The Seven Layers of Design
“A grownup is just a kid with layers on.” --- Woody Harrelson
Before Joanna and Chip … before the Property Brothers … when HGTV (at this point in time, a Discovery Channel offshoot) was in its infancy, there was Christopher Lowell. This Emmy Award–winning designer was clutch for the new network and laid the foundation for designers and decorators who influence not only how homeowners approach their design projects today but how they live.
“Today’s HGTV designers are expanding into furniture and lifestyle collections, household paint lines and more,” says Kathy Sorbe, lead designer and owner of The Elements in Storm Lake and at Prairie Trail in Ankeny. “The first one I remember doing this really well was Christopher Lowell. He was 100% authentic, entertaining to watch and was, at his heart, a talented and groundbreaking personality in the world of HGTV and celebrity designers.”
Without slick production and large budgets, Lowell managed to make design doable and within reach for the everyday homeowner. Developing an easy-to-follow method, which he called the “Seven Layers of Design,” his show was an instant hit. Watching old clips on YouTube, some of the colors hint at the early 2000s, but his fundamental principles – his seven layers of design – stand the test of time remarkably well.
Sorbe and her team credit designers like Clodagh and Kelly Hoppen as inspiration, and even though Lowell’s style didn’t always line up with hers, Sorbe’s fondness for the flamboyant designer is apparent.
“A lot of Christopher’s choices wouldn’t have been mine, but his approach to design was smart, efficient and almost foolproof,” says Sorbe. “He adapted, and that was a great part of his charm, but working from a solid foundation made adaptation all that easier. Sometimes things didn’t work they way he wanted … more often they did, and they looked amazing. But it was his humor and authenticity that underscored his talent for design. He made it fun!”
Layer #1 – Paint and Architectural Details
Sorbe says that in Lowell’s heyday, accent walls were a go-to. Impactful and dramatic in contrast, they were a major player in the room. When asked what the star of the show is in a room, Sorbe believes it shouldn’t be the walls. She thinks of them as more of a supporting player.
“We’ve evolved into a smoother aesthetic,” says Sorbe, “and that usually starts with paint. The less contrast, the smoother the look.”
When color isn’t interrupted, the smoother – and larger – a room will seem. Sorbe and her team like to paint walls and trim the same color in different finishes, or even shades of the same color. That’s not to say that the Design Team doesn’t do contrast. White trim is almost always a successful choice, whether it’s paired with the same shade or a dramatic contrast. In this case, the trim becomes an important design element in the room.
“I also love black framed windows against white trim,” says Sorbe. “I remember the first time I saw Diane Keaton’s home featured in Architectural Digest, and the designer had placed black framed windows in white trim. It was so striking, and thankfully many vendors have introduced this style into their line. They’re much easier to find – and more affordable – than they used to be.”
Everything starts from the ground up so the flooring is an important layer of Lowell’s philosophy. Sorbe encourages clients to think “simple” when it comes to flooring. Running the flooring at an angle or adding extra details can be distracting and restrictive when it comes to the rest of the room’s design.
“Together with the walls, the floor completes the shell of the room,” says Sorbe. “It sets the stage where your furniture, art and accessories can shine.”
There are almost as many types of flooring as there are styles. Wood floors are beautiful, natural, renewable, warm and timeless. Unfortunately, they can scratch and don’t hold up well to water. Laminate is a much more affordable option; however, it does look more artificial and doesn’t have the depth of wood. Also, laminate flooring is noisy in a way that some homeowners find challenging.”
“Luxury vinyl tile is newer to the market and one of our favorites,” says Michelle Patton, a design coordinator with The Elements in Storm Lake. “It’s affordable, has a rich look and a wide selection. It’s also practically indestructible.”
Layer #3 – Custom Upholstery
One of Sorbe’s mantras – function first, then we make it pretty – is easier to accomplish with custom upholstery from one of their design centers in Storm Lake or Ankeny. Clients look at size, style and function of the piece of furniture, then they can choose their fabric.”
“There are literally tens of thousands of fabric options,” says Patton. “And new performance fabrics like Sunbrella® open up even more choices. I don’t even think Christopher Lowell would have been brave enough to cover a sofa in white fabric but we do it all the time now.”
When making the investment in custom furniture, the Design Team can create drawings that show how your pieces will be used in the room. This means that you don’t end up with pieces that are too small or too large.
“Furniture will always look smaller in a big showroom,” cautions Sorbe. “Frequently, we’ll come into a project after the homeowner has made the big purchases, and unfortunately, big is the operative word: the client realizes that the pieces are too large when they’re delivered and sitting in the room. Scale drawings really show how the room will look and function, and ensures you’re investing in furniture that will fit and look amazing.”
Layer #4 – Accent Fabrics
Pillows, throws and accent fabrics are an important design element in any room. Sorbe and her team use them to add color and texture. Another nice thing about accent fabrics is that they are easy and affordable to change with the seasons or for holidays, giving a room a fresh look.
