Space and light are as much a part of the furnishings as a sofa. As an interior designer, one of the things I like to do is to celebrate the place I am in.

Maintaining a light palette is all about restraint. In Sarasota, Florida, for example, it is important to emphasize and use colors that celebrate Sarasota the warmth, the light, the colors of the sea and the sky, and the drama of the sunsets. The Sarasota design palette is full of lightness. If I'm in the mountains, be rustic and bold; if I'm in the city, be sophisticated and urbane; and if I'm at the beach, then be casual and light. It is refreshing to be in a room where there is space to move.

Interest can be found in the counterpoints of dark or painted furniture, bold lamps, and artwork. Fewer large pieces in the rooms make the rooms more airy and light.

The walls are creamy sand, just like the beach.

The fabrics are light and airy, with lots of natural fibers and colors, and accents of blues and aquamarines.