Design Tips | Nina Petronzio's Blog

TUESDAY’S PLUSH HOME TIP: CHANGE YOUR KNOBS TO UPDATE YOUR LOOK

There seemed to be so many opportunities for a title with this blog post (ie. "Don't be a knob"), but I couldn't find one that worked so I decided to keep it simple and straight forward: Change your knobs to update your look.

You probably don't realize how many knobs there are in your life (yes, I meant that as a double entendre...I guess that might have worked as header).

Look around: your doors, dressers, desk, kitchen cabinets - they all have knobs. (BTW - While it is very hard to trace who first invented the door knob, the credit goes to Osbourn Dorsey. He put in the first patent for an improved door-closing device, which has been improved to what we know as the door knob today).

But if you look carefully, I bet there are a handful of those items that have knobs that are either poorly scaled or are the wrong style/feel. A tip to update your space is to change a couple knobs out. It may seem like a trivial thing to do, but trust me...interior design is all in the details. I've literally held new PLUSH HOME pieces from being released for months, just because of a back-ordered knob. Everything is only as good as it's weakest link, and a poorly chosen knob on the finest piece of furniture is a sure fire way to bum out a client, a room, and me.

Our PLUSH HOME Carlisle Dresser is typically handmade in hand-finished mahogany with classic, satin nickel hardwaer. But for a girl's bedroom, I opted for a white lacquer finished, accompanied with more whimsical knobs for a young, dreamy, and clean vibe.

KNOB CHANGE WARNING. Be aware that when you remove your existing knobs, there will obviously be a screw hole and most likely indentation from the last hardware.  So you will either have to be ready for touch-ups, or find replacement knobs that are the same size or a tad larger.

When it comes down to accessorizing, scale and color are major factors in selecting just the right pieces for your space. But it can often be a challenge to find just the right size, color...and price that works for your project and pocket book.  Yes, a custom bronze sculpture will always do the trick. But when I'm looking for accessory sculptures, CORAL is one of my favorite go-to sources because within the many different species, there is bound to be a perfect size, shape, and color fit for any project I'm working on. Once I hunt down that piece, I'll dress it up with an acrylic or wood mount and call it a day.

Q: How high should your bedside table be?
A: The same size as your mattress height.

Standard bedside tables typically measure between 24-28" in height (depending on the style of your bed - contemporary beds tend to sit much lower than traditional).  

Not only will an ideal table height make your mornings easier when reaching for that snooze button, but perfectly sized bedside tables will also keep your room in proper proportion.

It's a domino effect.  When your tables are too small, people tend to overcompensate by placing enormous lamps on them to fill the space (creating an Alice in Wonderland look), and when your tables are too large, people tend to place tiny table lamps on them (creating weirdness).  

Both these options will detract from a flowing and "pulled-together" look.  Hope that was helpful - see you next Tuesday for another tip.


In situations where the back of a sofa faces the entrance to a room, I will often install a console in that space.  

In addition to offering a more visually appealing welcome than the boring back of your sofa, a strategically positioned console will also:

1. Offer opportunities for accessories
2. Formally divide a room where needed
3. Allow space for additional table lamps

If you're in the mood for a little color, but are afraid to commit to an overall scheme that you may get bored of in a year, try adding splashes of colors in your accessories, artwork, throw pillows, and/or focal point furniture pieces. I designed our Sofia Chair just for this purpose. It's available in any lacquer color you can imagine and has been a loyal piece for me to bring character and architectural interest to an otherwise colorless and boring spaces.

Plush Home Sofia Chair

Room for two more?

If you live in the city, you are space challenged. And it doesn't matter how much square footage you have...it never ends up being enough. So for additional seating for dinners or casual lounging, my secret weapon is to incorporate ottomans into the design plan.  If you place them underneath a console, they can offer a splash of color to your scheme without cluttering up your space. And when you need extra seating in a pinch, you can pull them out as needed.

The Lexington Ottoman by Plush Home

We get a lot of home design questions emailed to us regularly, so I thought it would be helpful to post design tips every Tuesday.

TUESDAY'S TIP: Powder rooms and closets can be challenging to design - they are often asymmetrically shaped or are very limited in size and are frequently overlooked in the design process. I'm not huge on using large scale printed wallpaper in general, but I love it in smaller spaces to help bring drama and character to a room that could have ended up being very forgettable and bland. 

Here are a few recent bath-remodel projects where I was able to add splashes of color using paper.

RECENT BATH REMODELS Entranceway powder room (left) and poolhouse changing room (right) - click image above to see more project pictures

Over matching = not good.

Do you love to match everything perfectly? Are you obsessed with bringing samples of your wood finishes wherever you go to ensure that any new piece of furniture will look exactly like it?  Does the thought of the exact same colors in your artwork, accessories, and wall color turn you on? Do your drapery panels match your throw pillows?

Does this picture to the left appeal to you? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, you have "matchy matchy syndrome". 

If you've answered yes to all of the questions, I'm afraid it's really bad. Granted, there’s definitely a fine line between creating a beautiful, well coordinated and thought out space...and being overly contrived and matchy-matchy. So don't stress too hard if you've been infected with this syndrome (which you may have received from your Aunt Bernice as a child), because I've jotted some sure fire cures for you below.

DON'T repeat the same fabric in a room or house…EVER!

DO repeat your accent color to create flow and a pulled together look.

Repeat your accent color SUBTLY to create a gracious flow and an elegant and pulled together look.

__________

DON'T repeat too many pairs of furniture, art or accessories. Limit yourself to the main anchors that make a room/house feel balanced.

DO use pairs to help a fragmented room/house feel more balanced.

__________

DON'T select art that is an exact match to your color scheme.

DO select art that is complimentary to your color scheme.

__________

DON'T match every finish on every piece of furniture precisely.

DO use different finishes that compliment each other and that will bring interest to your space.

__________

DON’T use the same size or finish of object too often when you are accessorizing.

DO create a layered effect by using objects with varying heights and different textures and/or finishes with your accessories.

__________

Arguably one of the most common questions I get through email is, "How high should I hang my chandelier from my dining room table?"

Answer: 36 inches.

Now there are a few instances where this isn't possible, and it's not the end of the world to go lower.  But know that a lower height will not be tall people friendly.  Also, in these cases I would also suggest a clear chandelier...unless you prefer to avoid eye contact with the person sitting across from you.

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Nina Petronzio's Blog

Interior design, furniture, fashion

TUESDAY’S PLUSH HOME TIP: CHANGE YOUR KNOBS TO UPDATE YOUR LOOK

TUESDAY’S TIP: Accessorizing with Coral

TUESDAY’S TIP: Bedside Table Manners

Q: How high should your bedside table be?
A: The same size as your mattress height.

TUESDAY’S TIP: Cover it with a Console

TUESDAY’S TIP: Where to add color

Tuesday’s Tip: Where to hide extra seating

Room for two more?

Tuesday’s Tip: Wallpaper for small spaces

Matchy-Matchy Syndrome

Lighten UP

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Interior design, furniture, fashion

Q: How high should your bedside table be? A: The same size as your mattress height.

Room for two more?

Categories

Archives

Q: How high should your bedside table be?
A: The same size as your mattress height.