LET'S start where we left off in the last article (October 2003 EBONY) by following the Cecil Hayes percentage formula.

In this formula, decorative items are split among three layers--the floor, the wall and the ceiling--in a ratio of approximately 65 percent floor, 25 percent wall and 10 percent ceiling. By thinking of your space in terms of percentages, it will also help you with the shopping (and budgeting) process.

Layer 1--Floor Space

Most decorative items in your space (65 percent) will be located on the floor. They are considered functional: tables, chairs, beds, sofas, consoles, area rugs, etc. This layer sets the foundation for the room.

Since we defined your style in the first two articles, let your "Look Book" be your guide when making furniture selections. Secondly, most furniture items come in standard sizes. Knowing the standards before shopping will help you look at furniture layout in a whole different light.

Hint: If you are confused about standard furniture sizes, or uncertain about using a floor plan, I offer a kit of life-sized paper furniture templates on my Web site, www.cecilsdesigners.com. The paper templates, which may be laid on the floor and arranged as desired, will help you accurately lay out your space in life-sized scale.

Layer 2--Wall Space

The second decorative layer in your home is wall space. Twenty-five percent of decorative items are located on your walls. This includes doors and windows, window treatments, art, moldings, lighting, mirrors, and wall coverings.

Walls have greater impact on the design, despite the fact that they represent only a quarter of decorative room space. They are essential in a balanced decor because they have vertical height and create an eye-level flow, which connects everything in the room. Like the frame of a painting, walls unify the composition, which is all of the decorative elements of the room. Overdressed walls and windows will always dominate a room.

Walls give you the ability to be creative. While most furniture items come with a limited choice of fabrics and finishes, walls offer you unlimited opportunity. You get to select the colors, textures, trims and art. In other words, your walls can make a difference in a one-of-a-kind design.

There are five basic wall coverings--paint, wallpaper, faux finishes (artistic wall technique applied with wall paint), murals and trompe l'oeil (real-life settings painted on the wall), and mirror. Your choice will generally depend on the look you are trying to achieve.

Paint is most often selected because it is easy for the do-it-yourselfer to apply and it can be easily (and inexpensively) changed. Wallpaper offers every design element that can be hung on a vertical surface and, although it is more expensive than paint, it is still a do-it-yourself project. Faux finishes, murals and trompe l'oeil, on the other hand, yield fabulous results, but are best left to the professional. Finally, mirror used as wall covering reflects images and enlarges space. The drawback? You must pay close attention to the view that will be reflected by the mirror. (Trust me, there are some views you don't want to see.)

One more thing to remember. Patterns on a wall are like patterns on a dress. They must complement the shape and size of the body (or room) or the results will be less than desired.

Layer 3--Ceiling Space

The final 10 percent of items are located on the ceiling layer. These items consist of mechanical and decorative items including A/C and heater vents, fans, speakers, motion detectors, light fixtures, skylights, beams, soffits, and moldings. Chandeliers are not considered part of this layer.

Step 6--Color follows form

This brings us to Step 6 (see October EBONY for previous steps), the perils and splendors of color, which is one of the greatest temptations a designer or decorator faces. It's so easy to fall in love, go steady, and marry a color before we know it. And in decorating, as in real life, an early marriage can lead to trouble later on. That's why it's best to first view your space without considering color.

Think of yourself as an artist sketching onto a blank canvas (or, in this case, a blank floor plan). Work on your furniture layout first. Once you've got it balanced, then it's time to begin romancing color.

The accepted design rule is to limit yourself to three colors per room. Now before you start complaining, this does NOT include multiple shades of a color you are already using. Nor does it include the "neutrals"--black, white, gray, beige and brown.

Color has weight and it can actually be used to help balance your room. Many people are afraid of it, but don't let color scare you. The safest way to go about using it is to put neutral colors on large items and then use dark or bright colors as accents.

The use of white or light soft color creates a room palette that is perfect for rooms with fabrics of many colors, prints, and patterns. Bright, intense colors (such as red, green, yellow and blue) in primary and secondary hues are often selected to give rooms drama, impact, and/or warmth.

Many times brighter colors can make a room appear smaller, but the results of the look will often offset the size. When you want color, but don't want your room to appear smaller, the solution is to use color on one accent. The best walls to accent are either the wall that faces you upon entrance or the wall that has the main composition of furnishings (such as the sofa wall).

Dark colors such as black, dark gray or brown can create a more formal, subdued look. These colors are perfect with hi-tech or contemporary furnishings. Reflective materials such as stainless steel, chrome, glass and mirror bounce off these dark, rich colors.

Step 7--Mixing print and pattern

Mixing print and pattern is best left to a person with pro training. But if you must try (and I know some of you will), play it safe and select a "lead" fabric. The lead fabric should contain all of the colors you want to include in the room.

When I use a lead fabric, I put it on one large chair or a pair of chairs centrally located in the room. Solid colors pulled from the pattern fabric may then be used on other upholstered items such as window and wall coverings. The colors taken from the fabric pattern will lead the eye around the room.

Finally, for the really adventurous who want to add another element to the fabric mix, try stripes, checks, dots, or tweeds. These blending patterns can accent almost any room that has a patterned fabric.

Step 8--Balancing with art: the ultimate balancing act

Art adds that final, finishing element to your room. Properly placed, it makes the space sing. Adding the right accessory is like putting the finishing touch to a dress ensemble. (Ladies, back me up. How many times has the right necklace helped to make the outfit?)

I recommend not purchasing art until the space is complete. This way, accessories and art can be used to solve mistakes with balance, color, or size. For example, let's say that your new sofa or wall unit is too small for the wall. Solution: Balance it with a large tree. Or perhaps the blues you selected for your chair and throw pillows are different shades and won't work together. Solution: Find a large painting that has both shades of blue in it to tie them together.

Step 9--Harmony at home or falling in love with your completed space

You're finally finished, and you're so excited about the results. But before showing off to family and friends, step back and take a last--hopefully objective--look at the space. One thing I've learned over the years is that interior design is about the sum of the whole. You must be in love with the total space, NOT its individual elements. You want visitors to stop, stare, and say, "Oh, what a lovely room!" If someone enters and immediately says, "I love that chair (or painting, etc), without looking around the completed room, I know I've done something wrong, that something is not appropriately balanced. I want the room to make a statement as a whole. I want people to say, "This looks like the work of a professional." I want them to ask for the name of your interior designer.

That's the kind of response I've been getting for 30 years. You can get the same response if you follow the Cecil Hayes rules.

Cecil N. Hayes, one of the world's top interior designers, poses with the "Edna Chair" from her custom-designed line of furnishings. On opposite page, the living room in the Miami Beach, Fla., home of New England Patriots star Ty Law is showcased.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group