28 KBB
Crossing the finish line
Buying a sofa or selecting flooring is a big task, one that we know has a finite amount of choices. These items become the staple element to make it the room we envision. But why is it, when all the pieces finally arrive, the room still doesn’t feel finished? Here, Interior Designer Jane Lockhart offers her advice on adding the final touches to a kitchen design.
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he biggest conundrum of decor, even with all the right main pieces coordinated and considered, is somehow the flare is still missing. As small as pillows, candles or a vase may seem in the big picture, it’s these finishing touches that add the personality, colour and individual style that every room needs to make those staple items look like they belong together. Most clients I work with assume one short shopping trip to the local shopping centre is all that is required to pick up these decorative items to complete a room. They imagine they simply will grab a few pieces here and a few pieces there and cart it all home, unwrap each accessory and there you have it; instant style. It’s this query that makes me emphasise to my clients to purchase more at the outset and return what you don’t need. Basically, get more rather than less, as you don’t always know if something will work until it is
Above: Layering items of similar hues together will create visual repetition Below left: Art adds instant focal points to any space Above right: A long line of accessories in a row can look messy so placing them into a group and leaving space before the next creates visual harmony Far right: Anything can be considered art; whether it’s shadow boxes of clients’ kids’ crafts or photos from their holidays Right: Layering adds warmth, interest and texture