How to Style 2026’s Color of the Year: Two Very Dark Colours, Used Carefully
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways Benjamin Moore chose Silhouette AF-655, a deep espresso brown with charcoal undertones. Behr chose Hidden Gem N430-6A, a smoky jade sitting between blue and green. Both are dark. Silhouette has a light reflectance value of around ten, which puts it near the bottom of the scale and changes […]
2026 Furnishing Trends: Which Ones Survive Contact With a Real House
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways Judge a trend by which layer of the room it lands in. On paint and cushions, be bold. On stone, joinery and a sofa frame, be sure. The things people are actually asking us for are warmth, colour in the smaller rooms, better storage and better light, rather […]
Warm Metals and Rich Woods: Decide Whether Your Finishes Should Age
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways The bigger decision is not which metal but whether you want a finish that ages or one that stays exactly as delivered. Unlacquered brass darkens and marks with use. That is the point of it, and it is the wrong choice for anyone who wants it uniform. Mixing […]
Investment Furniture: What Is Actually Worth Buying Well
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways Investment furniture means pieces worth buying well because they last, not pieces bought in the hope they hold their value. Upholstery is the first place to spend more. It takes the most use and shows poor construction fastest. The pieces worth buying well are the ones you touch […]
Designing a Primary Suite: Start With Whether You Keep the Same Hours
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways A primary suite is three functions joined together. Sleeping, washing and dressing want different light, different air and different acoustics. Whether the two people keep the same hours decides more of the plan than any other single fact, and almost nobody is asked. Sound between the bathroom and […]
Personalization in Chicago Home Design: A Correction, Not a Trend
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways Personalization is a correction rather than a trend. It follows two decades of interiors that could have belonged to anybody. The test is simple: could this room be somebody else’s? If yes, it has not been personalised whatever was spent on it. Objects with provenance do the work. […]
What Sets Apart a Designer Living Room: Scale, Light, and Decisions Made Early
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways You can usually tell in three seconds, and what you are reading is scale and lighting rather than taste. Almost every amateur living room is furnished slightly too small, lit from one point on the ceiling, and pushed against the walls. The look people are chasing is mostly […]
Furnishing a Living Room That Lasts: Lasting Is Not the Same as Timeless
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways Lasting and timeless are different goals. Aiming at timeless produces a room nobody has any feeling about, and those get replaced sooner rather than later. Put durability where change is expensive and personality where it is easy. Frames, fills and the layout are the permanent layer. The seat […]
Why Furniture Scale Matters in Chicago Homes with Classic Architecture
Last updated August 27, 2026 Key Takeaways A room with classic architecture already has a module: the height of the mouldings, the width of the bays, the size of the fireplace opening. Furniture either answers it or ignores it. Most furniture sold today is designed for new-build rooms with lower ceilings and no trim. In […]