VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

imagesourceunknown I get bored without color in a room.  Interesting, strong, clear colors are easier to live with in the long run than pale colors.  People always think that it's the opposite, but in actuality soft colors get boring much quicker. RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesyluxesource.com Use the precious for everyday purposes.  We'll rummage through clients' closets and find loads of precious hand-me-downs like porcelain vases and crystal that are a bit out of vogue.  We'll use them for completely ordinary purposes--a vase becomes a chic pencil holder, a crystal bowl holds makeup brushes.  Turn the ordinary into a special moment! Benjamin Dhong (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesyveranda viamarkdsykesblog When doing curtains or shades, take them all the way up to the ceiling--it will increase the height of a room. Vicente Wolf (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesydesignlilyblogspot A few very, very large-scale pieces make a room appear bigger.  It's kind of counterintuitive, but it works.  Here's another thing that's counterintuitive.  Paint a small space a dark color.  Just go for it.  I had a small room in a house once with one tiny, tiny window.  I painted it chocolate brown, and it came alive.  It was so sexy! Susan Ferrier (Interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesyhabitualchicblogspot Mood is everything and who wants to dine in bright light? 60 watts for the dining room.  I want it bright when reading, so 75 to 100 watts for the living room.  It's nice to have options--if you don't have dimmers, then have some variety from 40 to 100 watts, so you change the mood for the occasion.  The bathroom needs overhead as well as side lighting.  Keep the overhead to 75 watts, with 60 watts on each side.  The best lighting is at eye level, not overhead, which creates shadows.  And the best light is diffused light from a white or off-white lampshade. Barbara Barry (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesy homeandfurnitureaccessoriesblogspot When it comes to bookcases, stick to books.  Nothing is more visually chaotic then 46 shelves of random stuff. J. Randall Powers (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesymimi+megblog Stop at 6 pillows on a bed.  You need 2 soft extra-long pillows, 2 European squares, an, if you want, you can do 2 more European squares.  But those Pekingese-size small pillows all over the bed are vulgar.  And you have so much to throw on the floor when you get into bed. David Netto (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesyaestheticallythinkingblog While looking at one of my first New York apartments,  David Hicks told me diplomatically,  'Dear Boy, if you're going to paint the walls white, you need art.' Peter Dunham (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )

imagecourtesymgroup Don't hang a mirror between windows.  The spatial void it creates distracts from the view.  And don't fall prey to using mirrors in every room or over every mantel.  Mirrors are not art, and a room needs art. Carey Maloney (interviewed by Lisa Cregan for House Beautiful )