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14 BRANDYWINE VALLEY HOMETIMELY TRANSFORMATIONS(TOP) CHRISTIAN GIANNELLI (BOT TOM) COURTESY KATE KELLY INTERIORSON TRENDBY EILEEN SMITH DALLABRIDAUp your home d%u00e9cor game with these tips from local designers. CUSTOM MADE EASYThat artfully turned leg on one sofa looks fetching. The rolled English arm on another catches your eye. The boxed cushions on a third piece are a knockout. With custom upholstery, you can combine the features you like the most to create furniture that reflects your needs and taste. %u201cYou%u2019ll spend many years sitting on sofas and chairs,%u201d says Lisa Quale of Lisa Quale Interiors. %u201cBeing able to customize gives you the style, comfort and performance that works for you and your family.%u201dManufacturers have different fill options for cushions and backs.Quale suggests trying different combinations in a showroom to test what feels best. %u201cI recommend that anyone over the age of 50 upgrade to firm foam cushions or spring-down cushions, which have a coiled spring core in them like a mattress,%u201d says the Glen Mills-based designer. %u00a0 %u00a0%u00a0Look at furniture as an investment%u2014are you thinking short-term or long-term? %u201cA plywood frame or sinuous spring piece will last seven to 10 years, which is fine if you%u2019re getting something trendy or at the stage of life where the fabric will wear out faster than the frame,%u201d Quale says. %u201cIf you%u2019re investing in quality for the long-term, the gold standard is%u00a0kiln-dried hardwood frames with hand-tied eight-way springs.%u201d%u00a0Performance fabrics resist stains, but there are other considerations when choosing a fabric. %u201cI only use%u00a0upholstery%u00a0fabrics with cleaning code W, which means they can be cleaned with water without leaving a dark spot,%u201d Quale says.%u00a0%u201cThe number of %u2018double rubs%u2019 a fabric has tells you how quickly it will begin to fray from use. For a busy family, I look for fabrics that test at over 50,000 double rubs.%u201dTHE NEUTRAL ZONEWho says beige is boring? A skillfully executed, neutral d%u00e9cor offer subtlety, serenity and sophistication. Think cotton-cloud white, whisper-soft fawn and luxurious platinum. %u201cNeutral palettes allow a person to effortlessly take in what is around them and appreciate a space without distraction,%u201d says Kate Pechinka, founder of Kate Kelly Interiors in Chester Springs. %u201cA sense of calm is created so that each piece of furniture, work of art and accessory can be admired for its detail and craftsmanship.%u201d%u00a0In a monochromatic color scheme, it%u2019s good to vary shades, sheens and contours to keep the design from falling flat. %u201cFabrics and finishes bring depth. Silhouettes of furniture, inlaid patterns and texture are all opportunities to create movement and energy,%u201d says Pechinka.%u00a0Embrace the subtleties in neutral hues. Whites can be cool (tinged with gray, blue or violet) or warm (with undertones of yellow, cream and ivory). Pechinka%u2019s latest love is Benjamin Moore%u2019s Snowfall White. %u201cI%u2019d describe it as warm and cleansing. It has a subtle tint that creates depth and a touch of contrast,%u201d she says. %u201cIt%u2019s a beautiful white that can be appreciated in all kinds of lighting.%u201dKate Kelly Interiors Chester Springs, (484) 543-8853, katekellyinteriors.com Lisa Quale Interiors8 William Charles Drive, Glen Mills, (484) 995-3958, lqinteriors.com