Create Your Own Oasis with a Spa-Style Bathroom

Greenery adds an organic touch to this spa-like bathroom we designed in a Colorado vacation home. Lately, we’re encouraging clients to do heated floors in their primary bathrooms. This heated floor is made of Ann Sacks Sully Noir limestone.

Stepping into a spa is like stepping into another world. You can leave your worries at the door, and feel restored and ready to face another day. As a professional interior designer, I’ve created healing spaces for many of my Dallas clients. Below, you’ll find my professional tips for designing a spa-style bathroom in your own home.

Step 1: Set the Stage with Beautiful Flooring

Marble is a popular choice for bathroom flooring (as well as backsplashes and vanities) because it is both water-resistant and luxurious. Regardless of what type of stone or tile you choose for your flooring, larger tiles will have a cleaner look than smaller ones. The more tiles you have, the more grout lines there are.

Stone floors can be cold to the touch and dangerous when slippery. A plush rug prevents slippage and gives your feet a soft landing area when you step out of the shower. Make sure your rug is made of a quick-drying material (such as cotton, bamboo, or wool) to prevent mold or mildew growth.

Believe it or not, it’s possible to use wood flooring in a bathroom if you coat it properly to protect it against water damage. We used extra coats of polyurethane on the wood floors in this bathroom.

If you’re designing your bathroom from scratch, take a moment to consider if you want a wet room. A wet room is an open-concept bathroom where everything is waterproof. There is little to no separation between the walk-in shower, the freestanding tub, and the rest of the bathroom. The clean lines and simplicity of a wet room bring a spa to mind. The downside of wet rooms is that they can feel hard and cold. You can make them more comfortable by adding a water-resistant shower bench for seating and installing heated tiles.

Step 2: Organize

Have you ever seen a cluttered spa? If you want your bathroom to be a place where you can truly unwind, you’ll need to make it a clean and minimalist environment. Look for expired products or items you haven’t used in a long time, then discard them. Then, decant your lotions, liquid soaps, shampoos, etc. into matching dispensers for a cohesive look.

This room was pretty small for a primary bathroom, so we had to get creative to maximize space. We built towers on either side of the his-and-her vanities to add more storage. Hot-rollers, hairdryers, electric toothbrushes, etc. could be plugged into the towers.

Cotton rounds and Q-tips can be removed from their plastic containers and put into glass jars. Store as many items as you can out-of-sight; counter space should be reserved for items you use daily. Trays, baskets, or drawer organizers can help you group similar items together. Instead of a standard bathroom trash can, try a more charming alternative like a woven basket. Any towels that are visible should be neatly folded or rolled up.

Step 3: Tone Down Your Color Scheme

Color can affect our psychological state, so it’s no surprise that spas tend to have calming, nature-inspired color schemes. A spa-like bathroom could feature shades of white, light blue, seafoam green, muted pink, soft gray, or beige. Towels should be white, cream color, sand, or olive green.

Stay away from bold colors, high-contrast color combinations, or busy patterns. Also, keep in mind that the light bouncing off of dark or bold wall colors can reflect on your skin, making it tricky to assess how your makeup looks.

The blue-and-white wallpaper with birds creates a soothing setting for this primary bathroom in a University Park home. Bright brass accents add just the right amount of sparkle.

Step 4: Adjust Lighting

Spas typically have subdued, warm lighting. After all, there’s nothing more relaxing than a candlelit bath. If your lighting is too bright and “cold,” it promotes a feeling of alertness and makes it harder to relax. Of course, there are times when you want to be able to see clearly, too. Dimmable lights help you control the brightness levels, giving you the best of both worlds. During the day, you’ll want to maximize the natural light in the room. Add window treatments to any large windows so that you can have privacy, day or night.

Step 5: Decorate Your Walls Carefully

Any art you hang in your spa bathroom should be at least a little understated. Nature-themed art is a safe choice, along with abstract watercolors and minimalist designs. If your bathroom feels a little cramped, try adding more mirrors to the walls. Using mirrors is a tried-and-true designer trick for making a small room seem larger.

