DALLAS — Think your children, animals, budget or lifestyle is keeping you from living with luxury? Think again.
Filling your home and rooms with rich and indulgent touches doesn’t have to cost a fortune and can even be family-friendly, Dallas stylemakers say. The trick? Finding small ways to introduce wow-worthy details and choosing forgiving materials and fabrics.
Accessible, posh living that makes you feel like a million bucks: Isn’t that a rich idea?
FUNCTIONAL AND FABULOUS
Emily Sheehan Hewett has made it her mission to showcase just how stylish and sophisticated it can look when you mix form with function. “Our entire brand is based on livable luxury,” the principal designer at A Well Dressed Home says.
When designing for families, Hewett keeps in mind that life gets messy. Washable, workhorse fabrics are key to keeping a living room clean and fresh.
An ivory sofa isn’t off-limits when it’s covered in a nearly indestructible fabric, she says. And an ottoman used as both a foot rest and coffee table stays safe from spills and stains in a family-friendly velvet.
Make sure pillows have removable covers so they can easily be thrown in the wash or dry cleaned, says Hewett, the mother of school-age twins.
INDULGE YOUR SENSES
Sure, luxury looks good, but it’s more than that.
“When done right, luxury hits you on every level,” says Tara Lenney. Go beyond making a space just look pretty and aim to incorporate texture, scent, sound and taste.
“Cuddling up with a cozy faux-fur throw, burning an amazing candle that you’d normally reserve for company, and drinking a cocktail from a special glass turns an everyday Netflix marathon into a luxurious experience,” the Richardson designer says.
LITTLE BY LITTLE
Dallas designer Abbe Fenimore knows well how little moments and touches can add up to a big impact.
“Having those little things front and center in your home can create a happy haven,” she says.
Try a funky table lamp for a desk or a fabulous tray to keep accessories organized on your desk or a side table. “They will instantly lighten up the mood as you work through a stressful day,” Fenimore says.
And don’t forget the fresh flowers.
“Splurge on a beautiful bouquet and arrange them in a glitzy vase for an instant bit of luxury,” says Fenimore.
Kristin Ammon of Scout Design Studio says a luxurious look isn’t hard to achieve when you introduce a blend of high and low and new and old. (Brittany Ambridge)
ALL IN THE DETAILS
The design philosophy at Dallas’ Scout Design Studio is to inject luxe details into all elements of life.
“To achieve this covetable status, we love introducing eclectic and polished decor pieces,” says Kristin Ammon, director of the Design District studio.
Lighting a candle can do wonders, but when you burn the same scent throughout the entire house, it takes it to a new level, Ammon says.
Adding in a designer piece, like a classic Hermes blanket, will instantly catapult a space into the 1 percent, but there’s plenty to be said for a mix of price points, too.
“Mixing high and low, old and new is always in vogue. The right accessories make all the difference,” Ammon says. “Simply put, you can create your best luxe life every day with amazing details.”
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