Interior Designer Answers Living Room Design Questions From Instagram

Is it ever okay to cover original parquet flooring?

Ugh. [giggles]

My name is Brigette Romantek and I'm going to answer

some of the living room questions you asked AD.

[gentle rhythmic music]

Q&AD. Let's go.

What are the best places to find affordable pieces

that still achieve a polished look?

I call it the Gucci Meets Gap approach.

And what that essentially means is that yes,

I have pieces that in my own home that I've saved up for,

that I really wanted and I love,

and I will probably have forever,

but doesn't have to be everything in the room.

In fact, it doesn't have to be most things in the room.

The other part of that is really just bringing in pieces

that mean something to you

or pieces that you get creative about.

And the creativity is what's so beautiful about design.

I have looked in basements of people's homes. I promise you.

What brings the specialness and the personality

and you into the room are those pieces.

One thing I did was I really wanted blue and white vases.

And to have a vintage one or one with history

from the early 1900s was very expensive.

I went downtown in Los Angeles

and I found vases in different shapes

from $10 all the way up to $30.

But I put the collection together,

I threw flowers in them, and all of a sudden,

it was one of the prettiest things I had ever done

and I didn't spend over $30.

Design is so personal and something that should feel you.

It should be a love letter to yourself.

[soft rhythmic music]

Modern style versus a home with period features.

How to create a space that honors both?

Well, to create a space that honors both,

that's called eclecticism.

I love eclecticism because it's a way

to showcase different periods and eras and styles.

And I also think it creates a timelessness.

When you mix pieces from different times and eras

and designers and makers, it creates a really harmonious,

also tension-filled moment

that the pieces really speak to each other.

If you have, let's say for instance,

a home that is from like 1929, maybe a Spanish.

Well, bring in some contemporary, bring in some modern,

bring in some pieces that sort of challenge that.

And what it helps to do is it defines that space.

You know, all of a sudden the molding is more special.

And if I were to pick pieces

that were just from that time and that era,

it would really be one note.

Putting these things together allows for you

to really look in detail at the individuality of each piece.

You're immediately interested in this space

and something is created that's personal and beautiful

because you can't do that twice.

How to create a designated living room space

within a studio.

I know this well 'cause I used to live in a studio.

A great trick is to be able to use backs

of pieces of furniture to become walls, if you will.

Backs of furniture are a great way to signal

you're entering into a different room

even without having the room.

And rugs are a 100% great way to define a space.

If I'm creating a seating area,

so if my couch, let's say, is eight feet,

then I want my rug to probably be 10 feet

so that on either side of my sofa there is still rug

'cause I really think that helps to define the space a lot.

Color is another way.

You can have different color stories in different areas,

and so that helps your mind and your eye

to be tricked a little bit.

Is it ever okay to cover original parquet flooring?

Ugh. [giggles]

Yes, yes. Of course.

And the reason why I say that

is because it's about you and what you want

and this is your space.

I would probably cover it with something that is removable.

So, meaning covering it with a rug,

covering some of it with furniture.

Just things like that that I can remove

because to be able to get original parquet flooring

is so unique and can be so beautiful,

but maybe you want to change the finish on the floor.

Maybe that would make it feel

like it's more something you want.

But rugs, furniture and changing the finish on the floors

are ways to do it,

but still keeping that incredible parquet floor.

[soft rhythmic music]

Do you have any tips for lighting with high ceilings?

Hmm. Absolutely.

So, we think of lighting as jewelry.

And so, with a high ceiling

you get to have some dangling jewelry,

and that's what I would do is I would hang something

that has a lot of length to it and is bold.

And the reason why

is because it's still part of the design story

and it brings such a lovely mood and elegance to the space.

Oh my gosh, Apparatus just blows my mind.

Lindsey Adelman, I just, I don't even know what's happening.

Historically, if you look at big grand rooms,

they always have incredible chandeliers that just sparkle,

and just take your eye and visually overwhelm you

in such a beautiful way.

And you can take that exact same approach in your house

if you have high ceilings.

[soft rhythmic music]

I want to get rid of my coffee table for space.

What else can I use to replace it?

I would say to replace it, you could use ottomans.

I think ottomans or stools or poufs

are all really great options because they are light.

