Lori Lester –
Candice Olson visited the Paragon showroom in High Point last week for the company’s announcement of


plans to launch a new line of wall decor with the designer and host of hit HGTV show Divine Design.

Scheduled to premiere at the October 2014 High Point Market, the roughly 20-piece collection will be made up of canvases and sculptural plaques, as well as framed prints.

“As with all of my designs, these pieces will have traditional roots, but with a more stylized, paired-down approach to keep them contemporary,” Olson said.

The designer also spoke at the Women in the Home Industries Today educational breakfast earlier in the week to kick off the organization’s 10th anniversary celebration. Olson’s presentation detailed her perspective on how to make a room both beautiful and practical, and she illustrated each tip with before and after room makeover photographs.

Olson said the most important part of a project is determining a focal point.

“In many cases, the focal point is obvious, as in a room with a large fireplace of panoramic view, but when no focal point exists it is necessary to establish one to define the space,” she said. “By bringing a dramatic padded head board into a bedroom, for example, a nondescript bed suddenly commands attention.”

She went on to describe other major factors that go into creating a warm, livable space.

After the focal point has been established, Olson said she looks to create subtle contrasts by using a variety of textures and furniture periods that can be united by a common color palette or wood tone.

Minimizing clutter, both physical and visual, is another important consideration for creating a sense of calm in rooms that serve multiple purposes, she said.

And Olson reminded attendees of the power of lighting, and the importance of lighting specific objects in the room rather than “lighting air.”