great hair color, in a room you’ve got to balance your lowlights, highlights, neutral tones and, of course, your accent color. (Complementary accent colors for beige? Look at corals, plums or charcoals.) If you love beige, or any color for that matter, make sure you complement it throughout the space to create flow.
SCALE: This seems to be most designers’ downfall this season, and it’s a commonly overlooked aspect of most rooms. We often get caught up in the beautiful accessories that are oh-so-tiny (and usually, extremely cluttered) on a vanity or a tabletop. In order for the eye to notice the small details in the room, there have to be larger pieces in contrast. Think tall floral arrangements, potted plants, oversize vases and large mirrors. With no competition for visual attention, the focal points in a space will shine.
LIGHTING: This can easily make or break a room. Light grounds areas of activity: When there is a pendant or a chandelier above, we know that something interesting is supposed to happen underneath it. The subtle gesture of light guides people through your space and lets them know where to land.
COMPOSITION: As designers always say, form follows function. Think about things like this: How close do you like people to sit next to you when having a conversation? Where would you like people to gather when you entertain: The window? The fi replace? You can create an experience without saying a word if you compose the right scenarios. Try to create islands of activity with area rugs, and then ground them with lighting and furniture placement.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS: So small yet so powerful. Accessories and other accents are the last items to go in a room but often the fi rst thing we notice. In the bedroom, your bed is your crown jewel, so always fold back that top comforter to reveal the beautiful layers underneath. In the kitchen, the food is the real star, so use functional accessories (mixing bowls, teapots) as well as produce for your décor. This creates a space that stimulates the appetite as well as the eye.
Design Star premieres July 19 and Dear Genevieve airs Mondays on HGTV.
By Neil Steinberg
photograph by Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press/AP Photo
| The complete article appears on page 19 in the June/July 2009 issue of Michigan Avenue. SUBSCRIBE NOW and get Michigan Avenue delivered direct. |
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