Designing Home

Do you know your design letters?

2012-02-26T14:19:00.000-03:30

Are you challenged when it comes to arranging accessories? Do you look at details in decorating magazines and marvel at how everything looks just right? Many people think the final touches are the most difficult part of home decor, but they don't have to be. There are all kinds of tips and tricks of the trade.

One of the simplest design tips I can offer is the use of letter formations to organize interesting accessory vignettes. I'm calling on my background in visual art and floral arrangement to offer you this advice. Other decorators may have different ways of describing their approach.

The most useful letters for designing vignettes are .... A, V, O, C, L, and M.

Here goes...

A

Niche Interiors

This is a very tight A line of design. The visual height is always through the middle and the base is wider, but the bottom width can vary. My eye wants to see something slightly taller than the dish - a sphere would be lovely here. Perhaps the owner is like me, always looking for just the right object to finish a room.

Another A with a very broad base. I want the two back photos to be a little taller. Are you noticing how the height is usually a piece of art? It could also be a sculpture, a mirror, a tall vase of twigs or flowers or photos hung on the wall.

The reverse of A is V. Sometimes only these two shapes are presented in vignette discussions, but there are so many more ways to think about it. In a V the lowest point is usually in the middle of the arrangement. Sometimes thinking about it as a check mark is helpful because one side is usually taller and one is shorter.

Lucid Interior Design Inc.

You don't often find C lines of design and they are the most obvious when there's only one object banked by something that is circular. Your eye just wants to make that sweep. All the other circle shapes in the furniture help to reinforce the C movement.

Pinterest

A great example of a C (backwards) with more than one item stacked to the right of the mirror. If the twigs were more of a falling shape the C our be even more obvious.

o

Joni Spear Interior Design

Some designers may argue this is a classic V formation but I would disagree because the the mirror causes the eye to move in a circular fashion around the display. The lamps are taken in with that sweep.

Rachel Reider Interiors

Another symmetrical O line of design . The base is set so broadly that your eye just wants to do the circular movement around the objects. The three rounded shapes add to the circular movement. If the base was tighter it would look like a classic V shape.

Pinterest

This traditional vignette follows an O shape because of the arrangement of art above the table. It takes command of the eye and the objects on the table are swept up in that motion.

L

CNW PRODUCTION

Urrutia Design

The requirement for an L line of design is a very tall object placed on the edge of the design with a broad base. Of course you can also reverse the L. If the hurricanes were taller I would call the vignette above a V.

autumn-cashmere.tumblr.com on Pinterest

You don't often see the M line of design used, but it works well when you are displaying collections where you have several heights with a dip in the middle.If the shorter objects are on either end it is an M but when you start with taller objects on the ends it moves into a W.

What line of design do these vignettes follow?

And there you have it. The answers in order A , M, V. Keep your eyes open when you see arrangements and observe the lines of design used. Then start arranging!

Wallpaper as an accent

2012-02-18T16:55:00.002-03:30

Having an accent wall is popular in home decorating, but many decorators are very selective or down right negative about the idea. I wrote at length about accent walls in another post and listed 5 reasons to consider an accent wall. Accent walls either work well or are dismal failures. Make sure yours is in the successful category.

Recently a reader requested that I write a post about using wallpaper to create a focus wall. Ask and you shall receive. Here are my thoughts on the topic.

The most obvious wall

Angel Mangarakov via Houzz

Any recessed area works well as an accent wall because it allows you to use the architectural features of the room to good advantage. This bedroom shows how well a recessed feature can be highlighted . In addition, the paint colour totally supports the wallpaper design. This is one of the biggest areas where you can mess up.

Abbe Fenimore Studio Ten 25

This is another bedroom where the pattern beautifully accentuates everything else in the room. The colour scheme is quiet and the wall colour blends well with the tones in the paper.

Decor Pad

This room has a completely different vibe with its pinkish red walls and white and black accent pattern. It isn't a look I personally like because there is just too much colour for me. That doesn't make the design wrong. With the white furniture you really need colour on the walls.

LUX Design Inc.

The wall behind a bed is the most advantageous wall to accent The furniture placement makes it the focal point in the room and you are merely enhancing it with your wallpaper choice. Consider the effect that large mirrors have on this design. The mirrored doors create two accent walls and the impact effect is diminished and for some people it would be visually confusing..

David Howell Design

How do you feel about the accent wall in this room? Do you think the designer choose the best wall to highlight? Does the wall colour work well with the colour scheme in the wallpaper? My answer would be negative on all counts. To be fair, one could argue the use of pattern on the opposite wall as a way to distribute visual weight in the room. There's always more than one way to look at design.

To highlight furniture

Light coloured furniture always looks great with a pattern behind it. When you add pattern that is this dark and strong remember to consider how it will look with what is happening in the next room.

Don't be afraid of large scale pattern on one wall. There is lots of pattern in this room, but it works because the designer stuck to a tight colour scheme. When you choose bold patterns remember how much harder you have to work to find art that will hold its own on the pattern. The two small pieces above are lost in the pattern. Something bolder and larger would have been a better choice. Sometimes the devil is in the smallest details. When you look at this design what is the first thing you notice? For me it's the sofa and not the patterned end wall. Perhaps this is what the designer wanted to achieve and that might account for the downplay of art on the wallpaper. Again, more than one way to look at things.

Stand alone walls and dividers

Look for opportunities to wallpaper where you have stand alone walls that will work well as an accent. Often temporary walls or stand alone walls are used as dividers in condos or basement apartments. It is a way to divide space without closing it off.

Wallpaper as art

Think about all the ways you could use wallpaper as art . Use trim to emphasize a design and fill in with wallpaper. The sky's the limit for this. I particularly like the grid created for the dining room wall with two colours of wallpaper. The colour tones work very well together.

Highlight a small area

Casacullen

Fireplace walls that extend beyond the main wall offer a perfect place to add pattern. You can be very bold because there isn't much pattern used. Would you use these accents on the mantle or different ones? Do they stand out or are the lost? Does the arrangement need some height. Displaying objects against a bold pattern takes some thought . There's lots of choice in things to move around in this room. Check out lots of other images on this great post about wallpaper accents.

House to Home

From My Nest to Yours

Define a space with just a strip or two of wallpaper as a backdrop.

And there you have it. There are all kinds of ways to brighten your home with wallpaper accents. This only scratches the surface. You might want to refer to this other post I wrote on the topic last year. I also have a growing collection of ideas for your walls on Pinterest.

No one will ever know

2012-02-15T20:24:00.000-03:30

You can never have too many vases or luminaries. Creating your own from materials on hand is both fun and cost effective. You also get to have the pleasure of looking at it every day and knowing that you upcycled something. Of course, accolades from your friends and family don't go astray either.

Here are some of my personal favourite ideas collected from Pinterest. Happy creating.

I would use these for their sculptural value and forget the greenery which looks forced. Get various shapes and sizes of clear wine bottles. Tape off or use adhesive stickers to create design. Spray paint white and there you have it. So easy and they would look very interesting massed together on a table top or mantle.

52 Projects

So, so easy! Use elastic bands to stretch around around the clear cylinder vase . Vary the position of the bands and make sure you have some overlapping, then spray paint. When the candles are lit the design is greatly enhanced. You can now buy battery powered candles which would work best in something this tall.

Hey Gorgeous

Check out the very detailed instructions for creating this tissue paper collaged vase.

Poppytalk

You may have seen this idea in Canadian House & Home. Wait for a nice day where you can take your spray paint outside. Clean (remove any labels and adhesive) and dry the bottles and then by pouring a dollop of paint into the bottle, gradually rotate/swirl the paint inside until the paint coats the entire interior. Some may need two coats. Dry on a damp or plastic dropsheet. I think the colour you use will make or break this look. I'm particularly fond of the sea glass green blues.

Update: Watch a video how-to by Stephanie White on House and Home's TV.

BHG

Print your photo on Lazertran paper, making sure the image prints on the chalky eggshell side. Let dry for 30 minutes. Cut the image to size. Soak the printout facedown in a pan of water for about a minute. Peel off the backing and place the filmy printout onto a ceramic vase, smoothing out any air bubbles.

Deliciously Organized

These look stunning and they are so, so easy to make using Krylon Looking Glass Mirrorlike Spray Paint. Clean out the vases/votive, spray the interiors lightly with water and then with mirror paint. Turn upside down and let dry overnight. Repeat the process if the first application looks too sheer. If you want to use them for flowers you have to inert a small glass inside to hold the water. Imagine the beautiful table centerpiece these would create using some with flowers and some with candles.

Embracing red

2012-02-13T17:14:00.000-03:30

Red is bold, bright, intense and the colour of love. You can have a little or a lot of it in your home decor, but which ever way you go red is always noticed and brings warmth to any room.

Between Naps on the Porch via Houzz

Red welcomes you.

Sometimes red leans toward orange and brings thoughts of cool fall days.

The Lennoxx

It can make you think of fresh raspberries ...

or it can be the brilliance of red lacquer with shine and depth.

Pinterest

Look for red sprinkled around a room...

in bold patterns ,,,

Pinterest

solids or stripes.

Waiting, Margaret Ryall , Mixed media

It can be on your wall ...

The Lennoxx

your windows.... or anyplace you wish.

Do you need a little red in your life?

5 +1 Design Solutions

2012-02-07T21:18:00.000-03:30

Every home has challenges- not enough storage space, oddly shaped rooms, nowhere to put the TV etc. There is always a good design solution for every problem. All it takes is patience to look for the solution or some thought to figure it out yourself. Sometimes the solution is a mixture of the two. Do any of these ideas help solve a design problem in your house?

No space for a desk

So you think you have no room for a small desk in a room. I love this idea of a fold up desk that turns into a framed art work.

Space too open

A floating wall of this type serves to partially separate a space while adding a place to locate furniture.

No wall for a TV

Pinterest

What about no wall space for a TV? This happens in many open area homes, but there are solutions as you can see.

No space for a buffet

Houzz

Sometimes taking space from another room or a hallway is an option. This buffet fits perfectly into a small space.

Small foyer


Pinterest

When you have a small entrance space consider fooling the eye by using a large mirror and layering furniture in front of it. This sleek table accepts a bench below it very nicely. It looks good but the bench is also functional.

Looking for a home office

This is such a great solution for a small space. The trunk can do double duty as a coffee table and a space to lay your laptop when the lid is closed

Does a ceiling have to be white?

2012-02-02T12:27:00.004-03:30

That's an easy one. Of course the answer is no, but very few people veer away from this standard. If you're feeling adventurous and want to break away from the pack here are some suggestions.

Consider practicalities
When you decide to paint your ceiling a colour you need to think about how that colour will flow into other rooms both physically and visually.

Is there a place (e.g., molding or beam) where you can stop the colour?

Urban Homes

The ceiling in the kitchen is on a different plane than the living room, thus providing an easy break for painting.

How will the colour look when viewed from the next room or rooms?

In the room above the ceiling is acting as an "accent wall" and flows nicely into the living room. The same blue is used in hints around the room creating a visual flow.

Will you have to change the colour again when you paint your walls?

Chances are you will. Are you up to painting several coats to cover a colour?

Is your ceiling in good condition?

Flaws will show up more with darker colours.

Consider ceiling height
How high is your ceiling? Nine feet or above will provide lots of height for darker or warmer colours.

Beverly Bradshaw Interiors

Allison Cosmos

However, if you have standard ceilings (8 feet) and your rooms are smallish you might consider lighter, cooler colours to help the ceiling recede and give the feeling of greater distance.

via Gus and Lulu

Traditional Home

Blue seems to be a popular ceiling colour.

Consider your wall colour

DecorPad

If you really want to paint your ceiling and aren't sure which colour to choose, take the cue from your wall colour and simply go several values lighter.

Toby Fairley

Or keep the ceiling and walls the same colour and break it up with crown moulding.....

or go a value or two darker for the ceiling.

Consider your trim colour
If you have a trim colour other than white/cream, look to it for ideas for your ceiling.These room have a very pulled together look by using the trim colour as a branching off point.

Real Simple

The ceiling is darker than the trim colour

Catalyst Architects, LLC

The ceiling is the same colour as the trim.

Consider your accessories

This is where things could get exciting...

Tineke Triggs

Can you imagine this room with a red ceiling?

Elizabeth Gordon

What to hang over a fireplace

2012-01-30T19:56:00.002-03:30

If you were going to hang something over a fireplace, what's the first shape you think of ? I bet it's not a circle. Most people would think rectangle, but I would like to suggest going against that natural inclination and putting a shape there that plays against the straight lines of a fireplace. What do you think of the impact a circular motif makes?

Visualle

While the art is square you hardly notice the frame. It's the circular mark making that catches the eye.

Barry Dixon

An empty frame with two other objects creates great impact.

The Lennoxx

A circular mirror with a mirrored frame sits back quietly while the blue accessories do all the wow work.

Houzz

A simple round mirror bordered with driftwood. This is an easy DIY project.

Remodelista

This vine that has been fashioned into a loose circle is calligraphic in its statement.

This Austin branch mirror provides the best of both worlds, a lovely circle and radiating branches.

Sneak peek

2012-01-28T13:11:00.000-03:30

It seems I've been in the middle of a bedroom update forever. It takes so long when you are doing things yourself. This is the before picture. My husband loves black and I love geometric patterns. Everything in this picture including the carpet and window seat are gone or going.

The new look will be the opposite to the strong contrast of this one.

The new look:
Soft and serene, no one thing standing out- harmonized to the hilt
Lots of textures and gentle patterns

My new duvet cover is very patterned but soft looking.I'm still working on accessory pillows to play with this design. I like to do that when everything else is completed.

Love this basket I found at Winners. Don't like the dark interior so a little spray paint will be in order. I want some very tall natural colour sticks to put in it. Still looking.

New light fixture from Rona. I spied this when I was shopping with a client and loved it. When I went back to buy it, both styles were marked down to $20.00! I bought one of each. Here's the other style just waiting for a new home possibly in my summer house.

My refinished oak mid century modern bureau.

Can you believe that I had this beauty in my studio? I stripped it, sanded, created a grayed green wash (water and paint), brushed it on, wiped it off, dried overnight, and then applied a coat of satin varathane. I left the exposed border and areas behind the drawers natural colour.

You can see that I like my hardwood light no matter what the current trends! This mirror is temporary until I can bring the one I want back from my summer house.

Handy hubby made dividers for the skinny top drawer and now I have a very tidy storage space for all my jewellrey.

New tray from my sister, two vases originally black got the spray paint treatment. Still working on the arrangement of all these piece and still collecting.

One of my mixed media art works called Turning Point, new drapes which are tone on tone with the wall colour - Benjamin Moore AF Collector's Item. I can't praise this colour enough if you want a warm, soft neutral for any room in your house.

More art work. I'll always love this piece created by a friend Cathy Driedzic. I'm working on a new painting for over the bed.

This trunk/bench is currently being used in place of my built in window seat which had to be removed to lay the hardwood. Haven't decided if it will stay here or go to the other side of the room where is originally resided. Colour Benjamin Moore AF Wind Chime

How it currently looks. Painting is coming down because it is lost in this space. One nail hole to fill in. It will probably go on the wall by the closet - nice narrow space for it.

An there you have it. We are moving to a king size bed and trying to decide on a design for hubby to make. Too many ideas, too many discussions, and not a lot of patience because I want it done, like yesterday. The full reveal will come later.

Details- gray vintage

2012-01-26T13:24:00.001-03:30

Some images need to stand alone to enable us to thoroughly enjoy all the nuances they contain. Because too much text can wear out an image as well as a post I'm planning a series of posts titled Details that highlight things that please me visually.

Gray is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's been my neutral go to colour since the mid 80's. Gray is actually a very complex colour and it's "nature" is defined by the colours that have been neutralized to make it.

The details I love:

the shape of the vintage credenza with all those drawers
the variety in the values of gray used
the high sheen on the door makes it stand out from the other more matt textures
the one hit of colour in the flowers
the ornate crown mouldings contrasting with the simplicity of everything else

is there anything about this vignette you like?

4 ways to make pattern sing

2012-01-20T16:01:00.000-03:30

Adding pattern to a room is one of the quickest ways I know to create excitement in decor. A room without pattern is a dead room. If you want to play it safe add your pattern in smaller punches, e.g., pillows, throw or small area rug. Here are several quick and easy tips to have you decorating like a pro.

Vary the type and scale of patterns used

Elements of Style

Personally I would not have this many pillows in a row but the patterns really work well together. Start with a large scale print in the colour scheme you want (floral above) and choose the others based on this. Note how the linear geometrics vary in colour and size - always a good formula. The circular raised flowers in yellow play well with the larger floral and pick up on the colour of the larger geometric.

Keep the patterns in a tight colour scheme - complementary is easy

Caitlin Wilson via Houzz

This is a more adventurous use of pattern when you consider the wall and the ottoman. Similar to the last arrangement, this one uses a large scale print as a departure point for the colour scheme. A smaller and larger linear geometric is chosen in complementary colours. If you want to have a lot of energy add pattern to the wall in yet another pattern. It's too much for me, but I'm pretty plain in my tastes!

Break up pattern with a solid

Z3 Diseño

This is a pretty intense pattern but it is played down by using white and a solid colour in pillows. If the chest was painted white the pattern would be further controlled.

Play down colour, go neutral

Photography : Margaret Ryall

Bathroom renovation woes

2012-01-12T12:55:00.000-03:30

Sometimes having too many ideas is just as bad as having too few. I am definitely swimming in the idea pond when it comes to my main bath renovation. Right now the space is a product of the mid eighties with white square tiles, gray fixtures and a white European vanity and upper cabinets.

Everything has to go and we are taking out the tub to put in a walk in shower. I can't seem to stop dreaming up new ideas, so I'm using this post as my own sounding board. Hopefully it won't be all personal and you, my readers, might find my sorting process of some help in any home changes you have planned.

The look I like:

overall design more contemporary than traditional
simple, clean lines, not cluttered (lots of storage options)
soothing, natural colours which are not too cool - warmish neutrals)
lots of texture (always a must in my house)
weathered wood in gray driftwood tones (a favouite since I was 20 and that's many years ago!) or light to medium wood tones - nothing dark and heavy. I rarely follow trends in my own home decisions.
brushed metal finishes, raised basin but not too high
mixture of tile sizes depending on placement, no obvious/contrasting border

The inspiration shots:

Dick Clark Architecture

This room is light, airy and has very clean lines. There are options for storage, but things could get cluttered because everything would be exposed. I like the wood tone but the small glass mosaics may quickly become outdated. The square tiles are a little too predictable. So I'm left with the wood tone!

AMI Designs

LOVE the shape and colour of the vanity. It has both open and closed storage so it fits the storage bill. Hubby could whip this up in several days! I also like the grain in the larger floor tiles. Looking good.

Best Builders ltd

Floor and vanity fit the bill in every way. Colour tones are my favourite, the wood grain tiles are fantastic and you could run the same tiles up the wall of the shower and alternate with a small scale tile on the floor of the shower. It's good to keep the same tones in all the tiles used when you are working with a small space.

Garret Cord Werner

Tones in this vanity are a little warmer and I love the shape. All storage is hidden and I'm attracted to the textured wall and the full mirror with a ledge.

Best Builders ltd

Love the color tones in this hideaway storage (slightly purplish). This idea could be fitted into the right and left side of the vanity to look like doors.

I first saw this picture in a magazine and I've kept it. I love the vanity colour and shape. It's very mid century modernish in styling and I have other pieces similar in my house. It is an easy style to replicate (I know I am lucky to have my own furniture maker on the premises.)

Claudia Leccacorvi

I like the idea of using the textured stone as a backdrop for the vanity and mirror but it would work best if you have a defined space between two walls. I don't.

Houzz.

