Home Design DIY: Mastering a Personal Mix

The following five tips offer ideas for crafting a more personal décor scheme in your home.

written by Melissa Dalton | photos by David Papazian

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Design Tip #1: Install soulful lighting

When the Huigens first bought their house, it was outfitted entirely with reproduction fixtures from a catalog. According to Simon, lighting is the “jewelry of the house,” which makes it an opportunity to introduce style and soul. She replaced those fixtures with vintage pieces from different eras, such as the 1960s brass lotus chandelier, shown here, in the entry vestibule.

Design Tip #2: Maintain consistency through subtle repetition

“Every piece of furniture you see has curves,” Simon said of
the Huigens’ mix. This is true, whether the piece is a 1940 Jansen dining chair with a curved back or a scroll on a 1920s
cigarette table. Additionally, when picking out hardware and accessories, she and Huigens opted for brass accents to further unify the space.

Design Tip #3: Balance paint with artful wall finishes

In the living room, Simon had the walls painted a “complex neutral” color to balance the wood tones of the original woodwork, which were untouched by previous owners. In other rooms, she suggested artful wall finishes. To that end, the Portland-based workshop Bravura Finishes lacquered the entry vestibule in a show-stopping red and applied a shimmering antique champagne gold leaf to the powder room walls, bringing in hand-wrought texture.

Design Tip #2: Merge time periods

Since Huigens loves Mid-century furniture, it might have been tempting to outfit the entire home with a sea of Saarinen tables and Hans Wegner chairs. But by combining pieces from different time periods, Simon introduces contrast, which fosters interest and helps the eye move easily around the room.

Design Tip #2: Hang meaningful art and display favorite collections

Simon and Huigens made sure to choose art and accessories that would resonate. In the powder room, a small print evokes a memory of a trip Huigens took to France with her best friend. In the den, an antique clock from a family collection, shown here, has pride of place.

Learn more at: vickisimoninteriordesign.com

Oregon Home and Design: Portland