Key Design Principles
The core principles of interior design are guidelines for creating beautiful, functional spaces, commonly listed as Balance, Harmony/Unity, Rhythm, Emphasis, Proportion & Scale, Contrast, and Details. These principles help arrange elements like color, texture, and furniture to achieve visual stability, flow, and interest, ensuring the room feels cohesive, serves its purpose, and reflects personality.
The 7 Key Principles:
Balance: Achieves visual stability, either symmetrically (mirror images) or asymmetrically (different objects with equal visual weight).
Harmony/Unity: Creates a sense of belonging, making all elements feel connected and cohesive through consistent style, color, or texture.
Rhythm: Guides the eye through a space using repetition, pattern, or color, creating flow and movement.
Emphasis: Establishes a focal point, drawing attention to a key feature like a statement piece or accent wall.
Proportion & Scale: Relates the size of objects to each other and to the room, preventing items from looking too large or too small.
Contrast: Adds visual interest by pairing opposing elements, such as dark with light, or rough with smooth textures.
Details: The finishing touches—accessories, hardware, and decor—that complete the space and add personality.
How They Work Together:
These principles, combined with design elements (like color, line, texture, form, light, and pattern), provide a framework for designers to create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Applying them results in interiors that feel intentional, peaceful, and well-put-together, regardless of individual style
Instant (And Free) Refresh
Title: How to Instantly Refresh Your Kitchen—Without Buying a Thing
When your kitchen is starting to feel a little stale, your first instinct might be to head to the store or scroll through online home décor shops. But here’s the good news: sometimes all it takes is a little creativity, elbow grease, and reimagining what you already have. Whether you rent or own, these no-cost tricks will help you breathe new life into your kitchen without spending a dime.
1. Declutter the Counters
Nothing transforms a kitchen faster than a clean, clear countertop. Put away rarely used appliances, toss out expired pantry items, and corral loose utensils or random mail piles. A minimalist counter not only looks fresh but also makes cooking feel easier.
2. Rearrange Your Shelves
Take a moment to reorganize your open shelves or glass-front cabinets. Group similar items, stack plates neatly, and consider color-coding mugs, bowls, or cookbooks for a visually appealing display. You can also "shop" other rooms for décor pieces like small vases or framed photos to add interest.
3. Deep Clean Key Areas
Scrub the sink until it sparkles. Wipe down cabinet fronts, baseboards, light switches, and behind the stove. Cleaning may not sound glamorous, but a truly clean kitchen instantly feels newer and brighter.
4. Restyle Your Kitchen Textiles
Wash and re-fold your kitchen towels, swap out the dishrag, and iron any wrinkled linens. You can also rotate in seasonal or patterned pieces you’ve stored away. It’s a small touch that can subtly shift the mood of the space.
5. Create a Focal Point
Use what you already own to create a mini “moment” on your counter or island. A wooden cutting board, a candle, a bowl of fresh fruit, or a plant from another room can make the space feel intentional and styled.
6. Change the Layout (If You Can)
In smaller kitchens, this could mean shifting a rolling cart or small table to a different spot. In larger kitchens, try repositioning chairs, light stools, or other movable elements to give the room a refreshed flow.
7. Organize the Fridge & Pantry
Yes, even hidden spaces matter! An organized fridge and pantry not only boost your mood every time you open them, but also help streamline your day-to-day cooking and meal prep.
8. Edit Your Magnet or Bulletin Board
Take a fresh look at what’s stuck to the fridge—old takeout menus, school notices, random coupons—and give it an update. Curate it like a mini gallery with just a few favorite photos, kids' artwork, or a handwritten quote you love.
9. Bring in Natural Light
Pull up the blinds, wipe down the windows, and let the sunshine in. Natural light makes any room feel bigger and more inviting—and it costs nothing.
10. Play Music or Light a Candle
Okay, this isn't technically a visual change—but creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere makes the kitchen feel loved and lived-in. Whether it's soft background music while you cook or the cozy flicker of a candle while you sip coffee, small sensory shifts make a big difference.
Final Thought:
Refreshing your kitchen doesn’t always require a trip to the store. Often, it’s just about seeing your space with new eyes and putting a little care into the details. So before you click “add to cart,” try giving these ideas a go. You might be surprised at how good your kitchen can look—and feel—already.
How to Find Your Interior Design Style
How to Find Your Interior Design Style: A Classic Guide to Creating a Home You Love
Finding your interior design style can feel overwhelming, especially with so many beautiful options available. But the key to creating a home that feels truly you is to focus on what you love—not just what’s trending.
