Meet the designer: Laura Burke of Burke Designs

Laura Burke

Burke Designs of Raleigh

919-427-3027, burkedesigns.com

My design signature: An interesting mix of old and new furnishings that speak to each other and say something about the people who live there.

Next big trend: Changing the function of a room; converting a formal dining room into a seating area to entertain friends and family. Rooms are better used when they fit people’s lifestyles.

Favorite hostess gift: Fig vinegar from a favorite olive oil store.

Design fad you would like to see retired: Burlap. It seems to appear in informal and formal settings. It’s on lampshades, pillows and even wallpaper.

Best way to make a statement in an entranceway: Put the days of the posters behind you and invest in some original art from a store or a gallery you like.

What’s on my bedside table: My son’s “worry-doll” from his third-grade Spanish teacher to fight off a night full of busy thoughts.

Design book you could not live without: “Vintage Remix: The Interiors of Kishani Perera,” by Kishani Perera (Harry N. Abrams, 2012).

Children’s room trick: Hang mirrors and hooks at kid’s eye level. Let them be in charge of maintaining their space and fixing their faces.

Flea market must-buy: Lighting fixtures, chandeliers and sconces. Get them rewired and give them a second home and life. The details will be amazing.

Next project at your house: Wallpaper in my powder room and change out the faux finish. Glam it up a bit.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 2:26 PM.