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Photo: Robert Peterson/ Rustic White Photography
RETRO
If you're a single gal in the city and kids or large pets don't factor into your current lifestyle, I say here's your chance to go with some high glamour retro appeal. Swank 1960s elements are fun, pretty much forever and also flirty. I like to keep things light and bright with tons of ultra-white and sexy textures such as shag rugs mixed with super sleek finishes like high-gloss paint or shiny jolts of chrome. If you stick with white and silver, you'll have pieces you can mix with just about everything under the sun for years to come.
Photo: Sarah Dorio
GO ALL WHITE
It sounds counterintuitive, but all-white wet spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms are remarkably practical for single people. Dark floors and cabinets tend to show every speck of dust and blemish, but high-gloss white wood floors and glossy white cabinets really just make a space feel more open and airy. If you are not dealing with super large dogs, white floors can really stand up to a lot of traffic, especially if you sand them first and stick with oil-based floor paint sealed with a non-yellowing sealant.
Photo: Sarah Dorio
MAKE IT ECLECTIC
Got a bunch of things you love that don't go together in any
way whatsoever? Well, that's perfect! In fact, that's how most of us live: we like lots of things and none of them are necessarily like the other. I created this home studio for a bachelor in
Los Angeles packed with a brand new modern desk, a collection of old art, handed-down taxidermy and vintage schoolhouse objects. To tie it all together, I used an all-white backdrop, then updated worn-in wood floors with a 1960s inspired basketweave pattern in aqua, navy and ultra-white.
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Photo: Christina Wedge
PERMANENT VS. REMOVABLE
Although I'm a designer who likes to take chances, I'm also realistic when it comes to spending wisely. If you decide to go with a textured wallpaper such as seagrass, raffia or grasscloth, consider sticking with neutral tones, then introduce color with more removable items—drapery or accessories. This way you won't have to incur the expense of wall covering prep and installation should you get bored with the color quickly.
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