As an interior designer with a love for timeless, classic spaces, I believe every home should reflect both elegance and personality. Whether you're furnishing a new home or refreshing a room, here’s a thoughtful guide to help you uncover your signature interior design style.
1. Start with Your Inspiration
Look at what consistently catches your eye. Pull together images from Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, or even favorite hotels or historical homes. Ask yourself:
Are you drawn to symmetry and structure?
Do you love soft, neutral palettes or bold, saturated colors?
Are there certain materials—like wood, marble, brass, or linen—you keep gravitating toward?
Create a mood board or folder where you can start to see patterns emerge.
2. Audit Your Closet (Yes, Really!)
Your wardrobe often reflects your design style. Are your go-to pieces tailored and timeless? Do you favor natural textures like cotton, wool, or leather? The colors, patterns, and silhouettes you wear can offer unexpected insights into your aesthetic preferences.
3. Define How You Want Your Home to Feel
Design isn’t just about how your home looks—it’s about how it feels to live in it. Ask yourself:
Do you want your home to feel serene and sophisticated?
Comfortable and inviting?
Polished with a sense of history?
The mood you’re trying to create will help determine the direction of your style.
4. Identify Your “Forever Pieces”
Think about the furniture or decor you’ve owned the longest or loved the most. Chances are, those pieces reflect your enduring tastes. Whether it’s a French bergère chair, an antique dresser, or a classic blue-and-white ginger jar, these treasures help anchor your style.
5. Know the Design Vocabulary
Understanding the general language of interior styles can be helpful. You might relate to one of these classic styles:
Traditional – Elegant, timeless, and formal. Think antiques, symmetry, and layered textures.
Transitional – A blend of traditional and modern. Clean lines with classic touches.
Modern Classic – Sleek with a historical nod. Neutral palettes, refined finishes, and a less-is-more mindset.
You don’t have to fit into a single category, but knowing the terminology can help guide decisions and conversations.
6. Experiment Slowly
Start small—refresh a vignette on a console, swap out throw pillows, or restyle your shelves. Living with subtle changes lets you fine-tune your taste and make sure your style feels right in your space.
7. Trust Your Gut
Timeless design isn’t about chasing perfection or copying a Pinterest board. It’s about trusting your instincts and choosing pieces that speak to you. If you love it, it will never be out of style.
Final Thoughts
Discovering your interior design style is a journey, not a destination. As you evolve, your home will too—and that’s a beautiful thing. Whether your style leans fully traditional or mixes in some modern charm, the goal is to create a space that feels warm, welcoming, and uniquely yours.
Need help pulling it all together? I’d love to work with you to design a home that reflects your personal style with timeless elegance.
Elements of Timeless Design
The Four Essential Elements of Timeless Interior Design
By [Your Name]
When it comes to designing a beautiful, enduring space, the magic is in the details—but more specifically, in four essential elements that quietly shape the feeling and function of a room: lighting, scale, color, and flow. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing space, keeping these core principles in balance will always lead you back to timeless design.
1. Lighting: The Mood Maker
Lighting is one of the most transformative design tools at our disposal. In a classic interior, it’s not just about visibility—it’s about atmosphere.
Layered lighting is key:
Ambient lighting (typically overhead) sets the foundation.
Task lighting (such as sconces, reading lamps, or under-cabinet lights) brings function.
Accent lighting (think picture lights or candlelight) adds warmth and personality.
Always consider natural light first—how it shifts throughout the day can guide your decisions for window treatments, room layout, and even paint colors.
Design Tip: Use dimmers generously. They allow you to shift the tone of a room from vibrant and social to soft and serene.
2. Scale: The Silent Sophisticate
A room can have all the right pieces, but if the scale is off, the entire space feels unsettled. Scale refers to how furnishings, décor, and architectural features relate to one another and to the room itself.
In timeless interiors, scale is about balance:
Avoid oversized furniture in small rooms—it swallows the space.
Likewise, don’t scatter tiny items in a large room where they’ll feel lost.
Varying scale within a room creates interest and depth, much like a well-curated outfit.
Design Tip: Anchor a seating area with a substantial rug to ground the space and establish proportions.
3. Color: The Backbone of Timeless Style
Color is deeply personal, but when chosen thoughtfully, it becomes the thread that ties a room—and a home—together.
Classic interiors often lean on muted palettes, rich neutrals, and nature-inspired hues. Think soft ivories, layered greys, historic blues, or warm taupes. These tones age gracefully and feel grounded in tradition.
That said, don’t shy away from bold color—used intentionally, it can add depth and soul. The key is consistency and restraint.