While this counter is slightly too golden for my tastes, I like the layout , cabinets and the space for hanging a towel. One of the things you have to consider when you have side cabinets is how the light will reach the rest of the room if you don't have a ceiling light. .

Shirley Meisels

Then there's always white, but all the other vanities in the house are white so.... . maybe not. I like the storage, the legs, and the wood grained tiles.

I'm getting there... Stay tuned for more updates on this 2012 reno.

DIY wow factor for walls

2012-01-08T19:34:00.000-03:30

If I had oodles of money I would buy all the art my heart desires and I would have more walls! In reality I have an interesting art collection that I've grown over time , but not all of my wall decor is fine art. There are so many other things you can do to add a WOW factor to your walls without breaking the bank. Here are some of my favourites.

Enlarge and frame print material

source

Budget Wise Home

Iffer's Nest

Display your collections artfully

Desire to Inspire

houzz

Use wall paper and fabric in creative ways

Canadian House and Home

via Porchlight Interiors

The New England Southerner

source

Frame post cards, pages from old books, or photoographs

via House of Turquoise

That's happy

Spray paint sculptural objects

homemadeology

salvaage decor

Hope there's an idea here for your walls.

Is your home matchy matchy?

2012-01-06T14:53:00.000-03:30

What is matchy, matchy?

The term " matchy matchy" in decorating refers to rooms that are too coordinated because of the use of the same types of colours, patterns, fabrics, thematic elements etc. It has negative connotations and evokes overtones of boredom. I describe the desire to have everything matching perfectly in a room "over matching". Rooms put together in a catalogue or in a model home are good examples of this look. Everything matches and the room looks soulless.

JC Penny Catalogue

source unknown

This room is a step up from the one above because of the pattern in the rug, variety in the pillows and interesting art work. The wood tones are still very matched and the coffee and end table are a set, but both have added accessories which make them a little more interesting.

Buying sets of furniture; matching bedding and draperies; replicating the same colours and patterns in accents; keeping all wood tones the same; choosing art to match the decor; and so on, are actions that lead to an over matched look.

MuseInteriors

What is a harmonized room?

An advantage of overly matched decor is the sense of calmness that you get from it. Nothing is disparate; you feel at peace. The room above is very inviting as a bedroom. While the colour scheme is very matched, consideration has been given to a mix of furniture that works very well together, and there is variety in the textures and shapes used. I would describe this room as "harmonized".

On the continuum of well designed rooms it is moving toward the middle. in my opinion what this room could us is more interesting accessories. It comes across as rather bland and does not reflect much personality. Further along the design continuum and much more individual in its appearance is the curated room.

What is a curated room?

Curated rooms appear to be collected over time rather than created in one go. Words such as arrange, blend, integrate, orchestrate, synthesize and unify come to mind. Such actions require thought rather than rote matching. Each element chosen adds to the whole in an interesting way. You strive for variations in textures, materials and furniture with lots of layering to draw you in. Then you pull it all together with a defined colour palette.

via House of Turquoise

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

Michael Deperno Interiors

Curated homes are the ultimate reflection of a homeowner's taste and experiences represented by various "treasures" collected and displayed in interesting ways. Of course, there are degrees within this look and the more mismatched the decor becomes you move toward "wildly eclectic".

My personal taste is a lightly curated room that is interesting, but still harmonized for a more peaceful look. While I love art, objects and hand built furniture I don't like a room too cluttered with things. What kind of look do you like?

A touch of the unexpected

2011-12-27T16:59:00.000-03:30

Modern Girl Style

Isn't it always interesting when you walk into a space and see touches of excitement in the decor? It could be a great piece of art, a collection of objects or unexpected colour combination. This ottoman is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise monochromatic room (flowers don't count).

Curbly

Vases massed by colour are pretty spectacular as a focal point. Finding interesting ways to show collections can add excitement to a plain room.

Benjamin Moore

beautiful living files

Why not choose an exotic colour and paint a cabinet, table or the inside of a bookcase?

Tobi Fairley

Spectacular draperies can make a room. This tight colour scheme becomes interesting when various patterns are added. The bold stripes in the drapes are very eye catching.

A stenciled wall is sure to be a focal point in any room.

source

If you're going to hang photographs you may as well go for it and create a gallery wall.

Making Christmas Sparkle

2011-12-21T09:57:00.001-03:30

Making Christmas sparkle is not a difficult task. There's the little things you add to your home decor, there's music and family and friends. All you have to do is sit back and make enough time to actually enjoy it. It is too easy to get caught up in the frenzy of shopping and preparation. I'm a fast forward kind of person, but lately I put the breaks on at Christmas, and make every effort to notice all the small things.

the sparkle of light on an iridescent wreath; the contrast of shape and colours

pleasing colours in a gift from a friend who knows me well

the reminders of great dinners with friends

a flower that inspired my first series in art

a reminder of a trip to Ottawa where I actually got lost in an Ikea store

twigs from my daughter's garden

the lamp I spent two years looking for, greenery from my garden, my husband's guitar he made

music from my sister

a gift from a friend who has moved to the opposite side of Canada

finding small pieces of slate and turning them into unique Santas

my son's ornament collection one for every Christmas, laid out for his nieces to play with, the odd guy playing the guitar is a mummer, part of Newfoundland tradition

new candles waiting for friends to arrive

my granddaughters

grimy fingerprints

and even the snow falling outside.

What puts sparkle in your Christmas?

What do I do with the TV?

2011-12-20T09:40:00.000-03:30

Here I go again ranting about my favourite pet peeve in home decor- TV's! I'm always collecting ideas about this design dilemma.

In a home theater the TV is king, but in a smaller space meant for family living it needs to know its place. If you want a TV to be the focal point in a room you certainly don't have to work at it because it is big and black, commanding attention through scale and contrast. I must not be the only one who feels this way because questions about where to put a TV continually crop up with clients.

Camber Construction

These dark bookcases provide a frame for the TV and it is tucked nicely into other aspects of the room. I don't know why so many TVs have shiny black frames! Then you need an equally dark wood to balance it.

usona

Finally a gray/silver frame. This is a similar set up, but I personally prefer the overall lightness of the bookcases and TV within it. If you use a similar set up it is important to leave open space around the TV.

alldoing

Consider placing your TV on an entertainment console. In this way it is visually part of the structure. Your neck will also thank you for your efforts. Continually jutting your chin up in the air to watch a TV hung too high on a wall is not healthy for your neck. Then there's the practical aspect for people who wear bifocals.When you tip your head up you are looking out through the wrong part.

Crawford Architects

And my most favourite of all is the magic disappearing TV!

source

In a minimalist decor, the TV is often treated starkly. The white framing which stands out from the wall makes it look like a picture. The extra storage behind is very functional.

source

Here's another modern solution where the TV is treated like another accessory and the black banding on top and bottom connects nicely with the TV. The stacked art/photos replicate the rectangular shapes. Very pleasing overall.

And there you have it- installment 2 on that pesky TV. Hope there was an idea you liked.

Benjamin Moore colour trends 2012

2011-12-18T11:05:00.000-03:30

Benjamin Moore's Color Pulse trend forecasts have won awards and international recognition in the design world. Each forecast is compiled by leaders in the industry at least two years in advance and other bloggers have had their go at this topic long before me. It's not because I'm tardy, it's because I like to wait until people are thinking about change in the new year.
The 2012 forecast theme Preservation reflects our current social and economic climate and connects our past with our future. The impending palette from this forecast will be influenced by four key elements:

our past

our journey

our vulnerability

our future

Image source: MeCC Interiors

What will all this mean for your walls or accessories in the coming year or so?

Doty Horn, director of color and design for Benjamin Moore, explained that the palette continues to be reflective of the gray and brown scale that’s been prevalent the past few years. “We’re seeing camel and khaki as the new neutrals upon which richer, more traditional hues can be layered and accented,” she said.

As in most Color Pulse forecasts there's something for everyone. The grays are still prevalent, as are the purples from last year. Yellows seem to be moving more toward the gold which isn't surprising with the current trend to brass and gold away from silvers in metallics.

houzz

There's a range of greens from silvery to teal tinged. An obvious pairing is green with the heavier yellow golds.

Caitlin Creer Interior Design

Reds range from the feminine to orange tones.

Lucid Interior Design Inc.

Blues are experiencing a resurgence.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

From the four categories above I'm personally attracted to Protection and Enlightenment. I like my colours light and fresh and my neutral preference has always been gray- long before it gained popularity.

What are your thoughts?

Pantone's colour of the year

2011-12-14T19:59:00.001-03:30

Pantone founded in 1963, began as a system to identify and match colors, which led to a standardized color book. Each year Pantone announces its colour of the year which influences various design industries including fashion, textiles and paint. The colour of the year 2012 is...

Tangerine Tango

Pantone noted that Tangerine Tango is "Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive". Certainly it is dramatic and more red than orange with lots of depth. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute," said it is "Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy."

You certainly would need to have a love of vibrancy to paint your walls this colour. I'm not that adventurous in my own home. I see it being used in home decor accessories, e.g., pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories.

Similar Benjamin Moore (my favourite brand) colours would be:

tawny daylily 2012-10

tomato red 2010-10

redstone 2009-10

So... let's tango

You could go for it and paint your walls. I like the way this red orange looks with a soft white (not too much yellow) to tame it down.

picsdecor

or choose it in a chair

via desert news

It looks fresh in pillows and a duvet cover.

decorpad

Patterned wallpaper used with cream and a bold black creates a stunning effect.

decorati

How about a vibrant night table, sculptures and pillows,

Lonny

or a patterned headboard

Lonny

or beautifully patterned bowls?

Ashlee Raubach

Doesn't it look great paired with blues?

Benjamin Moore colour of the year

2011-12-13T10:34:00.000-03:30

My favourite paint brand is Benjamin Moore and I follow their colour forecasting closely. As a professional I need to know what's current in the industry so I can discuss colour intelligently and also have a sense of where the industry is headed. Colour forecasting also affects fabric design, accessories and furniture.

. This year Benjamin Moore's colour of the year is ....

