Getting Personal: Our Design Don’ts

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast we're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor
Chris the Rossbunt and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast
focuses on the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews
with taste makers, and personal conversations on how to highlight
achievable style. You can stroll one street at a time,
boulevard Beat proves the one you should take.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
Hello, Chris, I'm excited to have today's conversation. As you know,
in the world of design, they always say there's rules,
or there's not rules, or some designers don't follow any
rules and it all works. But as in any industry,
we all have pet peeves or items that just kind
of bug us a little bit in the sum and
you're like, no, why'd you do that? Or just some

(00:55):
of those little things that happen, and so I thought
it would be fun today to talk about that and
what are some things that kind of drive you nuts?
And I'd love to share some of mine too.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
I agree this will be fun and not that we're
going to we're giving ourselves permission to complain today a
little right. But I think the important point that we
want listeners to understand is that when we're talking about
home design, mistakes are really expensive.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
They're really expensive, and so.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
We just want to make sure that when we're you know,
specifying buying things for our homes, that we get it
right the first time.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Well, and sometimes you don't know what's wrong or you
can't see it with your eye or why it seems
off if you're not really either both educating in it
or have a knowledge of design itself, or you just
it's the only way you've ever seen it done before,
so you think that's the way it goes and what
it is.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's true and aesthetically there's just such a wonderful relief
when everything is the right scale, and we're going to
talk about that in the moment. But your eye does
know when it's right and you kind of hit that
visual wheat spot. So that's what we're talking about today,
and let's get started.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
Let's do it. Not something well for me, one thing
that I think is an easy one, and I feel
like you don't see it quite as much anymore, maybe
because my eye is more trained or the people I'm with,
But I hate that matchy, matchy everything. No one wants
to walk into a furniture store and buy a matching set.
And I feel like most of my clients need more

(02:25):
understand that when I show them the design and none
of the end tables match and finishes might not even match,
they're coordinating and they're playing together. And that's what really
makes good design, sophisticated design, more enriching design for your
eye as well too. So for me, having everything match
is a top one on my list.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, don't you think too that when you have those
variants of textures and colors and finishes, it doesn't look
like anything is a mistake. I think when you buy
a set of anything, If you buy a set of
dishes and one breaks, it's like, oh now there's clearly
a mistake. Where when you have a little of this

(03:04):
and a little of that, as long as there's that cohesion,
then it doesn't look like anything is off, especially if
something gets damaged.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
And I think too, there's ways, you know, if your
budget allows. I mean, there's a reason that that matching
everything is a thing. Is it is? It is cost effective.
It's easy to go in and buy a four piece
set and something like that. Too, and while we never
really want to be doing that, and maybe it's a
second home, you could use those pieces in different rooms
and intermixed things so you get some different leg shapes

(03:33):
and finishes and metals in there too. That's a way
to solve that if that's kind of your only option.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Absolutely now, the one exception I will say is I
love and I'm always so charmed and delighted by a
specifically a bedroom, especially in an older home, but doesn't
have to be that's sort of under the eaves with
dormer windows when the pattern and color match completely. Like

(04:02):
I love ceiling to floor twall, where it's on the
bedding and then upholstered bed and the draperies and a
side chair. I do love that look specifically in a bedroom,
but not so much with the furniture and a little
right you want that visual variance.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, that is a wonderful look and it's specific look
for certain people too, But I think there's something very
charming about that too. So yes, all right, Christa, let's
hear one of yours.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
I'm going to start with something that's just sort of
a hard and fast rule for me, and this is
an easy one to fix or to solve, because I
think when we talked about doing this, we always want
to offer the solutions and sort of give our explanation
of why we dislike something, but then also what can
be done instead. So, because I'm such a tabletop entertaining

(04:53):
aficionado and I just love the idea of being around
a table, I don't like when you are seated at
a dining table situation and the centerpieces are too tall,
just because so many people love to build a beautiful
table and create that gorgeous tablescape, and when the center
pieces are too tall, you can't see the person sitting

(05:15):
across from you, and that's really what it's about, is interaction.
Unless you don't want to speak to the person that's
from you, then maybe build that arrangement taller with the florals.
But in general, I just think a lower table arrangement
is just always better. When it's too tall, it's just
of no use really, and you have to remove it

(05:35):
to have the dinner. A centerpiece really can't be all
that tall, like maybe you know you have twelve or
fourteen inches, but beyond that it's just just too much.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
I completely agree with you, and this actually happened to
me this afternoon at a client meeting. We often sit
at their dining table when I meet with them, and
it's the couple and one of my design assistance is
with as well, and on the other side of the centerpiece,
and I didn't have the guts to move it, but
I couldn't see any of his facial reactions the whole

