Grilling... the Decorating Diva

GO turns the tables on the 'Grilling' girl.

In this space, Contributing Writer Nicole Fuller usually finds someone random and asks them questions of middling-to-significant insanity. This time, we turned the tables on her. In keeping with this issue’s cover theme, we grilled Nicole on how she would decorate several different types of homes (she has been studying interior design since she was a kid). The girl’s got mad game.

Loft

Loft-lovers, you must protect the innate design of the loft. If a rooster-themed canister set resides in your kitchen or tassels don a window treatment, I might have to set your place on fire. Roosters do not equal cozy. Cozy can be achieved with warm colors and by bringing the ceiling down with a hue two shades darker than the wall color.
Paint Colors: Think richer hues of red, gold or brown
Dog: Cocker Spaniel
Seating: Louis Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck
Wall Art: Don’t think that you have to go with abstract pieces. Whatever you choose, highlight it with a canvas spotlight so it doesn’t get lost on the wall.

Rented Space

Chances are that if you rent, you’re in college, or you have commitment issues. Renting generally means your landlord won’t allow major changes, but a paint job is often okay. Take into consideration that the walls in rentals are usually pretty messed up, so choose a flat paint because it hides most imperfections (excluding fist holes).

Paint Colors: Keep it light and flat. Lighter equals bigger.
Dog: Get a cat
Seating: Anything that pulls out into a bed.
Wall Art: Stretch fabric over canvas to create temporary, easily altered artwork.

Bungalow

Oh, how we love the bungalow. We love its character and sweet porches, aged wood floors and beautiful built-ins. Too bad I have to hunch over once I am on the second floor. Low ceilings are a common problem with the Cape Cods and bungalows. Keeping them white will only bring the ceiling lower. To visually raise the ceiling, always go a shade or two lighter than the wall color to make it appear taller.

Paint Colors: Cool shades of blues, greens and neutral shades of tans and grays (keeping within the lighter hues).
Dog: Golden Retriever
Seating: Keep it clean lined but lounge-y like the Manon chair.
Wall Art: Big mirrors with simple lines, collectibles in a shadowbox frames (e.g. eggs, spoons, butterflies). Kitschy and fun.

Trailer

Now we have the trailer. My mom and dad always said that they had the time of their lives while they lived in a mobile home. That was also when they were 18 years old, had no kids, no debt, no flab or baggage of any kind. But whatever. They attributed it all to the trailer. So take your trailer and lighten up, literally. Keep the walls light, the trim white and the furniture small and limited. Keep seating depths below 36 inches.

Paint Colors: Light colors with white trim. If you have children use semi-gloss for easy washing.
Dog: Terrier mix
Seating: Go with a pull out sofa and two separate ottomans for a coffee table. This will maximize seating and sleeping.
Wall Art: Light-colored frames or mirrors, but keep wall clutter to a minimum. Dark frames appear more cumbersome and stifle the flow.