Through the years, a close working relationship has formed between designers
Cathy Kincaid and Charles Birdsong. Near the completion of every job, Kincaid
brings him in to help her with furniture installation, hanging art, and styling.
She also likes to include Birdsong's exquisitely crafted lampshades. "This
house would not be the house it is without Charles' expertise," Kincaid
says. Here are some of Birdsong's styling tips.
1. When hanging art over a mantel or console, measure the vertical space,
and hang objects closer to the mantel or console rather than in the exact middle
of the space. This will lend a more human scale to the grouping.
2. When considering a floor plan, start by placing your furniture in the middle of the room and work toward the walls. You'll get a more exciting result.
3. Be sure to keep your floor plan to scale and be realistic as to what will
fit. Don't ask your room or furniture to do more than is possible. This will
eliminate unpleasant surprises during installation as well as give the room
better traffic flow.
4. Antique porcelain and books give integrity to a room. Group sets of books and porcelains together to give a more luxurious feel.
5. Use multiple light sources -- table lamps, floor lamps, art lights, sconces,
chandeliers, shelf lights -- for illumination. This enlivens the room, giving
it a more flattering glow.
6. Visually broaden a room by painting the ceiling darker than the walls.
7. Alter single-socket lamps by replacing them with double sockets. (Be sure
to pay attention to wattage specifications.) Use a soft-pink bulb in the socket
closest to the seating area and a soft-white bulb in the other one. This provides
a pleasing light for your guests' complexions as well as a proper reading light
-- both from the same fixture.
8. Bring balance to any space by using equal amounts of warm and cool colors.