(06:07):
time we were presenting and talking about things, and I so
wanted to just like scoot it over. But yes, yes, yes,
And you know that's an example too of like for
everyday use. If you're not sitting there every day, you
could have something taller, but if it's made to be used,
keep it low and so you can actually enjoy the
conversation and see across that table.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well, yeah, and there are so many other things you
can do on a table, I mean, just individual flowers,
if you have little bud vases at each setting, or
you can do candlesticks that are lowered. You just need
to have that airiness in between, so not everything is
so voluminous and you can see across and you know,
I know that we talked a little bit about this

(06:48):
before when we talked about some of the highlights from
this past market. But we talked about all of these
wonderful little battery operated chargeable light being that are just
small and dainty and usually aren't sort of more than
ten inches twelve inches eight inches, and how charming are

(07:08):
those on a table instead of a big formal bouquet.
And I think that that sort of a formal arrangement
isn't so chic anymore. It's too fussy. I think we
all like the idea of something a little more simple
and something that looks a little more effortless.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
It certainly does. It just keeps a little more casual,
and you can do in so many different fun shades
and finishes as well, which makes it fun.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
I will add with the table, I don't love when
people have the table set if there's nothing going on.
I mean, to your point, if there's no event happening,
if there's no dinner situation, accessorize it maybe with a
centerpiece or a sculpture of some sort on a tray,
and you have a couple of opportunities for accessories. But

(07:57):
I think when you know you've got the place mat
out and the flatwear and the crystal and the plates,
but nothing's happening, I think it's just a little that
becomes that's called a dust collector.

Speaker 1 (08:08):
Yes, very much so well, and I know we've talked
about it too on a dining table. We love a
good theme, but I do have a pet peeve of
when a space or a room or home in general
has a theme overload. If you can walk in and know, like,
holy cow, this is the team that they absolutely root for,
and they have it on different aspects or things like that,

(08:30):
and there's a time and place for certain sports memorabilia.
But I think just in general, when there's all the yes, yes,
and there's a reason for it, yeah, definitely. But I
think just a theme overload is it gets hard to
look at and it's not as welcoming for your guests
because there can be intimidated about what that theme might
be or do I ask questions about it? You know,

(08:51):
is that there's there a story, but there's so much
of it and just everything well.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
And I think the one part of design that is
is exciting and it gives something to look forward to
is the fact that design should should be ever evolving.
It should never remain stagnant. And I understand for you
that you may take on a project for a client
and then you complete it, but the story's never really done.
I mean, because we travel, we are attracted to a

(09:19):
different piece of artwork that may weave itself into our homes,
and so design is always changing. It may stay the
same for a little bit of time after it's completed
because people, I think get tired and the energy and
the money. It's like, oh my goodness, we just need
to stick with this for a while. But when you
have a theme space like that, again, there's no room

(09:43):
for anything new. There's no room for the design to
migrate outside of this very strict page if this box
and that's not ever what we want designed.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
To be, right, And there's certainly spots where if you
have a theme, where you have something that you love,
that you can incorporate it in night, But I think
it's when it's just taken to that next level of
just using it everywhere, it just becomes overwhelming.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
Here's the other thing I will say. I mean, for
the sports lovers out there, I think that there are
situations where that battle can't be fought. Perhaps, but I
think when you're talking about themes like coastal, I think
especially regional sorts of themes where it's like, oh, everything
has a beachy theme. It's like not literally every single

(10:30):
component of the room has to be beach or coastal
themed or you know, wherever you are. And I think
that that can get a little much. It's like, Okay,
I get it, I get what's of kude, I'm.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
In right, And that kind of leads in even into
I think, just a trendy overload sometimes when you have
those themes like coastal or ship lap and things like that,
those trendy themes can be overwhelming as well, and just
using it everywhere. I get annoyed by that sometimes too.

Speaker 2 (10:57):
It's just too much. And again it can be paralyzing,
and I think it plucks away from creativity because you
get stuck into this idea of well, if it doesn't
revolve around this theme, then it's not right. And that's
what we don't want people to think that it's you know,

(11:18):
those quirky moments that you didn't know that your room
needed the quirky object, whatever that is. That's oftentimes what
gives it so much delight and wonderment and surprise.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
It definitely does, and I think you need to mix
some materials and patterns and different things, and I think
when you jump on some of those trends, it becomes
a little more stagnant and boring, and it doesn't make
rooms different and interesting. They all seem to blend together
and look the same when you walk from one room
to the other. And while we always want cohesion, it
just seems sometimes like a lack of interest in the space.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
One tip for anybody who's listening is, if you collect
something or there's a theme that you love, never never,
never ever tell your family members that, because if they
draw your name in a Christmas gift exchange situation, that's
what you're getting. And you may not like that version
of the American flag or the sunflower or whatever it

(12:18):
is that you love.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
You're infatuation with owls, and so now every little owl,
napkin or bumbabee and just stefe.

Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yes, you know, there are limits to the things that
we collect, and so keep your collections to yourself.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
Yes, let them be your little gems that you find. Yeah, well, Chris, So,
what's one of the things that kind of drives you
a little bonkers?

Speaker 2 (12:41):
One that I think is somewhat I don't want to
say new, because it's not brand new, but we used
to really rely on the overhead lighting. I think that
people sort of just didn't know better. And in the
last I would say twenty twenty five years, lighting does
has come such a long way. It's exploded and we

(13:04):
know more about light layering, and so I would say
a pet peeve of mine is not having the right
light sources and not taking advantage of that light layering. Yes,
you may have an overhead wonderful chandelier or some sort
of sculptural fixture, or you may not. Some people don't

(13:26):
depending on the room. But I think, you know, looking
at all of the lighting sources from sconces, I mean
they're just so beautiful lyned, you know, marching down the
side of a wall, or you know, hanging pendants perhaps
on the side of a bed instead of a bedside
lamp if you want that over the bedside table. But
does lots of different layering options. And not having the

(13:50):
only light source be the overhead or an overhead light,
because oftentimes that's not the best lighting source if you're
trying to do something, if you're trying to read, one
single overhead fixture doesn't cut it. I mean, usually you're
relying on those can lights more than anything that are
so unattractive but very useful.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
I couldn't agree with you more on this one. I
think that light layering is such a huge component. You know,
there's nothing better in the evening when the sun goes
down and you're able to just control your lighting in
every way. For me, the cans are pretty much always
off in my house other than when I really want
them in the kitchen. But it is I rely on
that chandelier yoursconces and then some your last layer of

(14:31):
lamps that go around the room, and it just kind
of really wraps you in a hug and just creates
this really nice ambiance that is nice and warm, and
you can, again, like I said, set the tone with
the dimmers and get them to the rightness that you want.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
This space lighting matters so much because not only is
it functional, but it does cast a certain mood. And
you know, I think, especially in the winter time when
we live in so much darkness, to have all of
you know, everybody who's listening put your lights on dimmers
right for the control, but it's that wonderful warm glow.

(15:08):
Maybe you haven't started a fire and the fireplace shed
or maybe you have, but it's just having the control
of the light. Because light can be really offensive too.
If it's the wrong brightness, the wrong intensivity, it can
be too much. And having the control and in various
points around a space can really change it up and

(15:31):
again just offer that wonderful glow that I think people
feel good in.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yes, it can make such a big difference. And along
with the lighting, I also get annoyed when you see
too small of lighting in a space. That happens so
often in just different spaces, that they the chandeliers the
wrong size, or the pendance over the kitchen island, or
just look too wimpy and little. Most often, I would
say when people get lighting wrong on scale, it's that

(15:57):
it's too small instead of the vices.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
I agree. I agree completely, And I think lighting, especially
when you're talking about that chandelier or any lighting that
hangs from the ceiling, really you're probably okay to go
up a bit, to increase another ten percent or twenty percent.
It probably is not going to get in the way.

(16:23):
It's not true one hundred percent of the time, but
I think that more often people tend to go smaller
than they should or than what's necessary when in fact,
even if lighting I think is a little oversized, I
still think it's okay.

Speaker 1 (16:37):
It works like a mistake, right, I agree.

Speaker 2 (16:40):
I kind of think about lighting as I do. You know,
they say in your guest bedrooms and even for yourself,
that you should have a variety of pillows, like you
need a soft pillow, you need one that's a little
more firm, you need a hypoallergenic to counter rock the
down for the allergic people. I think lighting should follow
the same rules. You need just a variety of different

(17:01):
types of lighting, not only in every home, but in
every room. And I think you said it. You probably
rarely turn your canlights on unless you really need to
focus and really need to be But the other times,
I you know, lighting.

Speaker 1 (17:16):
Is just so beautiful, and why not have a lot
of variety, you know, Christy, you just mentioned in a
bedroom all the throw pillows and having options for people
and different sizes and materials, and you know the down
and how it feels as well. But there also comes
a balance of too many throw pillows, and that can
happen both in the bedroom and the living room, and

(17:39):
it's you know, never easy for your guests when you've
got sofa and chairs just filled to the brim with pillows,
and everyone has to take them off to even just
sit on the sofa. And I know sometimes I fall
to that because I just love all the patterns and
fabrics and it's just it's fun to have. But I
think you do need to be aware of not overdoing
it sometimes times. And you know, kind of like I

(18:02):
mentioned too in the bedroom, just no one wants to
take a million pillows off. So I think I love
how designs kind of become more streamlined with the pillows
that are on a bed anymore. They're more specific, they're
larger in scale, and they still look very elegant. But
you're not taking thirty pillows off your bed every night.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
Thank goodness for the iPhone, because I have stayed in
more than one guest room where I've gotten my iPhone out.
It's like, oh, I better take a picture of this
so I know how to put it back together tomorrow morning.
I think it's true, you know, I think pillows, unfortunately,
they are an easy solution when we fall in love
with a textile and we don't havehing else to do

(18:43):
with it, so we're like, we'll make a pillow, pillow,
make a pillow, and it seems like a relatively small
addition at the time, but I think it can certainly
get out of control and they become super cumbersome, especially
in a guest bedroom. But I mean, really, like, who
wants to deal with that all of that every single night.
Do you have any sort of numbers rules that you

(19:05):
like to I mean, I know it's fluid from project
to project, but is there just sort of a rule
of thumb that you use.

