• In the past, contract, hospitality and residential design stayed in their own lanes. Not anymore. In High Point, they are starting to recognize that using contract finishes is an option that has been overlooked. Group One Design has advocated this for many years as there are sooo many beautiful contract fabrics, finishes, furniture, et al. The clients that we have convinced to go the contract route have been extremely pleased with the outcome!! Especially those with active families and pets.

•  Due to the pandemic, people have been spending more time in their homes and may be thinking about their spaces differently.  And of course we don't want anything like this to happen again, but it may cause people to think more about changing interior spaces and configurations that work for spending time at home.  These could be home offices, flex work-spaces, more natural light, or dedicated workout and wellness spaces.  Using space more efficiently such as a music area in a living room that has been under utilized or a reading nook might be another possibility. 

• The extremely versatile Roman Shade, which rolls up evenly but is smooth when fully covering the window, might be what first comes to mind when you think of shades. They look tailored while providing lots of coverage. They take up less space than draperies in a smaller room and still create softness and allow some acoustical value due to being constructed from fabric.  They can be combined with drapes as well.  Roman Shades can be mounted on a window inside the frame  (if the window is deep enough) or an outside mount -- each gives a different "look".  And they are great in contemporary, traditional, or transitional settings.  I also like to use them on doors!

•  Keep your eyes on the street!! You never know what you are going to find. Someone else's reject might be your next treasure!!! The  awesome mid century modern table lamp (photo below) was sitting on the curb in front of a house in my neighborhood!!!! And the French Doors added to a guest room were sidelights taken from the entrance door on an old nunnery in Mid Michigan  and cut down to fit the interior door. 
  

• A good rule that makes purchasing art more fun and more creative is to buy pieces that you love and then find places for them. Rather than buying art to fit in a specific space which often limits your art choices.      
  

------interior designer Sarah Byers

The objects we choose to surround ourselves with--and how we arrange them--reveal the deepest truths.

  ------ art historian John Richardson

"Color in certain places has the great value of making the outlines and structural planes seem more energetic."                                                                             
------- architect Antonio Gaudi