Style at Home
By Mary Carol Garrity
Bring Your Personality to Life in Your Decor
The secret to creating a beautiful home isn’t in cloning a bigname designer’s style, or washing a room in the latest trend. It’s about thoughtfully constructing a space that celebrates the people who live there. Our design choices should not only be inspired by today’s “it” color palettes or furniture styles, but by the opportunity to bring to life the story of us: what we love, what is precious from our past, what we dream of for the future. You infuse a space with your personality layer by layer, in the little design choices and the big ones. My friend Lisa is a master at this. Her home is loaded with personality. Everywhere you turn, you see her sense of humor, love of tradition and adventurous spirit. I will be blogging about Lisa’s home in the near future, so stay tuned. But today, I want to spotlight six ways Lisa has put her unique stamp on her home design, to inspire us to do the same in our own homes. REPLACE GENERIC LIGHT FIXTURES WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL Look up for a moment. Are your light fixtures the generic numbers selected by your builder? Do you love them? If not, think about replacing them with pieces that are filled with character — your character. Lisa picked a charming chandelier for her upstairs bath instead of a ho-hum lackluster light. With its warm gold metal and sparkling crystals, the fixture makes the bath feel like a romantic retreat.
Every room needs one: a focal point that makes a big statement. If your room doesn’t have one already, what about adding a piece of furniture covered in an arresting fabric? Photos courtesy Handout/TNS
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SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS REAL ESTATE
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021