Tobi Farley

This is not a new colour, but a refocusing from the current collection based on the opinions of groups of designers in the industry. I've always been attracted to greeny blues because they remind me of the ocean on a summer's day. They are restful and inviting. If you like a serene environment this is the colour for you.

Chelsea Textiles

This chest of drawers is an all time favourite of mine. It is washed with a colour similar to wythe blue. Hubby may be building a knock off version for night tables for my bedroom reno. Too many ideas....

Home Decorators

I spied this vanity last year and fell in love with its lines and colour. Don't you agree that colours similar to whyte blue are excellent choices if you want to paint a piece of furniture? This would also be an excellent colour choice for a bathroom.

This is a daring mix but this orange is certainly a winning combination with wythe blue. Complementary colours are always so invigorating.

Hawthorne Threads

A similar colour combination to the one above but this time in a fabric. This lively print has so many possibilities. It would be fantastic stretched over a frame and hung on your wall or made into pillows.

Color Chats

These would also make good combinations with wythe blue. French press and deep ochre show that wythe blue would look good with wood tones. Of course gray is always an option for every colour as is white.

This vignette is a calm as the fabric above is energetic. It gives you an idea of how lovely wythe blue would look with soft white or cream....

The Sweet Survival

or with yellow.

Houzz

Painted cabinets are all the rage now and what better colour to use? While this is darker than wythe blue you get the idea.

3 Meadow Lake Cottage

If you like a country look or have a country house, there's no better colour to choose .

I'm getting carried away with the bits and pieces rather than whole rooms. But that's really my message. If you don't want to paint a whole room wythe blue you have lots of options to use is as an accent.

houzz

And here are the colours in the Earth and Sky palette. Do you have a favourite combination?

Doesn't this lovely quilt I saw on etsy sum it all up? Stay tuned for several posts on colour for 2012.

Christmas decorating- mini trees

2011-12-09T18:55:00.000-03:30

One of the standard Christmas motifs is the tree. You can use the mini version to decorate in various ways. Many simple forms can be created from scratch and others can be purchased. You are limited only by your ingenuity.

Stylized Trees

Flickr

Ah, it seems buttons can be used for everything. I quite like this tree in white. Use white topped stick pins to attach the buttons to the styrofoam form.

Trocas de Linhas

Use a foam tree form covered in Saran Wrap and wrap yarn or string around it. Slather with white glue and let dry. Remove the form. Decorate as you prefer.This is so simple, kids could do it.

Creative Mommas

These trees are all covered in tissue paper used in various ways. The tutorial at the above site is excellent.I love how the small rosettes were created.

Thrifty and Chic

Natural twine (jute or hemp) wrapped forms with a red cloth /tray looks very effective.Adding the white berries further enhances everything.

Craftjuice

This is a perfect use for scrapbooking papers. There are so many patterns out there to match any decor.

Source

This is a modern twist on an old favourite. You can leave them up all year. They look good because of the strong black white contrast and patterning.

Trees from nature

Good Life of Design

Pine cone topiaries can be purchased or created . They look best when there are two of them used symmetrically to bank a fireplace or accent table.
.

Martha Stewart

Use flower foam and white carnations to create this interesting centerpiece. I'd skip the tiny ornaments and have a green pot.

Weekday Carnival

Small potted trees offer many options in the home. This woodland inspired decor in white is lovely.

3 Meadow Lake Cottage

My Home Ideas

Rosemary trees and other naturals are popular at Christmas time, but how do you integrate them into your decor in a interesting way? Consider antique jugs or pails and arrange on steps or on a mantle.

There you have it. Day 5 of Christmas decorating ideas. I could go on but I'll refrain and save some for next year.

Christmas decorating - For your table

2011-12-05T21:37:00.001-03:30

Some homes are so overdecorated for Christmas you don't know what to look at and come away with a jumble of impressions. How much better is it to present a simple display that gets noticed.

Before you go out and buy new objects to decorate look at what you have with a creative eye. There are so many possibilities. I hope this collection gives you ideas of your own.

Fresh Flowers

I've always loved cream coloured poinsettias. As you near Christmas they often go on sale and the longer you wait the less you'll pay. If your deal looks a little bedraggled this is the perfect solution. Cut the blooms and arrange separately in bottles or clear glass vases. Perfect.

Martha Stewart

Keep your display simple and repetitive. Carnations are relatively inexpensive and last forever.

Tiered Trays

Style at Home

A tiered tray is perfect for displaying special or themed ornaments.

Woman's Day

Consider stacking several cake plates of varying sizes to make an arrangement similar to this one.

Glass Candlestick Holders

BHG

A mirrored tray makes everything look fantastic especially glass.

Martha Stewart

Create your own glitter candles and display with glass candle holders. Place a few candles in a large box and coat with spray adhesive (sold at crafts stores). Spoon glitter over the candles to coat; let dry overnight.

Fresh Fruit

Divine Distractions

Simple white candles of varying heights, oranges and greenery.

BHG

The pink adds that special touch to this display of greenery and pears.

Ornaments

BHG

Layer a vase on a tray of similar shape and fill with ornaments.

Good Life of Design

BHG

Tall glass vases or jars are perfect for displaying ornaments or fruits as a centerpiece. Add in some greenery and few candles and presto- stunning centerpiece

Christmas decorating - 12 unique wreaths you can make

2011-12-05T11:52:00.001-03:30

Wreaths are part of Christmas and there are thousands of different designs in the market place. These wreaths are not the bought kind. I selected them because they are quirky, interesting and easily crafted at home with a bit of elbow grease and ingenuity. Check the links provided for instructions.

Shabby Love

Cut twigs into slices on a band saw and glue on a foam wreath form. Love it. If you don't know someone with a band saw, you need to cultivate a new friend! I would skip the bow and just use a burlap loop.

BHG

Cover a wreath form with satin ribbon and glue on seed pearls. That should keep you busy for awhile.

Our Unexpected Journey

You can purchase large MDF letters at Michael's or cut your own. It is important to seal MDF with primer or Varathane before beginning. Water and MDF are not a good match!. I would paint the form red before attaching the berries with glue. If you can't find MDF letters, cut one out of foam core that can be purchased at any art supply store.

CasaSugar

Feathers are hot this year. The appearance of yours will depend on the kinds of feathers you can find.

Base Decor

Love the warn wreaths that seem to be everywhere this Christmas. It's a great way to use up odd bits of yarn.

Good Housekeeping

I've loved buttons since I was a child.This white-on-white wreath is so cute. Simply wrap a straw wreath with cream-colored muslin fabric and stitch on a multitude of pearly buttons.It you're not in a stitching mood, use hot glue.

Good Housekeeping

3 D paper stars are beautiful when massed into a wreath. Directions can be found at link above.

Living Artfully

This is a take on ornament wreaths that have been around for awhile. This one is very effective because of the colour scheme and the variety in ornament sizes.There are detailed instructions on the link above.

Creative Decor

I can't resist silver stars on green. This can be purchased but it would be so easy to make.

Good Housekeeping

This one is for the birds! Recycle a wooden frame by covering it with nontoxic glue, then sprinkling it with bird seed. Place the wreath outdoors for all your feathered friends.

Good Housekeeping

First, wrap a straw wreath form with red ribbon, then use a hot-glue gun to attach each piece of candy.I've seen a similar one with striped peppermint candy. Very effective.

And who could resist a wreath made out of old bling?

If you have a favourite unique wreath I'd love to hear about it.

Christmas decorating- If you like red

2011-12-05T11:49:00.001-03:30

The traditional colour of the Christmas season is red. I like the simplicity of using just one colour in repetition to create sleek designs. It's the repetition of shape that gives them that wow factor.

Houzz

How simple can it get? These snowflake designs are made out of craft sticks glued and spray painted. They look smashing with this white chair and light coloured walls. There's always positives when you choose a neutral colour scheme! This would not look half as interesting on a darker wall. I think I would also have red candles.

33 Shades of Green

Clear vases can be filled with all variety of berries covered in water and then float candles on the top. So simple. Having at least three of varying heights makes the arrangement interesting.

BHG

Here's a variation on the idea above. Add cranberries to the bottom and then water and add an amaryllis. Invest in two artificial ones and you can re-use each year. I've gotten mileage out of mine I purchased at Michael's. I'd skip the ribbon, but that is a personal preference; I'm not a gal for visual clutter.

Trendy Tree

The sleight is the focal point in this display, the reindeer add visual interest and energy, and the trees add strength. The leaves soften the whole look. This is so effective against the white.

Trendy Tree

Another take on using red trees, this time with "sparkle pods" garland giving lots of energy to the strong verticals the trees provide.

Your Nest Design

You often see large candy canes from plastic or glass, but what do you do with them to make an interesting display? This is a simple idea easily put together from the dollar store. The white vase is the necessary part. It has interesting details and height and is the prefect sophisticated element to add oomph to this design.

House and Home

Here's another table centerpiece built on one colour and repetition. Two shapes always makes it more interesting- roses and berries. Carnations would be a more cost effective substitute.

BHG

Ornaments, the larger the better, provide a striking look when hung from a drapery rod with sheer ribbon. Alternate satin, shiny and sparkly.

Simple ideas for Christmas decorating

2011-12-04T15:17:00.000-03:30

Each year I seem to do less and less decorating for the Christmas season and what I do changes slightly. One thing stays the same- simplicity. There was a time when I went all out and it took days to set everything up. Now I do a bit here and a bit there as the mood hits and presto, I'm ready. Here's a few sneak peeks at this years efforts. I like to reuse what I have in different ways and I depend on greenery from my garden to add life to the arrangements.This year a can of silver metallic Krylon spray paint has been my friend. I'm spraying everything in sight.

This is plastic and was a bronze colour last year. It was weary from the weather last winter and a shot of metallic silver brought it back to life. I left a few hints of the bronze showing for variety. This is one of my all time favourite wreaths.

Directly below it is my flower pot that has been every colour possible. I like the silver. I also spray painted the stalks of dried goat's beard from the garden and inserted them in a bed of broom. The ornaments were ones I had on hand except for the purple one.

