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Posted on: December 2, 2010

Solution-based design

Rachael Ray’s go-to interior designer forks over details on the new definition of luxury

By Robert Sharoff
CTW Features

Image courtesy Libby Langdon

Libby Langdon’s timing is flawless. Three years ago, well before the recession landed, she noticed that the interior design community seemed fixated on the McMansions of the rich, leaving ordinary people in ordinary homes pretty much on their own.

The result was her book, “Libby Langdon’s Small Space Solutions: Secrets for Making Any Room Look Elegant and Feel Spacious on Any Budget” (Knack/Globe Pequot Press, 2009), a step-by-step guide that builds on the success of her hit HGTV reality show “Small Space, Big Style.”

“For many reasons, people are interested in downsizing today,” she says. “It’s amazing how timely tips on small-space living are right now.” Langdon also appears regularly as a design consultant on “The Rachael Ray Show” and other programs. In addition, her design firm, New York-based Libby Interiors, handles a variety of commercial and residential commissions.

“What I do isn’t brain surgery,” she says. “But it sure can make people feel better when they come home from work and love where they live. There’s power and joy in designing small spaces. I feel like in my own way I’m making a difference.”

What’s the upside of living in a small space?

LIBBY LANGDON: Control. It’s just a lot easier to manage than a large space. You feel like you’re running your house rather than your house running you.

What’s the smallest space you’ve ever lived in?

I grew up in an old Tudor house in High Point, N.C., where space was never an issue. But one of my first apartments in New York was around 500 square feet. Believe me, it took some getting used to.

How did you decorate it?

I made all the usual mistakes – I painted the walls white and kept everything very plain and simple because I thought that would make the room look bigger.

You mean it doesn’t?

No! It just makes it look boring. Ultimately, personality and pizzazz are more important than square footage.

How important is color in a small space?

Very important. All-white walls tend to look very cold and impersonal. But a small room with a hit of color feels cozy and pulled together.

How do you know if you’re overdoing it?

You probably don’t want all four walls painted chocolate brown. That’s a little too much. A better solution is to choose an accent wall – maybe it’s the wall your sofa or fireplace are on – and paint it a rich, bold color. The others you should keep a light tan or cream. That way, the colored wall recedes and the space feels larger.

What colors are you liking these days?

A lot of blues, everything from peacock to cobalt to icy blue. Also gray and purple. I find a little shot of purple can go a long way.

Inspiration 101: Choose one item in a room, like a treasured painting or an antique vase, to dictate the room’s design and color scheme. Image courtesy Libby Langdon

Are you a “less is more” or “more is more” kind of person?

I’m somewhere in the middle. I like to have enough stuff so that a room looks comfortable and lived in, but I also like to keep things slightly sleek and pared down. Too much stuff everywhere just makes me feel confused and overwhelmed.

How is the recession affecting the way people decorate?

It’s interesting. People are certainly watching their money more carefully, but they’re also spending more time at home and are interested in the whole idea of nesting and making their homes as comfortable and livable as possible. It’s actually a great period if you have some imagination.

I keep reading that the luxury market is over. Is it?

I think people are defining luxury a little differently. The reality is we all have too much stuff. That was true before the recession, and it’s still true. Having less isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Great design comes in all shapes and sizes. Again, space is less important than what you do with it.

What inspires you?

My springboards are mainly objects – a beautiful scarf or a gorgeous photograph with amazing colors in it. I’m not a big antiques person. What I do like, however, is incorporating a special piece here and there into a room. It’s more fun and more personal than buying everything new.

How has your style evolved over the years?

When I first became aware of design, I wanted everything to be modern and contemporary. But as I’ve gotten older and have started entertaining at home more, my style has softened a little bit. Today, my goal is comfort. I want to create warm and inviting environments.

You’re a designer and you also play one on TV. Which is harder?

I’m pretty wacky and not that different off camera than I am on. The part I do like about TV is the end of the show when the homeowners come in and see what I’ve done and they’re surprised and excited. It’s a big happy moment. The process is different in real life. It all takes longer and is a lot more complicated.

How long does it take you to size up a room?

About 20 minutes. Whether they know it or not – and many of them don’t – people leave clues about what they actually want. I remember this one woman, I went to her house and the only thing she had on her wall was a gorgeous Moroccan platter. The rest of the house was just kind of a mishmash and not that interesting. But the platter was lovely. I realized that the platter was actually a cry for help. It was her way of saying “I want this style but I’m too scared to do it myself.” So I designed a Moroccan-themed room for her and she was thrilled.