Speaker 1 (19:12):
Can say necessarily? I mean, I think it's so fun.
Often it's nice with just three you kind of have
your one on each corner and then balance an extra
pattern on one of the sides so that it's just
offsets that. I think that's a nice look. Lumbars sit
really nicely, obviously, and just to chair, they're easy to
Most people enjoy sitting with a lumbar behind versus having,

(19:34):
you know, a taller twenty inch pillow or something like
that that gets a little more cumbersome to be sitting
in and be comfortable that you're not like feeling like
you're sticking out of the chair.

Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, and I love a quirky little phrase on a
needle point pillow too. I think that's always so much
fun and usually very welcome, even by your guests, because
it usually says something funny and pithy.

Speaker 1 (19:54):
And I just got a new one at my house
that it's a little needle point and it says designers
do it better, and it it is. It's quirky, and
people think it's cute when they walk by it, and
I always get a little compliments on that.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
I have one that I am in the middle of making.
When I say I'm in the middle of the project,
that means I bought the canvas and have yet to
and this may or may not be appropriate. I bought
it in Home Beach, but it has little ducks all over.

Speaker 1 (20:19):
It is so cute.

Speaker 2 (20:21):
It says ducking auto correct.

Speaker 1 (20:24):
Oh, that's really funny. You'll have to share that when
you get it done.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
I'll have to share that when I get that done someday. Well, megan,
too many, too much. That can apply to so many
components and elements in the design world. First of all, flowers,
I think that a house can look like a funeral
home really really quickly, and again, like the throw pillow,

(20:50):
you know, the idea of flowers seems innocent enough. I mean,
who doesn't love flowers, right, They're beautiful to look at,
so pretty to go to your garden and get some,
or take advantage of all of the market buys, especially
in the summertime when you're going to farmers' markets and
that sort of thing to bring them home. But I
think it can just be overdone after a while. You know,

(21:12):
one live element per room will usually suffice. It's just
too much, even in a really really large space, I
still think it's too much. I think that you know,
the floral arrangement should sort of capture attention and not
have to fight with another arrangement. So that's one of mine,

(21:32):
just overflowering.

Speaker 1 (21:35):
Well, and I think too especially like when you entertain
or have a house full of guests, it's easy to
add a lot of the flowers because it is easy
to do, but then it overcrowds your house as well,
and it doesn't show the beauty as much as just
as if it's simple and just really enjoying the beautiful
pieces you have instead.

Speaker 2 (21:51):
Well, and especially with flowers that are super fragrant, if
you have too many, they can be really overwhelming. Some
lilies can be overwhelming, and I think we all remember
in The devilwaars Prada when she says she doesn't want
to see Frasia. Yeah, that's like them. So yeah, I
think you know, flowers are beautiful, they're always welcome into

(22:16):
a home, but you really don't need all that many
to make an impact.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
You certainly don't. Less is more, for sure, less is more.

Speaker 2 (22:23):
And one other ways where I want to apply the
less is more rule is the monogram. It's really special
to receive something or buy something that is monogrammed with
your initials on them, because it's very personal, right, it's
personal to you. It feels special than if it didn't
have that. But I think there are places that are

(22:44):
more appropriate for monograms than others. And I know that,
you know, today it's so easy to have anything monogrammed,
it doesn't matter what it is. It seems like everybody
wants their monogram on things. But I do think that
that can be somewhat of an overload as well. You know,
it's always appropriated on stationary of course, and some special

(23:06):
you know, perhaps this beautiful wedding gift that's silver or
something of that nature. But I don't think that your
barwear and the tray and the ice bucket and the
kitchen towels all need to bear one's monogram. It just
it sort of takes the specialness away from it. And

(23:26):
I think that's the beauty of a monogram, is that
it stands out and it's truly yours.

Speaker 1 (23:32):
Well, I think you really nailed that one when you
said that it takes the beauty out of having that
special moment, and so I think using your monogram in
a very specific way it makes it so much more
important than having all of the items monogrammed.

Speaker 2 (23:46):
I agree. I know there's a you know, there's such
a trend right now. It's not really a trend, it's
sort of a forever thing. But again, just because monograms
are so available now, I have a friend who she
refuses to have any of her handbags or tots monogrammed
because she likes to resell them. Yeah, and she said,

(24:07):
I'm always changing reselling them, so I don't ever monogram
and everything. I do love a monogrammed tote. I love
a beautiful, simple leather monogram tote with you know, simple
golden bossing. I think that that's really classy to carry
around to a client meeting or just day to day.

Speaker 1 (24:24):
It certainly is. Yeah, we have those in the studio,
just our NBI brand and it just creates that brand
as you go into your appointment and everything too.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
What about you, Do you have any personal monogrammed pieces
at home.

Speaker 1 (24:34):
One of them that I love that I did a
little while ago was I got some hand towels and
they're really beautiful hand towels of just how they're fringe
on the bottom of them, and I had a monogrammed
in our logo of my husband and I David and
I with ours and they're black and they're in gold
in our bathroom kind of has that feel in it too,
and it just really stands out and makes that feel

(24:55):
kind of special.

Speaker 2 (24:56):
You know, monograms can be really functional too, and I
think that's if we can offer a tip is to
certainly consider them when it's a situation that will bring
ease to life. And I'm thinking of beach towels and
when everybody has every kid or every person in the
family has their own beach towel, it's really fun if

(25:16):
your name is embroidered on it, and you know, if
somebody else has got your towel for functionality, for certain
pieces like that, it makes sense you know, you mentioned.

Speaker 1 (25:25):
The tote, and I have all the kids monogrammed bags
as well too, so when they go to Grandma's house,
they always know who's bag is who's and everything that's
put back in the right bag.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
It is useful for organizational purposes, yes, definitely, Yes, Well,
I have to say another one that kind of drives
me a little bit nuts is when you see rugs
that are just feel like they're floating in space.

Speaker 1 (25:45):
They're too small, they are just scaled inappropriately, and they
just are kind of hanging out there underneath the coffee
table and don't really ground the room like they should.
And it's kind of one of those unspoken rules that
if you have it bigger, makes the room feel bigger,
even though it's going closer to the wall. You would
think you're not showing any hardwood, but you know, not

(26:07):
allowing your rugs to just be floating is a huge
one for me. So always make sure you're scaling that
rug appropriately.

Speaker 2 (26:14):
What is your rule as a designer? Is it ever
okay for you to have some furniture on some.

Speaker 1 (26:19):
Off It happens frequently, Yes, it does. It's a hard
one to just especially how so many rooms get so large.
I love it when all the feet can be on
the rugs, but that doesn't always happen. But as long
as it's still underneath the majority of the furniture.

Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know what look I love too, Because sometimes people
will have a small rug that's a you know, maybe
an airloom or something that's been handed down to them
that they want to incorporate, and it may not be
right for the space. But I always love the look
of layered rugs, so where you have something like a
siicle or something that's relatively plain underneath, and then you

(26:56):
can top it with another rug. I always like that
look too.

Speaker 1 (27:00):
I love that look and we do that frequently too,
and it creates another layer in the space. And again
you made up a good point too of if it's
a unique piece that's smaller just came as it is
size wise, an antique rug or something, it kind of
just can ground that in a bigger space.

Speaker 2 (27:16):
Yes, And I do think it's a little I don't know,
to not have the furniture on the rug. It just
seems it seems like the furniture is framing this rug
for no reason. Right, Well, who's going to put their feet? Like,
what is its perfect. Yes, it is a little strange,
but again, I think rugs, like lighting, people get a
little afraid when they see scale, and they tend to

(27:38):
go smaller to be safe, when it's really design is
so counterintuitive, and you think that you want to go
small one Really it's buying those larger scale pieces that
make the spaces feel larger.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
Well, and I get it too. It's a big price
difference between a nine x twelve and a ten by
fourteen or an eight by ten, So it's often thousands
dollars and so to stomach that. Sometimes you think you
can go with the smaller rug, but you'll never regret
going with that bigger size.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
I agree bigger rugs everybody.

Speaker 1 (28:09):
Well, christ And I think scale in general, I think
is one that just you know, like the rug, it's
the furniture as well. I think makes a huge difference
if you're not paying attention to proportion and how it
all works in the space for sure.

Speaker 2 (28:22):
And people just they tend to go small they like,
I shouldn't even say they like, they gravitate towards dainty furniture.
They think that I'm not going to be able to
fit it through the door, And I mean, this is why,
this is why tape measures exist right right, tape measures
and interior designers to help you with this and help
you go a little bigger. But scale is, in my opinion,

(28:46):
the most important design lesson to make sure that you
get right. I think after that, lots of other design
challenges and problems are more easily solved than if the
scale is wrong. You can't really do anything if you
buy something that is of the wrong scale. It's really
hard to correct that.

