Sabrina Soto discusses new book, approach to home design

Sabrina Soto Home DesignSabrina Soto is a total-package type with the beauty, brains, presence and personality to make it in the competitive world of home design television. Her scrappy ability to create wow-factor spaces without a knock-out budget has made her a reliable expert as the host of HGTV's “Get it Sold, Real Estate Intervention” and “The High-Low Project.”

Soto, who also reaches a multitude of quality-conscious bargain hunters as Target's style expert for home, has a new book. In “Sabrina Soto Home Design,” she demystifies the do-it-yourself decorating process by breaking up a project into eight sequential layers. Starting with an evaluation of the space and what can't be changed about it – good or bad – Soto moves the reader through a discussion of color; surface treatments – walls, floors, countertops; storage and organization; furniture; textiles; lighting; and accents.

Soto, who lives in a small but luxurious Manhattan apartment took some time out of her schedule to answer my w questions about her approach to design in the following Q&A. Read on for more insight.

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Window fashion trends: Silk is a natural for high-end interiors

Silk fabric is stitched into an elegant pleated valance by Metropolitan Window Fashions Flowing draperies stitched from yards and yards of fabric are among the most beautiful and luxurious elements of home decorating. Cover the windows in silk, and the effect is magnified.
As more consumers seek eco-friendly options for the home, window treatments made of natural fibers such as linen, cotton or bamboo become increasingly popular. And silk holds its place as the natural standout for high-end interiors.

“Silk always lends an air of luxury,” says Lois Croce, design director of Metropolitan Window Fashions at Fabricland in North Plainfield. “But these are not the silks from your grandmother’s ‘don’t-go-in-there’ living room.” Here, it’s luxury to live with — in a variety of colors and designs, from big ballroom stripes and patterns to bold plaids. For inviting texture, try silk shantungs, dupionis or taffetas.
Silk prices have come down over the years thanks to increased production. “Good quality Chinese silk that used to be $70 a yard is now about $35,” says Croce.

Whether your decorating style is clean-lined minimal or lavishly draped and dripping with passementarie, the fabrics and ornamentation that outfit windows add the finishing touch to a room.

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Interior design: Cocktail ottomans bring in function, style, color

Cocktail ottomans, such as the Marilyn ottoman by Jessica Charles, provide room for seating or for serving refreshments to those seated at nearby sofas and chairs. Don’t think of an ottoman as a matching extension for a sofa or chair. It can be so much more than a place to rest one’s feet.

Beyond the godsend storage ottoman that keeps things tidy by tucking away toys, blankets or books, larger “sleeper” ottomans can hide a folding bed and help a home office double as a guest room.

The latest incarnation, the cocktail ottoman, actually looks back at the cinematic past, says Tonja Morrison, a spokeswoman for hand-crafted furniture maker Hancock & Moore. “It’s bringing back that old Hollywood glamour,” she says. “It makes a gathering opportunity for guests; you can sit on it, or you can use it to entertain – set your drinks or hors d’oeuvres on it for a party surface.”

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Painting the house: Guide helps with color schemes for home exteriors

A home's exterior features should be harmonious with its surroundings. Image courtesy of DaVinci Roofscapes Painting the house or updating any other exterior elements such as roofing, siding or trims can require a lot of decision making.

There's the budget to consider, the numerous brands and styles, the neighbors, the effect on property value and more. If changes to the home's exterior colors will be a part of the process, the challenge of getting it right expands exponentially.

For anyone who hopes to give the house a fresh look, color expert Kate Smith has developed a very useful system where FRESH is a guiding acronym for exterior color selection.

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