Interior designer Debbie Cherry has over 40 years of experience designing home interiors. Staff photo by Nathan Bush
Interior designer Debbie Cherry has witnessed trends wax and wane throughout her 40-plus years of sprucing up clients’ homes.
“What’s kept me interested in my profession is the change,” she said.
The Highland Lakes decorator, who has owned One Swanky Shop at 503 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls since 2005, had a lot to say about the hottest looks in the Hill Country over the past few years.
“Color hasn’t been popular for a long time,” Cherry said, “but it’s very, very hot right now. Everybody is ready for the color.”
One long-running trend is being revamped.
“We have been on that monochromatic black, white, and gray look for 10 years,” Cherry said. “The white, black, and gray is still good and current, but it’s not the quietness of that (old) look. They’re popping it with fun art and fun accessories.”
A not-so-hot look is overdecorating, Cherry said.
“A lot of times, we’d fill the tops of cabinets in the kitchen with art and plants and baskets and all that,” she said. “We ended up just making a big dust magnet. Now, we do nothing.”
One thing that has stood the test of time is wallpaper.
“People think that it’s back, but it never went away,” Cherry said. “For our clients, we’ve done it forever. It’s just the type of wallpaper that has changed over the years.”
Floral wallpapers popularized in the 1990s have had the biggest resurgence.
“I just hope that the (wallpaper) trim isn’t coming back,” Cherry laughed.
Little touches—such as pillows—always have outsized impacts, according to the designer.
“Pillows can change a room instantly,” Cherry said.
If you’re beautifying your abode on a budget, look for unique items at antique stores and thrift shops.
“There’s so many discount-type places that people can shop and find old lamps and art that can change your entire look,” Cherry said.
A little bit of elbow grease and an eye for detail are required to turn those relics into show-stopping pieces for your home.
“Oftentimes, we’ll recommend taking a piece and switching the color. Or, if they’re going for a rustic look, we’ll strip the paint off and it will look like a whole new piece and be beautiful,” Cherry said.
Just be sure you know what you’re getting into before starting a do-it-yourself project.
“Not everybody can do everything like they think they can,” Cherry laughed.
She recommends using online resources to conjure inspiration for your space.
“I used to tell people to buy a bunch of magazines and tear them up,” Cherry said. “Now, I send them to Pinterest.”
The veteran home decorator’s final piece of advice is simple: Be true to yourself.
“The most timeless thing is your own taste,” she said. “If you like it, that’s what’s most important.”