Seen here is a seating area in the primary bathroom of a Turtle Creek home we designed.

Step 6: add Places to Rest

Consider getting a stool for your vanity so you can get ready for the day either standing or sitting. An extra sitting area or reading corner also helps signify that this bathroom is a place to relax and unwind. Make sure that any upholstery you choose can withstand steam. Indoor/outdoor fabrics are a good option.

Step 7: include Luxury Accessories and Features

If you want to go the extra mile, you could even add a sauna (wet or dry) or a steam shower to your bathroom. Other luxurious upgrades include adding heated toilet seats, or replacing your standard shower head with a rain showerhead.

A bathtub tray makes every bath feel a little more special. You can use it to hold a candle, a drink, a book, or bath products. Another often-overlooked accessory is a towel warmer. Stepping out of the shower into the cold isn’t so bad when a fluffy, freshly-warmed towel is close at hand. Try adding a few drops of essential oil to the bottom of the pile of towels to suffuse them with a pleasing scent.

Step 8: Bring Nature into the room

Greenery is an essential element for a peaceful environment. If you don’t have the best track record for keeping indoor plants alive, consider getting faux plants instead. There are many lifelike options on the market these days. An unused corner is the perfect spot for a faux tree. If you do choose live plants, research the amount of light they’ll need, and make sure they can thrive in a humid environment.

This bathroom has a lot of nature-themed accessories, such as the botanical print on the wall, the jars of seashells over the bathtub, and the vase of fresh flowers.

Step 9: Set the Mood

By using a portable speaker, you can fill the room with your own spa playlist. Spas often play instrumental music at a low volume. Appropriate genres include soft classical music, lounge music, and ambient music.

Scents can also have a profound impact on our state of mind. To recreate that “spa smell,” try diffusing essential oils, lighting scented candles, or using scented bath products such as bath salts, shower oils, and scented soaps. Rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint are all scents that promote relaxation. Another way to introduce a calming scent into the bathroom is by hanging a bundle of fresh or dried eucalyptus in your shower. Shower steam will activate its calming scent (note that eucalyptus is toxic for both cats and dogs).

Designing a spa-like bathroom can be a complex undertaking, but even simple changes like decluttering or updating your color scheme make a big difference. If you’re planning on going all-out, an interior designer like myself can guide your project and make sure there are no missteps. The results are worth it. After all, when you have a spa-style bathroom in your own home, any day can be a spa day. You can reach Chambers Interiors by calling our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or emailing us at margaret@chambersinteriors.com.

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How to Keep Your Home Beautiful When You Have Pets

We used a Sunbrella fabric for this sofa in a Kessler Park home. Sunbrella is easy to clean up and great for sun resistance.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 45.5% of Americans own dogs, while 32.1% of Americans own cats. As an interior designer, I need to know how to design homes for all of my Dallas clients, including those with small children or pets.

Designing a pet-friendly home presents several unique challenges. Even well-behaved pets can cause a lot of wear and tear on a home over time. Dog crates, dog beds, litter boxes and cat trees also stick out like a sore thumb. Thankfully, there are ways to protect your furnishings and disguise pet clutter without compromising on style.

Buy Heavy-Duty Fabrics

Indoor/outdoor rugs are the best choice for a home with pets. Rugs can also be treated to protect them against stains, making them easier to clean when accidents happen.

Any pet owner knows that keeping dogs and cats off furniture can be a losing battle. That’s why it’s important to choose durable fabrics, especially in the rooms your pet spends the most time in. Examples of high-performance fabrics include Sunbrella, Krypton, microsuede, microfiber, canvas, and indoor/outdoor fabrics. Another option is scratch-and-stain-resistant leather. If your pet has a favorite chair or a favorite spot on the couch, you can put a blanket there to keep their hair off the furniture itself.

