Interior Design Ideas and Inspiration.

Dear Debonair,
I’m not sure what style of design best fits my personality. I am moving in February and want to totally start over with new furniture/design. What publications/websites do you suggest I look at for inspiration?

(Image provided by David Phoenix Interior Design)

SY:  Most likely, you’re unsure of your design preference because you appreciate a little bit of every style. Rather than committing to one look, try being an Eclectic when decorating your place. Juxtaposing traditional with contemporary elements can result in an authentic place that reads both modern and honest. Avoid trends and implement a liberal seasoning of tchotchkes wherever you can. Move toward personal, idiosyncratic solutions in design, rather than the trend obsessed school of thought that most pedestrian decor is based on. Great design trumps trends, and some of the most inspiring spaces I’ve seen implement a courageous mixture of diverse design (think futuristic lucite dining table atop an antique Persian rug.) To explore your options, I would suggest picking up two popular shelter magazines for a dual design perspective: House Beautiful & Elle Decor. While House Beautiful offers design on a more affordable bend, Elle Décor visually stimulates for those with a bigger budget.  For rousing imagery online, TheSelby.com is fantastic. Like the Sartorialist for the home, Todd Selby photographs the inspiring spaces of Creatives from all around the world. His featured homes are the epitome of personal style, and they’ll definitely get your creative juices flowing for your own place. All in all, I’m confident that these suggestions will offer a well-rounded resource for inspiration, just make sure that you utilize your intuition and keep it fun. If you’re not having fun in your decorative efforts, you’re not in the true spirit of design.

Thanks for visiting,

Sean Yashar

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