Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Masculine Spaces

Question: I am helping my son decorate his first house, and I am hoping you can share some inspiring masculine spaces! I know it isn't your main thing, but maybe you have something you can show?

Phoebe's Answer: I actually do work for a lot of bachelors, and one thing that we have learned is that they don't all necessarily want their rooms to be a dark cave. Some like color, and some like clean neutrals, and generally they request clean lines and no clutter (and leather). Here are some spaces I have decorated that have a more masculine feel:

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Coordinating Lighting in Different Rooms

Question: Do you have any suggestions for coordinating lighting? I need to choose lighting for two rooms, and you can see the fixtures from each room. So, I am guessing they need to coordinate pretty well. What are your thoughts?

Phoebe's Answer: Yes, they need to coordinate, but not match, and complement but not compete with one another. I generally like to use a lantern and a chandelier, I find that two chandeliers too close to one another is too much. Here are some examples below of how we coordinated lighting with fixtures very close to one another in adjoining rooms:

The foyer has a lantern and the adjoining dining room has a chamdelier. Both have a metal finish. 






A painted chandelier and a bronze lantern in adjoining rooms.






A venetian glass chandelier and a verdigris lantern.






A bronze lantern paired with a painted chandelier.

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Hiding Your Junk

Question: I try to declutter, but with my big family, we still have so much stuff. Your rooms always look so neat and tidy. Where do you put everyone's "stuff?"

Phoebe's Answer: I say keep the junk in the trunk! If you have a lot of stuff that is not attractive, just put doors on your built-ins, then you could have absolute chaos and it is still easy to keep your room looking clean and pretty. Toys, games, and that sort of thing definitely looks better behind closed doors. You will pick up a lot of storage, and it will still look attractive. Here are some examples:

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Using Host Chairs

Question: I see other people mix up their dining chairs, but I just don't know how to combine different styles. What do you like to do for your clients?

Phoebe's Answer: Sometimes I do like to use a pair of chairs at either end of the dining table that are different than the other dining chairs. Generally speaking, I usually choose upholstered chairs for this, to break things up a bit amd make it more interesting. If the man of the house likes to sit at the head of the table, this often makes them happy because they will be a little larger and more comfortable. Here are some examples:

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Decorating with Sheers

Question: I used to think sheers had a "granny" reputation, but I have seen them in some of your work. How do you incorporate them without aging the room?

Phoebe's Answer: Four important words to remember when using sheers: STAY AWAY FROM POLYESTER!!! There are so many pretty cotton, linen and wool sheer fabrics available at all price points. I especially love embroidered sheer fabrics lately. Using unlined curtains or shades gives you a soft filtered light that is a wonderful thing as long as privacy is not an issue. One of my favorite ways to use sheer fabrics is as an unlined soft bottom roman shade layered under a pair of panels - I love the softness and the layered look.  I also love to use a double pole with both sheers and panels, so you can diffuse the light at different levels during the day and night. Here are some rooms where we have used sheers:.