Here's the arrangement on my front door step. There's a carport on my house so it works well to protect things from the wind and snow.

The only addition to this display on my dining room table is the insertion of the amaryllis. I've had it for awhile and it changes location and has a new purpose each year.

My fluorescent green berries and beads get a new home in this lovely green, bronze, and black vase. The candlesticks are usually in the dining room. It's all very understated.

On the picture frame mantle in the family room I'm using a repetition of varying heights of candles and spray painted pine cones. The wreath was gold with cream and pink poinsettias from years ago. It took on a great sculptural look when everything was sprayed the same colour.

That's where I am so far. More ideas later....

Thursday Tip # 9- A splash of colour

2011-12-01T16:30:00.000-03:30

My favourite decorating style revolves around walls and furniture in neutrals enhanced with splashes of colour . This is a very easy style for anyone to pull off. The colour is usually in accessories, but sometimes it can be in a piece of furniture. Let's take a look at several rooms to see how it's done.

Centsational Girl

The largest block of yellow is the door. It could just as easily have been a chair or an area rug. The yellow is repeated in a print duvet cover. A print always adds interest. The throw is yellow and very textured. The yellow follows through to the bathroom in the vases, mat and towel. That's probably enough. After that there would be too much yellow and it would not longer be neutral and a splash!

The room below has a very subtle splash of pink in the wallpaper and two chairs. I'm craving at least one other splash somewhere in the room to make it three (counting the chairs as one). Perhaps it's outside of the photograph frame.

Pangaea Interior Design,

Turquoise blue/teal works with any decor. We have a colour triangle in this room with the chair, pillows (as one), and art work.

Tobi Fairley

Tobi Fairley loves to use very vibrant pops of colour in here room designs. The artwork and ottoman are the most prominent features. but the strip on the drapes and the flowers help move your eye around the room and provide varying proportions of red.

I'm getting ready to redecorate my master bedroom and I plan to use a soft green with cream. A full post is coming up on this minor transformation. The splashes of colour do not have to be vibrant. Check these out.

Similar to what I have in mind for my own room, Sara Richardson has used soft greens in different patterns on the bed, and then sprinkled several green accessories around the room.

source

The pink in this design is so soft it is barely discernible, but it enhances the gray and off white just enough to make the room interesting. Again, pattern plays a prominent role in how the pink moves around the room.

Choosing great end tables

2011-11-27T22:58:00.000-03:30

It requires a lot of patience to find the perfect end tables for a room. These tables are part of your overall room design and you should follow some general guidelines to make sure they don't distract from your focal point or create too much conflict with everything else that is going on in the room. It's a delicate balance between your personal preferences and basic standards of design.

Do end tables have to match the coffee table?

NO! Having three tables in a space all matching sounds like a recipe for boredom in my opinion. I know it's easy when you buy a set and I know many homeowners opt for this solution, but I like a more curated look where each piece has obviously been given careful consideration and chosen for the space. It is important that the pieces harmonize in the space or provide an impact whichever you are going for.

Tobi Fairley

In this room the end tables match each other and are light and airy which is in opposition to the coffee table which is upholstered and dark. While they don't match the whole room is harmonized.

Tobi Fairley

This is another living room design by Tobi Fairley which has matching end tables with a very different coffee table. I would argue that the end tables, while very interesting in the overall design scheme, are too high. I could see more than one elbow smacked on these! That leads to the second consideration.

What's the perfect height for end tables?

By function an end table is usually placed by a chair or sofa and you have to lift your arm over the arm of the furniture to lay something on the table. Remember function first. They also need to be tall enough to provide a base for a lamp which should be a reasonable height to shed light. 24 - 26" is the usual the height of an end table (some are as tall as 30in.), but the chosen table should work with the proportions of your other furniture. A simpler way to say this is have your tables just below the height of the arm of the sofa/chair. But these are guidelines. The round table in the room below is taller than the chair but doesn't look out of proportion with the other furniture.

Claudia Leccacorvi

There are also four different types of tables in this room and it doesn't look disjointed because they are all in the same wood tones. When you have this many tables, a mix of shapes is imperative. Some should be round to play against all the rectangles.

Domicile Interior Design

While this is a lovely room, I personally find the end table too low for the high arm on the sofa. You would have to reach way up and then down to place a drink on the table. The lamp is also overpowering the table. Tables and lamps have to work together, but that's a topic for another post.

The Design File

Strictly speaking this is a side table, but the same principles apply to its selection. These nesting tables work beautifully with the lines of the chair. I like the use of the floor lamp with this vignette rather than having an overpowering lamp on these delicate tables.Threes always make interesting pairings.

How do you choose a style/shape/colour?

Your end tables can match the style of your other furniture or they can make a statement by having a dissimilar style. There are many ways to go when choosing shape. A square shape is a good connecting piece when you have sofas or sofa and chair at right angles to each other. It fits into the shape well and creates continuous flow. Some may find it too continuous and seek out a round shape to soften the look.

If you have soft furniture with rounded lines, a table with clean, straight lines adds variety to the look. The colour should be different enough so that it stands out from the floor colour. If you don't plan to invest in an area rug on hardwood floors, choose tables that are lighter or darker than your wood floors. This is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when choosing tables of any kind. I call it the disappearing furniture syndrome.

Where do I put my bed?

2011-11-18T09:19:00.000-03:30

Some bedrooms are so small that you have no option other than placing the bed in front of a window. Even in large rooms sometimes putting the bed in front of the window is just the right placement for it. So much for "design rules". It's all in how you do it!

In some rooms that are narrow you can dress the window across the wall ending up with wall to wall drapes providing a soft backdrop for the bed. When the headboard is upholstered you have the option to layer various fabrics for a totally soft look. This solution can also rectify a window that is off centre.

Vanessa De Vargas

houzz

But sometimes a room is so small and the window is so off center you have to just accept it and line the bed up with the window and bring balance in other ways.

Elements of Style

An attic room is often a challenge to decorate because of the slanted ceiling and often lack of usable wall space. There's nothing like a pelmet and drapes to provide a picture like canopy for a bed. This room works well because everything is so symmetrical and the window draperies frame the bed perfectly.

Elements of Style

If you need proof that you don't need expensive draperies to make this look work - here it is. The Roman shades do the trick and the strong verticals point at the bed and support the perfect symmetry of the placement . This is not a place were two different night tables and lamps would work.

Decor Pad

The gentle curve of this headboard softens the look of the bed against all the horizontal and vertical lines. The vegetation outside serves as a gigantic landscape painting. If I were designing this room I would have played up the green angle to make the inside an extension of the outside.

Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc

Sometimes a window can act as part of a canopy. This flawless design does everything right. Notice the bedside tables don't match and they don't need to. This layout is more about strong verticals than symmetry.

Thursday tip #8- small rooms

2011-11-17T09:04:00.000-03:30

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

There are many options when one has to decorate a small room. These ideas are built on the principle of keeping all aspects of the decor as minimal and connected as possible. Since this is the look I prefer in any room, small rooms are never a challenge and I even prefer them.

choose a monochromatic colour scheme (as above), or a neutral one with pops of colour
keep accessories in one colour range (in this room it's brass)
use multipurpose furniture ( stacking tables)
consider adding a shelf for storage/display to move things off the floor
use multipurpose accessories (lamp that looks like a sculpture; interesting mirror instead of art work; beautiful boxes that can be used for storage
use many textures instead of bold patterns (in pillows, window treatments)
use furniture that is in proportion to the room
keep the lines of larger pieces simple
when choosing artwork focus on one striking piece and have anything else play a supporting role.
use strong verticals to move your eye up (long drapes, vertical art work, tall slim lamps)
use your window as a backdrop for the placement of a prominent piece of furniture (bed i or chair)

5 ways to use a screen

2011-11-14T16:44:00.000-03:30

I'm surprised I don't see more screens used in decorating because they are very versatile and there are so many styles to choose. Have you thought about using a screen in a recent home decorating re do?People have been using them for centuries in their homes beginning in 4th century BC in China.

Through the centuries Chinese folding screens were ornately decorated with traditional symbols of health, prosperity, and joy and some were painted with up to 30 layers of lacquer making them appear illuminated from within. In contrast, when screens migrated to Japan they took on a much different look with their thin wood frames and paper panels. Eventually, the folding screen was imported into the West via European traders. Throughout history, the folding screen has had both decorative and functional uses. Today the folding screen is still a multi-purpose decorating tool.

Create an accent wall

Large screens can be used as a backdrop along a plain, uninspired wall. If you use one for this purpose it's important to choose one that fits the scale of the room.

Marcelo Brito

Often you will see an application that will prompt other ideas. If I had this beautiful screen to work with I would put a plain light coloured sofa in front of it. The clean lines would show up well against the intricate design. Did you notice how the pot lights shine down on the wall behind the screen adding a layer of light?

Alessandra Branca

Chinoiserie Screen are design classics. They add an exotic, dramatic note to any room. Since they are often multipanelled and quite striking they work beautifully as a major accent. They will not be overlooked! Imagine this room without the floor lamps. Would you like or dislike the effect?

Decor Pad

I love the layered look of this room . The screen has been placed on top of a patterned wall.. Pattern and textures have been employed so well. The pop of yellow is a masterful finishing touch and it makes the black screen so much more dramatic..

via A Creative Interior

This treatment is simple and very effective. I like the way the screen extends and includes the night tables drawing everything into the largest element. Keeping all objects close in colour/value makes this small room expand. This screen would be so easy to construct from plywood or MDF and then cover with wallpaper or metallic fabric.

Use as wall art

Interiors with Attitude

Using a bench as a table and then backing it with this fantastic carved screen is an interesting idea. This screen would look equally good hung on a wall as a sculpture.

twenty7 design

This screen is quite stunning and sculptural. It works so well with the contemporary furnishings. But what is that doll sculpture doing in the corner?

Incorporated

Everything about this room hangs together.