Pet beds give your furry friend another place to rest—and shed hair—besides your furniture. Make sure to find one with a washable cover and a fabric color that complements the rest of the room.

If you own cats, stay away from anything with an open-weave that they can get their claws in. Avoid looped carpet, boucle, and tassel rugs, which some cats love to chew on. Performance velvet is a good choice that often deters scratching. Although pet hair and lint clings to velvet, it can be easily vacuumed off.

Rugs made of a tight wool weave can withstand scratching. Since cats can get their claws into loop pile rugs, I’d advise cat owners to choose cut pile rugs instead. Remember to secure your rugs to the floor with rug tape or rug pads.

Hide Pet Items in Plain Sight

Litter boxes and small dog crates can be discretely hidden inside modified cabinets. Search online for “litter box enclosures” or “dog crate furniture” for ideas. Large dog crates can be hidden under a tabletop with a tablecloth.

Nowadays, you can find cat trees or scratching posts that are designed to look like art pieces. Wall-mounted cat beds or cat shelves also give your cat a cozy perch to survey the room, without using up floorspace.

Owning multiple pets means you’ll have a lot of food and water dishes cluttering the kitchen floor. One popular solution is to build a kitchen island with a nook at floor-level for storing pet dishes—something to consider if you’re building a new home or remodeling your kitchen. A shallow toe-kick door can also be repurposed as a cat feeding station.

Pet toys can be stored in a bin or a woven basket with a lid to keep them out of sight. Consider putting your cat and dog treats in pretty jars instead of leaving them in their original packaging.

Vet Your housePlants

Does your cat love to nibble your houseplants? Offer them “cat grass,” which they can safely munch on, instead. You could also try decorating with faux plants instead of live ones. Before adding any live plants to your home, you should always make sure that they won’t be toxic for your pet. You can find a full list of plants that are dangerous for dogs or cats on the ASPCA website.

stay on top of grooming

When you are diligent about grooming your pet, it helps keep your home clean, too. Brushing or bathing your pet removes any hair that would otherwise end up on your floor or furniture. Animal hair leaves behind an oil that attracts dirt, so make sure to vacuum it off furniture at least twice a week.

Luxury vinyl tiles are a great flooring option for a home with pets because they’re easy to clean and durable. Vinyl tiles can even come with a faux wood finish. Avoid high-gloss tiles, which will highlight dirt and pawprints.

You can help protect your floors by regularly trimming your pet’s nails. Seen here is a photo from the foyer in a Dallas home we designed.

If you’re in the process of building a new home, plan ahead on where you want to bathe your pet. The mudroom is the perfect place for a washing station because you can take care of your pet’s muddy paws as soon as they return from the outdoors. A walk-in shower with an extra-long nozzle is another solution.

Even if you’re not allergic to your pet, it’s not a bad idea to use an air purifier. Air purifiers reduce allergens in the home and help cut down on pet odors too.

Keep Collectibles Out of Reach

There’s no need to leave your shelves bare if you have pets. Just take precautionary measures to make sure that no accidents (or intentional sabotage) happen. For starters, keep any accessories up and out of range of your dogs’ tails. Dealing with cats is trickier because they love to jump up high and knock things off of shelves. Try securing decorative objects with earthquake putty, or choose bottom-heavy pieces. For example, a vase can be filled with aquarium gravel to make it harder to move. Place your heaviest objects (like crystals) on the lowest shelves. Especially delicate or valuable items should always be kept in a glass display case.

Plastic table toppers help protect your wood coffee tables from scratches. When decorating your coffee table, gather your small objects in a tray. That way, even if the cat knocks them over, your items should be contained in the tray.

If you’re having trouble finding durable home goods that fit your home’s style, you could always contact an interior designer. Some of my favorite published projects have been for clients who owned dogs. Just because you live with pets doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. By choosing your fabrics wisely, and finding clever ways to disguise pet paraphernalia, you can keep your dream home looking beautiful for years to come. To schedule a consultation with Chambers Interiors, call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or send an email to margaret@chambersinteriors.com.

