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words by LINDA BIRMINGHAM and KRIS CARLSON photography provided by DESIGNING WOMEN 2
O N E F O OT O U T of the DESIGN BOX
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here are a few factors that make it uncomfortable for people to change their interior design. The biggest one seems to be the fear of making the wrong decision — wondering if the changes will look right, stay in style longer than a minute, and go with the other belongings of a home. These fears keep many people from changing their home's look and feel. Another hindrance to moving forward is simply not knowing where to start. People get stuck in the past. When they try to move forward on their own, the uncomfortableness keeps them from attaining the wow factor because they don't get both feet out of the box.
Sandi and Rick Samson were in this predicament. They wanted a few updates — a bit more color added in, a slight shift in style, and a flare of class for their Fargo home. There are several ways to add spice to your existing decor without breaking the bank or building an addition, all while still claiming an updated design. In the Samson's dining room, wallpaper on one wall and a big pop of color in the art helped to complete the wow factor. We took down the outdated window treatments and left the clean lines of shades, which allowed the wallpaper to make its statement. We added a neutral area rug under the table so as not to fight with the colorful rug used in the living room. The color pop of reddish-orange is mirrored on the other side of the room. This balances the open floor plan and continues popping the desired color, giving the home a warm and inviting feel.
EXPERT DESIGN TIPS to update your home • Choose your inspiration piece for the first room you're working on BEFORE
• Pull a main color scheme from it that you love • Make sure those colors are repeated throughout the rest of your home • Only keep the decor that you LOVE • Arrange like things together (collectibles, metals etc.) • Face the largest piece of furniture toward the focal point • Create an ambiance using lighting (task, accent, general) • Layer, layer, layer your accessories with lamps, plants etc.
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