Speaker 1 (29:06):
The room just completely feels off when the scale is off.
You just everything feels not cohesive. It just doesn't feel
like it's flowing. And you know, if you have that
antique chair that was your grandmother's or just one you
picked up that you were thrifting and you love it.
But the scale was so much smaller because rooms were
smaller and people were smaller. There's still ways to incorporate
that with bigger furniture and still do it successfully. So

(29:30):
it's not that you can't use smaller pieces, it's just
how they get applied and where they do. And kind
of like we talked about with the rug too, just
like the bigger furniture in small rooms just feels off.
And it just doesn't feel comfortable to go and be
a part of that space, right.

Speaker 2 (29:47):
I think one place, And it's funny because it's probably
the last, usually the last design element that people consider
or use to complete a room. But it's with artwork.
But I think, you know, artwork is worth discussing from
a scale perspective because if you have that little piece

(30:07):
that you've picked up at an art show or during travels,
it may not come any bigger, right, because it's not
a made to measure sort of situation if you're not
having a piece commissioned. So when you have a smaller piece,
there are ways around this. There are solutions to this.
A you could make it a part of a gallery wall,

(30:27):
so that one single piece on its own may not
have impact, but when you have a gallery situation where
it mingles among several works, then you do get that
wonderful impact. And I think that you know, a gallery
wall can be such a great answer to all of
those little pieces that you know. I love to go

(30:48):
to art shows in the summer, especially when they happen,
and sometimes sometimes you don't want a huge version of
an artist, like sometimes you want to support the artist
and they may just make small pieces because that's what
they have the resources to do, and I think that's
the answer to those Yeah.

Speaker 1 (31:06):
There's always ways to use those different pieces in their
rooms and you know, tuck them behind a night stand
or you know, little corners of a room too. There's
always ways to use some of those little gems of
art that you find.

Speaker 2 (31:18):
You know, something else that I really love when it
comes to art works that are smaller is when they
have an enormous mat around them. I think that is
an incredible way to make a small piece look super
super expensive. And it may already be expensive, or it
may not be, but there's something about having this really

(31:39):
large mat around a tiny piece of art that just
gives it prominence and makes it appear super special and
sort of intriguing too when you see that, because it's like, wow,
why did they use that big giant mat for that
teeny tiny piece of artwork? But I think it's a
great look and you know, again a solution to a

(32:00):
small piece that may not be the right scale on
its own.

Speaker 1 (32:04):
And then two, when it's partnered with a really beautiful
frame around it too, just sets it all off and
like you kind of said, too, just you want to
know more of, like the story about it, or why
does it have that big match, or where did that
frame come from.

Speaker 2 (32:15):
Maybe someday we'll have to bring Lisen and talk all
about framing, because yes, that's a that's an episode on itself.
So okay. So speaking of artwork, what about artwork that
is hung too high?

Speaker 1 (32:28):
Yes, major pet peeve. I mean it just throws everything
off when artwork is too high or not placed appropriately.
I frequently feel like I'm having to bring that up
when I go into clients' homes when they've hung it
on their own.

Speaker 2 (32:43):
Well, it's so funny because they say, you know, to
hang it at eye level. It's like, well, my eyes
is not very high, right, so maybe a little higher
than my eye level. But I again, I think lower
tends to be a little better.

Speaker 1 (32:58):
It definitely does for artwork.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
You don't want to have to crank your head and
look up when you are doing that. You speaking of
that this isn't artwork necessarily, But I know that we've
talked before about TVs being too high and you know,
on top of fireplaces. What do you think about that?
I know that's where everybody wants them, but that's.

Speaker 1 (33:22):
It's the lifestyle over beauty sometimes too that they do
end up over the fireplace. And thankfully that frame TV
has come a long way that you can really put
some beautiful pieces of artwork up there. You know, I
think we all as designers have gotten better about how
to make that scale appropriate with those large fireplaces and

(33:43):
how that can all work together too. But it's not
a detail that doesn't go overlooked. It's something you really
have to plan for all those dimensions and what's the
clearance from the firebox and you know, if you what
kind of combustible material you need between the spaces before
that TV can happen. So it's something to really plan
for early on.

Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yes, it's you know, I guess the world we live
in is television. That's been our world decades before you
and I ever existed. And yes, I don't think TV
is going away. I don't think. So just make more
and more shows, more and more situations for us to binge.

Speaker 1 (34:17):
So well, Christ of what else is on your list
that is drives you a little bit nuts?

Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well? One thing, and we talked about overdoing it with
some specific elements, like you know, monograms and flowers and pillows,
but I just think over accessorizing in general, and I
don't think that every inch of a surface needs something.
I think sometimes every inch of a space just needs air.

