Q Why do you think details are so important in home decor?
A To me, detail equals imagination. The environment you live in should be so much fun that when you enter, it gives you a spiritual uplift. I wanted to encourage people to be creative, to do little things on their own. If you mess it up, it's OK.
Q What are some of your favorite details in your own home?
A Walls are fun. It's a large surface and the only one that doesn't have to be totally functional. In my great room, I have three different wall coverings. One is split travertine, with stone left over from a job, adhered to the wall as an accent. On another wall, I had a faux artist do tone-on-tone painting in shades of beige. Another wall has very subdued metal panels. The fourth wall is a teak wood surround for the front door. No one notices the different surfaces unless I point them out, but they feel the creativity and spirit of it.
Q How hard would it be for someone like me to try that at home?
A Walls are good for do-it-yourselfers. They might be hard-pressed to make a table or chair but they can cut out panels and put them on the walls.
Q What's the most common mistake people make -- using too many details or not enough?
A Not enough. We're talking about middle-class people who don't use an interior designer or have a custom home. Most homes are just a box. People add furnishings and think that will give a home character. You need to create excitement, beyond just a chair and sofa.
