Design Advice From HGTV Guest Designers

Want some free design advice? Read below for ideas from HGTV guest designers on how to "define your style."

My philosophy is to "Live life like a movie." Ask yourself, what movie (or television show) do you want to be living in? Is it a Merchant-Ivory film set in the English countryside? Or maybe the Jetsons, with its futuristic yet retro sensibility? Go ahead, pick your own movie. Thinking in terms of a movie or a movie genre will help you visualize what your ideal home would look like. It will aid you in choosing colors, wall coverings, furniture, accessories, everything. Just close your eyes and imagine that movie. This approach is much richer and gives you something more tangible to work with than just saying you want to go modern or antique.

A related, but simpler, approach is to think of each room like a specific movie location. For instance, I wanted my bedroom to look like an upscale New York hotel room. You may want your living room to look like a medieval throne room (I know someone who did), or your dining room to look like a Moroccan bazaar. Again, putting your vision in concrete terms gives you more to work with.

Jonathan Fong
Creative Director
Jonathan Fong Style
Website: http://www.jonathanfongstyle.com

Over the years of decorating I began to sense that a key to a beautiful room is not only the inventory of the furniture but the emotional feeling that the space is thrilling, harmonious and happy. Establishing that feeling takes years of experimenting with your taste and style. Observing and paying attention to designers and what is around you leads to your sense of style. If that style evokes the right emotion to you, whether it is peace and serenity or excitement and fun then you are falling into the right place. Then expound on these feelings and find things that bring into the space those emotions. Maybe you are a practical person or a flamboyant person and go with those feelings that make you happy.

Jennifer Bevan
Jennifer Bevan Interiors
E-mail: contact@jenniferbevan.com