In a signature combo, Laslo balances deep chocolate and an acid green in a modern setting.
Photo courtesy of Larry Laslo.

Larry Laslo began his long career as an advertising art director and illustrator, and his interiors still bear the stamp of a freewheeling imagination. In addition to using plush materials and saturating them with rich color, Laslo is known for tapping the glamour of another age. There’s hardly a sphere of design that he hasn’t put his fevered mind to: china for Royal Limoges and Mikasa, lighting, furniture, and most recently a line of fabrics for Robert Allen. We asked him what makes his design sense tick. —Paul O’Donnell

What’s something you should never skimp on when decorating your home?
It’s important to spend what you can on lighting and hardware, especially in your more formal rooms.  If the room is the black dress, then lighting and hardware are the jewelry.

Biggest mistake people make when decorating?
Thinking they can do it themselves by watching remodeling and
decorating shows.

Top tip for small spaces?
Most people imagine that white makes a room look bigger. In fact, small spaces look better and bigger with deeper colors.

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