Esther Giambalvo
Accessor-eyes Designs, Cary
919-244-6684
Five words that best sum up your design philosophy: Accessorizing achieves that finishing touch.
Favorite design blog: Theinspiredroom.net
What makes you wince? The perfectly matched and pre-arranged room. Mix and match pieces like an upholstered sofa with a leather chair and side tables in different wood tones.
Every guest room should have: Fresh flowers when family or friends arrive.
Your best thrift-store décor find: A solid walnut antique buffet that I repurposed to use in my office as storage and for displays.
Favorite color combination: I love fall colors like deep reds and burnt golds. Use together with pillows and throws to liven up a neutral sofa or chair.
Hottest accessory this fall: Nature-inspired furnishings and home fashions are very hot right now. Bring the outside in by collecting interesting shaped branches and displaying them in a pretty vase.
One quick way to turn your fashion sense into décor sense: Just like a little sparkle and bling can give an outfit that pop it needs, a crystal chandelier or a mirrored coffee table can do the same in a room. A little goes a long way.
Next big design trend will be: Wallpaper with large-scale patterns used to accent a wall in formal areas or on the wall behind the bed in the master bedroom. It’s like artwork.
My best tip for do-it-yourself designers: Paint, paint, paint ... I can’t say it enough. It is the easiest and least expensive way to update a room.
