A Look Inside Designers' Homes

In HGTV Magazine, three furniture and accessories makers share the insider tricks they use at home.
By: Steele Thomas Marcoux
Woman sits at green dining table

Lauren Russell At Home

Expert 1: The furniture designer at her table Lauren Russell, Maine Cottage Best known for: Wooden tables, dressers, chairs and armoires painted in vibrant, eco-friendly finishes Take it from an insider: Secret color strategy: "If you're nervous about bringing in color, choose pieces in different shades of one hue. You can’t mess that up, I promise! That's why I have five shades of green in my dining room, including chartreuse chairs and a palm-colored table." Quick cleaning trick: "Oil-based wood cleaners can leave residue and distort the color of painted furniture. Mild soap and water does a fine job of cleaning it." People always ask me: "What's the best way to paint furniture yourself? Use a white sponge roller that has no nap (pile). It leaves the smoothest finish with no brush marks. For thin legs, like on chairs, use a small sponge brush."

Photo by: Trevor Dixon

Trevor Dixon

Expert 1: The furniture designer at her table

Lauren Russell, Maine Cottage
Best known for: Wooden tables, dressers, chairs and armoires painted in vibrant, eco-friendly finishes

Take it from an insider:

  • Secret color strategy: "If you're nervous about bringing in color, choose pieces in different shades of one hue. You can’t mess that up, I promise! That's why I have five shades of green in my dining room, including chartreuse chairs and a palm-colored table."
  • Quick cleaning trick: "Oil-based wood cleaners can leave residue and distort the color of painted furniture. Mild soap and water does a fine job of cleaning it."
  • People always ask me: "What's the best way to paint furniture yourself? Use a white sponge roller that has no nap (pile). It leaves the smoothest finish with no brush marks. For thin legs, like on chairs, use a small sponge brush."
Marlene Barnett in living room

Marlene Barnett Lounges on her Rug

Expert 2: The rug designer in her living room Malene Barnett, Malene B Custom Handmade Carpets Best known for: High-quality rugs in a huge range of colors and modern global-inspired patterns, using materials like New Zealand wool and Chinese silk Take it from an insider: Rug color motto: "You don’t have to decide between bright walls and a colorful rug — do both! Pick one shade in a multicolored rug and paint the walls that color, like I did in my living room with teal. It makes the space look pulled together." Most-common rug mistake: "The placement. People often put their rug all the way against the wall and their sofa right on top of it, also backed up to the wall. A better look is to leave about a foot of space between the wall and the edge of the rug, and rest only the front legs of your sofa on top of the rug." People don’t know that: "You should rotate your rug 180 degrees every three to four months — that way it will wear evenly."

Photo by: Nathan Perkel

Nathan Perkel

Expert 2: The rug designer in her living room

Malene Barnett, Malene B Custom Handmade Carpets
Best known for: High-quality rugs in a huge range of colors and modern global-inspired patterns, using materials like New Zealand wool and Chinese silk

Take it from an insider:

  • Rug color motto: "You don’t have to decide between bright walls and a colorful rug — do both! Pick one shade in a multicolored rug and paint the walls that color, like I did in my living room with teal. It makes the space look pulled together."
  • Most-common rug mistake: "The placement. People often put their rug all the way against the wall and their sofa right on top of it, also backed up to the wall. A better look is to leave about a foot of space between the wall and the edge of the rug, and rest only the front legs of your sofa on top of the rug."
  • People don’t know that: "You should rotate your rug 180 degrees every three to four months — that way it will wear evenly."
Judy Ross on sofa at home

Judy Ross Relaxes at Home

Expert 3: The pillow designer on her sofa Judy Ross, Judy Ross Textiles Best known for: Graphic-print and hand-embroidered pillows, plus a line of scarves, rugs and fabrics by the yard in similar patterns Take it from an insider: Mix-and-match strategy: "I’m easygoing about picking pillows. I tell people just to find designs you love and choose a bunch of fun colors that work with the room. I do follow a simple size guideline, though: I almost always go with 18" x 18" pillows since they’re big enough to be supportive but never overwhelming on a couch or bed." Buying secret: "Choose inserts that are two inches bigger than the cases. It gives pillows a fuller, plusher look." People always ask me: "Whether the two pillows on the ends of the sofa have to match. The answer is no. Sure, you can do pairs, but I think an imbalance is more fun."

Photo by: Nathan Perkel

Nathan Perkel

Expert 3: The pillow designer on her sofa

Judy Ross, Judy Ross Textiles
Best known for: Graphic-print and hand-embroidered pillows, plus a line of scarves, rugs and fabrics by the yard in similar patterns

Take it from an insider:

  • Mix-and-match strategy: "I’m easygoing about picking pillows. I tell people just to find designs you love and choose a bunch of fun colors that work with the room. I do follow a simple size guideline, though: I almost always go with 18" x 18" pillows since they’re big enough to be supportive but never overwhelming on a couch or bed."
  • Buying secret: "Choose inserts that are two inches bigger than the cases. It gives pillows a fuller, plusher look."
  • People always ask me: "Whether the two pillows on the ends of the sofa have to match. The answer is no. Sure, you can do pairs, but I think an imbalance is more fun."

Next Up

10 Tips for Decorating Your Home Office

Work in style in a beautiful and functional home office.

Quick Tips for Home Organization

Try these quick home organization tips for maintaining a clutter-free home from basement to attic.

How to Pet-Proof Your Garden

Learn how to keep the peace between your garden and pets with these nine simple tips.

How To Care For a Wood Fence

A wooden fence can be a great way to give a home a definitive border and add style. Learn the proper maintenance required to make sure your fence lasts a long time.

Why Is There so Much Dust in My House?

Find the answers to frequently asked cleaning questions, plus get 10 handy tips for making your house less dusty.

10 Home Office Hacks to Get You Organized Now

Working from home can be super comfortable and productive — unless your home office is a disaster. Follow these 10 simple tips to help declutter your space.

How to Install a Porch Railing

The right front porch railing can add a lot of curb appeal to your home and help define your home's style. Learn how to install new railing on your porch.

Q+A With Kitchen Crasher Alison Victoria

DIY Network’s Kitchen Crashers host Alison Victoria answers your decorating and remodeling questions in HGTV Magazine.

How-to: Make Felt Flowers and Paper Pinwheels for DIY Wreaths

HGTV Magazine shared a year’s worth of DIY wreath ideas in its January/February issue—now get to work with these instructions for the flowers and pinwheels.

Chocolate Truffles

HGTV Magazine shares this recipe for a festive holiday treat that makes an adorably delicious gift.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.