A Little Sparkle
By Jan Showers
Some people look glamorous even in a turtle neck and slacks. Katherine Hepburn always seemed more elegant to me than Marilyn Monroe or any modern diva. What Hepburn understood is that glamour is about understatement and the unexpected: a collar turned up, or a red cashmere cardigan thrown over the shoulder of a white button-down cotton shirt.
Glamour is almost about appropriateness. Think about the overdressed woman at a beach picnic: No matter how wonderful or expensive the ensemble, she could never be glamorous, only overdressed. The same thing applies to houses. Would you put bouffant silk taffeta curtains in a beach cottage?
Here are a few ways to add glamour to your rooms.
FIREPLACES: A crackling fire (if it is cold outside) creates instant romance.
TRAYS WITH DECANTERS: The decanters don’t have to be expensive; some of the most interesting ones are simple and understated. Keep some glasses on the tray and, of course, some delicious liqueurs in the bottles. (Have you ever been in houses where everything looked perfect, but on closer inspection wasn’t real? Not glamorous.) BOOKS: Nothing adds more to a room’s appeal than books. Put them on shelves, or stack then on a coffee table, a large library table, or even the floor.
WINDOW TREATMENTS: Keep them simple, but use the best fabric you can afford—100 percent anything, whether silk, linen or cotton canvas. Make sure the window treatments actually work, that they’re not just for looks. The rods can be straightforward and made from a nicely finished wood or metal. I love white or ivory curtains, depending on the wall color, to create a luxurious room.
GLASS: I use it in lamps, chandeliers, and accessories. Venetian glass is the most wonderful, in my opinion, but there is glass on the market in every price range. Just don’t overdo it. If you have glass lamps in a room, use glass accessories sparingly. A glass chandelier might call for lamps in bronze or wood.
COLOR: Paint is the least expensive way to decorate, and certain colors (ivory, camel, platinum, or chocolate-brown) are alluring backgrounds for more-colorful accessories.
TEXTURE: Velvet, mohair, cashmere or chenille fabrics can always benefit from a touch of silk or satin. One of my personal favorites is a raffia table topped with a luxurious lamp made from mineral or Venetian glass. I love leather in almost any setting, especially if it’s been ironed and polished.
MIRRORS: Clients sometimes ask me if it’s okay to have a mirror in every room. My answer: It’s not just okay, it’s necessary! Mirrors create a window on any wall, but also add sparkle and make the room appear larger. Plus, when placed correctly, mirrors can bring the outside into the room.
Just remember the most important thing: A home is truly glamorous when people who visit and live there look and feel great in it.