Creating Character

“With basic white walls and run-of-the-mill fixtures, most newly constructed homes could use a big dose of personality." At I.O. METRO we love the expert advice on how to imprint your personal style to create instant character. Enriching new rooms with lived-in appeal is as easy as Mixing it Up and Focusing on Scale...

(Photo: PointClickHome)

Mix It Up
"A blend of eclectic furnishings and accessories can give a new home a cozy, lived-in look. When designing the interiors for a custom home, Skye Kirby, spiced up the palette of creams, grays, and golds with pops of black and small touches of animal print. "A little bit of zebra goes a long way," Kirby says. She also maintained a proper balance of new and old looking pieces by introducing a rustic cabinet with vintage glass doors to the tailored family room."

Don't Tip the Scale
"Many new homes have high-volume ceilings, so it's important to maintain balance in the space below. "Nothing makes a big room look disproportionately large like tiny furnishings and accessories," says Chaplow. For large walls with little detail or trim work, try a grouping of nicely framed art or a grand, framed mirror. "Remember to keep accessories focused, and in proportion to the size of the area," the designer notes. "A lot of small things can become clutter rather than points of interest." —Courtesy of Decorating with Style Magazine