Welcome to our next “Ask MGD” March Instagram Q&A blog post! We’re answering questions directly from you, and we hope these interior design tips will help guide your next design project. Follow along on Instagram to submit your question for next month’s post, and make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter where we’ll be answering more design questions every week!
For this month’s interior design Q&A, we connected with Mindy to get her insight on the questions you all submitted most. Today we’ll be covering how to layer rugs on carpet, how to select lighting in open concept spaces, window and interior door paint colors, and how to hide a microwave in a kitchen remodel. So, keep reading, and let us know in the comments what questions you want us to answer next!
How do you layer rugs on carpet?
We have a few rules we abide by when layering rugs on carpet. If you want to add a play on pattern or add a different texture to your carpeted space with a rug, look for a flat weave style that sits lower to the ground. Ideally, the rug should have some sort of distinct pattern or colorway that is very different from the color of the carpet itself. We’re also big fans of layering a faux fur rug on top of carpet in a nursery or playroom!
What are the best tips for selecting lighting in an open concept kitchen, living, and dining room so that the fixtures flow and work together?
In open concept spaces, we love to start our lighting selections in either the kitchen or the dining room. We recommend finding a pair of pendants or a single fixture that can help set the tone for the open space. From there, we look for fixtures that can juxtapose the main fixture through texture and mixing metals. Another tip to keep in mind is to choose light fixtures that differ in scale from room to room.
Is it okay to mix white windows with black interior and exterior doors?
Yes, definitely! We’ve had projects in the past that had white windows and black doors. However, if they’re right next to each other in your space, it’s not ideal. It all depends on where they’ll sit in the room together. To add contrast, add window coverings to your white windows if they’re in the same space as black doors.
How do you hide a microwave, coffee maker, and toaster in a kitchen remodel, but still have them easily accessible? I never see them in kitchens anymore!
Our favorite way to hide these appliances is in what we call an “appliance garage” with pocket doors. An appliance garage is a full height cabinet that rests on the countertop and has doors that pocket in. You can also add adjustable shelves to house smaller appliances. If there’s not room in the kitchen for a custom appliance garage or if you have a separate pantry, you can also build in a countertop in that space and house your appliances there.
That’s a wrap on our March Instagram Q&A! We hope these answers were helpful as you embark on your next design project. We’ll start accepting questions for next month’s Q&A on Instagram soon, so make sure you’re following along! In the meantime, check out our design category on the mgd log where we’re always sharing new tips and ideas.