It occurred to me one evening recently while driving at dusk that the majority of the people in my neighborhood put an enormous effort into decorating their bushes and trees with Christmas lights, mostly white. It seemed that the profusion of lights had become a universal means of welcoming in the spirit of the holidays and was a great deal more widespread than I remembered from my youth. While holiday decorations run the gamut from beautiful and tasteful to over the top, the light and glow that they produce can translate well at any time of year.  The glistening of silver and mirrored items can add dazzle to any corner of your home, whether it be holiday related or not. A silver wall covering used in a dining room or powder room radiates elegance as seen in the Gracie wall covering above. Silver urns are especially beautiful when they are resplendent with winter greens and berries. They can look well for several weeks and reflect a charming winter look It is best to  remember to use balance and unity when you are selecting sparkling decorative accessories, but be sure to have lots of fun in the...

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As temperatures drop and winter hovers, we find consolatation in our romantic images of winter and the holidays. One very human instinct is to yearn for a warm spot. Home is indeed where the hearth is! Beyond the physical warmth coming from oil, gas, or solar, we look to the fireplace, as an important anchor of a room. A comfortable chair or two with an ottoman creates a cozy nook for lounging or reading and balances the other upholstered pieces around the room. Throwing a splash of color from a a beautiful throw is great for snuggling and can serve as a wonderful accent color. For many people, the ritual of building the fire itself is most important. A log basket is practical to have close by and can also be a decorative element. Since arranging chairs around the fireplace can be tricky, make certain you have adequate space for the necessary fireplace tools and firewood. It is definitely worth investing time to find the perfect accessories for the fireplace mantle, such as large candlesticks/and or hurricane lamps. At the end of the day, when the gift wrap is crumpled up and the table is cleared, what lingers in our minds is the laughter, the stories and all the light-hearted banter around the fireplace. These are the moments that become the treasured memories of our past. Dena Hamilburg is the owner of Hamilburg Interiors and  www.myinteriordesigncenter.com. She welcomes any questions you might have concerning interior design. You can e-mail her at...

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The definition of a monochromatc-colored room is when one color is used throughout the entire space. If designed skillfully, however, a monochromatic room is hardly monotonous or boring.  In fact, a room created around one color can in many instances achieve a look that is  more dramatic and has more of a cutting edge than a room of many colors. The main advantage of using only one color is that the sameness produces unity and harmony from the onset. The talent in creating a truly stunning monochromatic room comes in using several other contrasting surfaces that will pop. Introducing a shot of a second color in two significant accessories, such as a large bowl on a coffee table, some pillows, or an end table, is sure to soar and excite the...

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When (and why) to incorporate a wall covering into an interior design scheme? Good question! Specifically, why would one choose wallpaper over paint? The most obvious reason to use wallcovering is simply to add another layer to the decorating mix. A well-chosen wall covering often can add pattern and interest to an otherwise uninteresting space, especially one lacking architectural detail. Wall coverings also can create the illusion of a more spacious room, if selected cleverly. Rooms that can often benefit from wallpaper are powder rooms, dining rooms, and guest rooms, as well as small spaces (such as hallways) which could otherwise be ignored. Most importantly if you are considering wallpaper, please select a hand-printed or good quality one. You don’t want it to look as though it needs to be replaced with paint! Several years ago when I was redecorating my own family room, I had a major decision of whether to paint, glaze or paper the walls. In my professional work with clients, I tended to choose paint or a decorative finish for a “cleaner” look.  Somehow this personal decorating decision was different, though, as the family room was open to our new kitchen, and I wanted to coordinate the two rooms. With much thought (and legwork), I selected a William Morris paper (“Windrush,” pictured with this post) in a gold/thyme colorway. The multi-colored pattern set off the cream-painted and glazed corner bookcases, lined with books and mementos, and helped me to achieve my goal: The look of an English country home’s library. Playing off of the furniture-quality, beautifully figured cherry kitchen cabinets, the paper created a sophisticated, yet cozy feeling. I have never regretted my decision to paper this space, and I have enjoyed it daily ever...

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Many people think of pillows only as accents, as mere afterthoughts to the overall design of a room. However, this is not so…. Great looking pillows say lots about a room and its quality. Well chosen pillows provide visual exclamation points, and can even inspire the entire color palette of a home.  Colors radiating from a multi-colored print on a pillow can then flow to other rooms, creating color balance throughout. Pillows’ motifs can also contribute to the theme or look of a home (eg., seaside, sporting, or garden), adding personality, wit,  or even whimsy to the design scheme. From an economic vantage point, splurging on an expensive fabric, and then fabricating it into a custom pillow, often makes a lot of sense. The yardage per pillow is minimal (between 3/4 and 1 yard per pillow, though usually with a 2 yard minimum.  Less expensive fabric on a sofa will instantly look better when some beautifully fabricated down pillows are placed against the back cushions.(And please get 80-100% down fillig for your pillows; foam will not do.) All in all, the addition of a few sumptuous, custom-made throw pillows will add great quality to your entire room, and give you lots of bang for your...

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The word on curtains these days is that they are more minimalist in design.  This trend was highlighted in a Wall Street Journal article titled: The Comeback Curtain.”  The article compared a popular design trend of multilayered etheral fabrics on windows  to the layering of  sheer blouses over camisoles.  “The window look is sexy”, said Interior Designer Mindy Miles Greenberg. As emphasized in the Journal, translucent, softly layered window treatments are showing up in suburban as well as urban homes, as energy and cost efficient alternatives to old-fashioned curtains and blinds. The clean lines offer no frill, puddles, or decorative valences. Less fussy, airy curtains in my opinion, are often appropriate in certain situations and are visually lovely, but they do not always replace the look, feel and value of a sumptuous traditional curtain. A custom window treatment, well fabricated by a professional workroom, is a decorating investment, and will most likely last at least 10-15 years.  Spreading the cost over this time, therefore, is not as prohibitive as the Journal article suggests. If well chosen, curtains in a room provide, color, pattern, and tactile warmth.  Windows dressed with a beautiful fabric provide visual impact.  When properly designed and sewn, curtains can become the Birken bag of a room. Certainly, trends in curetains change, according to the decorating fashions of the moment.  Styles shift from very elaborate designs to more simplified veersions to none at all, and back again. Both approaches to solving the window puzzle have their advantages and disadvantages, and can be tackled effectively with the help of a competent, professional Interior designer or...

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