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Secrets for Styling a Gorgeous Bed

A pink-and-white check pillow is the finishing touch for this girl’s bedroom from a Turtle Creek townhouse.

A beautifully made bed makes a world of difference in interior design. Regardless of whether you want an upscale or a casual look, combining the right patterns, fabrics and colors will help you create a look that makes you (or your guest) want to dive right in.

When I’m designing a bedroom for one of my Dallas clients, I usually pick the bedding first. After all, the bed is the focal point of the bedroom and sets the mood for everything around it. Following up on my last article about choosing a mattress, this time, I’ll explain how to make your bed look like one you’d see in an interior design magazine.

StylE

A bed’s design style should always go with the architectural style of the house. In a traditional house, the bedding ought to have more detail, such as layered patterns and monogrammed sheets and pillowcases. The pillows are usually stacked, with maybe a bolster in the middle. A throw blanket at the end of the bed completes the look.

For a contemporary house, it’s more appropriate to design a sleek and simple bed, probably with neutral bedding and fewer pillows. You can still have some detail—for example, edged details on the sheets, pillowcases, or Euro pillows—but on the whole, it’s going to be more minimalist. Any bed with a monochromatic color scheme should use a variety of textures.

This Africa-themed guest bedroom in a Kessler Park home has a contemporary feel because of its simplicity and textural elements. The color scheme for the bedding is done in earth tones.

As a side note, don’t worry about whether every piece on your bed serves a function. Even if you never plan on sleeping with the decorative pillows or the throw blanket, they’re necessary for putting the finishing touch on the design. If you really want that professionally made-up look, you need to style your bed the same way you’d style a shelf or a table setting.

Color Scheme

You can create your bedding color scheme by picking a basic color that complements the rest of your bedroom. Then, build off that color by working with different shades of the same color family.

All-white bedding is popular because it promotes a feeling of relaxation. Since white linens will go with any other color, they’re a good base in case you want to change your duvet and pillows with each season. Blue is probably the next most popular color scheme for bedding. While white is elegant and refined, blue has more of a casual and coastal feel.

If you only want a touch of color, you could use your boldest color on your fitted sheet (which won’t be visible most of the time) or the throw pillows. Since the bedspread is the largest item, choosing a boldly colored bedspread will create the biggest impact. If your bedspread and pillows are colorful, it’s strongly recommended to choose white sheets and sleeping pillows. The white pillows and folded-down top sheet (if visible) will help break up the areas of color and give the eye a place to rest.

Blue-and-white is a classic color combination. It can instantly give bedding a refreshing and uplifting feel. Seen here is a boy’s bedroom from a Preston Hollow home we designed.

Love patterns? Make sure to break up the patterns in your bedding with some solid colors too so that the bedding is not too “busy.” To unite different patterns, make sure both patterns share at least one color. Keep in mind that large patterns are energizing, which is usually not the vibe you want in your bedroom. Small print patterns with subtle colors, however, can be calming.

Sheets

Your sheets should be the best quality you can afford because your skin comes in contact with them every day. I have a traditional house, Federal in style, so I have a turned-down bed where the coverlet and sheets are folded over. Since my sheets are visible, I like to keep multiple sets of sheets to change things up.

Here are some pros and cons to common sheet materials:

• Cotton sateen sheets are silky with a subtle sheen. They are cool to the touch, but also trap some heat.

• Cotton percale has a cool, crisp texture that feels like hotel sheets or a button-up shirt.

• Cotton flannel sheets are super soft and cozy, making them ideal for the winter months.

• Linen can feel rougher than cotton, but it softens up after washing. Its hollow fibers trap the optimal amount of body heat to keep you warm at night while also being soft and supple.

• Silk is another soft material. Notably, it absorbs less moisture, meaning you can use beauty products before bed without worrying that they’ll get absorbed by your pillow.

