This week, I want to focus on a great way to spice up your room: the perfect chair.

Statement chairs are an excellent way to make an empty corner useful, add color to an otherwise plain room, and tie a room’s colors together with a pattern. Also, they are not a huge commitment (usually not as expensive as other items of furniture) and are easy to move.

Friendly Reminder: Wait for the chair to speak to you. Don’t just buy the first interesting chair you see. Stumble upon it at a secondhand store, a flea market, or even Facebook Marketplace. You don’t need it immediately.

Something Angular to Sink Your Bum Into

FIELD NOTES: This chair perfectly ties together the dark color of the coffee table and the yellow from the wood paneling on the walls. It also mirrors the harsh edges of both the console table and pedestal table while contrasting with the rounded edges of the other furniture in the room.

WHERE TO BUY: I like this one from Chairish. Bravo to IKEA for creating this beauty, which would be ideal with a little DIY cushion, and Adorno is selling these gorgeous girls by Edoardo Lietti Studio.

A Moment for Simplicity and the View

FIELD NOTES: A chair that is the right shape and substantial enough to fill a space can stand (or sit) alone. These types of chairs are used for admiring the view, reading a good book, or taking a long, enjoyable phone call. This style of chair has a long history (more on that later this week) and has been reinvented many times.

WHERE TO BUY: You can’t really go wrong with this Design Within Reach version. For something a bit more boutique, try this one from Luminaire. For something more affordable, Sohnne has a great version.

A Low Profile Work of Art

FIELD NOTES: Use a color that complements the other bold colors in the room. This style of chair is also extremely famous—referred to as the F300. More on that later this week as well.

WHERE TO BUY: Try these from GUBI. For something more affordable in the style of this chair, try this from Stag and Manor or these from France and Son.

Windows are perhaps one of the most important architectural features of a room; however, they are also among the most often neglected. Picking the right type of window treatment is vital for many reasons—light, view, and privacy being among them—and can drastically change how a room feels. Below are a few examples of how to maximize your room and window using the art of drapery!

FIELD NOTES: When windows are oddly shaped or sized, choose a different architectural feature to accentuate. For example, place the drapes higher above the windows to highlight the ceiling height.

FIELD NOTES: When the windows are especially unique, make the window coverings as low-profile as possible.

FIELD NOTES: When a window is dimensional, mimic or complement the molding for continuity.

FIELD NOTES: If the room is a statement, make the window in the room a part of that statement.

FIELD NOTES: If a room or home is exceptionally modern, use a low-profile shade. Sometimes, the beauty of a window treatment is that it solely serves a purpose without distraction or added clutter.

An added tip: If, for some reason, a room in your home feels unfinished or not quite “put together,” consider the window

This week, I want to touch on one of the most fun ways to change the mood of a room or simply elevate a room: LIGHTING.

Lighting, whether you realize it or not, is likely one of the first things you notice when you walk into a space. Personally, I am a fan of layered lighting (more on that later this week) and good statement light fixtures.

This week is an ode to some of the best fixtures I’ve seen recently.

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This beauty was actually left behind at an estate that I am selling on the Upper East Side. A true gem from a bygone era. For a similar statement piece, I like this Vintage Murano at 1stDibs. Aria Lamps also has an interesting take on this.

FIELD NOTES: If your ceilings are lower than 9 feet, choose a light fixture that is less than 20” in total length. Hang the light so that the bottom of the fixture is at least 36” from table height.

Our next beauty is quite the statement piece. She was a warm welcome in an Art Deco-style apartment on the Upper West Side. For something like this, you cannot go wrong with Baccarat, should your budget allow. Don’t forget—light fixtures are also collectibles!

FIELD NOTES: Use a geometric-shaped light in boxy spaces to help break up the space.

For a vintage piece like this, I think this Venini Art Glass Spiral Chandelier on Chairish is amazing. Or, this Eichholtz East Chandelier in Antique Brass from NFM is also fab. For something more affordable, try this Hotel Style Chandelier from Aria Lamps.

