Ask Devon - September Q&A

Welcome back to another roundup of our favorite Q&A submissions! We took a look back at all of the Q&As from the month of September, and chose ten of our favorites to highlight on the blog. Devon touches on all things interior design in this month’s roundup, from pops of color to induction cooktops. So let’s dive in!

Best ways to do color without DOING COLOR?

I love this question, and I feel like we tackle this on a lot of our projects. We achieve it by focusing on earth tones for colors. Greens and blues are beautiful compliments to wood tones and add subtle touches of color without feeling loud or too bold.

How do you avoid short term trends in your designs?

We honestly do not pay attention to trends. If you are investing in your home, DO NOT do something that’s long term just because it’s “in” right now. That’s the fastest way to date your home in a few years. Instead, we focus on a client’s personal style and “vibe” and translate that into a design. Your home should be a reflection of you, it should not be what everyone else has.

What room should you redecorate in your home first?

Whichever room isn’t bringing you joy or functioning the way you need it to. Each room in your house should be tailored to fit your needs - so think through whichever areas cause you stress… maybe the kitchen doesn’t have enough storage or counter space, or the bathroom lighting is horrible for doing your makeup, or your office is cluttered and needs a better storage and workspace setup. Identify that and then focus on fixing those areas first.

Should I paint the trim the same color as the walls? Or different? What about paint sheen?

Ok so if you’re doing a moody, dark room, I vote to paint the trim the same as the walls for a super dramatic effect. Otherwise, I tend to prefer a touch of contrast between the trim and the walls. We use BM Chantilly Lace when we want a crisp white trim, no matter what white we use on the walls. And sometimes we’ll do a soft gray on the trim with white walls to warm things up a bit.

The sheen is also so important! The glossier the paint, the more durable it is. If you want a science lesson, paint is made up of resin and pigment. Pigment is jagged and rough and dull; Resin is glossy. When the ratio is more pigment/less resin, you get a more matte look because the pigment sticks out from the resin. However, if you bump or scuff it, you break the pigment off, leaving a shiny look. Ever try to scrub a flat paint wall and end up with a shiny streak? That’s why. Glossier paints have more resin and it essentially protects the pigment from damage. That makes it more durable.

SO, what does this mean? For trim and doors, it’s best to go with glossier paint because they get bumped and scuffed a lot. For walls, I love a flat paint but just know you need to touch it up a little more frequently because cleaning isn’t the best option. And now you know why.

In an open floor plan, would you continue engineered wood in the kitchen or switch to tile?

We pretty much always carry wood into the kitchen, it gives such a warm feel! The beauty of prefinished wood is that if you somehow damage a board (like drop a cast iron), you simply cut the damaged board out and replace it. No need to sand and stain the whole space!

How thick for marble kitchen waterfall on island?

We love doing thick, mitered counters on islands when we waterfall them - typically around 3-4”. Here’s the trick, only miter the side with the stools. On the inside, do a simple eased edge so that you can still fit your dishwasher and standard cabinet height doors.

What are the pros and cons of induction vs. gas stove?

Induction cooktops are pretty incredible, I have to say. They are incredibly sleek and essentially look like a sheet of glass on your counter. They also don’t get hot. They use magnets to only heat up the metal pan that is on them. This makes them a really safe option for homes with kiddos - especially if the cooktop is on the island. You can also boil water in less than 60 seconds, and if you buy a cool one, there are no preset pan locations - it recognizes your pan/pot, you set the temperature for it, and then you can move it around on the cooktop and it maintains that temp. It’s wild. We have a gas range, but in our next home I will absolutely go induction. Gas is gas… some people prefer to cook with fire. To each their own, but if you ask me, I pick the pretty one.

Designer’s rule of thumb for matching nightstands and dresser for primary bedroom?

More often than not, we do not match! If you can, great. But don’t stress, it’s fine if they’re different!

Getting carpet for the stairs… should I get a matching area rug for the foyer?

I wouldn’t match it, but choose something that is cohesive and plays nicely with it. Maybe something that pulls one of the colors from the runner or has the same texture but in a different color way.

I want a dark and moody primary bedroom, but my husband wants bright and light. Ideas for compromise?

Try incorporating a moody element like an accent wall, and then keep the bedding and window treatments light and bright to balance it out.

That brings us to the end of this month’s Q&A roundup. Don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram so you never miss out on a Q&A!

-dgw