Retail centers unlocking secrets to interior design
By Dianna Rossetti
Copley News Service

Professional interior-design centers once were off-limits to lay people. Only when one employed the services of an interior designer could those doors be opened.

Today, however, design centers in major cities are making their treasure trove of ideas and international merchandise more available to the public.

No, in most cases, nondesigners can't walk through those doors and make retail purchases. But many allow homeowners to wander through, making notes of preferences for their interior designers. The Ohio Design Centre, representative of this trend, recently opened its doors in Beachwood, Ohio, to the public in a daylong seminar covering a panorama of topics.

Skin Game
The first seminar, "A Real Skin Show," presented by Leathercraft, touted the longevity and sensual appeal of leather.

"Upholstery is a compromise, whether it is leather, polyester, chintz or the finest silk," said Phil Beachler of the high-end leather furniture manufacturer. "Do you want it to last seven years or 25 years?"

Giving the standing-room-only audience a short course in leather, Beachler said the simplest rule of thumb in choosing leather is "the better it feels, the more expensive it will be." Conversely, the more scars and imperfections, the lower the price.

His other tips:

- Know your manufacturer. Leather's life is only as good as the framework beneath it.
- Learn the origin of the leather you're considering. The best hides come from northern Europe, where there is no scarring barbed wire.
- Expect leather to improve with age, gaining a patina from the body oils it absorbs, random scratches and constant use.
- If the prospect of scratches bothers you, look for leathers that have been aniline dyed, that is, dyed throughout.

Fringes, trims and tassels
In a seminar presented by Scalamandre, participants learned about the uses of the company's luxurious fringes, trims and tassels. The company has duplicated many historic designs for authentic restorations including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the homes of many early presidents.

Scalamandre also manufactures the moss fringe used on the spindly legs of Muppets character Big Bird.

The average homeowner, however, will choose lush fringe to add oomph to mundane throw pillows. He or she can make creative use of silken tassels. The company's largest market is in the South where homeowners "tend to be more flamboyant," using tassels on doorknobs, window treatments and on lamps.

Tile Talk
Donna F. Hessel of DFH Interiors in Brecksville, Ohio, was one of a large group of interior designers who provided complimentary half-hour design consultations throughout the day.

Responding to one registrant's question about using tile on kitchen counters, Hessel suggested:

- Using larger (12-by-12-inch) tiles to reduce the number of grout lines.
- Matching grout color to the tiles; never contrast grout.
- Running the same tile up the backsplash area for a less choppy look.
- Choosing an edge border with the kitchen and surrounding rooms in mind. Match, perhaps, a wood used in cabinets or in the kitchen table for a decorative border, or be bold with a contrasting border.

Color Choices
Representatives from Benjamin Moore Paints stressed the need to understand color's effect on individual rooms. Some of their tips:

- Small rooms benefit from the use of one color on walls, ceiling and woodwork. Low contrast creates a feeling of space.
- Warm colors advance, cool colors recede.
- Gaining popularity is the practice of painting one wall a contrasting color or one in a deeper tone than the other three walls.
- Take advantage of color sampling. Benjamin Moore offers 260 colors in small containers of paint that cover two or three square feet. Apply two coats of the paint and evaluate it in direct sunlight, indirect sunlight and artificial light. Depending on light, the color you initially choose might be the wrong one.

Displaying Treasures
A collector's cache runs the risk of making a room resemble a warehouse or a retail outlet. Displaying one's collection can add revealing dollops of the owner's personality to a room. Tips and warnings included:

- Consider rows of shelving a last resort for your objects d'art. Not only are they boring, they fail to display your favorites in the best light.
- Think about grouping like colors or like designs together for greater impact.
- Rotate collections as one would seasonal decorations, adding new visual interest for visitors.
- Take collecting to a new level - that is, several new levels. Stack books to elevate one piece of a collection above others. Look around the house for large trays or tapestries that might add to, highlight or soften the display. – Copley

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