{interior design} MUST have....

This is the interiors equivalent of the LBD; gotta have it. While it sounds good to complete a room in one fell swoop, I guarantee a gentle collection over years, even decades, will offer more sentiment- and inevitably- a more successful space than immediate gratification. You'll find a checklist that we could all boast about, so spend a little extra moola, be a little more particular and you'll end up with an envious collection.

1) The Barcelona Chair (or a good reproduction).
I hate to say a copy is ok, but in this case, a high quality duplicate will suffice.. Ludwig wouldn't mind, to copy is flattery right? (Knoll has the rights to reproduce the original, it's available through DWR.)

Keep it classic in a black or white leather.

2) Hide rug.
It's a trend (and has been for five+ years), but it's true, you could invest some money in a hide rug right now and you'll have it forever. Ikea offers a mostly monochromatic hide at an approachable price point of $250. You won't regret this purchase. (I will say, the more variation the better, black/white/brown is excellent.)

3) A statement light fixture, preferably a chandelier.
A bold light fixture says you're confident about your design decisions, and it will typically set the mood for the space. So when you're picking your stand-out, choose with mood in mind; swanky? ultra modern? Parisian? glamorous? The beauty of this piece is that you'll always like it, even if your style changes, I bet you'll be happy to make your chandelier work in your space through all its evolutions.

(fixture by Schonbek)

4) A high quality set of sheets.
My mother once told me she only buys sheets made with Egyptian cotton. It's funny how our parents are always offering tid-bits of info, and sometimes it goes in one ear, and out the other.. but sometimes it sticks. In this case I remembered, and I too now only buy sheets made of Egyptian cotton. They wear beautifully over time.

5) A large scale piece of art.
This is a big purchase, perhaps the biggest listed here. But it will pay off. Even if you have a small space (actually, this is more important for a small space), it alone will deliver drama and impact. Search Etsy for finds and scores. Pick something you love and disregard any "style" you're trying to achieve; a genuine collection will always work better than a mathcing one. Aim for 48" x 48".

(by Mia Linnman)

6) One great chair.
A single, detailed chair with a bold fabric will be worth the cost of reupholstering in another few years; so choose a big bold pattern you like. (This is a great spot to take advantage of craigsList. Search for wingback or Bergere.)

I'm convinced if you follow this list, you'll be happy happy happy with your space-
xoxo

-julie

return to top