The trends I'd never use in a Miami home (and why)

Hi, lovely! Yes, you. Come sit by the window where the sun is warm. I want to tell you a secret about my job.

My job is making houses feel happy. Some ideas that look cool in magazines? I still say no to them. Here is what I skip and what I do instead.

1. The all white, no color room

Some people want a house that looks like a cloud: white walls, white sofa, white everything. It looks clean in a photo but you would walk in and feel a little cold, like standing in snow with no coat.

This is what I do instead: I add warm colors like sand, soft green, a dab of brass. It feels like a hug, not a freezer.

2. Matching furniture sets

A store sells you one sofa, one chair and one table that all match perfectly. Easy, right? But a room like that feels like a hotel, not a home. Nothing tells a story about you.

This is what I do instead: I mix pieces: one old thing, one new thing, one thing that makes you smile. Like a good herd, everyone is a little different and it still works.

3. Fake beachy tourist decor

Starfish everywhere, anchors on the print of the bed cover. It's trying so hard to say "beach house" that it forgets to feel like a real home.

This is what I do instead: I bring in the beach gently. A blue like the ocean at 6am, a texture like sand. Subtle touches, not a themed children’s birthday party.

4. Cold hard surfaces everywhere

Lots of concrete, metal, glass and nothing soft. It looks strong, like an ice castle but you can't cuddle a wall.

This is what I do instead: I add something soft in every room: a rug, drapes, throw pillows, soft textures. So the room can hug you back.