Color is always the unifying element in a room. Use color to distract from other less desirable elements in a room. Distribute a contrasting color evenly around the room.

With fall coming, an example of color use would be to change your sofa’s decorative pillows to orange if it works with your art. Add pumpkins in an area and some orange flowers in another. You’ve got a fresh look that will last through Thanksgiving!

When remodeling take every ceiling and door way to a least 8’ and raise as many ceiling above 8’ as you can afford. I tour luxury homes every other week and hear the feedback of the realtors selling luxury homes. They recognize low ceilings as older sections of the house that have not been remodeled. Use 9’ – 10’ feet for secondary rooms and 10’-14’ for larger areas. Continuous 8’ ceilings are boring and too low to add ceiling details like beams.

The main entertainment/living area should have at least 10’ ceilings. Ten to fourteen feet for rooms that are in excess of 20’ x 20’ A high ceiling in a small room has an uncomfortable feel. An overly high ceiling in a large room needs attention to detail in the upper half of the room that adds another cost factor and reduces the feeling of intimacy that many people find appealing. Hire the best professionals available to get the right guidance as proportion and scale are the most important factors in a room feeling finished and comfortable.

Can a designer save you money? That’s a resounding yes! As the quote warns “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Throwing money at all details does not always create the defined focal points that separate a great look from a confusing one. Scale is so important! Great architects have it as do great designers. But a lot of input on interiors, especially remodels, come from other resources and may never achieve the room’s potential regardless of the money spent.

If you want the room to look great, choose something great to build on and don’t get distracted by other “great buys” or a spontaneous purchase that will never get you there!

Sealy mattress company has a new offering – Opticool – starting at $1200 that allows each half of the mattress to be cooled. Desert dwellers rejoice!