FIELD NOTES: It’s important that the metal finish on your light complements the rest of the colors in the room. For example, if your room has gold details, choose a fixture that has gold details.

GREAT CHANDELIERS THAT WON’T BREAK YOUR BUDGET AND RULES TO CONSIDER

It’s a good rule of thumb to remember that for every foot of height your ceiling has, your lighting fixture can be 2 to 3 inches. That said -

I mean, give me some texturizing spray, a teasing comb, and a hair tie, and call it a day.

When it doubt, just add volume.

Iconic.

Very chic updo and good to go from day to night.

That said, there has to be a method to the madness. Not all plants are made for indoors, and not all plants thrive in the same indoor location.

See my quick tips below—perfect for anyone who wants a little more green in their life without having to agonize over the details.

THE PLANT: THE SWISS CHEESE PLANT (Monstera Deliciosa)

• Needs Bright, Indirect Light

• Grows Quickly & Needs Space

• Easy to keep alive. Let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out before watering

FIELD NOTES: Keep this plant on a little table near the window with plenty of space to grow. The more space you give it, the larger it will grow.

THE PLANT: Ficus Microcarpa

• Bright, indirect sun

• Keep in the same spot

• Prune often; water when the top two inches of soil are dry

FIELD NOTES: This type of tree will grow to a rounded shape when pruned correctly. Keep it in a room with harsh right angles for contrast. Also, notice how the tree perfectly compliments the round lights above the table?

THE PLANT: Let’s focus on the tall tree on the right, the Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis).

• An indoor tree that is also substantial

• Bright, indirect light

• Water approximately every two weeks; it is easy to overwater

• Make sure the pot you keep it in has plenty of holes; drainage is important

FIELD NOTES: Use plants to create the illusion of outdoor space in dark apartments without views. Also, use them in lower-floor apartments to create privacy.

THE PLANTS:
Left: Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

• Indirect light

• Water every 1–2 weeks

• Use a pot with good drainage; overwatering will kill it

Right: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)

• VERY bright light is important

• Water every 1–2 weeks (when the topsoil is dry)

• Clean the leaves to make this tree super happy

FIELD NOTES: You can actually control how large your plants grow. Giving them space = larger plants. Use a plant in an empty corner or dead space in your home to give the space purpose and create a more organic environment.

Paint is one of the cheapest and most satisfying ways to transform a space. A paint job done well adds immense value to a home and can instantly change the energy of a room.

While it’s true that the perfect paint color can work miracles, it’s also true that it cannot work miracles alone. If you pick the right paint but neglect the other details of the space, you’ll be up a creek without a paddle. The best spaces are the ones where the paint colors work with everything around them instead of simply sitting on the walls.

One of my favorite apartments I sold earlier this year is a great example of how the marriage between paint colors and apartment details makes all the difference. See my field notes, with links to paint colors and interior design tips, below.

DETAILS TO NOTE: A clean entryway. The moment you entered this space, you automatically felt calm—not only because of the color, but also because of the lack of clutter.

DETAILS TO NOTE: The furnishings in the home were made of mostly natural materials — which is always a good choice if you want your home to feel more organic.

DETAILS TO NOTE: My client turned some of his books backwards, revealing only the raw pages of them. There were mirrors lining the bookshelves, so you could still see the title of the books. In this way, however, he kept the bookshelves more muted which added to the peacefulness of the room.

DETAILS TO NOTE: This color, although unexpected for a space that is not naturally “bright,” per se, perfectly complimented the wood burning fireplace and the radiator. He also kept the blinds the same color as the window panes for continuity.

Want more information about the furnishings in this article? Feel free to comment or message me directly for more info!

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My name is Reilly and as someone who works in real estate in NYC, I am privy to a lot of amazing apartments. One of the best parts parts of my job is seeing the way other people live.

Every Saturday morning, I share trends I notice, interesting design choices, and a little interior inspiration from some of the most memorable spaces I see during the week. Additionally, I share my favorite furniture stores and direct links to pieces I love.

08/14: POPS OF ORANGE.

