Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

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Example of a mid-sized trendy porcelain tile kitchen pantry design in Houston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, blue backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, white appliances and an island

Dining room - contemporary dining room idea in Denver

architect of record McCoppin Studios photo credit Eric Rorer
Staircase - mid-sized contemporary staircase idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in London

Incredible remodeled entryway with contemporary design. This beautiful black door and entry add curb appeal.
Large contemporary red two-story brick gable roof idea with a shingle roof

Hallway - contemporary hallway idea in Austin

Small minimalist freestanding bathtub photo in DC Metro

Jefferson Door supplied: exterior doors (custom Sapele mahogany), interior doors (Buffelen), windows (Marvin windows), shutters (custom Sapele mahogany), columns (HB&G), crown moulding, baseboard and door hardware (Emtek). House was built by Hotard General Contracting, Inc.

Elegant home design photo in Bridgeport

Master bath with stained concrete floors, custom dark wood cabinetry, his & her sinks, and quartzite countertops.
Example of a mid-sized urban master concrete floor and gray floor alcove shower design in Jacksonville with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and a hinged shower door

~ Get the custom, high-end, raised panel look quickly and easily with our Patent Pending door moulding kits for flat panel doors! ~ To install your door moulding kit, all you have to do is: - measure/mark (instructions and worksheet included) - remove the protective backing from the adhesive - attach to your door (for permanent application caulk around the edges) Voilà! An instant transformation! There’s no noise, power tools, gluing or nails required- Just caulk around the edges. “It’s easy to add a little luxe in your home!"

Photo by Joe Kitchen
Trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Philadelphia with an island, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

Michele Morosi
Eclectic home design photo in Milan

Clear Select Heart Pine is the best kept secret in unfinished solid wood flooring. A wide ranging species, itis prized for its distinctive grain patterns, rich patina and durability. From the Bahamas, throughout South America and into into parts of Mexico, this hearty species can be found thriving.

wood look oak spc water proof flooring installed on top of existing wood floors
Trendy vinyl floor and gray floor family room photo in Los Angeles