The right light fixture is so crucial to the decor in a room.  I think of light fixtures as works of art.  When choosing fixtures for my designs, I think about balance in the room, as well as what type of lighting the space requires.  Will the fixture be providing accent lighting, ambiance lighting, or will it primarily be decorative?   I also think about the entire home and choose accordingly. The light fixtures throughout do not need to match, but there needs to be some relationship…similar shapes or finishes.

Here are a few examples of light fixtures that could certainly transform a space:

Zanadoo Pendant by Arteriors

Copper Shade Pendants by Tom Dixon

Wall sconce by Jonathan Adler

Beat Light cluster by Tom Dixon Photo by Take Over Time

Frankfort Articulating Wall Light by Circa

Ezra Table Lamp by Dwell Studio

Ozzy Gold Lamp by Lulu & Georgia

Rowan Pendant by Ebb & Flow

Some people say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but the dining room should get some love, too.  We use ours for family dinners, dinner parties and even casual gatherings with friends and extended family. I have so many great memories of people I love gathered around our dining room table.  It used to be that the dining room was a room that was rarely used, maybe just once or twice a year for Thanksgiving.   Now, thanks to open floor plans, dining rooms are often used daily.   The key to dining room decor is to think practical and comfortable, not stuffy and overly formal. Below are five of my favorite dining room designs.

Sometimes it is hard to find the right piece of art for a large wall in a dining room.  In the photos below, I enlisted the help of a local artist to create custom artwork for the room.

Anyone who has kids knows how crazy it can be getting them organized for school or camp…backpacks, shoes, socks, notebooks, you name it. As a mom I fantasize about the perfect mud room and I’m sure I am not alone. So, what exactly is a mudroom? A mudroom is defined as a small room or entryway where footwear and outerwear can be removed before entering a house.  Ideally, it would have shelves or cubbies for member of the household (or at least the kids!)

I have designed a few of these and the room can still reflect the style of your home…it can be modern and functional. Everything can be customizable to your needs.  I love seeing the reactions of the moms when these rooms are completed!  It’s sad, but sometimes the mudroom is a favorite.   Thinking of doing one in your home?

You can revamp your laundry room, garage or even a small nook near one of your entry ways.   I am about to make a powder bath smaller so I can create a modern mudroom that I adore in my own home. Even in Florida we need a staging area for all our daily stuff. Stay tuned while I post images of my own renovation.

In the meantime, here are some inspirational spaces, courtesy of Pinterest:

Photo courtesy of Cote De Texas

photo courtesy of Custom Made

photo courtesy of Houseplans, LLC

 

photo courtesy of Tiny White Daisies

photo courtesy of Lumberjocks

Guests are always fun at first thought. We often can’t wait for them to arrive. Then the days of schedule disruption, picky eaters, and entertaining to no avail – I’m just being real here – can get old fast. But, the preparation is only fun. I am in the midst of designing a guest room in my house that feels like a high end hotel. Mostly because when my husband snores (which is almost every night) I have an escape. It’s truly selfish but the intention is good — guests should feel welcome and at home. Mi casa es su casa! Here are some tips for creating an inviting guest room.

Pillows, pillows, pillows: One of the things I love about traveling is interesting bedding. I love to feel and experience new fabrics and patterns. I also love when I see fabrics that I’ve used in my own designs. That is a super design validation for me. I was recently at the Orlando Four Seasons and they used the Fortuny fabrics I used in this home. I was so excited and felt right at home. So load up on cool throw pillows… layer, layer, layer!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

Baby Light My Fire: I think a fireplace adds a certain type of warmth and sex appeal to any room, especially a bedroom. Most people don’t have a fireplace in a bedroom at home, so doing a fireplace like this EcoSmart bioethanol (no vent needed) fireplace is a very cool idea.

Wallpaper is Where It’s At: Below I used a textured shagreen wallpaper that is easy on the eyes yet subtly dimensional.

Fun Objects: Use accessories and artwork that you may not otherwise use in other rooms. Be a little more daring. Remember this is a retreat and people should feel like they are in a cool, interesting “home away from home”.

Overall a guest room should be eclectic – a departure from everyday life. Think about what you want when you’re traveling. I like to see things I don’t normally see. I like to be inspired. I definitely like to be comfortable. But I want to walk into a room and say ‘wow’ out loud.

Some people may say “how can a throw pillow update your home”? It’s a valid question…not! Honestly, any new color or pattern introduction can make an old space new again. Especially if the bones are neutral.

Of course you can expand upon the look with matching rugs, accessories and drapery. But today we just focus on an easy fix to update a room in your home easily and inexpensively.  Don’t be afraid of colors you never use like blush pink, coral or charcoal.

Here’s the place to experiment and push yourself out of your design box. Also feel free to mix shapes, fabric styles and textures. Always add some more solid color pillows with pattern. And never use the same size pattern in one pillow display. A solid, a large pattern and small or medium pattern will balance each other out. A shiny metallic looks great with a heavy weave or embroidered style. Furry, round, or lumbar… beaded or tassled…so many options! Below are a few arrangements that I think would look great together. Happy pillowing!

1.Macrame // 2.  Stripe Tassel // 3. Paisley // 4. Wool Shearling //

5. Shadow Gate // 6. Round Knit //7. Moroccan  //8. Tufted Lace //

9. Kaleidoscope //10. Estate //11. Mi Casa // 12.Gatsby //

13. Beige Marcarme //14.  Lace Medallion //15. Viva Mexico // 16. Cordelia Hmong //

17. Tufted Pom-Pom //18. Tribal //19. Global Lumbar //20. Southwest Cross-Stitch //

21. Flower Market//22. Scattered Scallop //23.Zig Zag //24. Love //

25. Tassels  // 26.  Metallic  // 27. Yarn Lumbar // 28. Monogram //