Author: Breegan Jane

One of the most exciting parts about entering into a new year when you’re in the world of interior design has to be all the new trends that come with it! Everyone has their predictions about what will take design by storm, and it’s always fun to see what turns out to be true! Humans are, by nature, sort of group thinkers. We like to arrive at a consensus where possible, and the concept of trends reinforces that idea. However, trends aren’t just about conforming to what others are doing. Instead, they’re about watching the marketplace and the industry to see what’s hot! Tastemakers are always keeping their eyes on the next big thing, and so with that, let’s dive into furniture trends of 2024!

2024 Furniture Trends: Shape

It’s virtually impossible to look at a room and take in its design without noticing the largest items in the space. Those items are usually furniture. Shape plays a significant role in influencing not only the look of a space, but the design style of it, too. Last year, curves and fluidity were everywhere. We saw a lot of what I like to call “kidney bean” sofas. They featured soft and rounded edges that often had a bit of an irregular shape. I have used them in home designs often. In 2024, the shape of furniture will take a sharp departure from those curves and lean much more towards geometric shapes. I think we will see furniture designers take an almost architectural approach with constructing pieces. I look forward to seeing striking sculptural couches, chairs and tables. 

Freedom in Furniture in 2024 

How many of you remember having a traditional two or three seater sofa with the defined back cushions? Most of us have owned those or had family members who did. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, I think we will see a shift in the design towards modular sofas. You might already have one in your home! Modular sofas come in pieces. They grant you the freedom to arrange them in whatever configuration works best for you.

You might be wondering why this matters. Well, after a rough couple of years of little to no contact with people outside our households (remember social distancing?), we have all embraced gathering like never before! Whether you’re planning a party, a meeting or a family dinner, you want to ensure you always have enough seating for everyone invited. Modular sofas allow you to take a piece that might otherwise be used as an ottoman for your feet, and use it as an additional seat. No two rooms are made the same. Modular sofas are able to morph as needed into the space you have allotted for that type of seating. I think we will see more people opting for these transformable pieces in 2024.

Attention to Texture and Construction

Now this one is something I don’t think ever went out of style, and I doubt it will in 2024. I think one of the biggest trends in furniture will revolve around textures! Bouclé certainly had its moment in 2023, and I totally understand why. The curly looped fabric is delightfully soft, and it especially looks nice in white and shades of cream. In 2024, look for trends to punch it up even more with texture. I think we will see lots of tufting and velvet, both which are always timeless. We will also see more performance fabrics, a plus if you like to host frequently or have young children prone to spills. Don’t be surprised to see more exposed metal framing, and even pieces of raw wood. All in all, I think furniture will be fun to interact with, and I’m excited about that.

If you’re looking to purchase furniture in the near future and you want to know what designers and design enthusiasts are predicting to be “on trend”, you’ll find that manufacturers aren’t holding back! They are indulging in fun, innovative details that feel both functional and avant-garde. I think we’ll all be making statements with our spaces in 2024!

Another year is winding down, and in a few days almost everyone around the world will be celebrating the turn of the new year. There will be parties and socials, sparkles and sequins, and many gatherings of families and friends. Beyond New Year’s celebrations, I’ve always loved throwing soirees and hosting gatherings. I’ve even been known to throw some amazing kids parties! For me, hosting is a personal passion. There’s something about creating an event that fosters a good time and vibe with loved ones. And if you’re like me, you want to consider your home design to ensure you have the right interior elements to accommodate the ultimate social event. Here are a few things to consider for optimizing your home design for proper social hosting.

Spruce Up The Kitchen

Much of the entertaining and hosting I do in my home starts in my kitchen. It’s the heart of every home that I’ve owned. In my mind food and beverages bring people together and help to facilitate camaraderie and conversation. If you need a starting place for optimizing your home design for hosting guests and friends, I would start in this space and with a few specific suggestions.

There’s one primary word to consider as you begin thinking about hosting an event in your home: capacity. Do you have all you need to comfortably receive the number of guests you’re looking to invite? Better yet, can the appliances you have accommodate the event you want to throw? If they don’t—and you want to regularly have events in your home—you may want to consider some appliance upgrades.

I say that from experience, specifically with my refrigerator. One of the things I absolutely love about the new refrigerator in my new dream beach home is the customization available for it. The Jenn-Air appliance can be designed with 1, 2 or 3 columns and a myriad of configurations for freezer and refrigeration needs. If you begin hosting regularly, you need to be sure both your refrigerator and freezer have the space you need for food and beverages. Chances are you will need to replenish more frequently than you would if you only cater to just you and your family.

Speaking of freezing, many people don’t realize how much people partake in beverages during the average social event. And, there’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a lukewarm beverage when you’re parched. Ice is a small element at a party, but there’s a noticeable difference when it isn’t available during an event—TRUST ME! I had an ice maker installed on my rooftop deck for that very reason. I never want an event I throw to be jeopardized because beverages cannot be enjoyed by my guests. Some may consider an ice maker a luxury; I say it’s a great option for optimizing your home design for hosting.

Ample Surface Space

While seating is super important for entertaining, it is equally important to make sure you have enough surface space in your home for hosting a social event. I’ve found people highly underestimate the space they need when they have a number of guests over. People will always want places to congregate that don’t require sitting or retiring themselves to a table.

My family has always enjoyed gathering around counter areas like kitchen islands. Why? My guess is they always have places to put drinks and appetizer plates down while conversing or socializing. And, countertops and islands are larger and don’t confine people to smaller, more quaint tables. Those can be reserved for people who prefer private or more intimate conversations. I’m a fan of occasional tables for the same reason. If you serve food while hosting your event, realize that people may not want to hold a plate in one hand and their drink in another the entire time. Optimizing your home design when it comes to being a good host may mean something as simple as providing more space for your guests.

Providing ample surface space may also mean considering details like catering trays for your events. When you bring in staff to assist with private parties, it would be a good idea to consider what your caterer may need in terms of space. Refrigeration options like the aforementioned appliances are always good, but other options may not be designed to accommodate catering trays similarly. Always remember: if you take care of your caterer, they will take care of you!

Lighting

Lighting sets the mood and tone in a space and should be a high consideration for optimizing your home design for hosting amazing events. Incorporating smart bulbs is an inexpensive way to bring dynamic aesthetics to your home. Many of these bulb options can sense and interact automatically with their environments or other users—even other technology. Plus, they can be controlled via voice commands or accessed remotely via a phone or other device, so accessibility won’t necessarily require an electrician or other professional. Investing in smart lights can help you control the energy throughout your event. You can start with brighter lights and adjust them as the party progresses. The options are pretty limitless!

Decor

When it comes to your decor, I know as an interior designer the impact it can have on all visitors to your home. As a host of a multitude of home gatherings, I can tell you nothing creates more conversation among guests than using your decor to make your space feel personal and to tell a story your guests are interested in knowing or hearing about. Incorporate personal decor in the entryway. Place personal photos on console tables. Hang unique art on the walls. These will almost always spark guests’ interests and give them a feel for who you are in your space. These will give your space personality—YOUR personality. There will never be a greater representation of the host in the home. Never negate the storytelling power of your decor. Trust me.

The New Year will be exciting, but as with other holidays, it will come and go. Your home and opportunities to entertain guests will happen throughout the next 365 days and beyond. Consider these suggestions for optimizing your home design for hosting great events in your home, and you’ll be the reason—and your home the destination—why people want to enjoy their next night out!

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the last several years have brought with them quite a few challenges and struggles for people around the globe. So many lost loved ones due to the pandemic, lost jobs, saw prices of everything skyrocket, and the list goes on. It’s just been a difficult time for our world. I receive messages all the time from people sharing stories of how their mental health has been negatively affected by all the issues surrounding them, and my heart goes out to every single one. I’ve long said how much interior design allows me to tap into the many parts of myself and what I love to do. One of those things is helping others build a better life for themselves or improve the way they function in their everyday lives. The way you design and adorn your space can contribute to the way you feel in major ways. Today I’m going to talk to you about romanticizing your life with interior design, because you’re totally worth it!

