Q&A WITH BONNIE PAIGE, BONNIE PAIGE INTERIORS

Q: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DESIGN STYLE AND INSPIRATION?

I always felt it important to utilize classic architecture styles in all of my designs. There you will find symmetry, proportion, color, pattern and technique. While using classicism as a guideline, we can scale down in a way that makes it esthetically viable for todays lifestyle, with cleaner lines, less detail, open spaces, and consistent color tones. I like to call my homes Modern Classics — a nod to the past, with an emphasis on how we want to live now.

Q: GRAY HAS BEEN SUCH A HOT COLOR TREND. DO YOU THINK IT’S HERE TO STAY? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES?

I think that gray is here to stay. It is the new black or the new white. Its neutral sensibility has a range from cool to warm and goes with every color in the spectrum. My favorite is Revere Pewter HC-172, by Benjamin Moore. It is a very warm gray that sometimes reads taupe, tan, or a medium gray dependent on the time of day and type of light. It is versatile and easy on the eye; a neutral that one will never tire of.

Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CLIENT LOOKING TO UPDATE A VINTAGE HOME?

I would say to protect your investment. You can do this by working with the original character of the home. So many times people try to go too modern or on trend.  You want to utilize the original architecture from a design standpoint and tweak it for the way you want to live. It’s fun to use modern features in kitchens, baths, furnishings and in garden design. Create clean lines that add to the character and that will age timelessly. Most importantly, be consistent with your style.

Q: ARE THERE ANY SIMPLE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES HOME OWNERS CAN TAKE ON?

We are fortunate that there are so many options available today to not only protect the environment, but your health. My favorite for example, is renovating verses tearing down. It is probably one of the biggest recycling strategies one could personally take on. Consider donating old appliances, cabinetry, hardware, wood trim, etc. You are not only saving the environment, but helping someone at the same time.

To see one of Bonnie Paige’s very own Modern Classics, purchase your tickets for this year’s not-to-be missed Designer House Tour at HOUSE TOUR TICKETS and visit her Web site at http://www.bonniepaige.com to learn more.