Taking a shine to lacquer and high-gloss paint

Virginia designer Raji Radhakrishnan, who recently participated in New York’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, answers questions from Washington Post readers about design trends.

Q. I want to know all about Kips Bay. What trends did you see? Anything totally out of the blue that caught your eye? What was the craziest — or coolest — thing you saw?

A. Kips Bay truly is the mother of all, not just the who’s who of design but how every one of us pulled all the stops and gave it our best! The attention to detail was what I loved most, from finishing a lamp shade to using the right color threads on the embroidery details! The coolest thing I saw was the modern cerused oak paneling! Loved it in two rooms! Last time I saw that was in France in the Marais district in some of the most famous antique dealer’s showrooms!

Q. What kinds of innovations did you see at Kips Bay?

A. Lacquer and high-gloss paint in bright colors were everywhere, but it was the small details — such as a runner with little grommets tied with tiny leather strings to tiny hooks on baseboards — that were absolutely delightful.

Q. That’s so interesting that you saw bright and high-gloss paint at Kips Bay. It feels very trendy/temporary to me. Did you like it? Would you recommend it? And if so, for where?

A. Most of the high gloss and lacquer I saw were in small transitional spaces or smaller rooms, which makes sense because you don’t spend a lot of time there. Incorporating it into your own home would depend on the overall design. It’s not what I would normally do, but I can certainly see it in a powder room, a hallway or even just the ceilings.

Q. I’m planning a kitchen remodel and am on the fence between the dark, rich look of cherry cabinets and the lighter, contemporary look of natural maple. What trend in cabinets will still look fresh in 10 years?

A. I would definitely suggest the lighter, natural look over the dark cherry. The current trend in cabinets is more modern and encourages mixing different colors in surprising ways. But you might need a pro to do that properly.

Q. Can we get rid of sunburst mirrors? They are so dated and cheesy. Every time I see one, it screams, “catalog” or “professionally designed.” Am I alone on this?

A. I agree! But sometimes you need a circular piece to finish the space, and the perfect one happens to be a sunburst. As long as it is still unique and well-made, I suppose you can use it. Unfortunately, not everyone has a Damien Hirst spin painting!

Q. We’re redoing our daughter’s room. Other than a small nook that we’re painting lavender, the rest of the walls will be a warm cream. What color should we paint the ceiling and trim? It’s white right now, but will that look odd with the cream walls?

A. Yes. Use the same cream on the trim and the ceiling to give the rest of the room some continuity. And repeat the lavender again in the room either in the bedding or a piece of furniture (preferably on another side of the room) so it validates the lavender accent wall.

Q. Can you remind me of the non-girlie lavender paint you recommend? I’d like to give my foyer some color without being too girlie. The foyer does not get much light, so is the gray/lavender going to be too dreary? How can I brighten the hall without going pastel?

JuraKoncius: I like C2 Providence, which is a bit of a smoky lavender and would look dramatic and fun.

Q. In my limited experience, I have found that hiring professional painters is one of the best decisions one can make in re-decorating. Everyone always says “oh just do it yourself, it’s so cheap” but it just plain never looks as good. Would you agree that this is definitely a worth-every-penny thing?

JuraKoncius: Agreed. And I was just talking about this with my editor ... Hiring a painter saves time and marriages. And it produces a wonderful result that you can enjoy for years.

Q. I recently read that a proper budget for interior decoration should equal what you spent on the house. Is this true?

A. Absolutely not! Think of the budget in terms of quality of living. The decorating budget should be proportionate to a purchase or renovation price, but not the same. Look at it this way: You could go from point A to point B in a Toyota or a Bentley, but the question is what kind of a ride do you want?

Q. I need an area rug for my dining room. Our table without the leaf is 60x40; with the leaf in it is a square 60x60. We entertain at least once a month or more with the need for the leaf in the table. Do I buy a rug based on when the table has, or does not have, the leaf in it? And what are the general rules size-wise? How much room do I need to leave for chairs, etc.?

A. Regardless of the dining table with or without the leaves, area rug shape and sizes are based on the perimeter/shape of the room not the furniture. The general rule is to have at least a foot of the floor showing between the edge of the walls and the rug. For example, if your dining room floors measure 10’ x 13’ you would go with a 9’ x 12’ rug. That’s ideal but sometimes we do have slightly smaller or larger ones put in because of other considerations like the perfect rug which works beautifully with the colors and the patterns in the room is not exactly a foot away from the walls ... it’s a bit larger or smaller and that’s fine as long as it works well in the room.

Q. I need to refresh my blog circuit. What are your favorite design or lifestyle blogs?

A. A few of my favorites are Architect Design (http://architectdesign.blogspot.com), My Notting Hill (www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com), Habitually Chic (www.habituallychic.blogspot.com) and Little Augury (www.littleaugury.blogspot.com).

JuraKoncius: I love the www.blueeggbrownnest.com and I also like www.houseofturquoise.com.