Michael S. Smith Quotes

People buy very badly made furniture and fabric. Instead, buy a beautiful dining table, well-made upholstery. It's almost like dressing for success.

People with big personalities are best in the center of the table. They can help carry the conversation from that place.

Look at your world and your life, and look at what is personal to you. If you're living in an apartment, you need to stick with a narrative that's personal to you.

To have a 9-foot sofa in a small room can be kind of treacherous.

Make sure furniture decor has similar scale. It's all about scale, proportion, measuring, being conscious of the overall plan.

Think of how much furniture you need. What's the best way to have it be functional in a great way? If it's in groups, define it.

People get trapped in the way things should feel and less focused on the way things should function.

Be judicious with your budget and buy things that are going to last.

Avoid spending too much on one thing.

People buy things in isolation and don't think of how they work together.

To be influenced by a magazine and, say, a Swedish theme, unless it resonates with you, it seems kind of odd and influenced.

Avoid too much intense color. Make sure you mix colors and try them out. It's always good to do a swatch.