(34:44):
And just like we need air to breathe, I think
that design too needs a moment of visual relief. It
needs a moment to sort of be on its own.
Like we all like our downtime right are alone time.
And I think that not reaccessory needs a best friend.
You know, sometimes the best friend can be across the

(35:05):
way on the other bookshelf, on the on the opposite
side of the room. It doesn't need to hold hands
per se. And I do see a lot of that
where there's just something on every surface. It's just too
much and you don't see anything, you don't see the
special moments.

Speaker 1 (35:23):
It is too much. And you know, Chris so to
be honest, I mean, accessorizing is one of the hardest
layers in design to kind of finish that space. It's
not easy to accessorize a bookcase, especially for just anyone
to just pop up and start doing it. So I
think it's easy just to throw a bunch of stuff
up there and think that it all is just gonna
look busy and look good, and it is really about

(35:44):
editing and you know, having that sense of relief that
air through it, let it let you be able to
look through the space so you see the beautiful garden
outside and not have it feel like it is a
furniture showroom with lots of pieces on every end table
or console table. And letting there be some moments of
quiet I think is super important.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
You know, what I think happens sometimes is when we
see those bookshelves that are packed and they look so
good because somebody has a really wonderful, well curated collection
and it is just packed with nothing but a color
or a collection of I'm making this up globes or

(36:26):
whatever it may be, and it looks really great. But
there's a skill to that. It's not just that people
again packed those shelves, packed those cubbies with stuff. There
was a rhyme or reason to that. And I think
when people see that, it's so impactful, so they think, well,
I'm going to do that too, and I'm just going
to put a bunch of stuff and it just doesn't

(36:46):
It doesn't work. You have to rein it in and
stop yourself.

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Well, and at the end of the day they always
say to take one one item off the shelf. I'm
sure that designer that did that jam packed bookcase took
a few pieces off as well too.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
So that's a good point.

Speaker 1 (37:01):
Yeah, you know. I mean there's a fine balance of
having too much and not enough too.

Speaker 2 (37:06):
So yeah, so I think I think it's a good
exercise too. As Americans, I think that we very quickly
and very easily accumulate objects, things, stacks, it doesn't matter
what it is. Books, And I think it's probably a
good rule of thumb to go through every once in
a while and just edit. And I know somebody, now

(37:27):
I should be so disciplined, I'm not. But I know
somebody who wants a year takes everything off of a
bookshelf and just rethinks it. And I think that that's
so fascinating. It's a great exercise to do, maybe not
every year, but every couple of years. Every few years.
Years go by really quickly more and more, right me.

(37:47):
But I just think it's probably a good exercise to
just shake things up a little bit, and especially with accessories,
and think to yourself, do I still really love this?
Even if I do, it's okay to put things away
for a while I know people who bring out their
seasonal stuff but never get rid of the other stuff. Yeah,
I also need to take it away and it's already

(38:08):
too much.

Speaker 1 (38:08):
I'm kind of like that. I probably in January. Usually
when I take my Christmas stuff down, I kind of
leave it pretty quiet for a little bit, and then
I redo a lot of my shelves and different stuff
to kind of give it a new look. What am
I loving at the moment, and just having that piece
of a new look and pieces that I'm loving.

Speaker 2 (38:27):
You hear people say, oh, I want to change the
look of my room, but I just I don't have
the budget quite yet. And it's like, you can probably
shop your own house. Yes, you can probably just take
all of the accessories, put them on a long table.
You can probably sett all that stuff down and just
reallocate and reassign objects to different places throughout your house

(38:49):
and it'll look completely new. So I always am a
fan of shopping what you already have.

Speaker 1 (38:55):
There's that Let's talk about drapery's. That one is one
that is an easy miss for people. Sometimes I feel
like they can one hang their draperies way too low,
that they should have taken that rod all the way
up as close as they can to the ceiling, or
where it makes sense with the windows, or a certain
distance between the top of the window and the ceiling.

(39:16):
It makes the room and your eye go up. It
makes it feel so much more impressive. We should never
be hanging draperies in between window transoms and things like
that as well. And also when they feel like the
draperies are just kind of hanging when they're too short,
those are just big no nose in my book.

Speaker 2 (39:37):
Especially if you're talking about a simple drapery panel. It
takes it from a solution functional element that is to
add privacy, filter light, whatever, you know, whatever you're trying
to avoid or bring in through the through the windows,
and it makes it an actual decorative element. So it

(40:00):
it allows a drapery panel to serve a different purpose.
And you know, it really can be quite architectural if
you take that rod all the way up or very
close to the ceiling. I've even seen rods installed to
the ceiling, which is super super cool in the right
in the right space, of course. But yeah, I mean,

(40:20):
who doesn't want taller ceilings in a residential situation, you know?
So I agree drapery's hung too low, artwork hung too high.
We just need to do a little reversal, the mind
shift to get it to get it right. Megan, I
think that one that's sort of a general pet peeve

