Tips of the Trade: 5 Design Rules You Should Always Break with Jeremiah Brent
Interior designer Jeremiah Brent constantly finds inspiration for his residential and commercial projects from nature — they manifest in colors, textures, an olive branch or a precious stone incorporated into his designs. Lately he’s also been drawing inspiration from a place closer to home. “I love seeing the world through my daughter’s eyes; how she finds life, love and curiosity in everything she touches,” he says of two-year-old Poppy; the impetus for Brent and husband, designer Nate Berkus, to move from New York to Los Angeles. “We wanted her to have space to roam,” he says. While Brent notes that since becoming parents, the design pair, who star on Nate and Jeremiah By Design have remained consistent in their style, he does admit they give more weight to the practicality. “For example, we recently became fans of using outdoor fabric inside, because of how durable and kid proof it is,” he explains. Always returning to the idea that spaces should reflect the personalities that inhabit them (“Everyone wants their space to look like a Pinterest board and there’s nothing wrong with that – but remember to bring a part of who you are into your décor"), Brent’s been known to skirt more than a few time-honored rules when designing. Here are a few he thinks are worth breaking.
1. You Must Hang Your Artwork.
I beg to differ! Most traditionalists will say you should hang all of your art at eye level, but I like letting my art tell a story, and having pieces flow throughout the room – or even lean against a wall.
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Waterford Crystal Millennium Collection Champagne Bucket Featuring Five Wishes
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Stained Glass Window Panel With Floral Motif
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Douglas “Bumo” Johnpeer Landscape Oil Painting, 2024
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Offset Lithograph After Claude Monet "Le Bassin des Nympheas"
2. Small Spaces Mean Small Furniture.
Just because you have a small space doesn’t mean you have to restrict the scale of your items! A statement piece — a rust orange velvet couch, for example — can act as the focal point and main art piece of a room; elevating the space and bringing the elements together.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oil Painting of a Forest Stream, Circa 1900
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Coach Mini Crosby Crossbody Carryall In Silver/Blue Black Badlands Flora
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Pair of Faux Leather, Brass-Tacked and Ebonized Wood Club Chairs
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Derek Jeter Signed Rawlings Official Major League Baseball with Display
3. Never Mix Metals.
Juxtaposing silvers, golds, brass, and other metallics adds an edge to a space and keeps things interesting. Don’t be afraid to mix it up!
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Hollywood Regency Style Brass and Blue Velveteen Upholstered Stools
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Fulper Pottery Earthenware Amphora Vessel With Drip Glaze, Early 20th C.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Atmospheric Skyscape Oil Painting
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Charriol Colvmbvs Diamond Wristwatch
4. Matchy is a Must.
Not so! From decorative pillows, to dining room chairs, I encourage everyone to play around with textures, patterns and colors. That blend can still be chic with the right balance: a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself what story you’re trying to tell with each item, and find flow in the chaos. I find it helpful to think of it as “accenting” over “mixing;” stick with a monochromatic color scheme or pick a modern coffee table in a traditional room.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Mark Whitmarsh Abstract Acrylic Painting "Divine Garden," 2019
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
6'11 x 11'1 Hand-Knotted Persian Kashan Area Rug
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
14K 3.88 CTW Lab Grown Diamond Eternity Band
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Hickory Mfg. Co. French Provincial Style Oak Two-Drawer Bombé Low Chest
5. Ceilings Must Be White.
Use this as a moment to be creative with color! Contrary to popular belief, black can be a great color for expanding a room and giving an illusion of infinate space. If there are beams, consider leaving them bare to show some structure.
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
7'11 x 11'3 Machine Made Oriental Weavers "Nirvana Collection" Area Rug
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Vintage and Antique Glass Beaded Flapper Sautoir Necklaces
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Luc LeBon Abstract Expressionistic Style Acrylic Painting "Boundary Waters #1"
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash