DECORATING

bare essentials

Fed up with an apartment that felt too full, interior designer Baiyina Hughley spruced up her 800 square feet by paring down.

DRAMATIC IN SCALE, THIS MODERN PHOTOGRAPH OFFSETS THE CLASSIC TABLE AND CHAIRS.

PRO TIPS

Baiyina favors traditional furniture silhouettes, but she arranges spaces asymmetrically to generate energy and keep things modern. Multiple light sources help the cause, and a metallic table lamp adds glamour.

After years of helping others design beautiful but highly functional spaces, Baiyina Hughley found that her own home left her cold. “I got to the point where I had too many things from too many #Ȏ,(.-. 3&-ġ (#.-.  ,. .) ,&&3 , /-.,.  me,” she says. “I wanted to come home to something calm, so I decided to put myself through the same exact process that I would a client.” ̙#3# ( ! (3Ȑ ( # (! )( ,. -#! (0#-#)( ), . " ")'-"-" ,-1#. "", ,-/)!ġ #&)Ġ0,&, /. "&-- ,)/ (-) #. # (! )&&)1ġ ( (3 . "# (!. ".# (Į.Ȑ.", “feminine, elegant, and artistic” aesthetic was out.

The objects that remain tell her story. There’s the photograph ) ( #̙"Ļ )/!". .) )'''),. ",')0.)ĠʞĠļġ leopard-print pillows sewn from her grandmother’s fur coat, and a dining table that appeals to her Francophile sensibilities. ̙#3# ( &&-. "&))%ī&3,'# ( #'&#-'ĠĬ0, 3 . "# (!"- purpose and a place. “I don’t like it to feel empty,” she says, “but I )&#%(!. #0-*ķ#.&. -. ". "# (!- &)0-.  ()/.-)  ( '# ,. "' ,)'#Ȏ,(. (!&-ĠĬʞ&. ")/!". "* ,. '(.#- small, it feels neither cramped nor stark, just perfectly Baiyina.

The TV hides in plain sight in front of the fireplace.

An acrylic calendar converts the dining room into an offi ce.

Try hanging nontraditional objects on the wall. This hot pink juju hat is definitely a showstopper.

—BAIYINA HUGHLEY

CRASH COURSE

The 30-Day Makeover Challenge

Baiyina breaks down her tips and secrets in an online course. The new semester begins March 1 and costs $49. baiyina.com

xDESIGN VISION Analyze your space, set goals, and start to declutter—simplify and let go!

x FUNCTION & FLOW Avoid pushing everything to the room’s perimeter. Defi ne the space with rugs and accent chairs.

x3-D EXPERIENCE Your room should have rhythm, “like a dance,” Baiyina says. Vary light sources, surface textures, and furniture shapes and sizes.

x F INAL TOUCHES Focus on the scale of accessories and enhance your color palette with contrast and saturation.

DARK SIDE

Baiyina’s own 30-day challenge included staining this thrift store sideboard. “I use dark accents in my space to keep it grounded and create contrast,” she says.

Tastes like a treat. Cleans like a toothbrush. *

Unique twist design

BAIYINA UNIFIES HER ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF LAMPS WITH UNIFORM BLACK LINEN SHADES.

Scrubbing nubs

Taste they’ll love

Helps fight tartar build-up and bad breath

*When fed daily, Milk-Bone Brushing Chews® are as effective as brushing a dog’s teeth twice a week based on the reduction of tartar build-up.

BEDSIDE MANNER

The Matisse lithographs in the bedroom were a lucky flea market find. “I put them in a grid pattern to make the proportion work within the room and make a statement,” Baiyina says. “They are sensual in a quiet, sophisticated way.” Q

Make a plan

Discover the best layout for your space with our easy room-arranging tool. BHG.com/ArrangeTool