Lori Smyth

I'm not a lover of salmon and blue but it is very effective in this room. This room works because large amounts of white was used to let the painting shine.

Fill an empty corner

Phoebe Howard

This screen does more than fill an empty corner. It adds visual height to the space and draws your eye across the room while providing an additional texture.

Elizabeth Gordon

You can also use screens effectively to emphasize a symmetrical layout. The vertical flow draws your eye through the room.

Make a headboard

Home Made Simple

This is quite an amazing colour! You could also remove one section and hang the two parts horizontally.

Apartment Therapy

Who would not like this room? I love the colour combination in addition to the fantastic headboard. With the degree of intricacy in the screen you need to keep everything else simple.

houzz

To think I was planning to send my louvered doors to RESTORE! This changes my mind totally. This room works so well because all the elements are similar in colour. Nothing stands out; everything plays a subtle role in creating the whole.

Divide a room

Amelie de Gaulle Interiors

Do you have a favourite use for folding screens ? Feel free to share.

Inspiration snaps

2011-11-11T12:53:00.001-03:30

When I travel my camera is always with me because I don't want to miss any inspirational moments for art or design. I thought my readers might enjoy seeing some of the "snaps" that I found interesting.

This was the table decoration in the lobby of a boutique hotel in London. Carnations last forever and made an interesting colour shape statement when pulled apart and floated on water in a very large stainless steel bowl. We were there 3 days and the arrangement still looked fresh when we left.

I spied this chair poking out of an opened patio door in a restaurant in a small town in Devon. It was instant love. I wanted to put it in my suitcase and run. Purple gray and chartreuse circles on soft white-totally perfect.

Beautiful pottery in Beer, Devon. I loved the orange and turquoise combination.

Leave it to Swedish design. These candlesticks can be moved from a central base and reformed into various arrangements.Natural wood on the inside with dark chocolate stain on the outside edges.

How functional and attractive can you get? Just pick up the metal tray and go.Love the red one best of all and I have absolutely no red in my house.

In Prague we stayed at a wonderful hotel called Hotel Maximilian. The service was excellent and the decor was modern. I was very attracted to the orange and gray combinations and the chairs were super comfortable. The vases were by local artists. There's a strong history of glass production in the city.

Loved my black and white modern bathroom in a Holiday Inn Express in Dresden. I'm getting ready to redo my own bathroom and I love there long rectangular tiles stacked in this way.

So sculptural and perfectly purple in the same hotel. How lucky to find such great accommodations at a good price when travelling.

Thursday Tip #7 - make it white

2011-11-10T16:32:00.000-03:30

Coastal Living

There is something so soothing about a monochromatic colour scheme. I have friends who would say boring not soothing. but to each his own. It might seem easy to have a room is varying tones of one hue but not so. It's even more difficult to design a white room to look interesting. The trick is to emphasize shape and texture through repetition above all else. Don't forget that there are hundreds of whites with varying undertones and temperatures.

Why does this room work?

white shows up all the textures and lines in the room;
the small mirrors arranged in a grid add a strong repetitive element and each looks like a small painting because of the reflections from outside (I'm assuming); that adds optical texture;
the walls are horizontal boards which play against the square mirrors;
apart from the texture of the white boards, the horizontal lines are soothing and are repeated in the cabinet below:
the arrangement has various shapes( cones, spheres, stars) and surfaces (reflective, matt, rough, smooth);
shiny surfaces add an unknown quality because you never know what will be reflected;
the whites are on the warmer side and a little "dirty" which doesn't look stark.

Here are several other white rooms. Do you think they are successful? What do they have in common with the room above?

Elle Decor

House Beautiful

Marcelo Brito

Which do you prefer?

Subtle adjustments

2011-11-07T08:01:00.000-03:30

Small changes can create large impact in design; sometimes the changes are not so large, but there's an improvement. Either way move around your home with a critical eye for small tweaks you can make... add a pillow here, reposition artwork, remove a pile of books...

When I am at my summer home, I often have too much time on my hands so things get moved around quite a bit. Here's an example of a small tweaks adding a little impact and interest. Remember this is a summer home , so everything in it is recycled from somewhere else. Isn't a summer home all about looking good on a budget which includes lots of DIY?

Remember the days of cloth covered tables? This table is a left over from that era and I repainted in the current colour scheme. I've tried to retire it several times, but I like the open, legginess of it. Both objects on the table interact in a nice way but there are only two of them. You need at least 3 for interest. Let's look around...

Found some books (surprise, surprise) and a small painting I bought in Paris in 2001 (look in the window and see the Eiffel Tower reflected). Now we have a classic checkmark design with the picture at the lowest point. Varying heights always add interest. But it could be better.

Now you can see the lamp base and the checkmark is wider at both ends. I like things more open.

I've moved from a checkmark design to a classic A shape with the tallest object in the middle and each object is a different height. I like it.If the dolphins were facing out this would make the design less cohesive.

Still an A but not as interesting for me. The dolphinsneed to be moved away from the lamp base (they look like they're sniffing it). Also notice in these pics how a camera changes the wall colour. The third and fourth pic are closest to the actual colour.

Start looking to see where you can make subtle adjustments.

What's your kitchen style?

2011-11-04T09:50:00.000-02:30

I like my kitchens clean lined, and light with lots of storage. Medium to dark wood tones make me fell heavy and closed in. It's a personal preference and that usually gets left behind when you are designing for a client. In my locale there is a strong trend toward darker kitchens with the richness of wood showing through.

Photography: Brian Ricks

Sometimes there are factors that negate the cave feeling I often get from dark wood cabinets. In a recent job this sleek modern kitchen design won me over.The client had very definite ideas about the overall look of everything so my job was to tweak the colours and problem solve space and placement. The cabinets couldn't extend all the way across because the depth beside the window was only about 10 inches. Open shelving for glasses was the solution.

Photography Brian Ricks

The second problem was storage because there weren't many upper cabinets. This was solved by making the peninsula wider to include lower cabinets facing the bar stools and drawers on the opposite side. The openness of the space around the peninsula makes a great gathering space when there's company.

Photography: Margaret Ryall

I love this back splash tile. It is difficult to see but it is three dimensional with an alternating wave pattern between the squares. The tile and exhaust fan run to the ceiling for a seamless look. The tile also extends across the top of the cabinets to finish the look.

Breaking the line of deep upper cabinets with 12 in ones by the exhaust fan added variety to the space. The pulls varied in length with depending on door size. The 12 in. upper cabinets needed knobs because long bars bumped when the doors opened. So many things to think about!

Photography : Margaret Ryall

A highlight of the kitchen detailing is the stainless steel counter beside the cooktop. The colours in the backsplash tile are a blend of the tones in the granite on the peninsula which serves to connect the two spaces.

Thursday Tip #7- Editing a bookcase

2011-11-03T00:10:00.000-02:30

Control your bookcase

If you're like me this is easier said than done. I don't like a bookcase to look too edited, but grouping objects and books is a must. I won't go so far as to suggest covering books with the same colour paper or lining them up by colour as I've seen in some magazines.

What works in his arrangement ?

the bookcase has been treated as an accent wall by painting the back a beautiful blue
sculptural objects are massed and are the same colour - white- which shows against the blue
there's a range of objects including books, vases, photos and found objects
the books have been sorted by height
books are placed both horizontally and vertically

If you wanted to further edit this arrangement you could consider:

removing the photos; they are lost in the display
if you are arranging books horizontally, keep to that, don't start to stack vertically on top of the horizontal ones; stacking some horizontally and some vertically on the same shelf works
don't add a piece of sculpture on top of a books (see bowl) , this is sculptural enough to display alone and gets lost otherwise.
if you have an arrangement of vases, bottles etc. don't add a picture behind it- it gets lost.

From one extreme to the next...

Quiet and unobtrusive, this bookcase provides a lovely backdrop for the two chairs grouped in front of it. This is a room I would like to sit in .

HGTV

This is a whole other way of organizing a bookcase. While is is ordered, it has a very vibrant almost chaotic feel to it. It has way too much visual energy for my taste, but there's someone who loves it.

If you want more inspiration check out The Lennox, a great blog that I follow.

Did you find a useful tip in this post or do you have one to add?

Happy Shelving

Holiday colours

2011-10-31T09:05:00.002-02:30

Are you a person who sees certain colour combinations which immediately evoke holiday connections, e.g.,red and green, orange and black, yellow and purple? I am, and as a result there are colour schemes I find difficult to live with because the cultural connections override the beauty of the combination. But sometimes a combination sneaks by me.

I took this photo in the main area of a small London hotel. I loved the modern flavour and the strong vertical stripes. My immediate reaction was not Halloween, it was great impact. Later I realized they were symbolic colours.

What's your reaction?

Mirror, mirror

2011-10-29T09:31:00.000-02:30

I keep a list of ideas for possible post topics and near the top is an exploration of mirrors in home decor. Well, that's one post I won't be writing because one of my favourite decorating sites, Your Decorating Hotline, has an excellent post on this topic. It covers the gamut from why use mirrors to the creative ways they can be used. I highly recommend reading it. There's something for every style of decor.

One of the topics explored is the use of mirrors in multiple groupings. This is an application that I'm particularly fond of and I've added several from my file below.

Elle Decor has an excellent slide show on using mirrors and

Apartment Therapy brings multiple mirrors to the limit.

Did you find something you liked?

Thursday Tip #6- simple centerpieces

2011-10-27T16:42:00.002-02:30

Keep it simple...

Dinner parties can stress the budget. I like to have simple arrangements for the table and that usually involves fresh flowers . Rather than large bouquets which are tall and obstruct views, think about simple ways to use flowers or leaves in a repetition.

Hosta leaves are one of my favourites and I have lots to choose from in my garden. I love the idea of massing different sizes and shapes of glasses/vases and submerging separate leaves in each one.
The sunflower is a great choice for fall entertaining. If you don't have access to fresh sunflowers, there are realistic looking artificial ones. The arrangement above works because of the meandering wave and colour variety.

