Try not to buy a complete matching set of furniture.

I was meeting with my assistant here in Shanghai, reviewing all the architectural drawings for a series of luxury condos that I am designing. As we were reviewing the plans, Thomas made a comment of how the plans were mix and match, a little Art Deco, a little traditional and a little bit country. I replied back that they were indeed mix but not matched. After the giggling subsided, I, the consummate teacher began to explain how great design and architecture works with respect to mix and match.

With respect to architecture - the bones of a home - there needs to be integrity with respect to design, style, and the finishing materials. Both inside and outside must maintain a sense of consistency, they should match and the style should flow smoothly throughout the structure. But with respect to the decorating, there should be a little mix in the match.

“Matchy matchy” decorating is predictable and boring, something none of us want to achieve in our rooms. When it comes to creating a room, the room does not make us but rather we make the room. I firmly believe that a room needs to be filled with space appropriate furnishings and accessories but more importantly with things that you love.

For example, there should be no exercise equipment in the bedroom, who wants to wake up to a treadmill or a step machine? As I’ve said many times before, rooms need to be filled with items that tell stories, bring smiles and stir fond memories. They also need to be filled with colours that soothe and stimulate and textures that are sensual and comforting.

Following this guideline for décor means rooms will never be predictable as each item that finds its way int your home did so with passion and over time. There should be nothing quick about good design; it is a lifelong pursuit - rooms will evolve as does life.

How does that saying go? Oh yes, haste makes waste. Savour the décor process and bring home what you truly love and try not to buy a complete matching set of furniture. Instead, buy a pair of sofas and then let the search begin for a fabulous arm chair. Or, have one custom made, something uniquely yours. The same goes for the tables; perhaps you can buy a pair of end tables and then look for originals for use as the coffee and or the sofa table, even the table beside the custom chair.

Your home work this weekend is to sit down with a cup of chai tea and scour décor magazines like Florida Design, Dwell, Elle Décor and Architectural Design. Look at the rooms, I mean really look and analyze them; you’ll note that they look easy and liveable. Filled with family treasures and fabulous finds - as simple as a tree stump employed as an end table or a bone inlaid Moroccan coffee table set in front of a modern taupe ultra suede sofa. On the table there may be stacks of hard cover books and a single potted orchid. Design shouldn’t be perfect, in fact the beauty is found in its flaws.