Timeless Interiors with Deborah Hastings

Timeless Interiors with Deborah Hastings

With 35 years of experience designing well-appointed homes, Deborah shares her favorite three style secrets to achieving good design that can be applied to any home on any budget.

  1. Whenever a trend is so popular that you can buy it everywhere, it is time to start avoiding it. It’s not a snob thing—it is a saturation thing. We are fickle. When we see too much of something, we get tired of it much faster. Rule of thumb—enjoy a few items to liven up your interior, but don’t load up on the current rage. You will be tossing it all out and chasing the next “must haves” way too soon.
  2. For key furnishings to anchor a room, look to the classics. Certain iconic shapes are always on point. A wingback chair, a Chippendale dining table and chairs, and for more modern classics the Eames chair and Saarinen tulip table will always be a solid investment.
  3. So where are the best places to shop? Everywhere. Consignment  shops and estate sales are a treasure hunt for those of us with the time to scout them. The internet allows you to browse in your pajamas, but read the dimensions and reviews carefully. Buying through local artisans and stores gives you the opportunity to see the item before buying and even take it home to try. Measure the space you are buying for and have a flexible master plan before shopping.

Get more designer style secrets from Deborah in our Winter 2017 issue!