Take It From an Interior Designer: Every Space Needs a Hit of This Hue

Heidi Caillier upholstered a whole room in the color.

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My husband calls what we’ve got going on right now in New York Sam Weather™. I am at my happiest in a light jacket, hot coffee but no gloves, crunching leaves on a long walk. But I digress—that’s not the layering we’re talking about today.

Interior designer Heidi Caillier has seemingly perfected the skill of assembling the right touches so they feel collected over decades, even if she’s about to hand the keys to homeowners for the first time. I’ve admired her style for nearly eight years, since the first time we talked about a project she did in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle. For her Home Front takeover, she digs into the hue that pulls all those thoughtful layers together: red. Samantha Weiss-Hills, managing editor

Current Mood

Today's Guest Editor Heidi Caillier
Photography by Haris Kenjar

What I’m loving right now: Red in all iterations, whether it’s just a small dose to enliven a room or an allover application. It makes a space feel energetic and always seems to be the final color needed to tie it all together.

Courtesy of Plain English
Photography by Haris Kenjar

Four ways I’d bring it home: 

  • Painting kitchen cabinets (I’m doing this in my San Francisco kitchen!). Keep in mind that they are going to be around for a while, so choose a shade of red that is timeless and classic—nothing too bright or trendy. Look to the past for historical references. 
  • If you’re experimenting with red paint for the first time, start with a smaller space like a pantry or powder room, and do the walls, moldings, and ceiling to get an impactful, enveloping effect.
  • Red accents on printed throw pillows, quilts, and accessories can easily punch up a room. Don’t be afraid to mix in different tones and…
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