By the Book

The proliferation of “shelter” catalogues, paired with the popularity of home decorating television shows has contributed to a heightened awareness in decorating trends. Certainly, increasing desire by Americans to create stylish interiors is good for business (both for mine and for the companies who ship the glossy tomes every month) but I have seen a negative side to this as well. My Top Decorating Dilemma # 11 is not terribly common, but when it occurs it is just that: terrible.

A few of my clients have taken a favorite catalogue image, and have duplicated it exactly in their own homes, down to the tininess accessory. Why is this terrible? Well, aside from the obvious lack of creativity , magazine and catalogue displays are not made for USE. The picture is taken in a way that best highlights the item for sale without any regard for how practical the plan is. So when I see a home that looks exactly like a scene out Pottery Barn, I inevitably see a homeowner unhappy with the functionality of the space.

Thankfully, the solution is simple. Rearranging the furniture to improve traffic flow and accessorizing with a couple of items that have meaning to the client are easy starts. Avoiding this dilemma is even easier. If the urge to recreate a scene hits—RESIST—no matter how perfect the scene may appear. Tear the page out and add it to an idea file instead.