For many homeowners, the most exciting part about moving into a new space is having the opportunity to make it your own. While nothing can truly replace the authentic feeling that comes from living in one space for a number of years, a common starting part for new homeowners trying to turn their house into a home is integrating their personal style.
From modern art to funky furniture, it’s all about the accents and how they’re presented.
One especially important aspect of design, the lighting, serves two purposes — one of which is decorative and the other of which is functional.
The lighting specialists at Light Innovations in Little Rock work with customers to guide them toward the products that help them meet both of those needs perfectly. From dramatic signature pieces for large, open foyers to subtle, intimate fixtures for a master bedroom, the combinations are endless.
“Generally what we do is try to get layers of light so [customers] are not solely reliant on a chandelier for a dining room as the only sources,” says lighting specialist Michael Trevisone. “If I had recessed can [light] and a chandelier in the dining room, I could have very romantic soft light by dimming just the chandelier, or I can have very functional task light for cleaning or putting away china.”
The right light can also help to accent certain pieces or areas of the home.
“I only have one chandelier in the whole house, but I have a lot of art, and I make sure to highlight all of my art so that it becomes the interest in the room that doesn’t have the chandelier,” says Trevisone.
Another great aspect of working with lighting is that bulbs can always be switched out, changed around and added and removed which means customers almost never have to compromise the perfect mood-setting lighting for a stylish fixture.
That being said, the style of a fixture is of utmost importance to the cohesiveness of the room. Light Innovations has worked with customers looking for everything from European pieces to atomic age and vintage. However, the market does seem to be taking a turn in one particular direction.
“We’ve got people who are finally in Little Rock [wanting] very cutting-edge modern fixtures,” says Trevisone. “Little Rock is usually a pretty conservative market, and we finally have people who are doing the modern thing, and having fun geometric shapes, chandeliers that don’t specifically have arms, hoops … people are finally breaking into that and inviting that into their home.”
Modern farmhouse and modern-takes-on-crystal are also popular with the local crowd.
No matter which style you choose, the one thing that makes lighting even better is decor that is worth illuminating.
For Barbara Fryxell at Obsessions Interiors, the challenge of great home decor is finding the perfect mix of stylish and durable — the key formula to furnishings that fit not only a client’s style but also his or her lifestyle.
“One of the most popular trends in upholstery is performance fabrics,” Fryxell says. “These fabrics are designed to repel liquids, dust, odor and fading. … Easy to clean and very durable.”
During the process of figuring out the perfect accessories, people are often asked to consider how much time they spend at home, if they have children or pets and the purpose of each room.
While much time can be spent on the logistics of design, in the end, the decor process is still just one way of personalizing your home, which is why Fryxell’s bottom-line advice is mostly the same for everyone.
“When choosing furnishings, go for quality and comfort,” she says. “Select the art and accessories that you enjoy looking at day after day.”
