Redo kitchen cabinets
Either repaint cabinets or consider covering them in metal. Skriloff covered the cabinets in his Catskills log cabin in galvanized steel. He brought them to a metal fabricator, who attached the rusted steel panels, which have the texture of suede. For a New York client, Skriloff had the cabinets covered in bronze. In combination with the tree slab used on the kitchen’s island, the cabinets suggested a rugged, industrial look. (4)
Speaking of kitchens, Skriloff suggested covering the fridge and other appliances with wood paneling, which he said doesn’t have to be complicated (he did it himself for his fridge). He noted that many clients hid their dishwashers, for example, behind paneling. (A general tip: “Do not do what’s in. Instead, stick to clean basics.”)
Get rid of clutter
Without quite knowing why, you may dread going into your office, living room, or bedroom. The reason is probably simple: too much clutter. In general, “people put too much stuff in a room,” said Skriloff. “They overdo things. The less you have, the bigger the room looks.” His advice: be ruthless. “People get so attached to things, but after it’s gone, you won’t remember you had it.”
Quick closet pick-up
Buy matching hangers. Replacing the jumble of metal, plastic, and various colored hangers in your closet with one kind of hanger “makes a world of difference,” said Skriloff. He recently bought two packs of chartreuse hangers, 25 in a pack, for $13 each—an inexpensive way to create clarity in your closet and feel more relaxed every time you get dressed.
