Tips for your home from designer Lauren Liess

The Washington Post

Decorator, textile designer and blogger Lauren Liess was the guest last week on the Post's Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt:

Q: I live in a late-1950s hexagon-shaped ranch house. What I loved about this house was the vaulted wood ceilings, except for the fact that they are really dark. I have both limited natural light and indoor lighting. I had several painters look at the ceilings, and no one would touch them because they feared if I painted them a light color, eventually the stain would bleed through the paint and would not be worth the cost involved. So I gave up! I would welcome your input as to how to bring this home into 2014.

A: Making this decision really depends upon your personal style, but I would consider having the beams sanded down (so that the dark stain is removed) to reveal the natural wood. You could have the beams hand-scraped for a look with some texture and patina. It's what we did in our home, and I absolutely love it. Once the old red/brown stain was removed, our home was instantly lightened. Painting in a lighter color would also be a possibility, but I would do this only after sanding. It took our team three to four days just to do the sanding in our house.

Q: What do you think really defines your style, and how can I achieve a similar vibe -- most likely on a smaller budget than most of your clients? Any areas worth the extra splurge?

A: My style is sort of relaxed, natural and collected. As cliche as it sounds, I love to mix old and new pieces and a little bit of quirk into my designs. To achieve a similar vibe, you could use seagrass rugs (really inexpensive, and they're one of my favorites) to define a space. From there you could layer in mostly neutral furnishings, but maybe pick a piece or two for some great pattern. I hang curtains from the ceiling and love using natural woven roman shades. Home Depot and Lowe's sell nice matchstick roman shades that can work. They're best kept stationary, as over time they can wear out. I love using a mix of pillows in fabrics that the client absolutely loves and would say it's a great place to splurge. A great sofa is another splurge-worthy piece. You can use simple end tables and case goods. Lighting can be fairly basic, but find one really special piece or a great pair of lamps. Finally, layer in original artwork and accessories that you might find at flea markets or thrift stores. I'm always on the hunt for great buys, and it doesn't have to be expensive to be amazing.

Q: I love how you have designed spaces with whites and neutrals. It seems that most pictures I like that have white spaces also have great architectural details such as exposed beams and wood windows that can be painted black. I think that is why my eyes are drawn to those rooms. I am afraid to go white because I don't want the room to look sterile. Other than adding new architectural details, how can I make a new white space warm and cozy?

A: You can make a white space feel cozy by adding layers and lots of textures. Natural elements instantly warm up a space. Think baskets, warm wood finishes, natural woven rugs, bamboo and matchstick shades. Also, artwork and accessories with lots of patina and age work wonders. Swap out a newly framed print with an old oil painting and a space completely changes.

Q: Can you offer some suggestions on making my living room feel not so dark? All the furniture is dark to medium wood (coffee table, server chest, end tables, etc.), and there's a large, brown leather sofa against the wall and two natural slipper chairs. The rug is a cream and blue color. The wall paint color is gray/blue. Where should I start first?

A: I'm not sure if this is a possibility, but switching your brown sofa for a lighter one would instantly lighten up the space. If it's not an option, consider painting some of the wood in lighter colors like ivory or taupe. I think the sofa would be the biggest game-changer, though. Also go with white or ivory unlined curtains, hung from the ceiling. Mix in large white accessories throughout the space, such as trays and vases.

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Tips for your home from designer Lauren Liess