for your
home
Superior interiors
Versatile accent pieces add style and storage
By Stephanie E. Ponder
INTERIOR DESIGNER and Costco member
Erinn Valencich has a few core beliefs about
interior design. She believes in mixing up
styles and that there are no hard-and-fast
rules to follow.
Valencich has been running her own Los
Angeles–based interior design firm (www.
omniartedesign.com) for three years and has
hosted several shows for HGTV. Recently she
shared her thoughts with The Connection on
creative uses for some of the accent pieces
available at Costco this month.
Benches. Benches
work well on a covered
patio, in a mudroom or
in an entryway. To help
reduce clutter, look for
one with storage bins
so that each member
of the family can have
a place for his or her
shoes. Outdoors they
can be used for storing
gardening tools or toys.
Chairs. You can
never have too much
seating. A chair with
clean lines will look
good whether a house
has a traditional or contemporary design
scheme. Set a chair in a corner with a lamp
and a small table to create a nice vignette. Or
place one in the bedroom for extra seating or
to catch clothing if, like me, you have trouble
deciding what to wear in the morning.
Lighting. Lighting is very important and
can change a room dramatically. It’s important to use mixed sources of light to avoid
having dark corners. If you have a room you
don’t go into often, think about why. Chances
are you don’t like the lighting; adjust the lighting to brighten it up. Lamps can be scattered
throughout a room or used as a pair in opposite corners to add elegance to functionality.
Mirrors. Instead of hanging a mirror,
lean a large one against one wall. It will open
up the room and add sparkle. Also, if you
place a mirror across from a window it will
help bring the outdoors inside.
Ottomans. Ottomans are great all-purpose pieces. An ottoman with an upholstered
top can serve as a good footrest; an ottoman
with built-in drawers can
serve as a convenient
place to store magazines
and remote controls.
When you’re entertaining, ottomans also offer a
handy surface for placing
a tray of drinks or appetizers. Instead of drawers,
some ottomans have
hinged tops and can be
used in a guest room as
a place to store extra
blankets and pillows.
Used in a kid’s room they
create extra seating and
storage for toys or papers.
Ottomans look great tucked underneath a
console table.
Tables. Placed at the back of a sofa, a
table is a good place to add lighting or display
family photos. Place one against a wall to
bring life to a dead space or in the entryway as
a place for stashing keys and the mail.
Another trend in tables is the bar-height
table. Waist-height or taller, square versions
of these tables are great for smaller spaces
such as apartments or condos. If you have
IMAGEZOO
room, they’re also a fun seating option for a
game room.
Half the fun of
being an adult is
the freedom to
decorate however
you want. The
only problem is
figuring out what
you want.
Shelves. Open, sleek shelving is great in
any space because it doesn’t look heavy. In an
office or bedroom, shelves are a great way to
make use of a blank wall. To make the most of
shelves, don’t stuff them full. Displaying just a
few photos, books or plants will help create a
beautiful display.
Room dividers, especially with shelves,
serve a practical purpose while adding to a
room’s style. Room dividers can be used to
break up a large space, or use one to separate
an eating area or a home office space if it’s
part of a bedroom or living room.
Miscellaneous pieces. Entertaining is
so much fun. A small bar set with storage for
stemware and bottles would be a great addition to a dining room. Look for a marble top
for easy cleanup and to take the worry out of
spills.
Whether you’re entertaining guests or
your family, aside from the couch, the TV
console really sets the style of a room. If you
want to update a room’s look, a TV console
with clean lines is a good choice. C
The Costco Connection
This month Costco warehouses will have a
variety of home décor items. Find additional
selections on costco.com.