It's all about scale

2011-10-25T22:59:00.000-02:30

In recent weeks I've spent quite a bit of time looking for coffee and end tables for clients. Getting the style and size right to work with the rest of the furniture in the space takes quite a bit of juggling and an understanding of standard furniture sizes.

The standard height of a coffee table is between 16 - 18 inches, but some can be as high as 21 inches. How do you know which height to choose?

Style at Home

The answer relates to the height of the sofa/ chair. I prefer to see the coffee table about the same height as the top of the chair cushion or one or two inches lower. The length of a coffee table is usually about 2/3 the length of the sofa not including the arms. Don't forget that you need at least 18 inches (24 is optimal) of space for your legs between a coffee table and the sofa.

The size of your coffee table should work with your sofa and other furniture in your room. It should also work with the size of the room overall. Let's check this out.

DecorPad

How do you feel about the coffee table choice in this lovely room? I would like to see something longer (remember the 2/3 the length of the sofa rule). This little beauty is having a difficult time holding her own with this sofa.

DecorPad

The soft colour scheme and small scale furnishings in this room appear overwhelmed by this large, dark, and tall coffee table, but I really like the table. Sometimes the weight of a table is influenced by the colour and material choice not just the overall dimensions. Darker colours and solid woods tend to look more visually weighted.

Grisell Navas

Don’t forget the size of the room when thinking about scale. Glass tables work well in smaller rooms because they give the impression of lightness - space is not blocked out.

Klang North West

Even with two tables this room does not look over furnished.

Diana Rodriguez

If your room is spacious and/or the furniture is large in scale, choose heavier wood tables or ones with lots of tiers or drawers.

Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

This is a beautiful room with a colour scheme I'm partial too. Does the coffee table work for you?

Open doors - an ocean getaway

2011-10-21T14:41:00.000-02:30

As a child I often imagined how a house would look on the inside as I drove or walked about the town where I lived. I'm assuming I'm no different from most people. My Open Doors series of posts will fill the need to peek inside everyday homes- not the grand designs of decor magazines, but interesting homes that are achievable for most people. Come along on a visit to my friends' ocean beach house.

The patio overlooking the Atlantic Ocean has lots of beach finds. There's a wind up today.

From the kitchen looking out through the screened window. Even I would like to wash dishes here. The exterior of the house is red with a soft creamy white trim.

Pat and Janna travel all the way from British Columbia to Newfoundland every summer to enjoy life on an opposite ocean. I met Pat when she and a friend came to visit my studio/gallery in my summer house. Ever since we've been looking forward to our summer time visits. When they left this year I received a key to the premises so I could photograph.

After one visit to the Bonavista Peninsula , Pat and Janna fell in love with the place and purchased a typical Newfoundland outport house and began to remodel it. Remodel doesn't seem the right word though. They worked backward until they reached the original boards, removing layers of wallpaper and wallboard. I was lucky enough to photograph some of this process for my wallpaper archive which is part of an art project I'm working on. Here's what it looked like then....

And look what was hiding under the layers of wallpaper, a newspaper article about The Kennedy family. After much patience and elbow grease they were ready to simplify the decor.

They painted the whole interior white and added their personal touches. That's what makes a home in my book. I appreciate the way they have arranged/displayed their finds.

The accent colour throughout the house is red. What a fitting use for these cod jiggers!

Sea urchins in a bottle, beach glass, a boat and sea birds on an old trunk flanked by windows and oars.

More splashes of red against white and navy blue. The sofa is red, but it was covered for its winter rest.

Some of my favourite things in the house... the checkerboard that has two colours of beach stones for checkers, and a book about sea glass which prompted me to get my own copy. It just arrived and I'm reading every word getting ready for next summer's hunt.

Most of the furnishings are from IKEA which is a feat when you live in Newfoundland- they have to be shipped or driven. I covet the aqua coloured lantern on the bookcase. Would they notice if it wasn't there next summer?

I love seeing the remnant of an old window (I'm guessing) above the left chair. Shutters are a very practical window treatment because these windows are visible from the street and there could be nosy people just like me hovering outside.

I call this the gallery of "Walked On" . Pat salvaged scraps of the various floor coverings from the house and framed them in simple IKEA frames. The stark simplicity of the frames show off the contents. Keeping the stairway all white further enhances the overall look of this very effective display.

Upstairs hallway leading to....

..... a great desk area . Now where did they find that old map of Newfoundland that was on the school room wall in my day?

There are more rooms for another time, but I ran out of battery power before I could finish my job. Do you have any favourites?

Thanks to Janna and Pat for leaving me with the key and welcoming my intrusion.

Thursday Tip #5- Use geometry

2011-10-20T08:15:00.002-02:30

Houzz

Most furniture is predominantly rectangular. When you're adding accents it's good to include circular shapes to play against the strong horizontal and vertical lines. The basket, table, wooden goblet and medallions work wonderfully with this sofa (which is not as squared off as most). There's also lots of texture in this room. If you can't count at least five different textures in a space it is probably not that exciting! You rarely see beige paired with yellow, but doesn't it look fabulous? In case you didn't notice.... spray paint medallions meant for ceiling applications and use them as wall decor.

Seen through a window

2011-10-16T10:04:00.000-02:30

Travelling allows you to broaden your horizons in many ways. You get to experience different cultures, climates, foods and transportation systems. While many things stay the same from country to country, there are also subtle differences in many of these areas. One of my favourite things to do when I am walking in a new city is window shop with my camera. Here are shots from Munich and Prague that relate to interior decor. Hope you see something your like.

Bling is in and the metal of choice appears to be chrome with lots of crystals....

Bedding inspired by nature and the fall season was everywhere.

Fall table settings

Purple is popular.

And quirky clocks are always fun. Sometimes you even get a surprise when you take a shot. I'm looking in and out!

Paint it blue

2011-10-14T19:07:00.000-02:30

While I was in the UK recently I was struck by the number of blue doors I saw. Where I live I have a difficult time convincing someone to go with a blue door, sometimes navy, but never a vibrant blue. Blue was also a constant accent colour I saw in France and Greece. Is it a cultural or climate thing? Living in the middle of the North Atlantic, we have our share of fog and cold so possibly blue is too cool for an entrance colour. Red doors are very popular as a result. I'll have to investigate this further. As you can see blue can be many things.

Bright and vibrant and warmer, these are my top three doors from all the ones I saw.

and getting cooler ...

and paler...

and paler still.

How do you feel about blue doors?

Thursday Tip #4- Layering accessories

2011-10-13T10:04:00.000-02:30

Laura Martin Bovard

What do you have in your house that your friends don't have? What personal touches make your house into a home? Accessories may be small but they have a big punch in decor. This is an area where you should strive for personality plus. Choose things that mean something to you or your family, and then combine them to make an interesting grouping. Forget about spreading things out along the top of a cabinet or mantle- group, group, group.

Why does this vignette work?

the colour tones are very similar
there's a variety of objects, textures, shapes and sizes (love the sphere)
the objects are layered forcing you to look through to the back (providing a visual journey)
the art work is overlapped , but you can still see each piece
the format of the vignette is a classic v shape with the height at the edges and the lowest point near the middle

Not the same old doors

2011-10-08T18:22:00.000-02:30

Comparisons are easy when you are an interior decorator. You get to visit different homes build at different times, with different styles. One feature in home decor that rarely has much variety (at least where I live) is interior doors; most are white with raised panels and round knobs. Pretty understated, pretty boring, but it doesn't have to be like that. Let's look at some options.

Paint them dark

Paint is one of the cheapest solutions for making your doors standout and invite. If you like drama go for dark. Stick to painting the doors only and keep the trim colour neutral unless you have a very high contrast look going on. Dark trim colour outlines a room.

House and Home

I love this door painted Benjamin Moore Overcoat CC 544 in Cameron MacNeil's home because it is a destination for the eye.You have no choice but pay attention to it. The four pieces of art work hung vertically add to the overall look of the space. It's easy to get away with a dark door if you have glass in it and if it is a front or back door. I prefer dark charcoal doors to black and my favourite colour is Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30).

House and Home

Solid black doors are more imposing and double doors painted a dark colour beg to be noticed. In this room the floor colour supports the black scheme. The rectangular hardware adds interest too. There's nothing as boring as a stainless round knob.

And stencil it

homedesign decorator

Check out the other 24 ideas on this blog for black doors.

Paint them bright

Houzz Sarah Richardson

I found a large number of red exterior doors, but red works equally well on interior doors as Sarah Richardson proved in one of her many makeovers.

Cathy Schwabe

We don't often think of purple when we are trying to come up with a hue that goes well with most wood tones, but it does.I love the splash of colour with this basically wood toned room. Can you have too much wood? Yes, in my opinion, no happens to be my husband's take on this much debated question in our home.

Paint a stripe

Emily Elizabeth Interior Design

I like the way the stripe on the wall is extended across the door and the door trim. You have to really love stripes for this application. I want to close it and see the full effect. Interesting and fresh.

Paint the detailing

Centsational Girl

Sometimes painting details can create a fussy and cluttered look. That is not the case in this room because of it's very neutral palette.

Add trim

Gauhar

This more traditional look can be created by gluing (construction adhesive) ready made trim to plain doors. All you need is a miter box and saw. You won't get the lovely curved corners, but everything else is possible.A stencil can produce the design in the middle panel.

Use wallpaper

If you have a door with a recessed panel or a plain slab (hollow core) door you have many options to use wallpaper to embellish it. The trick is to integrate the door into your decor in a seamless way. This is an idea that could go very wrong and look absolutely cheap. Keep your wallpaper colour the same as the wall colour for best effect.

via Room Envy

Martha Stewart

Add 3 D detailing

Using upholstery tacks can create very interesting door detailing. If you like to cross stitch this is the door idea for you! I can't imagine being this repetitive but to some it's a pure form of meditation.

Martha Stewart

Nail head trim can be a great solution for decorating a plain door. You can make the door colour colourful or dark. Depending on the colour you choose to paint the door, this look works well in a den/ study or boy's room.

That's a quick roundup of great DIY door solutions. Hope you found one you liked.