While we may have overdone rusty oranges and fall themed colors to decorate our homes in the early 2000’s, it’s time to take back the color! Orange - closer to a terracotta and farther away from a coral - is making a big comeback.

1. ADD A POP WITHOUT TOO MUCH “POP.”

While a color blocked sofa is great, this burnt orange sofa is better as it compliments the other natural tones seen in the room (and in nature) ergo adding a little pizazz without stealing the attention. I like this Interior Define couch for something similar in terra cotta or rust.

2. MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU WITHOUT HAVING TO COMMIT

I love this type of pouf. It can not only double as extra seating but also a side table. Also, super easy to move from room to room to shake things up a little. I think this Palazzo Pouf from House of Leon and this Ottoman from Rachel Donath are a little more fun than the above pictured.

3. ADD A SPLASH OR DIVE RIGHT IN

LOTS to pick from here. The swim cap, the coffee table book, and the contrasting couch sections. You can find this exact, magical couch here at INCANTO, make your own version of this with the River Sectional from Interior Icons, or simply add a contrasting throw blanket to your already neutral sofa. I like this from Quince.

There are going to be a lot of fun items to look for at antique stores, auctions, thrift stores, facebook marketplace, and donation stores.

We were recently sorting through my late Grandmother’s belongings and my uncle said something that really stuck with me: generations to come will be crazy to ever buy anything new ever again. And I think he’s right.

My grandmother was part of the “Silent Generation.” She grew up in a time plagued by the depression, the dustbowl and WWII. In her formative years as a housewife and homemaker, she was intentional with everything she purchased. She bought furniture that would last; collectible table settings and valuable items she could pass on to generations to come.

Nearly all of the items she left to us had a story - handwritten on a post-it note. The Lladro tea set was from her cousin as a wedding gift, two solid wood side tables were handmade in Europe, and the gorgeous handpainted fine china was used at her parent’s wedding anniversary party.

Because my grandmother kept everything, there were left over items to donate after my cousins and I took the lot. I called an aution house, they suggeted facebook marketplace or ebay. They said, as my uncle predicted, “we get so many donations and calls that we have stopped taking most flatware, china, and designer sets.”

At first, this made me sad that all of these items were “valueless.” But after a little thought, I actually think their value has just changed. While the family will likely never make back the money spent on the Bing & Grøndahl dinner set, I will never spend money on a mass produced dinner or flatware set ever again. Sorry friends, from this point forward, all housewarming gifts will be secondhand, much better quality, and one of a kind.

While the early days spent at home with her were wonderful, I also found them a little bit boring. I was having a little bit of career FOMO and I didn’t love being home all day.

Don’t get me wrong, I still cherish the time that I spent with her but the way she needed me then felt less demanding than the way she needs me now. To be clear, I wasn’t breastfeeding and I was lucky enough to have the help of my husband, a part time nanny and family nearby.

Because I am self-employed, I ended up going back to work two weeks postpartum and at the time, it didn’t feel as insane as it sounds.

Recently, though, I’ve started to feel a bit differently. My daughter is now nearly two years old. She is demanding, she is her own person, and is growing every second of every day. She is funny, she is smart, she is the love of my life and she definitely misses me when I’m not home. And I miss her too.

What I’ve come to realize is we structure parental leave around a mother’s physical recovery and a baby’s physical dependence but perhaps families need permission to take meaningful time later in life, when relationships become reciprocal and childhood feels fleeting.

I was speaking to a colleague of mine - a father of two. He said he was showing apartments the day after they got home from the hospital with his first child. I confided in him that I wish I could take maternity leave now, to be with my daughter as she needs me now. To my surprise, he opened up about something similar. He told me that last year, he took a sabatical and moved with his entire family to france. His wife took a year off work, he enrolled his children in new schools, he rented out his apartment, and he referred out most of his real estate deals. In few words, he said they needed to do it, they were burnt out.

I can relate. In that short and sweet conversation, something occured to me that I had not uniquely thought of when I was preparing for motherhood. I think that in all the newborn preparation, I completely overlooked another season of parenthood—the one where children no longer need us to survive, but need us to become who they are.