Some people change their bedding with the seasons, using percale sheets in the summer, and flannels in the winter, for example. Linen is a good in-between material for both spring and fall.

Before ordering sheets, measure your mattress height. A tall mattress, such as a pillow-top, may require extra-deep cut sheets. Top sheets should be put in finished side down so that the sleeper can enjoy the soft texture. This way, the finished side will also be visible when you fold the banding back.

Bedspreads

It’s worthwhile to research the different types of bedspreads out there before you buy one. Although the terms “duvet” and “comforter” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are two different things. A comforter is a single piece of quilted bedding that is filled, while a duvet has two parts: the insert and the cover, which fits over it like a pillowcase. Comforters are often larger, spilling over the sides of the bed, while duvets are meant to match the size of the mattress.

Quilts or coverlets are cool in the summer and warm in the winter, although they are not as warm as comforters. Pinch-pleated or ruched duvet covers add textural depth and interest to a solid-color bed. A reversible duvet gives you two color options; the color on the opposite side can also be folded over partially to create a striking contrast. For an extra-fluffy look, you can put two inserts in a duvet.

This is one of my all-time favorite bedrooms I’ve designed. The matelassé on the bed has a wonderful texture. The pillows have a layered look, with a hand-embroidered center pillow in front of a pair of Asian toile pillows. The upholstered headboard is within a stained French wood frame.

In my design projects I use a lot of matelassé bedspreads, which have a quilted-like fabric, because they’re washable. I work with several brands that carry “semi-custom” items, where we can pick a fabric from a line and have it made. Buying semi-custom bedding, as opposed to fully custom, makes putting together a bed quicker and more affordable.

The first thing to wear out on the bed is the coverlet or duvet cover because people sit on their beds to watch TV or read a book, or let their kids and pets get on the bed. I always recommend that people get an extra duvet or matelassé in case they need to send one out to be cleaned.

When you fold your bedspread, I suggest folding it in half, and then pulling it back towards you into thirds, past the rows of pillows. Pulling it back gives the pillows more “breathing room” and creates more depth.

Pillows

Decorative pillows are a must for adding more style, texture, or color to your bed. An odd-numbered, asymmetrical arrangement keeps things casual, while a symmetrical arrangement looks more formal. The pillows in front need to be smaller than the ones in the back so you can see behind them.

The number and size of the pillows you should use depends on the size of your bed. For example, a queen bed can have two Euro pillows stacked on each side in the back, two shams or larger throw pillows in the middle, and then either two throw pillows or a lumbar pillow in front. A king bed needs three pillows at the head of the bed. Sleeping pillows can be hidden at the back behind the Euro pillows.

If you have a pretty headboard, you may want to show it off by using fewer pillows. For lumbar pillows, consider placing a round decorative pillow in front; it’ll contrast nicely with the rectangular shape behind it.

This green check bed skirt matches the green detailing on the duvet and pillows. Notice how the sleeping pillows are stacked and hidden behind the decorative pillows.

Bed Skirts

A bed skirt—also known as a dust ruffle—goes between the mattress and the box spring, hiding the lower part of your bed. You’ll definitely want a bed skirt if you store items under the bed. Although bed skirts are mostly decorative, they also help keep dust from accumulating under the bed.

Throw Blankets

Throw blankets, like throw pillows, can be swapped out with the change of season for an easy update. A throw blanket isn’t just for decoration; it also gives your guest another layer for warmth. They are sometimes draped across the bottom of the bed at a diagonal angle. Regardless of bed size, any blanket or quilt you put on the bed needs to be long enough that both ends could drape off the sides. Knitted, velvet, and mohair are all good materials for textural throw blankets.

Adding a throw blanket to the end of the bed creates a more interesting and layered look, especially if the rest of the bedding is understated.