(40:40):
of mine is lack of grit. I think when everything
is too perfect, it's very not perfect. Perfection is I
think bad in so many parts of Like maybe on
your taxes, it's a good thing. You want your accountant
to be perfect, you know that. And the whoever's working
on your car, you want him to get the tires on,

(41:01):
all the parts working right. Maybe a heart surgeon, But
other than that, life does not require perfection so much.
And when everything looks too new and just too you know,
you spoke of everything being matchy matchy earlier, and I agree,
sometimes there's no grit, there's no there's no soul. And

(41:25):
we're not going to unveil who it is. But I
know that we have a designer coming up, and we
will try to get him to say this when when
we're interviewing him. But he once said to me that
every room deserves a bit of ugly in it, and
I think that's so true. I think that it's that
ugly element that ends up being the conversation starter. It's

(41:48):
the quirky part that is the collected piece that was
handed down from grandpa or grandma or you know, a
weird object that you picked up at a flea market,
or the crazy aunt who gave you the statue because
she thought you wanted that, because you unveiled what your
theme was. I think that that's what makes it room interesting.

(42:09):
So we want our spaces to be beautiful, but I
think if they have a little bit of grit, a
little bit of something wrong with them, that that's always
right well.

Speaker 1 (42:17):
And I think an easy way to do that too
is just a piece here there, or maybe it's the
beams that have some distressing to them and have some interest.
It doesn't make it feel so perfect, like you mentioned it,
it makes them feel like they have a little bit
of a story or a little bit more of comfort
into the space as well.

Speaker 2 (42:35):
So always a challenge I think when you I'll use
a chair specifically, because this comes up a lot when
you get that little flea market chair or something that's
been handed down and you're struggling and fighting with do
you have the seat reapulstered or not because it has
you know, threads that are sort of loose and unraveling,
and it's like, oh, looks so good that way. Do

(42:58):
I really want to have it covered in a new fabric?
And you know, that can be a struggle because sometimes
you do. Sometimes you do want a new seed, a
new cover. But then sometimes it just it's like, you know,
thread threadbare, and Warren is exactly what the room needs. Well.

Speaker 1 (43:14):
I think some of the best pieces out there are
ones that look old and maybe are new, or vice versa.
Is an old piece and it's been applied in a
new way too. It just feels wonderful.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
Yes anymore anymore for you? You know, I think.

Speaker 1 (43:26):
The only one sometimes that gets a little hard. And
this isn't really a specific item in your home, but
I think it's what technology has done to us. I
love the world of interest, so many of us do,
our homeowners do, designers do. It's just a wealth of inspiration,
but it's it's hard sometimes when clients have so many

(43:49):
images that they love but no cohesion, and then I
have to try and figure out what it is in
each of those images, and it can be something purely random.
They love the ugly object in the room. Maybe I
don't know, but you know, it's just kind of pulling
those millions of saved images that they've been saving for
years to build this dream home and you know, depicting

(44:11):
all of that and how we can pull this together
and make it a beautiful space for them. So probably
pinterest paralysis is that one.

Speaker 2 (44:18):
Well, I think we have interests paralysis for many categories
in addition to design. I mean, how many of us
have Oh gosh, if I could count the you know,
thousands of pins I have for recipes. I think I'm
going to think or you know, those little cute projects
that you think you're going to relabel everything in your
office or your canisters, all of that, and so you

(44:41):
save these ideas that I never actually do, but they're
fun to review, right, think that that probably, I can
just imagine in your world happens with clients, with potential
clients as well.

Speaker 1 (44:52):
So yes, it does. And there's so many good items
out there inspirations, so it's it's hard to narrow it
down sometimes, but we.

Speaker 2 (44:57):
Figured out people don't put their bad examples on the
no so everything tends to look good and yeah bad,
I want that.

Speaker 1 (45:05):
I want that, So yes, definitely.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
Well, Megan, on the note of technology, maybe we should
command quit our complaining for the and yes, I mean
this has been fun and it's you know, we don't
want people to feel bad about what they're doing. But
these are just little tips and tricks that can maybe
elevate what you've already done or what you're about to do,
some ideas to keep in mind.

Speaker 1 (45:28):
In general, and say, these are probably as an industry,
things that probably drive most designers and people in industry nuts,
so we can try and avoid them or do them
with better taste. That's all good fun.

Speaker 2 (45:39):
Common design offenses that can yes easily corrupted.

Speaker 1 (45:43):
Correct, Yes, well, thank you, it's fun to chat about.

Speaker 2 (45:45):
Thanks ban, Thank you.

Speaker 1 (45:47):
For listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat. If
you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave a
review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so
you never miss an episode, and of course, follow your
hosts on Instagram at Megan Bloom Interiors, at Chrissa Rossbund
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard

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