Meet the designer: Christine Langlois of Keepsake Interiors
Christine Langlois
Keepsake Interiors, Apex
919-599-7476, keepsakeinteriors.com
My design signature: Creating captivating interior spaces that appear to be collected over time, not purchased all at once on a Saturday afternoon at one furniture store.
Tool I cannot do without: My favorite tool is a yellow notepad and pencil. I like to scribble notes and sketch rough drawings on it. I rarely stay inside the lines.
The favorite item in my home and where it came from: Our entryway displays a large mirror with intricately carved wood features. My dad, Waldemar B. Siller, was a European-trained craftsman. He restored this mirror more than 32 years ago for our first home in Lake Worth, Fla. It is a constant reminder me of my dad, who recently passed away.
Sparkle v. rustic: I refuse to choose. Rooms with a mix of both turn out better.
Most common decorating mistake homeowners make: The most common decorating mistake is visual clutter. In order for the furniture, artwork and accessories to work together, every room needs a place for the eye to the rest. Here’s a tip: When you put some new knick-knack or piece of furniture in a room, think about taking something out.
Wallpaper v. paint: I am rarely asked to consider wallpaper in a design project. But when I am it is to create a focal point in a room. If you tend to frequently change your décor, paint is your best option.
Best way to make a statement in a bedroom: Stop yourself from buying the complete bedroom suite from the furniture store. Add character by using different nightstands then the suite, finish with a pair of fabulous lamps on top of the nightstands and hang something of interest above the headboard.
Favorite design book or author: HGTV design star Sarah Richardson’s “Sarah’s Style.” I love how she layers multiple colorful patterns together in a room.
Best organizational tool: My lovely aqua color “At a Glance Daily Planner” is always ready on my desk.
Best advice for choosing paint colors: Don’t choose paint colors at the paint store. Instead, bring home paint chips and tape them on the wall. You can also purchase small paint samples and paint a portion of the wall (or a poster board if you don’t want to touch the wall). Now live with the colors for a week so that you see the colors at various times of the day. You will find that the color changes depending on the intensity of natural and artificial light in the room.
This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Meet the designer: Christine Langlois of Keepsake Interiors."