Design Tip: Before committing to a color, observe it in morning, afternoon, and evening light. It may surprise you.
4. Flow: The Feeling of Ease
Flow is what makes a home feel effortless. It’s the way your eye moves through a room—and how you move through it physically.
For strong flow:
Allow for generous pathways between furniture.
Arrange seating with conversation in mind.
Use symmetry to calm, and asymmetry to spark curiosity.
Repeat shapes, materials, or colors throughout your home to create a natural visual rhythm.
When a space flows well, it invites you in, guides you gracefully, and encourages you to linger.
Design Tip: Walk through your space as if you’re a guest—notice where you pause, where you feel cramped, or where the eye stumbles. That’s where adjustments can be made.
In Closing
Trends come and go, but these four elements—lighting, scale, color, and flow—remain at the heart of timeless design. They are the quiet forces working behind the scenes to create homes that feel just right: grounded, graceful, and enduring.
Whether you're refreshing a single room or starting from the ground up, returning to these fundamentals ensures your space will never go out of style.
Starting a Home Project
Title: How to Start an Interior Design Project: A Guide to Timeless, Thoughtful Design
Starting an interior design project can feel exciting, inspiring—and sometimes a little overwhelming. Whether you're redesigning a single room or building your dream home from the ground up, approaching the process with intention makes all the difference. As a designer who values timeless elegance and the principles of slow design, I believe every space should evolve thoughtfully, with purpose and quality at its core.
If you're ready to begin your design journey, here’s how to start on the right foot:
1. Define Your Why
Before sourcing swatches or sketching floor plans, step back and ask: Why am I undertaking this project? Is it to create a more functional kitchen for your growing family? To design a sanctuary that feels calm and grounded? Clarity here shapes every decision moving forward—and ensures the final design truly reflects your lifestyle.
Tip: Write down three words that describe how you want the space to feel (e.g., welcoming, polished, serene). These will become your guiding compass.
2. Assess What You Have
A timeless design often honors the past. Take stock of what’s already in your home: heirlooms, vintage pieces, or quality furnishings that could be reimagined. Thoughtful editing—rather than starting from scratch—leads to spaces layered with meaning and history.
Slow Design Principle: Resist the urge to discard. Quality takes time and is worth preserving.
3. Establish a Realistic Budget and Timeline
Timeless design isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about choosing pieces that will last. That means prioritizing craftsmanship, materials, and finishes that elevate your home over time. Set a budget that allows room for investment in quality where it matters most.
Note: Slow design often means longer lead times, especially for custom or made-to-order pieces. Plan accordingly to avoid rushed decisions.
4. Create a Cohesive Vision
Mood boards are more than just pretty pictures—they’re a visual translation of your intentions. Pull inspiration from architecture, travel, art, or even fashion. Look for recurring colors, shapes, and textures that speak to your sensibility.
Classic Tip: Timeless interiors often draw from natural materials (stone, wood, linen), a neutral palette, and a balance of symmetry and proportion.
5. Function First, Then Beauty
A beautiful room that doesn’t work won’t stand the test of time. Start with how the space needs to function. Think about flow, natural light, storage, and how you truly live in the space. Once the foundation is right, layer in the aesthetics—beautiful textiles, classic millwork, antique finds.
Design wisdom: Good bones come first. Decorating is the final chapter, not the first.
6. Work with the Right Professionals
Whether you're hiring a designer, contractor, or tradesperson, choose collaborators who understand your vision and share your values around quality. Good communication and trust are essential—especially in a project that unfolds over time.
Pro Insight: I encourage clients to build a team early on, even before construction begins. Early decisions can avoid costly changes later.
7. Be Patient—and Present
Slow design means slowing down. Thoughtful decisions take time. Some of the best interiors are collected and completed over months or even years, not weekends. Don’t rush to “finish” a room. Let it grow with you.
Reminder: Timeless doesn’t mean static. It means enduring—something that continues to feel right, year after year.
Final Thoughts
Interior design isn’t just about creating a beautiful home—it’s about crafting a space that tells your story with grace, intention, and longevity. Starting with clarity, care, and craftsmanship sets the stage for a space you’ll love not just today, but for years to come.
If you're considering a project and want to design with purpose, I’d be honored to help bring your vision to life—slowly, beautifully, and with timeless detail.
Curb Appeal
Whether you're selling your home and want top dollar, or just want a beautiful house to come home to, start at the street.
Whether you're selling your home and want top dollar, or just want a beautiful house to come home to, start at the street. Focus on the essentials - upkeep, landscaping, balance, cohesiveness and charm - to get that often-lusted-after-but-seldom-achieved "curb appeal."
