“Design Obstacles Are Nothing More Than Opportunities”

Quote from Jeffrey Bilhuber’s Design Basics

I picked up this book again the other day from my book collection. Jeffrey Bilhuber has always been one of my very favorite designers which you might have guessed from all of the posting of his rooms I do:

I love his work!

 

I think Design Basics is a great book with a lot of informative design advice for today, even though was first published in 2003. Every time I look through the book,  I still learn something new. I think my favorite chapter was named “Obstacle or Opportunity.” Jeffrey gives creative solutions for several home preexisting conditions. For example, he gave ideas to make a low ceiling look like it has some height:

His simplest solution is to paint the ceiling with good quality high-gloss paint. “Glossy paint reflects the light, creating a vertical illusion and making your eye perceive the ceiling to be higher than it really is.”

One of my best design tips I learned from Jeffery is instead of emphasizing the ceiling and it’s relationship to the wall, emphasize your baseboard. “Most new structures have a baseboard no higher than three inches- if one at all. I suggest making a much larger one. That can be as simple as installing a twelve-inch-high, one-inch-thick plank of wood all around the room. 

You could, for instance buy two or three stock baseboards and stack them together to create significantly more architectural detail. This trick will visually increase the height of the room by a third simply by emphasizing the weight at the bottom of the room, making the upper part of the room feel lighter and more airy.”

What a great idea! Now I am noticing the tall baseboard molding in most all of his rooms. He is a genius! Another really good idea I gained from the book was about changing out those little Lilliputian windows in your bath or powder room. We spend a lot of time in there. Why not make that room even more attractive?  Doesn’t that make so much sense?

What a great Christmas gift for your decorating friend! I have Jeffrey’s new book on my Christmas list- The Way Home. Anyone else have any great design books you would suggest? Love to hear them!

If you need help making your home beautiful, contact me today.

Other designers I love:

Color Extraordinaire Eileen Kathryn Boyd

Designer Favorite Amanda Nisbet

Design Genius Steven Gambrel

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