Home & Design

A host chair in a vibrant Brunschwig & Fils fabric sets the tone in a Northwest DC dining room by Kelley Proxmire., Inc.

In Living Color

There’s an art to designing a restful room,” opines Kelley Proxmire, an expert at creating moods with color and pattern. “Rooms should be welcoming and crisp, calming and pretty.” Below, the designer shares further insights.

TIP 1  Choose one strong color, then add complementary hues.

TIP 2  Balance is key to combining strong colors and patterns.

TIP 3  Pastels tend not to blend with bolder colors; stay within the tones of stronger colors and patterns for a cohesive look.

TIP 4  Contrast dark shades with crisp white to keep a space light and bright.

TIP 5  Be aware of the scale of a pattern and how it complements your colors.

TIP 6  Mixing mini-prints with stripes, checks and florals is in now.

You may also like:

Bazaar: Al Fresco Living
The latest outdoor finds celebrate sunny summer days
Cachet ’Tis the season
Decorate your home for the holidays 
Cutting Edge
Illuminate your home with the latest in chic lighting
HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

Stay Connected with HOME & DESIGN Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 Home & Design. All rights reserved. | Back to top
magnifier