Accessories complete the setting for model homes

COURTESY PHOTO Vogue Interiors utilized large scale accessories, such as the unique framed mirror in the formal dining room and dramatic artwork, to complement the grand scale of Harbourside Custom Homes' award-winning Grande Tuscano model. If — as the saying goes — clothes make the man (or woman), accessories make the home, putting the finishing touch on the décor.

"The home without accessories is like a man with a suit but no tie, no belt and no shoes. And the wrong choice can ruin the look, like pairing flip-flops with a suit," said Debbie DeMaria, president of Vogue Interiors. "This is true for builders' models and for private homes as well."

Accessorizing is the art of arranging items to create visual interest and to enrich the style of the room. In part, these finishing touches are critical because they are what make a room special, adding the personal character to the setting.

"Accessories are very important," Ms. DeMaria said. "They are just as important as the walls and furnishings."

According to DeMaria, today's trend focuses on using accessories in a more artful fashion, with an inclination toward a contemporary feeling.

Large glass pieces are often taking center stage, displayed in the same manner as sculpture. Toni Sikes, founder of Guild.com, a site which features new artists, notes that art glass is the most popular item in the company's inventory, accounting for about one-fourth of all orders.

"Design concentrates on larger items that have more importance, rather than too many little pieces scattered about. Too many little items will simply clutter the room rather than accentuate it," said Ms. DeMaria. "Paintings feature clean framing that concentrates on the work. There is a lot of color, especially in glass. Even lamps have become an art form."

Ms. DeMaria notes that many of Vogue Interiors' clients collect their own art or have items they have collected in their travels that are incorporated into their home's interior design.

"Just by hanging a picture doesn't cover a wall," she said. "You must be creative. How do you want the room to read? How do you want people to feel when they come into the room? We fill in with pieces to complete the desired look."

While accessorizing a private home may incorporate items that reflect the owner's taste, hobbies and preferences, choosing the accessories for a model requires an eye for detail and an understanding of the target market of the builder. Accessories provide the details that draw people to the home. The effect may be one of refined sophistication or a casual informality.

In Harbourside Custom Homes' Grande Tuscano model, Ms. DeMaria selected accessories that emphasized the grand elegance of the home, using a gold framed mirror, gold candlesticks and a gold platter in the dining room to echo the gilt ceiling above the dining table. The master suite continued the theme with shimmering fabrics, throw pillows and lamps.

For a model designed for young families, accessories might also feature items appropriate for children with a sports or fantasy theme.

"Creating a model — or a private home — takes place in stages. First is the house, then the furniture," she said. "Add draperies to warm the setting. The accessories bring it all together. Placement of accessories is important. Scale, balance and proper proportion are as important in selecting accessories as the right furniture. It takes practice and a trained eye."