Ask Lexi! Your Design Questions Answered
All images are by @rennaihoefer
Lexi here! And I am so excited to be answering questions from YOU, our loyal followers! First and foremost, thank you for supporting our small business. Second, I know you look to the LGD team for design inspiration and advice, so today, I am here to help answer some of your questions that will hopefully give you guidance as you undergo your next home project or business venture. Let’s get to it!
What is your favorite white paint?
It all depend on what else is in the room and the lighting. But a few of our go-to’s are Sherwin Williams Pure White, Sherwin Williams White Dove, and Benjamin Moore Simply White.
How do you avoid decorating "modern farmhouse" style?
Great question! We don’t avoid it for the client that loves it, but we always hope to give any requests an LGD touch. I think what appealed to so many when the modern farmhouse trend started was the use of white, black, and textures. Using white and black are still very much something we incorporate into our designs, however instead of stopping with just black and white, we layer in shades of white and black with creams, tans, taupe, charcoal, and browns. This gives a warmth to the colors palette while still feeling clean and “modern”. We also continue to use a ton of texture. But instead of using the “rustic” or “farm” element to provide the texture (think galvanized, or reclaimed wood) we bring it through natural weaves of textiles, earthware, plants and warmer woods.
Can you recommend affordable light fixtures for hallways?
Sconces? Pendants? Chandelier? Style?
Retail, you can find some fun pieces at Rejuvenation and super affordable ones at All Modern. We have put the following light fixtures in hallways in our last few design projects..
Modern Angled Arm Sconce
Hand-Carved Alabaster Rectangular Sconce
Dover Large Tail Sconce
Prescott Large Mobile Chandelier
What inspired you to start your business?
I started the journey to creating LGD through a need for home staging. My husband was a part of an investment company that was doing a lot of flips and rehabbing of properties and then selling them. Through that process, we found that when you staged a property, it sold so much faster than a vacant home did. Potential buyers could come in a staged home and imagine their life there. From there, LGD ended up growing it's design arm. We started getting requests from builders, investors and other clients asking us if we did design and could help them choose finishes. I also had a lot of hands-on experience from remodeling my own home and creating the design plans for flips we had invested in, as well as commercial build knowledge from past employment. LGD has grown organically and it has been so fun to watch this business grow from filling a need, to helping others dream and fulfill their design needs. Truthfully, I’m an entrepreneur at heart and enjoy both the design aspects as well as the business aspects of LGD. It has been so much fun meeting friends and building relationships through our design and creative community. It is also SUPER FUN to work alongside an amazing team every day.
How do you create a layered look without needless kitschy objects?
Less is more! Work with scale before filling a shelf or table with a lot of stuff. Would just a couple of large pots work better than a bunch of smaller items? Layer in items you love, or will use. Think beautiful books (or take the dust jackets off books you already have and turn the spines in (pages out) so the whole stack matches. Instead of just adding a small something from a store, use beautiful practical items, a candle (you will actually burn and enjoy) a potted plant, an item from a trip. We just picked up a rock from a rock shop while visiting Utah. It is sculptural, neutral in color, and adds great texture. When I look at it I will remember our time in Utah and it will fill our shelf. Style the kitchen with practical but beautiful pieces. Trade out the coffee canisters that work, for ones that work AND add to the decor. You can do that with so many items, cutting boards, salt pinch pots, fruit bowl.
How do you know if a designer is right for you?
I think connection is so important! Likely your designer won’t be in the same stage of life as you but when talking with them you should always find something to connect on. Whether it be a similar interest, or a place you have each visited. Connecting with your designer on a personal level goes a long way… hmmm, maybe I should say that is what is important to us as designers when meeting and working with a client! When we can connect with our client we are able to really pull in who they are and what they love into their design, making it personal to them and their space.
Know what is important to you. At the end of the day many designers will deliver a beautiful product. What do YOU care most about in the journey. Does your expectations line up with your designer’s processes. Do you want to speak into every aspect of your design and give approval for each and every piece? Do you want to be hands off and have someone completely take the reins? Know what your hopes are for the process and then make sure they align with what your designer offers.
Can I mix and match different wood tones between my floors and furniture pieces?
Yep! They just need to compliment each other. If you need inspo, look to Pinterest, catalogs, and instagram. What do you like about it, are your wood tones similar, what doesn’t appeal to you?
For a playroom, how can you be fully functional without looking like a daycare?
CLOSED STORAGE. As much as possible. Baskets and cabinets! It is everyone’s intention to style a playroom neutral and beautiful, with all wooden toys… BUT that Lightening McQueen car and barbie dream house are REALITY. 🤦♀️. Our hope is to create space for those items, but also keep everything else simple and beautiful and not overwhelming. If you are designing for young kids know that they collect a lot of toys and their interest change as they grow, try and make room for that now and don’t over style!
What are your favorite "casual" chandeliers for rooms with high ceilings?
So many fun ones. But here are a few!
How should I style two large blank walls on each side of my fireplace?
Try a large set of prints from Juniper Print Shop! For an inexpensive but large scale look, try any JPS set printed on canvas and framed in a large Ikea Bjorksta frame! We use these all the time in staging when we are filling large walls! Some of their vertical prints that work really well for this are:
Aspens (we print it mirrored in order to get to prints)
Hidden Heart and Blue Desert printed in black and white
Or try them smaller and horizontal over a pair of benches or ottomans. They have a great selection to pair for these! Some of our favorites are:
What are some of your favorite ceiling fans?
None. And I know that is unpopular here in AZ (and with my husband!), and I do I understand the desire for them. Here are a couple of options we choose from. As much as possible we try to make them disappear into the ceiling and we never use a light kit.
Can you put a round dining table on a rectangular rug?
You can, but I would suggest no rug, or using square or something with a more organic shape like a cowhide.
Are you remodeling the RV you just bought?
Not yet, and I’m not sure how much remodeling we will do as it is brand new and has a great neutral color palette. We will add little touches here and there, update cabinet pulls, faucets, mirror, window coverings. Right now we are working to get it super functional for our family (how to pack what where, etc). It has great white cabinets (which I am so happy about) mixed with a darker wood tone. I am hoping to replace the wood table top with a white one and maybe a couple door fronts to brighten it up a bit more!
What are your favorite places to purchase rugs?
We have a few to the trade sources that we love. Retail- truthfully Rugsusa.com has a great selection and price point and their shipping time is generally pretty quick!
What are your top tips for styling master bedroom dressers and nightstands?
Keep it simple! A stack a books, a small tray to catch jewelry and pocket items, a vase or plant for some greens.
Are white kitchens out?
Nope! All white kitchens are classic and have been around forever. Warmer tones and wood are definitely coming back around but white is always beautiful. White also can go so many different ways depending on door style, hardware, and backsplash chosen. When updating your kitchen think about those things first. Is it something you can easily change… hardware, backsplash, and lighting? Those updates, especially to a all white kitchen will go a long way!
If you have any additional questions for me, please feel free to send us a DM on Instagram @lexigracedesign!