Meaning that you can move them in and out as needed.

You could put a tray on top of an ottoman

and then that flat surface will create that coffee table.

Drinks tables, I find some of those really great,

and they're very useful for drinks or a book

or if you like to eat and sit on your couch.

So, that's another beautiful versatile way

to not have a coffee table.

[soft rhythmic music]

How to design a living room to maximize conversation?

Depending on your living room and the size,

you can create multiple seating areas,

and thinking about conversation

and how you want people to interact.

Do you want someone's back to someone?

Do you want it to be one big area

where everyone is able to converse?

And then that starts to dictate,

should I have swivel chairs so someone can turn around

to the person behind them

if they are sitting in a vignette that has two chairs?

Should I have a daybed where multiple people can sit

or I can lie down and then someone can talk to me

from a chair across the way?

It really begins with creating that one area,

and all the other areas can stem from there.

Listen, I literally imagine myself

on each piece of furniture

and the purpose of that piece.

So, all of these things are important

because you want people to come in.

And without knowing you've created this

just for conversation that they sit down

and it really is what happens and it is engaging.

And in a small space,

I would say I love an L-shaped sofa.

I love a curved sofa because on the ends

people do kinda get to see each other and converse that way.

And so, those are two ways to maximize space.

[soft rhythmic music]

What's the best couch to get if you have kids and pets?

Well, I'm a good person to answer this because I have both.

[laughs]

And what I have in my home is I have a sofa

that number one, the fabric is durable.

And what's really amazing is that now,

outdoor fabrics, performance fabrics,

which are not the same as outdoor fabrics,

but perform better than normal fabrics

are a great way to go because they are more durable

and can take more accidents, if you will.

One second, I will get some.

[footsteps plodding]

Okay. It's a performance world out here.

Okay, so I think I brought too many,

but you're speaking my language.

So, what's really great is that performance fabrics,

now they really can feel like velvets, they have pattern.

These are Pindler, which I love, love, love,

because they sort of have that boucle,

some alpaca kind of feel to them with being amazing.

And wools and the colorways

are absolutely spectacular and gorgeous.

There's so many companies

that are using this as a normal fabric now.

Crate & Barrel, West Elm, I think does it as well.

Restoration Hardware.

Also, if you have the space, I love a deep sofa.

A sofa where multiple people, animals, kids, teenagers,

can all enjoy the sofa.

And so, I don't think in any way, shape or form

you have to sacrifice style

and sacrifice things that make you feel good.

What shape coffee table works best with a sectional?

Okay, what I would say is, depending on the sectional

that you get and the shape of the sectional,

that should help to dictate the shape of the table

and also the walkability around the table

as you are going to be able to sit.

If your sectional is curved,

then I would do a round coffee table.

So really, you're following the shape of the sectional.

I like to do this as an extra step,

but I love blue tape. [laughs]

So, I mark out the size of the sectional

and I will tape out and mark out

the size of the coffee table.

And I walk around it.

Listen, if I'm there by myself

and I call it my own personal staff meeting

and really figure out the functionality

and how it will work, look, and perform

and support what's happening in that space.

But blue tape is your friend.

[soft rhythmic music]

What piece of furniture

should I design my living room around?

Ooh, that's an interesting question

because different designers have different ideas on that.

My take on that is first of all, I walk into the space.

I walk into the space and I feel it.

For instance, if I say,

This living room is going to be all about coziness.

I want this to be a place where we just gather and relax.

So, first is probably gonna be my sofa.

That's gonna be the piece that sort of dictates

all the other pieces around it

because that's the main purpose of this room

is to really just like relax.

If I'm looking at the living room and I'm thinking,

I really want this to be a place

where I am showcasing my paintings.

So, then immediately I'm thinking about my paintings first.

And the lighting over my paintings first

and the colors in my paintings

and what that will dictate for the furniture.

You have a chair that you've had for many years

and you don't wanna part with this chair.

Plunk that in the living room and use that as the hero piece

and build out from there one piece at a time.

And it's like building an outfit as well.

You know, how do you start that one?

[soft rhythmic music]

Thank you for all of your questions.

I had a great time answering them.

And I wish you all the luck in the world

on creating the living room of your dreams.

You can do it.

[soft upbeat music]