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Courtney Holland[/caption]
Courtney Holland Courtney Holland Interiors
What is the difference between interior design and interior decorating?
In order to call yourself a designer, you have to have a degree. A designer can actually specify products, so I work with several different area builders, [and] I’ll specify exterior finishes to flooring to how to build your cabinets, paint [colors and] tile. Anything that would go into the construction of the house, other than the engineering part of it—that’s what a designer does. The decorator typically [does] just the accessories that you’ll see.
What are some popular elements currently in residential design?
There are things like the concrete tiles [with] the bold patterns and stuff [in homes]. Different lighting trends are really hot right now, [and] everybody’s going for this restorative, historical farmhouse kind of look. And that can be taken in several different directions. There can be the urban aspect of it where you have a loft in downtown Houston, but then you bring in different kinds of industrial pieces, whether it’s a reclaimed piece of furniture [or] the wood that warms it up.
What are some design elements you would recommend or avoid?
Some of my biggest tips to homeowners to make a house a home [is that] lighting is a really big, key factor, and you want to layer your lighting. You’ll have your task lighting [and] ambient lighting, but also pick some fun pieces, too, not just your overhead [lighting]. Other things, too, like pulling some unique finds [from antiquing] or if you have an old piece that’s a hand-me-down. It can be something as simple as a book. Use that as a key design piece in your house. Put it in a shadow box or a box on your coffee table, and it becomes a conversation piece instead of just picking up stuff at stores. [Avoid] painting a space without getting enough samples [first].