Revolutionize Your Routine

If you spend any amount of time on social media, you have most likely at some point scrolled past a woman talking about how she has decided to “romanticize” something in her life. It’s usually something unremarkable like a walk, or coffee in the morning. The concept stems from the idea that ordinary things can take on a completely new and idealistic meaning if we are only willing to see them in a new and improved light. Now, this might sound ridiculous for the more practical among us. But, I urge you to wait before jumping to judgment. After all, isn’t a significant part of interior design taking a space and making it better looking and better functioning? Why not use design to enhance your life in fresh ways?

When I redesigned my former house, one of the first things the contractors said when they spotted the skylights was, “These are outdated. We should get rid of them.” I immediately let them know I had big plans for those beauties! I wanted to create a moment in my spa-like bathroom and place a tub under the skylight so I could unwind under the stars. I am doing the same thing with my dream beach home. I have a stunning gold Thompson Traders tub that will sit among beautiful white and gold stone, perfectly positioned under a skylight. After a long day I can sip wine, light a few candles and bathe with the glow of the moon and stars. I can’t think of a better way to end the week. 

Mundane to Magnificent

Use interior design to your advantage. If you’re a morning person, consider spending extra time selecting a nice bistro set you can place by a window to enjoy your breakfast while watching the sunrise. Do you enjoy working out? Redesign your gym to look like a commercial one. Get inspirational images and quotes printed professionally to hang on the walls, or invest in a small sound system to blast motivational music. Love juicing? Create a nook in your kitchen with beautiful appliances and sleek glass bottles. Make your life grand in small ways and watch your mood improve. Interior design choices can make you start to look forward to ordinary moments!

Interior Design for the Life You Want

I’m having so much fun showing you the step-by-step process of building my family’s forever home. It’s always fun to read the reactions people have to some of my more unique design features. For instance, I am opting to hang actual mirror ball lighting fixtures in my kitchen instead of your more standard pendant lighting or chandelier. Why, you ask? Because my family adores music and dancing. We don’t go a week without a dance party in my home. I have big plans to host major gatherings where we dance on the kitchen island with the sparkle from the disco balls bouncing around us! Dancing and music lifts our mood, helps rid the body of anxious energy and it’s just fun! I want my space to reflect the kind of life we live, and interior design is an excellent vehicle for that.

Feeling stuck in an area of your life? How can you inspire change with your environment? Perhaps you have always wanted to start your own business. Is there a room you can transform into an office space? No need for major renovation projects, simply take advantage of multi-use furniture like murphy beds and put a desk in your guest room! Paint your walls in your favorite color or put statement wallpaper up that energizes you each day, and start that entrepreneurship journey!

Ditching the Standard

There will always be voices telling you what you should do with your space. Everyone from experts, to family members to complete strangers will dish out advice. Although likely well-intentioned, only you know what would best suit you and your life. Interior design should make things more efficient. It should make your space feel like it rises up to greet you when you enter. The modifications that have that kind of influence? Well, that’s up to the individual. I am designing my primary bedroom with an unusual layout, because I want to prioritize the view of the ocean. Is it something that my clients would want? Maybe not. But it’s perfect for Breegan! Those are the types of preferences you have to tap into when you’re romanticizing your life.

If you’ve always wanted to be the house everyone comes to for the most extravagant parties or gatherings, design for that! Are you the quintessential host? Design a kitchen that offers various seating arrangements, spaces for serving trays and a good flow for foot traffic. Who says you have to wait for a major holiday to throw the shindig of the year? Pick a theme, decorate and send out the invite list! 

Romanticize Life

I’m installing a hot tub on the roof of my home along with a wet room and ice maker, all because I want my boys to have a place to splash around with their friends. I want to invite my friends over and sip champagne and specialty cocktails as we catch up. For that, I need ice! Ignore the naysayers regarding your interior design. You define your own standard. 

Life is too short for boring. Small things really can be special, and your interior design can help with that. Put fresh flowers on your table for lunch and use the good china. Splurge on that marble table that reminds you of your favorite hotel in Bali. Create spaces that allow you to live life on your own terms! If you’re ready to romanticize your life, contact me at The Expert today! I’m prepared to beautify your spaces and get you on the road to splendid living!

