Ask Devon - March Q&A
Have you been tuning into our weekly Q&As over on our Instagram stories? Every weekend, Devon answers a variety of questions from our followers ranging from design tips to career advice, and everything in between. If you missed them, you’re in luck because we’re sharing a roundup of our favorite questions from the entire month of March!
Q: Should open floor plan dining rooms have a rug?
A: If the space is big enough that you can fit one without impeding on the circulation space, a rug is a great way to ground the space and create a zone since there are not walls to define the room.
Q: What is the best way to create a flow of differing colors/textures in an open floor plan space?
A: You should choose colors that work well together, such as different shades of the same color or complimentary colors (like blue and rust, shown in the photo below). Incorporate elements of each color throughout, but carry the same wood tones and textures throughout to create a cohesive feel.
Q: What are your tips for all white wall not looking “farmhouse”?
A: Avoid shiplap. All white walls does not mean farmhouse to me at all. It can mean minimalist and modern, or transitional, or modern industrial. They can swing whatever way you want depending on what is surrounding them. Farmhouse to me is more influenced by shiplap, bead board, gooseneck lights, and burlap decor somewhere.
Q: Will wood floors ever go out of style?
A: Wood floors have been around for centuries and are not a trend. The “trendy” part of wood floors is the thickness and the stain. Think of how Brazilian cherry floors or maple floors take you right back to the 2000s. Today, the majority of wood floors tend to be wider planks and softer in tone (more ashy and less red/yellow). Your best bet is to choose a white oak floor because they are the most receptive to stain and can be altered to almost anything you want down the road when you want a refresh.
Q: What is the best wattage to use for can lights?
A: We always do dimmable LED recessed lights, usually with 2700K or 3000K color temp depending on the client’s preference. Wattage isn’t a driving factor in my opinion, as long as you put them on a dimmer switch.
Q: Should a rug cover the sofa, coffee table, and side chairs?
A: Every piece of furniture in the seating area should touch the rug. Best case - all four legs of the piece are on the rug. If that’s not possible, at least the front legs should be on the rug.
Q: What are your thoughts on roller shades or cellular shades? Inset vs outset?
A: Roller shades feel more sophisticated to me, and we opt for inside mount if the window size allows. Otherwise, you should mount just above the window with a simple, modern cassette.
Q: What is the best way to hide clutter? Besides cleaning…
A: Built-ins! They are the perfect way to conceal clutter while adding architectural details to your space. The whole left side of the wall shown below is hidden storage.
Q: What influenced you to design more modern projects?
A: I personally love modern designs with clean lines and simple but significant details. Too much clutter or arbitrary “stuff” in a design stresses me out. Today, the clients who reach out to us are typically looking for modern or transitional designs.
Q: What is the best way to figure out what style you like?
A: My best advice is to start looking at images on Instagram, Pinterest, and in design magazines. Save everything that jumps out to you that you love. After a while, look at all the images and start identifying themes in the images. Those are things that you should consider incorporating into your own home.
We hope you enjoyed this month’s Q&A roundup and maybe even learned a few tips and tricks. Be sure to follow along with us on Instagram so you never miss them weekly!
-dgw