“There are some amazing fabrics … some colorful … some wildly expensive,” says Sorbe. “What might be too busy for a sofa or too pricy for a chair could be perfect on a pillow or ottoman.”
Layer #5 – Accent Furniture
The sofa and chairs are the comfort pieces. Lowell called the non-upholstered pieces the work horses.
“These are the tables that hold our wine glasses and the shelves that hold our books and treasures, so these are important,” jokes Sorbe. “Mixing fabric pieces with wood, metal and even glass will give you even more dimension and interest. When things get too ‘matched,’ the space can start to look retail and not like a home that’s lived in.”
Sorbe and her team like to look at large pieces because of their presence and ability to expand the space. Sorbe says that the eyes take in what’s in the room versus the size of it.
“There’s a myth that large pieces of furniture will overpower a room and make it feel small,” says Patton. “Even in a small space, a few overscaled pieces work better than many small ones. An eight-foot bookcase will look better on a nine-foot wall than a six-foot bookcase. The oversized piece breaks up the furniture line and can be impressive pieces in your room.”
A popular layout, especially in open concept floor plans, is two sofas paired with two or four chairs. Sorbe says it’s a great, but challenging look.
“Your rug and coffee table need to be large enough to support these pieces of furniture,” says Sorbe. “I think one of the largest coffee tables we placed was six-foot square. We had it custom-made so it fit perfectly in the space.”
Rather than traditional side or end tables, Sorbe and her team like to deploy drink tables. Small and heavy, but movable, they are sturdy and some of the most interesting pieces in the store.
“Accessories are the items that tell the story of who lives in this house,” says Sorbe. “Here’s where the personalities of the owners come out ... where we can look around and learn something about the homeowner.”
Patton cautions against clutter.
“Clutter is the enemy of style,” says Patton. “Too much, especially too many small accessories, creates what we call visual noise. There’s so much activity that the eye doesn’t know where to rest.”
The Design Team corrals collections on shelves and uses trays to turn several pieces into one. Editing treasures and photos down is important. Too much “stuff” creates chaos, and that activity can draw attention away from more impressive and important parts of a room’s design.
“Your showcase pieces should stand out, and that becomes more challenging when you have lots of other things going on,” says Sorbe. “Edit down your photos. We love to showcase good-looking kids and families, but instead of displaying every school photo from kindergarten through college, edit down to the most recent and your favorites.”
Fewer and larger is the approach they take. From furniture pieces to books and even art, the Design Team looks to make an impact with big, important and stylish pieces instead of more or smaller accessories and art.
Layer #7 – Lighting and Greenery
Lighting is one of the last – and most important – of Lowell’s layers of design. From fixed lighting to lamps, specialty lights and accent lighting, this layer’s first job is function. Sorbe says no one likes a dark room. Lighting can also add beauty and drama to a room, make a small room look bigger and create the overall mood for a space.
“Installed, or general lighting, like cans or overheads, provide overall illumination for your room,” says Sorbe. “When planning a space, we like to make sure that we install enough general lighting and then install dimmers for easy control.”
Sorbe says accent and task lighting is more fun.
“Apothecary lamps are a go-to for the Design Team and are one of our most popular items in the stores,” says Patton. “They are perfect for reading or close-up work, and when you turn them off, they just disappear.”
Lamps are often placed on bedside tables, but The Elements also likes to install pendants, not just over the kitchen island but to flank the bed. Sorbe says this is a sleek and sophisticated look but also functional, freeing the top of the bedside table for your book, phone or tablet.
“Master bedrooms are often laid out in a way that only allows one place for the bed,” says Sorbe. “We like to use pendants instead of traditional table lamps. Bedrooms should be restful and uncluttered spaces, and adding pendants is a way to make sure surfaces stay clean and uncluttered.”
Sorbe notes that lamps aren’t just for side tables either. Small lamps find their way to shelves and niches in their finished spaces. The unexpected placement is a nod to The Elements’ motto: anything but ordinary.
No installation – by Lowell or The Elements’ Design Team – is complete without a nod to Mother Nature. Today, Sorbe encourages homeowners to toss the fig and ficus trees favored by Lowell and replace with more natural, organic greenery and elements from Nature. Birch is a go-to, but the Design Team loves succulents and large pieces of driftwood, collected by the Ankeny team at great personal risk.
“It’s important that none of your greenery or natural elements look fake,” says Sorbe. “Invest in quality pieces, and they’ll last for years … far longer than many of us can keep live plants thriving in our homes!”
Even distilled down to less than ten simple steps, a renovation or design project can be daunting for many homeowners. The Design Team at The Elements can help. From new construction to remodels … simple paint colors to whole-home redesigns … the designers can make sure the space you end up with is a space that says, “It’s you!”
To schedule a consultation or learn more about their risk-free House Call service, visit The Elements online at elementsbyksorbe.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram and explore their profile on Houzz.com.