Most potential home buyers know the feeling of looking for the perfect house with the perfect architecture and perfect appliances and furnishings. Homeowners and renters alike often feel discouraged when they struggle to achieve the same look in their homes as the perfect photo they saw on social media or on tv. But here’s the thing, folks…perfection doesn’t exist! There’s almost always something that has to be modified or built in order to get your real estate reality to match what’s in your dreams. The good news is, if you hire a designer, we are usually able to help you find clever workarounds and innovative solutions to get to your desired goal. If you’re looking to elevate your spaces, I’ll share a few easy swaps and interior design tricks to ensure you get what you want, every time!

Keep the Focus: Seamless Design

Are you following me on social media? If not, you absolutely should be! If you already do, then you’ve likely seen this bed (pictured above) in a couple homes I’ve designed. It is one of my favorite pieces, and it’s one of the most asked about and complimented pieces, too! I imagine this bed gets so much attention for all of the reasons I love it. It’s a neutral piece with a black headboard and footboard. The brass accents make the bed feel ultra luxe and sophisticated without being overly ornate. But the real star of the show is the lucite canopy! This bed has presence. It commands your attention and makes a statement, and it does all of that without dwarfing the room. We have lucite to thank for that!

Lucite is durable and it doesn’t yellow when exposed to UVA rays. I love lucite because its clear composition allows it to play with the design of a space without interrupting the otherwise seamless look. It feels grand without looking heavy—the way a bed constructed of wood, particularly a darker wood, could. The other benefit to using lucite is that you never have to worry about matching it with your existing color palette. That’s definitely a win. I’ve used lucite in many different ways in design Another favorite would be barstools. Kitchen islands are great places to gather, and they’re often used for multiple purposes (homework, cooking, work stations, etc). Seating can be a bit of a challenge if you don’t have a ton of space, so arranging large stools in those areas can appear a bit cluttered to the eye. Swap out your wood or metal stool for lucite ones and add a colorful cushion for personality. You’ll instantly see the difference in the look and feel of the kitchen.

Functional, but Finished 

Kitchens are usually what people comment on when they’re thinking about remodeling, upgrading or buying a home. That’s understandable; after all, kitchens aren’t called the “heart of the home” for nothing, right? We spend so much time there, it makes sense to want these spaces to look their absolute best. If you’re wanting to give your space an easy facelift without embarking on a full on renovation journey, one of the things to consider is a panel ready fridge. These are refrigerators that allow you to cover the front with a “face” that matches the rest of that space. You can make them blend in so well that they almost appear hidden! It gives the space an refined look and keeps the design cohesive. Some companies, like Jennair, even allow for materials like stone or leather to grace the front for an especially custom experience. 

Small Space Solutions: Interior Design Hacks

I am so excited to be introducing my new lighting line next year with Savoy House! I cannot wait to introduce you to what I’ve been working on. Lighting is so key to the design of a space because it determines how easily the space can be used, and it even determines the ambiance and vibe. I have always loved infusing spaces with beautiful fixtures. I even hung several chandeliers in my retail store as a teen! There’s just nothing like big, bold lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling for maximum impact. But what happens when your space doesn’t allow for that? 

If you have a small room or lower ceilings, adding a ton of floor lamps will only make it feel smaller. Table lamps require…tables—something else you likely don’t have space for in a modestly sized room. So, what’s an interior design enthusiast to do? Sconces are an awesome way to add lighting to your rooms when you don’t want to use much space. They come in a variety of sizes, materials and colors, so you’ll be able to find ones that work well with your style. If you know Breegan, you know I favor brass and gold in pretty much everything metallic. I have used sconces in all types of rooms, and they never disappoint! Swap your floor lamp for a stylish sconce to save on space.

I could go on and on about easy swaps and interior design hacks to give your space a more modern and stylish look! No matter what you’re faced with, there is usually a solution that can be employed for a happier you, and better designed space. Contact me on The Expert today, and let’s schedule a virtual consultation. I’m excited to help you get the home you want and deserve!

