Ask Devon - January Q&A
Each weekend in January, Devon hosted a Q&A series on our Instagram stories answering all of our followers’ questions, offering design advice, and providing her best tips on everything from a project’s ROI to styling accessories. It’s been so great interacting with all of our followers, and we’ll be bringing the series into February and beyond. In this blog, we’ve included a round-up of some of our favorite Q&A’s from the month of January. So grab a cup of coffee, and get ready to feel inspired!
What makes a home feel homey?
Accessories! People often overlook them and think they’re superfluous, but a project never feels finished until its accessorized.
Small bedroom and can’t fit a headboard. What else can we use?
Try painting a headboard! We haven’t done this yet, but dying to! Here’s an inspo image from Pinterest.
How would you desgin a living room with a giant blank wall? Feels so empty and bare.
Every room we design starts with a giant blank wall! Here are a few ideas:
Add applied molding (see the dining room below).
Fill it with a gallery wall and a credenza below it
Built-ins are always my favorite solution, but also the priciest.
Make a drapery wall.
Recommendations for painting my kitchen cabinets? I worry about them looking cheap
Hire a trusted painter who will spray the finish instead of rolling it. Nothing is worse than seeing a cabinet with feathered roller marked on the side. If they’re sprayed, they’ll be good as new and should cure to be strong and really durable! Sometimes it takes a month to fully cure, so just be gentle.
I have so mank books and i love them, but its overwhelming - styling recommendations?
Ok so there are decor/display books and there are books that need to live inside of a cabinet. I’m sorry, I have the same issue. Edit your books down so that the ones that are out work with your color palette, and are in good shape. Anything else, find some shelves in a closed cabinet to tuck them away in.
Wide plank hardwood flooring is lifting in a few places? Panic?
This one’s important! If your floors are cupping (the sides are bowing up) or checking (the boards are starting to crack), your humidity is too low. Get a humidifier and a monitor so you can track it. It’s best to keep it at least 40% humidity which can be tough in the winter!
Is gold hardware a trend? I am debating between gold hardware and nickel.
No, it’s not a trend. Just like jewelry, different metal finishes and options are here to stay. Brass warms a space up significantly, but nickel is the warmest of the “silvery” metals. Actually, pairing nickel and brass can also be beautiful, like we did here.
Thoughts on marble vs quartz counters?
We have a whole blog post on this. Marble and Quartz are both beautiful, but it is a matter of lifestyle. Marble is a very soft stone… any acid that touches it will etch or stain almost immediately, even if it’s sealed. Some people are okay with that because it ages with a patina, but if you know it’ll stress you out, quartz is probably the safer option. There are also a ton of stunning quartzite options, which is another type of natural stone that is much harder and denser than marble (and therefore more durable)… also a great option!
Tips to help a home feel cohesive?
Create a core palette (wood tones, metal, colors) and then every time you pick something, check if it relates back to that core palette. Even patterns count, like organic natural textures or strong linear language. Keep referencing that core palette and sure enough, all the spaces will relate. Don’t be afraid to add some contrast on some areas… they don’t all have to feel identical, but they need to relate. For example, if you have subtle blue pops in some areas, consider painting one room a bold, dark blue to make it moody.
Where to save and where to splurge for a new build?
Invest in:
Cabinets. They get used and abused daily, so get quality cabinets that will hold up over time.
Flooring. It’s a pain to rip up and replace flooring. Install a high quality product with a thick wear layer so that you don’t need to refinish it for years, but you have the ability to do that when it’s time.
Your team! Hire a respected builder… don’t go with the cheapest bid, trust me. And obviously, hire a designer! Designers will help you avoid mistakes and can get you access to materials you wouldn’t have had access to on your own. They also do this professionally, so they know what works and what doesn’t. It seems like a splurge but really it’ll save you money in the long haul.
Save on:
Tile. You don’t need the most expensive tile. Porcelain is cost effective and incredibly durable, and it comes in a million different styles and options.
Decorative Light Fixtures. You can swap these out down the road easily, so feel free to save here during the build.
How can i figure out my aesthetic for a home? not sure what look i really love!
Make a folder and start saving every image you love in it. Once you have a good assortment, look at the images together and start identifying things that are similar in each of them. That will help you narrow down the specific things that you are drawn to, and help you start to hone in on your own aesthetic. Also, it’s ok if it’s not one cookie-cutter type. Mike and I love minimal, modern Japandi style design, but I also have a weakness for global trinkets when I travel, and I try to incorporate them into the space whenever I can. At the end of the day, you want the space to reflect YOU, not just a certain style.
What projects have the best ROI? What do you recommend doing for top dollar sale?
Anything that improves the quality of the home helps increase its value. New floors, kitchens, and bathrooms can all dramatically improve a home and increase your equity. However, don’t expect to get back everything that you put into it. We usually estimate that you’ll get maybe half back when you sell, but that’s just an estimate. You also get the satisfaction of living in a place that’s customized to your needs, which I think carries a lot of weight!
Lamps or hanging pendants on the sides of a primary bed?
Both are great (wall sconces are also a great option) but I have a few notes on this. The perk of doing pendants or sconces instead of lamps is you free up your whole nightstand because it isn’t taken up by a lamp. However, the cost is a bit higher because you’ll need to factor in electrical work to add a junction box and switches (You would probably want switches for the pendants/sconces by each side of the bed and also by the door) and drywall patching and painting. IF it’s a new construction, I’d recommend doing pendants or sconces since the walls are already open and it’s a lot easier, but if not just know that it’s a little more complicated, but still doable!
That completes this month’s best Q&A’s… but if you want to see more be sure to follow DGI on Instagram. Devon will be answering more questions every weekend!
-dgw
Photos: Dustin Halleck
