From mixing materials to asymmetrical layouts, six top interior designers chat with us about the design rules that they don’t follow and share the spaces they’ve created that illustrate why rules can be broken.
Rule #1: Hang Artwork Symmetrically in a Room
"I like to place art to create the effect I am looking for rather than in an expected location, like centered over the couch. Sometimes I like to take artwork off grid because I think symmetry can be stultifying and stiff. In the living room above, the large painting was placed to the far left of the sofa to serve as a focal point from the hallway that leads straight to the room."
Elizabeth Vallino, of Elizabeth Vallino Interiors
Photography by Kim Reierson
Rule #2: A Room Should be One Style
“I don’t always like to stick to one style in a space. I love my rooms to have clean lines and feel tailored, yet pairing modern and traditional pieces, like in this office above, makes the room feel much more interesting and personal.”
Edyta Czajkowska, of Edyta & Co.
Rule #3: Metals Must Match
“Some are of the mind that all metal finishes in a room should match. Although I never want finishes to clash, I don’t always follow this design rule. In this kitchen, brushed nickel fittings on the island sinks are paired with a custom metal hood that has been finished to a deep copper patina for a successful look. Both work well with each other, which I feel is the more important rule to follow.”
April Powers, of April Powers Interior Design
Rule #4: In-Between Spaces Don’t Need Design
“This is a vignette in Dennis Quaid's rustic canyon home where we played with scale and proportion to create some whimsy on an otherwise nondescript stair landing. The lights are over scaled while the actor’s self portrait is under scaled. We mixed textures like crazy with the original tramp art mirror, the African stool, the Chinese altar table, the bronze sconces and the 19th century skull candleholders from Blackman Cruz. We have our own rule at Everage Design: ‘Don't change the color, just change the texture,’ and we did follow that one here.”
Krista Everage, of Everage Design, Inc.
Rule #5: Don’t Mix Woods
“A perceived design rule is to not mix wood species in a space. Our team at W Design absolutely loves breaking this rule! For example, this New England living room features both dark and light wood in the architectural elements. We added two-toned nesting tables to bring visual depth to the space: the walnut complements the brown undertones in the wood floors and the ivory juxtaposes with the cream sofa for a sleek, polished look. We also don’t shy away from mixing metals, as seen in the pairing of antique brass with iron and gold details in the room. Layering different metals and woods elevates a space to a whole new level."
Wendy Berry, of W Design
Rule #6: Everything Must Match
At first glance, I may not appear as a rule breaker. My work has been described as classic, tailored and refined. However, I’ve never been particularly interested in designing within the rules. I mix materials; I love pairing traditional settings with modern works of art; and I believe in surrounding yourself with elements you love regardless of whether they are a perfect match. For example, I designed the contemporary floating floor-to-ceiling wine cellar for this fairly traditional dining room because my client is an avid collector who loves to entertain.”
Nicole Hogarty, of Nicole Hogarty Designs