Buying a new home is such an exciting experience, especially when the time comes to make it your own. If you buy a home that is already built and established, there may be limitations on what you can do regarding the actual structural components of the house. However, if you can take a home down to the studs and work with an interior designer like me, you can architecturally design it with the future in mind. And, you will allow for some extra conveniences that might be tailored specifically to your life. Here are just a couple of interior design options I incorporated in my home to future-proof it.

Elevators

Let’s be clear: I was EXTREMELY intentional about the interior design options I utilized in my home concerning future-proofing it. Why? For starters, it stands pretty tall with four floors. I have no problems navigating the floors now at my age, and with my current physical capabilities. But there may come a time when age and physical limitations may prevent me from being able to climb a flight of stairs easily. Moreover, my aging relatives who may want to spend time with me and my family may find it a chore to navigate the stairs. They may even have challenges enjoying the rooftop and gorgeous views of the ocean.

To offset these potential future limitations, I planned to install an elevator in my home. It was the most convenient way to ensure the home remains accessible to everyone regardless of age or ability. If that’s one of the interior design options you wouldn’t mind, plan it EARLY! Considerations for an elevator must be introduced when you begin building the home. The elevator shaft has to be allotted for in the architecture plans, and it’s much harder to do after the house is built.

Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)

While we don’t currently have a nanny, I am a huge advocate for any mom employing one if needed. As I worked through the interior design options in my new beach home, I thought about a world in which my children might need a live-in nanny or assistant again. So, I designed an ADU, or additional dwelling up) in my home. This is a space that functions independently of the rest of the living quarters and has a private entrance and exit. So many people wished they could have had something like an ADU at the height of the pandemic. It would have been a great way to better control the spread of germs in and out of your primary space. This would be especially key to accountability for someone who had to return to your home every day.

Listen, I understand not everyone can build a house and put an elevator in it. Even if they could, that may not be a need everyone has. The point is, if you’re able to either buy or build a home with the future in mind, you can make wise, structural choices that will suit you long after you fall in love with your property. You can go on to live in your home comfortably knowing you’ve considered many of the “what-ifs” that could arise. No, we cannot predict or prevent everything. But thinking about future-proof interior design options certainly will give you a leg up—if you’re willing to consider them.

So, what future-proof needs might you have for your home? Not sure where to start?  Let’s chat! I have years of experience with this and can help you find solutions for enjoying your home both now AND later in life. I’m ready when you are!

What’s on your walls? It’s an important question, considering our walls are some of the largest surfaces in our homes. As such, they should tell a story. What that story will be is completely up to you! The great thing is there are so many different ways you can tell that story with your accent walls. Here are a few contemporary ways to achieve the look and feel you want in your interior design.

The Perfect Paint

Perhaps the most well-known, tried-and-true approach to accent walls involves painting one wall—the “accent” wall—a vibrant color that’s different from the rest of the room.

If you’re committed to a particular paint color, painting an accent wall may be just what your space needs to give it that decorative flair that may be missing. Regardless, your accent wall will draw attention to an area that may be overlooked. It will also bring attention to the rest of the decor in the space.

Why Not Wallpaper?

If you want to make a statement with your walls but you’re not sure you want to commit to paint, a funky wallpaper can be just the thing to make the difference you’re looking for. What’s neat is that wallpaper can be a culmination of graphics, textures, or even photos.

For example, in a restaurant I designed, I used an oversized print of the chef’s hands as a focal point because I wanted the guests to feel as enveloped by the space as they were captivated by the culinary delights. It was an abstract but powerful presentation that is one of my favorites to this day!

Magnificent Mirrors

I haven’t seen designers use it as often as I want, but mirrors are another great resource to use for creative accent walls. Incorporating mirrors on an accent wall is a great way to brighten up dimly lit areas or darker rooms. The dynamic reflections, especially with multiple mirrors, are a great way to create the appearance of a larger environment and add depth to the space.

Artwork Is Amazing

Collections of artwork work very well for accent walls. The great thing about using art is that each type of art is so varied and different. Hundreds of people could create accent walls with art, and none of them would be the same!

