February 2019: Loving Design
February can be a cold and dreary month, but you can bring a little spark of joy into your corner of the world with the right design. Why not take a fun style quiz for inspiration or stroll through Brooklyn’s own Design District? Read below for these highlights and more.
The Story: Designing Your World
The Jump Off
You might have thought finding the home of your dreams was the hard part — little did you know that decorating it might be equally angst-ridden! Once you’ve committed to a new home, you’ll find yourself faced with choices of paint color, furniture and even layout and function of each room. Take a deep breath, it’ll all be ok.
The Process
First things first, start with finding out what your design style is. Are you New Traditional or Organic Modern? Contemporary Cottage or Warm Industrial? Defining your tastes might make it easier to narrow down your choices and pull together a cohesive look.
Next, marinate. Don’t jump right away to define a space if you’re not sure how you’re going to use it yet. City dwellers don’t always have that much say over the layout of a home, and although you might have chosen your home for its great flow, how exactly you need to decorate is not just a question of aesthetics but how the room is going to function in real life. So live in your new space for a while if you can, before rushing out to put your design dreams into action.
Finally, think of the long term. If you’re overhauling a kitchen or bath, err on the side of caution and go for a timeless look you won’t need to update when trends shift. If you’re in love with a particular fad, color or pattern, incorporate these whims into accents that can easily be swapped out down the road.
The Wrap Up
If you take your time and keep both beauty and function in mind when decorating your space, you’re sure to find a style that works for you and will make the place you’ve purchased into a real home.
The Conversation Cheat Sheet
You finally found the perfect distressed wooden dining table only to discover that it will take three months for it to arrive at your front door! What’s a New Yorker to do? Head to Industry City where you’ll find outlets for some of the best furniture and design stores, like Restoration Hardware, Design Within Reach, ABC Carpet and Home and (my personal favorite) Mitchel Gold + Bob Williams. And if you don’t think you can sweet-talk your honey into helping you haul home your big find, Industry City even delivers! Take a stroll around next weekend or head to one of their cool events and grab a bite!
The Gabriele Moment: Shine, Sparkle, Pop.
If there’s one place we can completely be ourselves, it’s our home. It’s a place to relax and express ourselves — and that includes design. At our place, we like to keep things classic, though I love to make a room come alive with accent pieces that sparkle and pop like a statement chandelier or a Jonathan Adler velvet throw. And up in my favorite lounge area, a bright orange mini SMEG fridge does double duty as a cheery piece of decor as well as an endless supply of yummy goodies!
Share The Joy
Know someone considering a move or an investment? Please forward this newsletter to your family and friends — most of my business comes by word of mouth! I truly appreciate every one of your referrals. Thank you!
