Podcast, Ep. 130: designer Lauren Lowe

Lauren Lowe of Lauren Elaine Interiors in Atlanta joins the show to talk about her unique perspective from moving from the world of commercial design to residential. Lauren discusses her style which highlights the classic and adds a timeless Southern twist. She also talks with us about her new home, rules of thumb for creating seating a room with a limited layout, and her use of both masculine and feminine textiles.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• More about Lauren’s new home including a sneak peek of some of her personal favorite choices for decor.
• Why she sold an open concept home for a major fixer upper that was half the square footage.
• What didn’t make the cut including gaudy and the quirky, and how we can know what looks good as old and antique, and what we may want to part with.
• What she liked about the house structurally, and what things she changed.
• How the right paint color can make a big difference, and why you want to pay attention to painting the crown, door and ceiling.
• What the learning curve was like for Lauren to go from commercial to residential, and ways her commercial background has helped her residential projects.
• How to get seating in a room that has a limited layout.
• Why the silhouette and style of a sofa can make a big impact.
• Yes, it’s possible to have a beautiful home even with active kids and a playroom filled with toys, and in fact it’s even more important to have a beautiful house when you have children.
• Lauren walks through how she picks textiles and explains how we can make different patterns work together seamlessly.
• How to have success using prints that are both masculine and feminine.

Decorating Dilemmas:

Hi ladies,

My husband and I were recently married and purchased our first home. While trying to find decorating ideas online I happened across your podcast and have been listening to it every spare second that I have ever since. I’m obsessed. I did not grow up with a decorator’s eye but I really want to make our home feel beautiful as well as comfy on a budget. I have many dilemmas as you can see from the attached pictures.

I’m struggling with what to hang on the walls. I know that I need some type of art but I really don’t know where to start. I have really struggled with the wall next to the kitchen table and I’m not sure if it needs one big “thing” or maybe a gallery wall.

There is a large canvas picture sitting above the fireplace for now to add something but that will be moved when I find something more permanent. My furniture is also lining our walls so I’m not sure if there’s a better layout that you may be able to suggest. I’m also not sure what to do with the awkward space between the chair and the fireplace if i do stick with this layout.

We have a curtain rod and I want to get drapes but I’m not sure if I should use the same drapery from the sliding glass door in the kitchen or if I should try to get something that would add some color. I really like blue so I’m not sure if that is where it should be incorporated. My last request is an idea for a rug and a coffee table. What color do you think the rug should be? Also, what size coffee table should I be looking for with such a large couch? I was thinking maybe two pushed together. I hope this isn’t too many dilemmas packed into one email.

Thank you so much for being my paper grading buddies,

Christina

Thank you for writing! So, if you could swap the loveseat and chair, with the chair opposite the sofa, that may make it look cozy and make walking in the front door feel warmer and more inviting. A 50-60 inch long coffee table broken up into two cube pieces would work, along with a round ottoman to break up some of the right angles. Drapery on the front window will make a big impact, and when you are ready for it and budget allows, you can even get a slipcover made for one of the larger pieces to bring even more personality into the space. We do love the color blue and it goes great with the green, so great thoughts on that! To keep it on budget, you could do a grid of 15 x 18 paintings using botanical books you find at the library.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Atlanta Home and Lifestyles
• @laurenelaineinteriors
• Lauren Elaine Interiors

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Happy Decorating!

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