Alex Papachristidis, Miles Redd, and More Designers on the Items They’d Never Use
The beauty of creative work is that there are—mostly—no right answers. But there are moments when even the most adventurous designers will draw the line. From cold LED lighting to fake flowers, glitter, and chenille fabric, there are certain aesthetic elements that some decorators flat-out refuse to use. Here, we’ve asked designers from around the country to reveal the things that will never be seen in any of their projects.
Fern Santini: “Lighting with a cool color temperature. Nothing can ruin a space more than bad lighting. I always make sure that all lighting on my projects is 2700K, which is the same color as incandescent lighting. LEDs are now available in 2700K, so you don’t have to sacrifice ambience for efficiency.”
Charles de Lisle: “Taxidermy, glass-beaded wall coverings, and brushed nickel hardware. That being said, I will probably use all three on an upcoming project now that I’ve listed them!”
Kyle Marshall: “Cold grays never really appeal to me. I would never use quote decals, though I do enjoy a salty needlepoint or epitaph. I'd never apply anything too serious, really; humor lurks in all good design.”
Alex Papachristidis: “Anything with self-welt is out of the question. It’s a dirty word in our office. Animal skins and heads: They are beautiful, but I now find it passé and inappropriate to have anything dead in the house.”
Miles Redd: “I have a deep aversion to mirrors that are vertically hung on the horizontal, but I truly believe there are exceptions to every rule, so never say never.”
Drew McGukin: “French café chairs in a breakfast room, 18th- and 19th-century antiques, new traditional Persian rugs, and super-obvious knock-offs.”
Shaun Smith: “Faux flowers, giclée prints, LED lightbulbs, and chenille fabric.”
Rayman Boozer: “I would never use a cowhide rug, grasscloth wall covering (I’m allergic!), or anything beige. There are too many great colors out there to waste time with beige.”
Natalie Kraiem: “Taxidermy. I can’t see a dead animal as decor. Granite countertops are also on my no-no list. Some people can swear by their durability, however the look is passé and dated. With so many manmade surfaces, there are other great options. I prefer to use quartz, which is as durable as it is stylish.”
Ryan White: “Lucite dining chairs, beaded crystal chandeliers, sconces, or pendant lighting, and mirrored bed—especially a mirrored, four poster-bed.”
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
