Northern Virginian homes are known for being simultaneously elegant and cozy in their dcor, and FineLines Furnishings, located at 2711-C Dorr Avenue in Fairfax, proudly carries on that tradition.

This boutique-style warehouse features high-end quality furniture and home accessories to outfit the most opulent parlors to the comfiest of family dens. Last week we talked to Lauren Simmons, owner of FineLines Furnishings for the inside scoop on furniture trends this year and some expert advice on home furnishings.
    
How long have you been in the home dcor business and what drew you to it?
    
I’ve been in business for a little over a year and was drawn to it because I enjoy decorating.   Also, I wanted to open a store where I’d like to shop.  I like unique designer pieces and am always looking to get a good price.  Many of my friends had similar views, they couldn’t find good furniture.  If they did, it was too expensive.  Since many of the area stores were going out of business at the time,  I thought it would be a good opportunity to fill a need.
     
    
Whats new this year? What are the new must-haves?
    
There are always new colors introduced each year.  This year Pantone introduced Iris Blue as the new ‘it’ color.  However, for the less trendy, neutrals and earth tones are very popular in decorating. 
    
Also, I see a lot of people redecorating their current homes because they’re tired of their older items and just want to spruce things up.  Consequently, I’m selling a lot of upholstered sofas, chairs and wall decor.
    
What advice do you have for a young couple looking to decorate their first home together?
    
Find your style. Look through magazines and clip items that represent the feeling you want your room to evoke.  By establishing a visual, you’re able to target your style and start looking for suitable items. You’d then determine if there are existing pieces you want to keep, and if so, you work around them. 
    
What about furniture with children? Anything that is stain and accident-proof?
     
Fabrics I usually advise are chenilles or micofibers for durability and sustainability with children.  Picking a good frame for upholstery is also important so it can stand the test of time.  I don’t know of anything that’s absolutely ‘accident proof’ but working with good fabrics and frames is a good start.
    
Any cool new accent pieces?
    
I’ve come across many wall accents such as mirrors, panels, and clocks that add dimension as well as style.  You can add an element of interest and flair to any room by adding different accessories. 
    
I’m also excited about a line ecologically friendly candles by Zinnia.  They’re made from both soy and palm wax – both are sustainable to the environment while not using valuable resources.  I also have a line of beautifully designed ceramic diffusers that emit fragrance but don’t have an open flame.