ƅs COUNTRYLIVING.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019
We asked two dozen of our favorite
tastemakers to offer aphorisms
on everything from the most flattering
lighting (think pink!) to how
high to hang curtains (psst: higher!).Wit &
Wisdom
“Vietnamese brooms
from the local Asian
grocery are beautiful
decorative objects
to hang in a kitchen.”
JUSTINA BLAKENEY“When decorating
a room, always
incorporate vintage
in some way,
shape, or form.
Whether it’s avintage chair, a piece
of retro artwork,
or an antique bowl
on your shelf, it’s
important to bring
in that aged
element to warm
up the space.”AMBER LEWIS“Use wall-mounted swing-arm lights
as bedside lamps, so you are free to choose
mismatched bedside tables without
the worry of the shades being at diff ering
heights visually. You get the symmetry
without the predictability of matching tables.”
KEVIN ISBELL“Upholster
the interiors of
your lampshades
in pink silk to
counteract the
sins of today’s
harsh LED bulbs.
Plus, pink light
makes everyone
look amazing
and takes years
off your face.”JASON OLIVER NIXON
& JOHN LOECKE“For a graphic pop
on your countertop,
fi ll glass jars
with retro candies:
Dubble Bubble,
FireBalls, Smarties...”ALISON KANDLER“Highlight
architectural details,
such as doors
and moldings, with
high-gloss black.
(Tricorn Black
by Sherwin-Williams
is my go-to.)
It instantly adds
sophistication and
drama.”STEPHEN SHUTTS“Always use dimmable lighting!
It’s important to be able to transition
your space from day to night,
breakfast to dinner party—and lighting
is the most effective way to
do that quickly and inexpensively.”
THOM FILICIA“My three musts: Curtains should break
a^1 / 2 inch onto the fl oor; square pillows
should never be less than 20 inches or
they will look dwarfed; and replace all towel
bars with hooks—bars require too much
maintenance to keep them looking tidy.”
ZOË FELDMAN“Believe it or not,
I love using vinyl grass
cloth wallpaper in
a mudroom. It’s bullet-
proof against
any amount of shoe
throwing and
equipment dropping!”ANDREW HOWARD“To avoid rigid
symmetry, group
accessories—such
as candlesticks
or pottery—
in odd numbers.”MAX HUMPHREY“When choosing an
area rug, it’s always
best to size up.
At a minimum, all
front furniture legs
should comfortably
fi t on the rug.”
TORI ALEXANDERHOME REMEDIESproduced by JENNIFER KOPF