Decorate-it-yourself with 8 timeless pieces

Tired, confused or overwhelmed by sifting through furniture catalogs and Web sites for the perfect addition to your home? Want a few pointers on where to find timeless and classic sofas, chairs and tables? In Domino’s “Best of Decorating” issue — with everything you ever wanted to know about decorating from 14 top designers, architects and stylists — discover eight great, timeless pieces to spruce up your home.

Restoration Hardware
“Easton Upholstered Sofa in Café Velvet”
www.restorationhardware.com,  $3,180

• Kiln-dried hardwood frame and steel springs will last forever
• Option for down-filled cushions, which is critical for comfort and retaining shape of sofa — cushions return to former shape when not sitting on it
• One of the most versatile and great-looking sofas
• Modern shape with traditional velvet fabric so goes with any décor
• Mixes in seamlessly with all the pieces you already own
• Arms and back the same height, which is a custom-made look — without custom price

Big Sur dining table/crateandbarrel.com

Crate & Barrel
“Big Sur” dining table
www.crateandbarrel.com, $1,399

• Like its namesake, this table is big, bold and natural
• Made of solid European white oak; the wood is really pretty and looks unusual
• Supporting the table are 4 hefty legs, each crafted from a single piece of heartwood, exposing tree’s inner rings
• Has heft and solid proportions
• Looks one-of-a-kind; has natural cracks and knots and wood pegging detail on top
• Polished wax allows wood to gain character as it ages

Nail Head Chair/Potterybarn.com

Pottery Barn
“Nail Head Chair”
www.potterybarn.com, $229

• Looks custom-made but great price
• Antiqued-bronze-finish nail heads make chair special — custom decorator details
• More modern version of a classic French chair
• Sturdy hardwood construction
• Natural linen upholstery, which is chic and understated
• Go-anywhere piece — there’s nowhere that this chair wouldn’t look good
• Can be formal or casual; looks great as dining-room chair or around the kitchen table
• Fantastic as occasional chair in living room to throw off a room that’s too symmetrical
• Perfect in bedroom, or pair in a hallway or entrance hall

Faux Bois Mirror/westelm.com

West Elm
“Faux Bois Mirror”
www.westelm.com, $249

• Made of plastic
• This pattern, faux bois, is always a classic; it's been around for ever but is super-hot right now; never goes out of style
• Gives a room texture, bringing the outside (tree branches) inside
• Instantly lightens space — every room needs something in chalky white
• Clean and modern

Mirror/wisteria.com

Wisteria
“Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Flower Mirror”
www.wisteria.com, starts at $299

• Looks like it’s imported from somewhere exotic — adding one exotic piece not only makes you appear well-traveled, but lends eclecticism and history to a room
• Helps a room look lived in — not too sterile — and gives the impression that you didn’t buy everything in the room yesterday (if a room feels too matchy-matchy, this is a great piece to throw into the mix to shake things up)
• Black-and-white pattern goes with anything —  foolproof way to introduce pattern to a room

Anthropologie
“Italian Campaign Canopy Bed”
www.anthropologie.com, $1,698 for queen-size

• Canopies can often be overly romantic or little-girlish — this one balances masculine and feminine (your husband won’t feel like he is sleeping in a little girl’s room)
• Starkly beautiful as is —  you can leave it bare-bones for a French country look or drape with fabric for a private hideaway and highly decorated look
• This bed is versatile and keeps giving you decorating options for years to come

Sutton Headboard/wshome.com

Williams-Sonoma Home
“Sutton Headboard”
www.wshome.com, $1,100 for queen-size

• Upholstered headboards soften the room and are more comfortable to prop up against in bed
• Camelback shape is timeless and classic — a tailored clean shape is a real “decorator” look, and this shape looks great covered in any fabric
• This chameleon transitions effortlessly from girly (if you paired it with floral wallpaper) to masculine (if paired with a woven-leather bench)

Shana lamp/target.com

Target
Victoria Hagan Perfect Pieces “Shana” lamp with shade
www.target.com, $69.99

• Perfect lamp with great mix of simple shade with substantial base — well-proportioned, leather adds texture to a room (mix with different types of fabrics, textures) and square column base is, solid, hearty, which adds weight and importance to a room
• Adds a dose of masculinity to a room (helps a room or look that’s too precious or frilly)
• Neutral color goes with everything
• Good on either side of sofa or on a desk
• Timeless — will never look “last year”

For more home decorating tips and information, visit www.dominomag.com.

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