At Home With A Designer An Interview with Lyn Peterson

Lyn Peterson, owner of Motif Designs fabric and wallpaper, has honed a wonderful sense of "childproof" style in her own home. Her busy family has given her new insight into the tricks of stand-up-to-it-all decorating.

She's made concessions to kid chaos by using beige wool carpeting ("the color of dust" she notes), by providing baskets and storage for kid clutter, and allocating display spaces for kid art.

Yet her home reflects her personal style using inherited objects and collections cradled in a no-nonsense palette of beige, greens, and deep red.

In the new book, Designers In Residence, she offer the philosophy that "we can all go out and buy the same things. A house isn't interesting unless it reflects the people who live there."

Here is more of what Lyn has to say about decorating...

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Q. What are some of the common decorating mistakes made by homeowners? What's your advice on how to avoid or correct those mistakes?

Lyn Peterson: "Beware of the smalls. Everyone has a certain set price-point. Mine is $75. I will buy one hundred $75 things but not spring for one $750 thing let alone a $7,500 purchase. The price is a contributing factor but also perhaps sheer size. Usually these lower priced items are smaller rather than larger. We can buy them and carry on with our forays, be they at a flea market, consignment shop or antique store. We don't have to load them into the car and we still have money left to spend. Or we order endless quantities of these smalls from mail order catalogues - an endless stream of UPS men delivering goodies from Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel.

"When I go to client's homes, their mantles, windowsills, and tabletops are littered with these smalls while their seating is woefully short or they are in dire need of an area rug. Hold the smalls. Buy the beef."

Q. What would be your recommendation for "what to do first" in a decorating project?

Lyn Peterson: "Before you move in [to a new home] give the house a coat of landlord white. OK maybe it's not always white -- sometimes it's Linen White, or White Dove, or Cameo White. Remember, the cost is the same, the elbow grease is the same, and the preparation is the same -- only the top coat of color is different. So, get some decorating benefit from your painting dollar by carefully considering the color.

"The same color can appear vastly different when moved from room to room. Just this morning I was mixing paints for a new homeowner. The same paint was a pinky taupe in the kitchen and a lemon chiffon yellow into the living room. She could not believe it was the same paint color. Reflection was contaminating her choice. What does that tell you? Check your color in all rooms before painting them the 'same' color.

"Take the time and effort to pick colors that fill the space, enhance your possessions and make you feel good about your choices. No 'just for now' paints for anyone over the age of 30. If you really really can't decide, then have the painter do all the prep work and apply a primer coat. Your place will look clean and later you can add a topcoat of your color of choice, as all the prep has been done there will be very little mess.

"ALWAYS paint moldings and trim white, except in strictly period homes. Ceilings should be whiter and brighter. I like Benjamin Moore's ceiling white."

Q. What tips do you have on themes, fabric and color choices, window treatments, furniture, etc. when decorating a long lasting room for a young child?

Lyn Peterson: "I avoid theme rooms. Too often a parent may install their own personal fantasy -- the overly swaged canopy bed they wanted growing up in the 60's (whereas today's little miss wants Brittney Spears posters), or the cowboy themed room that you fantasized for your son. Just install the basics and let the kids theme their rooms themselves. Sure enough the super heroes will be replaced by the sports posters and then by the super model posters. And it will all look great if you have given them an appropriate background.

"Note: EVERY child's room, regardless of sex or age, WILL have glow in the dark stars and moons on the ceiling. It's like TV, they're going to do it!

"I love stripes, checks, and plaids, as they are not only great companions for the panoply of interests your children will evolve through, but they also give guidelines for adhering posters to the walls, keeping things straight. **TIP** Use Fun Tac. It is removable and does not damage walls.

"Finally, get sturdy, get colors they like, give them appropriate storage, and let them do the rest."