01
REPAIR
Wash, paint, repair. You can spend all the time (and money) in the world with frou frou distractions, but if you need a new roof, you need a new roof. Start with the basics and the rest will be the icing on top.
Scrub the siding, touch up the trim, and repair the handrail. And, while it can be costly, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference and may be worth it.
02
TIDY THE landscaping
Trim the trees, prune the bushes, sweep your walkways and even the mulch. Reseed or replace brown patches in the grass. Create balance between each element: established landscaping looks even better when it's in proportion with your home. And don't forget about pots, planters and window boxes; layer each with seasonal blooms to add color and texture.
03
Edit
Aim for consistency in terms of architectural and design style. If you have a Craftsman door, decorative Victorian corbels won't make sense. Use online sources like Pinterest and Houzz to inspire and guide you.
If you're having a tough time putting a finger on what doesn't feel quite right, don't hesitate to call in the pros - an architect or designer should be able to spot the issue easily.
04
Add charm
The most welcoming entries have a little personality. Add a pop of color with a painted door or shutters. Replace your door hardware and add a vintage door knocker. Create ambiance with lighting. Rotate seasonal wreaths. And don't forget the welcome mat.
Take caution: while special features can be memorable, take care in choosing those that are not polarizing style-wise. Your cherished antique knickknack collection might feel overwhelming and distracting to others.
White Paint Colors
Everything you need to know about selecting the right color and my go-to faves.
It is the design question every client asks, the decision that stumps the most: what paint color should I use? There are literally thousands of colors available - many of which are lovely and many more that look the same. (How many whites does this world need?!) Add in a dozen brands to choose from, a mind-boggling array of sheens... And while many designers and contractors will tell you otherwise, paint is a pain to change and it can be expensive to do so. Better to get it right the first time.
We'll share a little secret with you: designers use the same handful of colors over and over again. We know what works and rarely deviate. We not only want to get it right the first time, we want to get it right every time, because wall color is so important.
NEUTRALS RULE
Think of your walls like the canvas for everything else in your room. Neutrals don't go out of style or beg to be changed with the season. Regardless of whether you love brights, deep hues or anything in between, choosing the right neutral will provide your color palate with a strong foundation, allowing your furnishings, window coverings and architectural details to really pop.
OUR FAVORITES
Before you judge: the colors above look nothing like they do in real life, so we're doubtful you'll fall immediately in love with them like we know you would if you saw them in person. Ugh. We beg you to head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer and see their beauty in person... they're worth it.
Our go-to color for trim is Benjamin Moore's Simply White, OC-24. It's not too cool, not too warm... it's simply white. And for a soft, creamy, "I play well with others" wall color, we use Benjamin Moore's Wind's Breath, OC-117. It's not too cool or warm. It doesn't push yellow or gray (as many neutrals do!), but it looks beautiful with either. It's the perfect neutral.
The combination is admittedly light, which we love, because it creates an airy foundation... to which you can add everything from bright hues to deep tones, depending on your style or mood. There is enough contrast from trim to wall, but not so much that all you see is woodwork. We've used it countless times because it works.
Simply White, OC-117, Benjamin Moore
Winds Breath, OC-24, Benjamin Moore
CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLORS
If you don't care for the above combo, here's how to select your own:
Look for inspiration. There are many resources (Instagram and Pinterest are our faves) where you can find photos with paint colors listed. Select your top three and look for the common thread - are they all cool? All creamy? Somewhere in between?
Look at your existing furnishings. If you're in love with gray walls, but have all gold-yellow-cream upholstered furniture, it may be wise to compromise with your paint color. (Mixing neutrals is very "in" but tough to do well.) Consider a hue that can swing both ways, like Feather Down (above).
Pay attention to undertones. This can be tough to identify in a light shade, so look at the darkest color on the swatch (within the same color family) for clues. Do you see cooler tones like blue or green? Or warmer tones like brown or yellow?
Consider your lighting. If your room is flooded with natural light, you'll see the hue's truest color. Other lighting types/sources (fluorescent, for example) can draw out the warmer or cooler tones in a color.
Try samples on your wall. It's takes a little extra time and effort up front, but painting 3x3 "swatches" on your wall will give you a much better idea of which color you're drawn to, which looks best with your existing furnishings, and which looks best in your room's lighting.
COORDINATING TRIM + CEILING COLORS
Select a trim color that provides contrast from the walls, but that maintains a similar undertone. For example, if you have a cool gray wall, ensure your white trim does not have a creamy yellow undertone. A "blue white" will be better suited. For ceilings, try the same color you used on your walls or trim in eggshell sheen.