Updating a single bed is easy if you follow these guidelines, but updating multiple beds in the house can get much more complicated. An interior designer like myself can streamline that process for you, should you choose to work with one. Whether you style your beds yourself or work with a professional, I think you should really like what you put on your bed. Use your favorite colors, patterns, and textures; that way, when it’s done, you’ll enjoy living with it for a long time.

Could the bedding sets in your home use a refresh? Consider bringing in an interior designer to give your bedrooms that “wow” factor. To schedule a consultation with us, call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.

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Why Neoclassical Home Architecture Never Goes out of Style

With its combination of clean lines, imposing scale, and stately details, Neoclassical architecture always makes a statement. Here in Dallas, our historic courthouse and the Dallas High School are both examples of this timeless look. Although many people associate Neoclassical with government buildings, it’s also a popular style for traditional homes.

Architect Robbie Fusch designed this home on Lexington. Like any Neoclassical home should, it favors symmetry over asymmetry. (This photo and drawing are copyright of Fusch Architects, Inc. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature these images).

History

Neoclassical, or “new classical” is the revival of ideas and culture from ancient Greece and Rome. True classical architecture was built between 850 B.C. and A.D. 476.

By the late 18th century, architects and interior designers throughout Europe were beginning to tire of Rococo style. Excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum inspired designers to return to the simplicity and elegance of the ancient past. Neoclassical became so popular that by the year 1800, almost all British architects were using it.

During the 19th century, US architects defined the aesthetic course of the nation by designing universities and government buildings in a Neoclassical style. This was intended to suggest similarities between the new republic and ancient Rome. Today, Neoclassical buildings can also be found in France, Russia, and Latin America. Some famous examples of Neoclassical design include the U.S. Capitol, the Panthéon in Paris, the Prado Museum in Madrid, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia.

Le Panthéon de Paris as painted by Jean-Baptiste Hilair, 1795. (Public domain)

You might wonder if Neoclassical is too ostentatious for residential architecture. Not so: Neoclassical homes are still being designed and built all across America.

Characteristics

Some of the key tenets of Neoclassical architecture include symmetry, dramatic columns, domed roofs, and triangular pediments. Columns are built according to the Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian orders (classical style guidelines) and will always be placed in even numbers. Unlike British Neoclassical homes, American Neoclassical homes are often built with a double portico. Some Neoclassical homes also have a balustrade along the second story porch.

This Turtle Creek home by architect Richard Davis has both a double portico and a balustrade. The columns here follow the Doric order, meaning they are simple and streamlined in design. (This photo is copyright of Richard Drummond Davis Architects. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

An aerial shot of a Neoclassical home with a double portico in Fort Worth, designed by Ralph Duesing. (This photo is copyright of Ralph Duesing Architect, LLC. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

The thought behind Neoclassical is that pure, simple forms should be the basis of great architecture. However, there is still room to include some ornamental details. Examples include dentil moldings (rectangular blocks along the roof line or below the cornice) and Corinthian columns, the tops (capitals) of which are densely decorated with scrolls and foliage.

In this photo of a home designed by Paul Turney, you can see examples of both dentil moldings and Corinthian columns. Dentil moldings line the pediment over the front porch. (This image is copyright of Turney & Associates, Inc. Chambers Interiors & Associates was given permission to feature this image).

Many American Neoclassical homes are constructed using Flemish Bond red brick and limestone corner stones called quoins. Door and window trim, columns, roof-line balustrades, and shutters are all made of either limestone or wood. The brick exterior walls and wood ornamentation of a Neoclassical home help to give the building its sense of solidness, but the wood ornamentation also needs to be carefully maintained over time. Anything made of wood should be repainted or re-stained once in a while, as well as inspected for rot.

Fountains and abundant greenery give a restful quality to this Neoclassical outdoor area. Paul Turney was the architect for this home, while the landscape architect was John Armstrong. (This image is copyright of Turney & Associates, Inc. Chambers Interiors & Associates was given permission to feature this image).

