It's All In The Details: Pay Attention To These 5 Materials When Designing Your Home

When it comes to residential design, the devil really is in the details. There are so many questions that need to be answered and decisions that need to be made. What do I want my kitchen faucet to look like? Do I want to add crown molding or other architectural details? Do I want open shelving in my kitchen instead of cabinets?  It doesn’t help that the options are endless when it comes to material options. The good news, however, is that when it comes to decisions about the details, our experienced in-house design team is best-in-class.

This week, I tapped into the expertise they’ve acquired from designing hundreds of Alexandria homes and asked:

“What are your favorite design details and what advice do you have for homeowners to help them make the best design decisions?”

Here’s what they said:

Wallpaper 

Danielle Steele, Lead Designer: If you are risk averse, wallpaper is a great way to step outside of your comfort zone and try something bold and new. If you don’t like it, you can always strip it and apply a new wallpaper or simply paint the walls!

Megan Bell, Designer: Your wallpaper should inspire your color palette for that room. Color match paint with a color from your wallpaper and use it to paint the ceiling, trim, and door. This is great way to make your room look even more custom and eye-catching.

Our designers go-to sources for wallpaper: Schumacher, Anthropologie, Morris and Co.

Hardware

Maria Josephson, Designer: Hardware is a great way to put something special in your space and really elevate the design. Just like jewelry, hardware can be subtle and sophisticated or over-the-top and dramatic. Also, like jewelry, it comes in a very wide range of price so there’s something to fit every budget.

Megan Bell, Designer: Is your home relatively new or in a development? Then most likely, the hardware is cookie cutter. If you want your kitchen or bath to immediately stand out from your neighbors, upgrade your hardware. It is a small project that any homeowner can tackle regardless of skill set.

Our designers go-to sources for hardware: Top Knobs, Anthropologie, Rejuvenation.

Cabinetry

Nadia Wall, Showroom Manager, Kitchen + Bath Designer: When selecting cabinetry, keeping usage in mind is very important. Think about how much use the cabinetry will get and let that inform the finish that you choose. For example, lacquer is a beautiful finish but rather delicate so it may not be the best choice for a kids bathroom. If you want that same high-gloss look for a higher trafficked area, tempered glass will offer a similar look but be a lot more durable.

Sooz Wilson, Senior Kitchen + Bath Designer: When choosing cabinetry, embrace the benefits of going custom. Get a color that makes you happy. Color on millwork (as opposed to white, gray or common finishes) look very rich.

Our designers go-to sources for cabinetry: Braemar Cabinetry, Restoration Hardware.

Lighting 

Maria Josephson, Designer: Lighting is an opportunity to inject personality and flair into an otherwise classic space. It can be utilitarian like recessed lighting, or it can be unique and decorative like a gorgeous chandelier. You can take any room and make it yours just with the addition of a light fixture.

Jess Deen, Design Manager: Make sure to budget for lighting. It is one of the most important elements, but often overlooked during the budgeting process.

Our designers go-to sources for lighting: Rejuvenation, Shades of Light, Circa Lighting.

Tile

Danielle Steele, Lead Designer: When it comes to selecting tile, it is important to think about how you use the space. For example, you don’t want to select a porous tile for a kids bathroom or highly trafficked area. Instead, embrace porcelain. It can look like anything. It gives you all the benefits without the traditional drawback.

Nadia Wall, Showroom Manager, Kitchen + Bath Designer: With tile, the options are nearly endless. No matter what look you are going for, you can find a tile that is in your budget and needs. There are inkjet printed porcelain tiles that look exactly like marble and wood, but have the durability of porcelain.

Our designers go-to sources for tile: Architessa, Mosaic Tile, Ann Sacks.