In this Article, our Interior Designer will be sharing her very own 7 must-have principles in creating the perfect design for your home.

With over 20 years in the field of Interior Design, Ann is bringing her talents and vision to Impact Interior Design Services. Ann has been using her professional talent through Metro-Detroit by guiding clients through every phase of the design process.

Ann’s fundamental philosophy is: “I believe that every home should be tell your story and every room should have a great place to sit. I believe that function AND form can go hand in hand and every room should possess both. It involves considered choices teamed with a sense of bravery and a careful understanding of scale, balance, and cohesion. Most of all, your home and every room should reflect your style.”

“I believe that every home should tell your story and every room should have a great place to sit. I believe that function AND form can go hand in hand, and every room should possess both.  It involves considered choices teamed with a sense of bravery and a careful understanding of scale, balance, and cohesion. Most of all, your home and every room should reflect your style.”

Ann Gilbert, Impact Interior Design Services

Ann understands many of our clients want good design without breaking the bank. Using her uniquely creative approach she can start with what our clients already own, or she can create more dramatic results by starting from scratch.

At Impact, we are excited about the heightened level of professionalism and creativity that Ann brings to our design team. Below are her 7 rules she wants to share with you when she is creating just that.

 Balance. Scale. Contrast. Pattern. Movement. Rhythm. Reflection 

Sounds like a lot to remember but all hold their own place in Interior Design and are equally important. Most of the time I’m not thinking about it but all of the time I know when a space needs one of these.  Call it experience, call it creativity…  Call it whatever you like. It is what designers use and its how we do what we do. Sometimes it comes naturally and other times it poses more of a challenge.  Although, EVERY time you know when you’ve got it right. And so, the room feels complete.  

The real definition:  The principles of design are a set of rules that designers can follow when creating a composition to create visually pleasing work. The purpose of these rules is to deliver a message in the most organized and functional way. 

You can read endless articles on how to define the above but I’m going to simplify it for you and give you my “7 Principles Of Design” – MY rules and tips. We will use a typical living room as our example.   

Ann’s Rules:

• Find your focal point.  Fireplace, window, TV.  Pick one. Work your whole arrangement around that. Balance 
• Take the largest piece of furniture and place it along your largest wall.  Doesn’t mean its flush, it might need to float away from it depending on its space. Scale
• Stay neutral for walls and large furniture pieces and add from there.  If you’re someone who is not sure what they like.  It is easier to add secondary and accent colors to a neutral wall color or sofa. Adding your secondary and accent colors for interest.  Contrast
• Some may argue this but it is my tried and true rule. And when working patterns within a space there should be a large scale, medium scale and small scale print. You can use one or all but never two of the same.  Pattern
• Keep in mind conversation areas and places to set a drink or a plate.  Every seat should have one.  Movement
• The 3 color rule:  One main color – usually the largest piece; Secondary Color is its compliment and usually is in the chairs or ottoman; Accent color – dotted sparing throughout the space.  Rhythm 
• Lighting and mirrors.  Your lighting is your jewelry.  It can never be too big.  So play it up!  Every room needs it. Your mirrors bring in light and if placed properly, bounce that light around a room.  Reflection