Unlike casement windows, traditional double-hung windows do not have an airtight seal when closed. They also tend to leak more air as they age. If you buy an older Neoclassical home, you may want to have the windows inspected. Repairing or replacing these windows with modern replicas can help you save money on your energy bill.

Windows in Neoclassical homes, such as this home designed by Richard Davis, have double-hung sashes with shutters on either side. (This photo is copyright of Richard Drummond Davis Architects. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

Interior design in Neoclassical homes

Restraint is key here. Neoclassical is a style that can easily cross the boundary between “tasteful” and “gaudy.” How do you find the sweet spot? Aim for an elegant and refined color scheme that is paired with bold architectural lines, daring geometrics and playful accessories.

When it comes to color, Neoclassical rooms tend to have a light overall color scheme, with a few dramatic or darkly colored accents. For example, one room may have an overall black-and-white scheme with geometric patterns; another room could use softer cream, pale blue or pearl as its main colors. Popular accent colors for these rooms include navy blue, terracotta, gold, and wine red.

If you’d like to decorate a single room in Neoclassical style, it should be a room with high ceilings, large windows, and lots of natural light. This is the optimal setting for this style.

Cobalt blue is the accent color of choice in this room from a Neoclassical home by Robbie Fusch. (This photo is copyright of Fusch Architects, Inc. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

In the 1700s, designers who worked in Neoclassical style chose furniture that balanced clean lines and Greco-Roman details. Antique furniture from this period often had tapered or fluted legs, scrolls, lyre backs, and rosettes. In the same way that Neoclassical architecture tended to be symmetrical, Neoclassical furniture is usually symmetrical in design too. Upholstery was usually in colors like rose, white, gray-blue, and striped or toile patterns. Gilt accents on mirrors and furnishings are also quite common. Since this style is associated with luxury, you may want to splurge on high-quality fabrics such as silk, linen, brocade, and velvet.

In a Lexington home designed by Robbie Fusch, this mirror with a gilt frame makes a stunning statement piece. (This photo is copyright of Fusch Architects, Inc. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

One key difference between Neoclassical and other traditional styles is that Neoclassical has less clutter. Of course, there are some accessories that are a must for this look. Busts, statues, obelisks, urns, large mirrors, crystal chandeliers, and classic art will help cinch the style. Neoclassical vases and urns are often painted in a solid color with a white pattern (like a garland, series of swags, or Greco-Roman scenery) wrapped around. For your other accessories, look for lamps and mirrors with Neoclassical motifs, like griffins, sphinxes, and satyrs.

Crystal chandeliers, crown molding, and painted walls give elegance to the dining room in this Turtle Creek home by Richard Davis. (This photo is copyright of Richard Drummond Davis Architects. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

Since Neoclassical rooms tend to have a “clean” look, some Dallas homeowners are combining elements of Neoclassical with modern and contemporary design. Be careful to not include too many accessories, especially in rooms that already have busy patterns. Just a few pieces will go a long way to getting the glamorous look you want.

Chambers Interiors & Associates was the interior design team for the new SMU Theta sorority house (exterior and interior photos shown above). We chose a transitional style that would please both older alumni and current students. The new building was designed in Neoclassical style by Fusch Architects, Inc.

Like many famous Neoclassical buildings, this home by Ralph Duesing in Westover Hills has a large triangular pediment. (This photo is copyright of Ralph Duesing Architect, LLC. Chambers Interiors & Associates was granted permission to feature this image).

Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary, Neoclassical style has a lot to offer. If you own a Neoclassical home and are not sure how to balance this style with your other furnishings, consider enlisting the help of a designer familiar with the style. Neoclassical can be a very difficult style for the average homeowner to pull off, especially if the home doesn’t have a lot of classical architectural detailing.

If you could use an expert eye to make sure you hit your mark, contact us by emailing info@chambersinteriors.com or call our office in Dallas (214-651-7665) to tell us more about your project.

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