In one episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, we helped a very special refugee family connect to their homeland by creating an accent wall with Congolese masks, each representing a member of their family. It even paid homage to some of their family lost in the war in the Congo. The installation brought new meaning to what “home” would epitomize for the family, and that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve with the art-filled accent wall.

These are just a few ways you can create some modern, avant-garde accent walls throughout your home. Whether you incorporate paint, wallpaper, mirrors or art, use your walls to your advantage to convey a part of your story. Do you need some help bringing your vision to life? I’m just a click away! Let’s get together for a virtual consultation and talk through all of the amazing ideas we come up with together!

You ever notice how much people focus on kitchens in home design TV shows? Both designers and clients tend to want the big kitchen design, bold (or striking neutral) colors, expansive islands and particular cabinets. Look, I get it! I personally feel the kitchen is the heart of the home, so I understand the attention people give that space. I also get why people tend to focus on what they’ve seen on TV when it comes to their own kitchen design. The problem comes when they take various mismatched elements from several home designs that fail to come together. Here are some of my suggestions to make sure your kitchen design is seamless and cohesive with respect to its interior elements.

Coordinate Colors In Your Kitchen Design

The most prominent aspect of your kitchen design will be the colors you use throughout, so make sure they’re complementary. When it comes to color choices, I say you can never go wrong with a tuxedo kitchen. The combination of light and dark has a timeless appeal, so it will never not be in style. What’s more, black and white are perfectly complementing neutrals that easily provide visual balance in the space. As such, you’ll begin your kitchen design with a foundation of seamless coordination as you add other elements in.

If you prefer more color than black and white, by all means incorporate more color. However, I’d suggest keeping the most expensive design elements neutral. I’m specifically thinking about your countertops (especially if you use stone) and flooring. Those are expensive parts of your kitchen design that won’t get changed out as often, so avoid experimenting with color there. That can get costly and frustrating.

Strategize Accents and Decor

Next, you want to think about all of the accents in your kitchen design and decor. Those will grab people’s attention, also, for better or worse! Details matter in your overall design, so make sure they all align with the overall aesthetic. For instance, you may not have thought about the knobs and pulls on drawers and cabinets, but look at them. Do they match your faucets and lighting? If they’re matte black but your faucets are metallic, is that a cohesive look? Consistency is key, and not having that in your kitchen design is very easy to recognize.

Speaking of lighting, you should make sure your lighting fixtures complement the overall appearance. You wouldn’t want a splendidly ornate chandelier housed in a farmhouse-style kitchen. One is extremely fancy while the other is more pastoral. They don’t match. There’s one caveat to this suggestion: your personal style. If it’s your goal to infuse various design styles in your kitchen decor, what you want is the bottom line. But hopefully your vision unifies all of the elements you use in your space.

Other Kitchen Design Elements

We’ve established that both the prominent and the minute elements in your kitchen design are important to creating a seamless presentation. What else should you consider in the space? I say you should thoughtfully consider your backsplash. Is it tile or stone, and does it match the rest of the design in your space? It should. And, it should be as timeless as the rest of your decor. Avoid picking trendy materials that may clash with things you may change or switch out sooner, such as your handles, pulls, paint colors, or even your range hood. In one of my older homes I wrapped the existing hood in a gold metallic to match my brass accents. That’s how intentional I was with coordination. The final look was amazing!

There are so many other smaller accents that can help create a harmonious look in your kitchen. Designer plates for switches and outlets provide both fashion and function that can take your kitchen design to another level. Florals and greenery are tried-and-true options that easily mesh and connect decor elements, and help bring a full kitchen vision to life. No matter what you choose to do, the ultimate goal is to integrate your creative style into one consummate kitchen. If you’d like some help bringing it all together, I’d love to work with you! Contact me, and let’s create a magnificent kitchen design together!

Whether they’re on the hunt for a new space or attempting to update their current one, my clients often have one thing in common. They want to know how to make their space appear larger. Our homes are our safe havens. We spend so much time in them, and no one wants to feel cramped. Unless you’re up for serious renovations, you really have to get clever about making the most of your existing square footage. Luckily for you, I’ve spent a great deal of time helping others see the hidden potential in their homes and bringing out the best in them. I’m ready to share with you my interior design tips and tricks to getting a spacious abode!

