Take a walk on the wild side with animal prints

Our design work for an elegant home in one of Southern California's toniest beach communities was drawing to a brilliant conclusion. All that remained to be selected were some accessories and rugs here and there. Feeling totally confident of understanding our client's likes and dislikes, we had little, if any doubt, that the zebra rugs for the grand entry hall and office would be welcomed additions. After all, we hadn't had one miscalculation - until now.

The client's early morning phone call to graciously ask us to remove the zebra rugs as soon as possible was truly a wake-up call that made me realize that maybe not everyone was an animal print person - especially when the skins are real.

Still, thinking about how fabulous the rugs looked, how they complemented the stone floors as well as the elegant European-style furnishings, I regretfully promised to have them picked up as soon as possible. Always respectful of a client's likes and dislikes, this decision was nonetheless a little disappointing because, as a designer, I was excited about the drama and elegance the rugs would have brought to the décor.

Zebra rugs have remained a staple in the design world for a very long time because they can add so much spice to a home, no matter the design scheme. Contemporary to traditional, formal to casual, animal prints of any kind, real or faux, can successfully be used in every room. They're what we call statement pieces and they remain one of the biggest trends in design today, no doubt because of the fact that they're so incredibly versatile and have the ability to blend with any type of furniture.

What's more, they can actually be considered neutral accents and can be used with any color scheme in a room as their availability nowadays goes far beyond only furlike textures and colors of black and white. The modern variation on animal prints offers them in different colors and shades, such as lime green cheetah print or chocolate and purple zebra print. Talk about perking up a boring space and having fun with design. It can be a real walk on the wild side now that animal prints have been released from captivity.

But, as with all design elements, the key to their successful use is balance and moderation. Think of them as an accent only and not a dominant motif in your room's design. Adhere to this principle and you'll never go wrong . Always remember that a little animal print goes a long way in your design scheme and you'll do just fine. Whether they're real or printed cowhide (as many are) they'll always retain the status of showstopper and serve as an immediate focal point .

Don't be intimidated by these bold and definite patterns because there are tricks of the trade to give you confidence when introducing animal prints into your interior design. For example, their strong statement easily can be toned down by combining textures and solids and then accenting them with animal prints of a contrasting color.

They'll work best with a monochromatic color scheme, such as using a real or faux zebra print to help ground a large neutral color sofa and take it to the next level, going from Plain Jane to exotic Mata Hari in one easy step.

Should you become really confident and excited about using animal prints, it's probably a good idea to try and keep a common thread of color when mixing different kinds of prints, i.e. using all black and white regardless of whether it exists in nature or not. But, probably the best and safest way is to use only one type of animal print on only one piece of furniture in your room while keeping all other patterned items to a minimum.

An animal print as a stair runner, such as striped tiger or leopard with its gorgeous golden brown color, is great idea that can actually make ordinary stairs look like art. And proving once again that a pop of pattern can go a long way, you can successfully use these prints in unexpected places throughout your home: reupholstering it on a side chair or ottoman, as an area rug or carpet, as an exquisite accent pillow or throw on a chaise. They also could be used in the form of wallpaper, curtains, sofa cushions, bed linens and other accessories such as dinner dishes, picture frames and even candles, tile and lampshades. I have most of these in my own home and love them wherever and whenever they're used.

Animal prints remain timeless and it's safe to say that all aspects of design are involved with this ongoing trend that seemingly never goes out of fashion or style . They can help ground a space while taking it to new heights at the same time. They'll never appear kitschy or in poor taste when used in moderation. Rather, they'll look stunning while adding just the right amount of drama and flair to your home.

So go ahead, have courage with your design, jump in and be inspired as you take a walk on the wild side - and for goodness sake, have fun.

Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified professional in green residential design. Questions can be sent to soleildesign@cox.net.