Decorating Tips From Local Décor Aficionados

Have you moved into a new apartment? Do you want to completely redecorate the townhouse that's been passed down in your family for generations? With so many décor shops closeby, and because our neighborhoods are so steeped in history and architectural beauty, we're offering a home design primer. And we've enlisted three local interior design aficionados to give tips.

Paul Bright owns , the newly opened vintage store at 383 Atlantic Ave. that features whimsical and colorful mid-century furnishings and art.

Gillette Wing owns with her husband at 71 Atlantic Ave. They have an ever-changing collection of curios and furniture spanning different eras, but tied together by a slightly eccentric look and neutral color palette.

Toni Nicolo co-owns Greenhouse at 387 Atlantic Ave., which specializes in eco-friendly, sustainable home décor. 

The most useful advice is to have a plan and some money saved. Decide on one or two items to invest in, set aside the money and then find something that you love.

“If you love a piece, you can love it anywhere in the house,” said Nicolo. “You’ll keep it for 30 years.”

Wing agreed.

“It’s all about one great piece or a few great pieces and everything else works around it," she said. "Especially in smaller spaces.”

If you feel overwhelmed, remember, you don’t have to furnish the entire home as soon as you move in.

Besides being in love with the piece, what else should you look for? Quality, quality, quality. Nicolo’s advice is to buy the best that you can afford.

If you’re looking to decorate in the spirit of an era past, always buy the original, said Bright. Look for a good vintage example of the piece instead of purchasing a poorly-made replica.

“It will only go up in value," he said. "It will never depreciate!”

Also, the more functional the item, the better. Not only is that cost-effective, but you will keep the piece for longer if you can find different purposes for it around the house.

For example, Greenhouse sells a petite, recycled watertower-wood bench that can serve as extra seating or a side table. The shop also sells delightfully colored ceramic bowls of all sizes designed as dining ware that can be used to store jewelry on your bureau or soap in your bathroom if you tire of them as cocktail peanut holders.

In neighborhoods like Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens, the buildings lend themselves to great design ideas.

“The brownstones are timeless" says Bright. "They will never be out of style. They have soul and history."

The insides are "big, boxy structures with big space on every floor," he added. "They lend themselves very well to a modern approach to interior design.”

Also, in many apartments much of the original interior detail has been preserved, said Wing. This can help jumpstart your decorating if you take the original detail as a cue. For example, many local homes have beautiful original floors or fantastic tile work around which you can build a room.   

If you live in a brand-new, modern apartment, Nicolo recommends incorporating textiles into your home, such as linens or other luxurious and quality materials.

"It will warm up your house and make it cozy," she said.

Settling into a home and making it your own is important. And with countless furnishings and décor resources at your doorstep, it can be easy. Define your budget, fall in love with a few pieces and start decorating!