I’ve been reading a lot of paint SOS messages from our Simplifying Fabulous! readers and on Benjamin Moore’s Expert Exchange app on Facebook. Choosing bright colored paints is often more difficult than choosing a neutral, as there are sooo many types and shades. For me, one of the best neutrals is taupe. The color “taupe” is an umbrella term, as you can have taupes that tend more toward the grays or the browns, greens or even purples! Taupes are warm, homey and very versatile!

Q: I’m moving into a townhouse and am painting the entire main floor. The ceilings are soaring. The trim and the mantle of the fireplace are white and the hardwood floors are light. The kitchen has espresso cabinetry. My look is cottage-y with several shabby chic antiques. I need a great taupe neutrall. HELP! Thank you! - Lori K.

A: Taupe sounds like the perfect color for what you’re describing. Here are three of my favorite taupes from Benjamin Moore. This is three shades of the same color, as I’m not sure how deep you want to go: BM 1550 Cumulus Cloud, BM 1551 La Paloma Gray and BM 1552 River Reflections. For the walls, I usually like to use the an eggshell finish.

a gorgeous taupe I used in a recent kitchen project!

How high off of the dining table should a chandelier hang? How large should an area rug be? What is the best way to integrate antiques with modern furniture? Have your design questions answered…Ask Robin! Your question will be answered here on the blog, added to our Ask Robin archive, and posted on Facebook!

How high off of the dining table should a chandelier hang? How large should an area rug be? What is the best way to integrate antiques with modern furniture? Have your design questions answered…Ask Robin! Your question will be answered here on the blog, added to our Ask Robin archive, and posted on Facebook!

“My master bedroom is 20×30 with an 8-ft ceiling. It feels so low. What can I do to make the room seem taller? Would wallpaper on one wall help?” – Jenny H.

Robin: Jenny, ceilings are an oft missed opportunity to add drama to a room. When the ceiling is on the lower side, it often helps to make a statement rather than trying to make it what it’s not. I liken this to someone wearing clothes that are too big so that they hide the extra weight…larger clothes just make you look heavier! So use what you have, create an impact and emphasize your good features!

To this end, I recommend painting the ceiling a color, like an apple green, a shade of taupe or gray. If you’re up to being a bit more daring, try a metallic paint color! Don’t worry about the ceiling looking lower if you paint it a color. Think about the drama you are creating! Your eye will perceive the interest you’ve created, rather than the height of the ceiling.

If you find a wallpaper you love (one with a vertical pattern would be best), paper a highlight wall and then paint the ceiling a color that is coordinated with, or influenced by, the paper.

Have fun and be daring! Instead of thinking “in-the-box,” create a new box!

How high off of the dining table should you hang your chandelier? How large should an area rug be? What is the best way to integrate antiques with modern furniture? Have your design conundrums solved…Ask Robin! Your question will be answered here on the blog, added to our Ask Robin archive, and posted on Facebook!

Here, Robin tackles one reader’s tabletop conundrum answer. Also see her how-to on mixing and matching table settings!

Q: Would it be improper to mix in eight silver plated settings with twelve gold plated
settings? – Julie L.

A: Absolutely not! The more you mix, the better it is! Have fun, mix it up and let your personality shine though. Mix-and-match place settings allow you to set the table differently every time. I love to collect antique and vintage place settings and flatware—it adds fun and just the right amount of drama to the table. The only rule here is to go with what you like!

A: That’s always an option, but it would definitely be more challenging for you to keep changing them given how they have to be mounted and strung to function.  I think the easiest solution, and one that would have the most impact, would be to invest in panels.  I would leave your roman shades as they are all year-round.  I always like to layer my window treatments anyway.

To start, I would mount a pole (there are great choices in all price ranges out there) and either purchase a pair of stationary panels, have them made or, if you are handy, make them yourself.  You can make the spring/summer panels in linen and for fall/winter, you can use a heavier weight fabric depending on your taste and décor.

Some suggested websites or retailers that have a great selection of window treatments and hardware are ABC Home, Smith and Noble, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, and Restoration Hardware.

A: Don’t be afraid to cover your wood floors!  Your rugs should be as large as possible to fit the space (this will make the space seem larger) and you’ll still see the wood around the perimeter.  Generally, you want to leave a six to nine inch border of floor on each side of the rug, but this can vary depending on the shape and layout of the room.

A: Hanging art is an art in and of itself!  The central focal point of a piece should be about eye level (this means for a person of average height, not for a basketball player).  If hanging over a sofa, sideboard or mantle, try to start as low as you can.  The bottom of the piece should hang about 4 to 6 inches above the furniture, depending on the size of the artwork itself.

A: My standard height for sconces is 66 inches off of a finished floor (this is measured from the center of the electrical box).  You have to take into account, however, the location of the actual light bulb in the sconce.  You don’t want to stare into a light bulb; therefore, the height should be adjusted accordingly.

A: Great question! It’s something everyone planning construction should know. It is always best to select tile after your major decorating decisions have been made. Rooms should relate from one to the next–including bathrooms. In order to avoid a disjointed look, you should decide on tile only after you know what style, colors and textures you’ll be using in the surrounding rooms. You’re spending the money anyway, so why not do it right the first time and make it looked planned.

A: This is not the first time I’ve been asked to save a marriage through design! Yes, you can make this work by making it look intentional. Make sure the other hardware in the room mixes the two finishes.  Use chrome towel bars and put out brass accessories like a soap dish, tissue box or small vases. Sometimes these innocent mistakes make for the most interesting design choices.

A: It’s almost never a good idea to purchase a matching suite for any room. Be confident and mix it up so you can make it your own. We’re not all the same. Your furniture shouldn’t be either.

A: This is the kind of dilemma that inspires us designers because it gives us a chance to really make a room stand out. Get chairs with clean lines and upholster them in a solid, textured fabric. Put a monochromatic Tibetan rug on the floor and apply a simple Venetian plaster or high gloss paint on the walls. For the chandelier, use an interesting fixture and keep the window treatments pared down with tone on tone fabrics.

A: I find that hanging a chandelier 34 inches off of a table usually looks and feels best and won’t intrude on dinner conversation. In the kitchen, I usually measure 36 inches of the counter.

A: Go by the actual color, not by the name on the label! Paint names can be entertaining, but they often misrepresent the color inside the can. Benjamin Moore’s Metallic Gold is actually brown and not metallic at all. Don’t forget: always test the color on your wall and live with it for at least 24 hours before committing, to see how the color changes with the changing light.

A: Absolutely not! It’s important that colors work together. They can be the same hue in different shades and tones. The artful balance of color is what makes your home unique and visually exciting. My most important piece of advice: when in doubt, hire a professional.