Get Clever with Color

Let’s start with an easy one. Color matters, and not just in the way you might think. When people think of interior design, they usually go straight for the “pretty stuff.” They want to create mood boards filled with trendy chairs, pillows and lighting fixtures. Now, I won’t lie to you. I love all those details just as much as the next person. After all, it is what I do. But, it isn’t all that I do. My job is to ensure the choices we make together in a home will suit you and your family for years to come, and that means maximizing the usefulness of a space. 

So, how do we do that with color? Well, for starters we select shades that are going to direct the eye exactly where we want it to go. Think about clothing. When people want to look slimmer, they tend to wear darker colors. Lighter hues, on the other hand, can sometimes make a person or part of a body appear bigger than it typically does. So, if we want to call attention to the expanse a room has, opting for brighter colors across the largest surfaces is the way to go! I love using stone in my designs. While it comes in a myriad of colors and patterns, white has to be my favorite for places like countertops and backsplashes. It makes a space feel airy. I love tuxedo kitchens for this reason as well. White uppers draw the eye up and make the entire room feel more open. Want your kitchen to feel sizable? One of my best interior design tips is to use white on the biggest surfaces. That includes your walls, by the way.

Fruitful Flooring

If you’ve seen my previous Venice Beach home, you probably know I’m a fan of parquet flooring. In fact, I created my own pattern and used it throughout my living area in that house. Parquet flooring is known for the stunning geometric shapes in wood flooring that truly give a room a luxurious feel. Besides the elegance of parquet flooring, I also love that it is nondirectional. Flooring might not be the first interior design element you think of when you want to make your space appear more generous, but I’m going to give you a great reason why it should! 

Many of the beach homes in Venice Beach, California are narrow with several levels stacked on top of one another. Though still ample, the rooms can look quite tapered. If you were to use a more traditional hardwood flooring design where each piece is placed in a row, you almost accentuate the slender appearance of each space. That’s the opposite of the goal we’re after when we want our rooms to look airy and extensive. So, consider nondirectional flooring when it’s time for an upgrade!

Don’t Forget About Windows

When it comes to Breegan Jane signature interior design tips, “high and wide” definitely ranks highly! That’s in reference to curtains, and it’s a principle I live by! How many times have you walked into a home and remarked about how much natural light it had? Probably more than you care to count. Well, that’s because windows can make or break a space. But, if windows are the cake, then window treatments are the icing! That’s because curtains cause our eyes to focus on the height of a room, which always has a big impact on how spacious it seems. So, let’s trick the eye! Your home might not have floor-to-ceiling windows, but nothing is stopping you from hanging those curtains at the ceiling anyways. Making the rookie mistake of placing your curtain rod right above shorter windows will dwarf the space. Do yourself a favor and aim for the stars (almost, at least, lol). You’ll feel like the space instantly opened up.

The Magic of Mirrors

Listen, don’t we all wish we could begin a home remodeling project on a whim and somehow have it instantly and effortlessly finished within a few days? I’d love to be able to demolish walls anytime I want a bigger space, but living through renovation is not for the weak! Fortunately, there’s yet another (much easier) way to achieve that cavernous quality in your space. Mirrors have long been a staple for me because of their endless interior design uses! They make for gorgeous accent walls in bathrooms and living rooms.

Their reflective nature comes in handy in other ways, also. They can cause a room to literally appear to be double its size! Don’t believe me? Check out the photo below. People often expect this room to be much bigger because this oversized mirror is working overtime to do exactly that! Here’s another little secret: This is actually a mirror sort of built into the wall with a border around it! No more worries of heavy mirrors falling and hurting anyone. 

You don’t have to have a mega mansion to get the spacious home you desire. Sometimes, just a few changes here and there can make all the difference! If you’re looking for help with your home, I’d love to chat with you! My interior design tips and tricks are only a virtual consultation away! Schedule one on The Expert today!