Home décor and design has been our theme for the month of February, and I wanted to wrap up the month with a real “wow.” And there’s nobody who wows me more when it comes to design than my friend and interior designer, Angelo Surmelis.
One of the best parts of my job is the people I meet and it’s even sweeter when a guest for a show becomes a friend for a lifetime. That’s exactly what happened with me and Angelo. From our first meeting at QVC, we just clicked. And ever since, Angelo has become a mentor, a confidant, and cheerleader…all the things you want a good friend to be. Angelo is busy beyond belief these days. He has an amazing store in Los Angeles, furniture collections in stores throughout the country, and even has been known to fly to Hawaii for the DAY! Luckily, I have his cell phone number and was able to catch up with him so that he could share some design tips and inspirations with us all.
JB: What’s the best way for someone to get started when they want to redecorate or remodel?
AS: Figure out what you want the room to feel like…not the look, the feel. Do you want cozy and intimate or sleek and modern? Figure that out first. Then start looking for images of what you love…design magazines and catalogs are great. Create a short list of your big ticket items like major furniture pieces and then figure out the small stuff. Always figure out your room color first.
JB: Room color first? Where were you when I started this remodel project at our beach condo! I’ve picked everything already and left paint until last…am I doomed?
AS: No, you’ll be fine. But here are some of my rules with paint. First, pick a color you know you’ll love in five years. Don’t go kooky with color. It may be of the moment now, but what happens in two years when the new hot color is the complete opposite? Your home will feel dated before its time. NEVER pick a paint color based on a color swatch. Spend a few bucks on a couple of small test cans of colors you like and actually paint them on your walls. Don’t forget to prime the area in white first…whatever color you have on the wall will taint the true read of the color you’re looking at. Live with the color for at least 24 hours. You need to see it in your space in the morning, afternoon, and evening. In full sun and after it’s dark. What you love by day you might hate at night, so testing it this way shows you everything. And, if you’re torn between colors, don’t paint them on the wall next to each other…spread them out so that different tones from one color aren’t changing the tone of another.
JB: What’s the hot color in home right now?
AS: There’s definitely been a shift from brown to more gray. It’s becoming the new neutral and can be anything from contemporary to traditional to romantic.
JB: What’s the biggest decorating mistake people make?
AS: Without a doubt, it’s lighting. People completely underestimate its importance. They spend a ton of money on all the extras and where it all falls flat is if you don’t light it properly. You have to have lighting on all sides of a room, not just the end of your couch. Make sure you use the same wattage in all of your light bulbs and use lights that crate symmetry and balance in the room. The best lighting is when you don’t notice it…when all you see is the beauty of the room.
Be sure to check out Angelo’s website for more tips and stunning decorating ideas like these!
Isn’t he amazing? Notice the subtle purple accents in that last shot? Radiant Orchid is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2014. I completely agree with Angelo…in no way should you go “kooky” with color and paint your entire room Radiant Orchid. But, you can update your décor with this “in” color via purple accent pieces, like Angelo did above. Find a radiant orchid lamp. Decorate with real or faux radiant orchid plants. Look for throw pillows with an orchid stripe, swirl, or pattern. Those things are easy to update and change.
I’ll see you tomorrow at 6pm ET for some KitchenAid fun. But, if you want to see me in person, come down to the Philadelphia Flower Show this Saturday! I’m so excited...I was asked to do a presentation there on gardening with your kids. Most of you know I love being outdoors in my garden, so on March 1 at 11am ET, I’ll be at the Convention Center demonstrating how to make some great family-oriented garden projects as well as my Homemade Strawberry Jam. At Noon ET, I’m doing a container gardening challenge with fellow exhibitors…oh boy! Visit Philadelphia Flower Show.com for tickets to the entire show—you’ll love it.
From my home to yours,
—Jill