Thursday Tip #3- Destination walls

2011-10-06T17:47:00.000-02:30

What do these rooms have in common?

Jona Collins

Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc.

Fiorella Design

Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

All of the walls featured are small "destination walls" which you walk toward. The darker colour draws the eye and helps to visually draw you toward them. They also serve to showcase the furniture that is in front of them. Do you have a destination wall in your house that would like a shot of colour to help anchor it? Look at the end of hallways or in long narrow rooms.

Thoughts on armless chairs

2011-10-03T21:59:00.001-02:30

Armless chairs are very popular in today's decor, but they can be a decorating challenge when it comes to table selection. What I like about armless chairs is what actually causes the problem using them- no arms! End tables which usually range from 24 to 26 inches or zooming up as high as 30 inches look cumbersome with them. The table between the two chairs below towers over the chair seats and you have to reach up to place anything on the table. This table would be better suited to the side of the sofa.

BHG

While there are several ways to integrate armless chairs into your decor, my best advice is to organize them in a pair around a coffee table. That eliminates the need to have a side table.

houzz
The long narrow coffee, table which I have a serious love affair with, helps to solve the problem of functionality in this room. Wherever you sit you have a place to lay down a glass or a book.

Laura Manning Bendik

At first glance this room looks well decorated The colour scheme supports the dark accents, the drapes are interesting as are the two cylinder coffee tables. When you examine it in terms of functionality it could be improved . This is the same set up as in the previous shot but it doesn't work as well because you cannot reach a table if you are sitting in one of the chairs. The problem could be solved by moving the chairs in closer to the tables and pulling out the end table to provide table space for the left chair. For prime functionality a square coffee table would be the answer in this room.

BHG

This is a great nesting coffee table for solving design issues. Just pull out the bottom one and everyone seated will be happy. Isn't this a beautiful, refreshing colour scheme? I want to nestle up against the pillows with my book.

Colvin Design

Another great design that is totally functional. Let the younger folk sit on the bench; I'd head for a chair with a back!

Marie Burgos Design

This chair is tucked away in a bedroom corner and works well because it serves a totally different purpose. It is not meant for lounging, but if you need a place to lay something the bureau is within reach.

usona

If you have a chaise which is armless or you are placing a table on the armless side I recommend following the same guidelines as choosing a coffee table. Keep the table a little lower than the height of the seat.

BHG

The proportions of this table work well . In the absence of the tulip chair a round table would soften the rectangular form of the chair. My that sure is a vibrant blue on the walls! I know an adventurous person lives there. Boring me would have chosen a soft navy.

And after all that discussion I have to admit that I do not have an armless chair. How about you? Have you seen an arrangement of armless chair and table that you liked?

Achieving colour continuity

2011-10-01T18:01:00.004-02:30

Colour continuity in a colour scheme is important for a smooth transition from one room to the next in your home. It is even more important if you have an open concept home, a smaller home or one that is organized around a central hall plan. If you were to stand in one spot in your house and do a 360 degree turn you should have a harmonized look. Many people understand this basic concept in decorating, but often it's the execution that causes difficulties.

Colour continuity does not mean having every room painted the same colour (but your can). It means a smooth colour transition from room to room. My preference is to choose up to 6 neutral colours for walls in a two story home and then organize them in an interesting flow from room to room. I like some surprises and greatly dislike a look that is too put together (matchey, matchey is my term). Walls are an envelope to contain the excitement you create with accessory choices.

The simplest way is to begin with a colour key or inspiration piece. It could be an art work, a piece of fabric, a photo of a scene, an area rug a piece of pottery or china - the sky's the limit. In my case I began with an artwork by Elena Popova France 11 that has a personal connection for me and always makes me feel happy....

I kept the wall colours in the house very neutral with warmer tones in north facing rooms and cooler ones south facing. Then I used colours from the artwork to choose furniture and accessories. My window treatments tend to be as neutral as my wall choices.

Deciding what your accent colours will be and how you allocate them is a personal choice. I happen to love the peaceful nature of green; I feel fresh and relaxed in its presence. It appears in many guises and in varying degrees in each room in my home. I also like purple and green together (my favourite plants are often purple). There is a direct relationship between the colour palettes I use in painting and my subject matter and what I put in my house. Sometimes we understand why we are drawn to certain colours and other times we just know what we like.

My accessory colours are green, buttery yellow and purple,

but orange keeps popping up in the art work I buy or trade (and I keep saying I dislike orange). In the dining room the walls are BM Light Khaki which has a greenish undertone. It is the only wall that is actually a "colour". I had to warm it up because it gets little light.

My accent colours move around my house in happy harmony existing in varying proportions from room to room.

But what happens when you already have major furniture pieces and you want to establish a new colour scheme? Look for a fabric that already has some of your furniture colours as part of its colour scheme and move on from there.I find paintings and textiles the best sources for colour inspiration.

Here's a glimpse of how my colour scheme works .

My living room wall colour is BM Elephant Tusk which is a great neutral colour for a north facing room. The largest portion of green in my colour scheme is my living room sofa and chair. You can also see the purple reflected in the cabinet, pillow, and the flowers in the vase.

More purple, a touch of golden yellow, and one hit of red. Every room need at least one unexpected colour somewhere. My favourite "hit" colours are turquoise, lime green and red. I like to mix up patterns too. Over the years I've tired of wood tones and have been slowly removing them from furniture. The floors are enough. I've committed the worst sin by painting solid wood furniture a neutral gray!

My kitchen wall colour is BM Rockport Grey. The room sports a recycled wicker chair purchased for $40.00. A little spray paint and away you go. I've paired a golden beige with it. Remember the hit of golden in the border on the Turkish throw in the living room? A lighter version can be found in the artwork above the chair.

The sofa in the family room was the inspiration for the cabinet in the kitchen and the mantle colour. Notice the purple/ blue used as accents. Gray is repeated in this room in furniture, pillows and other accessories in slightly differing proportions than in the living room. The walls are BM Rockport Gray. It works well in this south facing room that has warm light most of the day.

And my vase of pods moves around! The table is painted BM Iron Mountain. Love that gray.

You can see purple and green used in accessories in the porch. I now have a lovely light purple pillow. The drawers are on casters and pull out for storage. The bench is Wish AF 680 in Affinity line by BM. The walls are AF 675 Fusion (lower picture is closes to real colour). My house is as much about comfort and convenience as it is about style. It can't just look good, it has to work.

A yellow green is used as an accent in the study upstairs. This is an unusual colour combination that I took from the fabric that I used to create a stretched fabric piece.

And how about this great roman shade?

And that's how I went about developing my colour scheme. My home isn't a showpiece, it's a place where you can relax and mess it up a bit and it's always in transition. Stay tuned for my dining room make over....

Thursday Tip #2

2011-09-29T19:15:00.001-02:30

Webber + Studio, Architects

Use accessories to carry colour

The vibrant yellow green in the artwork in this hallway is repeated again in the pillow in the bedroom. A darker green appears in the art work above the bed. When walking down the hallway your eye pops from the artwork into the adjoining room which is seen at a distance. This causes visual movement from one room to the next. A small thing but very effective for connecting one room with the next. Never underestimate the power of accessories to improve every room in your house. Have you carried colour from one room to another in your home?

Check back for my next post on Colour Continuity when creating a colour scheme.

It's never perfect

2011-09-26T21:57:00.002-02:30

There's room for improvement in most decors because perfection is difficult to create and every set of eyes will see a design in a different way. I'm amazed by the discussion that ensues when several decorators look at the same photos of a project. Often an aspect of a room that I will focus on may be ignored by someone else or one of my colleagues will bring up an aspect of the design that I didn't even notice.

Look at each of the photos below and see how you feel about the decor. You will notice a general theme of art work running through my commentary.That's because I feel strongly that art work can make or break great decor. What do you think are the strengths in these rooms? Is there anything that bothers you? Is there anything you would change (add or take away) if you could? Or is the room just perfect in your eyes? Decide what you think and then scroll down to my commentary. Did we focus on the same strengths and things that could be changed to improve the overall design? Did entirely different things come to light for you? Remember it's opinion.

Number 1

BHG

A bed between two windows calls out for symmetry which this decor has. The colour scheme that supports the light wood tones is very soft and pleasing which I predict would make sleeping in this room pleasant and relaxing. Given the overall symmetry of the room, I find the artworks above the bed begging to be lined up with each other. Better still I would have just one piece hung since the second piece almost reaches the ceiling. I crave pattern for variety and it could be added in pillows , a throw and/or and with the addition of an area rug under the bed. I'm personally not fond of all the wooden furniture matching and think that something more bench like would work at the end of the bed. The lovely cabinet could be moved to another room.

Number 2

BHG

I like this neutral bedroom that just sings with the splashes of orange red on the bed and in the art pieces above it. Any art work arranged in a grid interests me, but this bed seems to need larger pieces above it. Even with the massing of smaller, brightly coloured works, the scale doesn't work with the bed. It's crying out for something with more visual weight. I bet there is another spot in this room where these pieces could be used to better advantage.

When choosing artwork for over a bed I like to see at least 2/3 of the linear space occupied. With a queen bed, I'd aim for two 18 x 20 or 20 x 20 inch works or one larger piece of approximately 40 inches in length. The higher the headboard the smaller the vertical measurement. Something brighter and larger in scale could be added to bring more visual interest to the bedside table that is visible. While there isn't much pattern in this room, the little bit on the pillows appears enough for my tastes.

Number 3

SchappacherWhite Ltd.

The elements in this room are quite interesting, especially the inclusion of the yellow flowers that are beautifully framed by the doorway beyond. The zebra is an unexpected touch and creates some pattern in this room which seems a little devoid of it. The two things I find jarring are the two pieces of artwork. I want to line up the small piece on the left with the chair under it and the large piece on the right is much too large for the space and looks awkward and squat. Sometimes this forced confinement of a work can be used to great advantage, but this work doesn't have that kind of imagery. I want to see it on a large wall which allows breathing room all around it. The brown light fixture is large, but it works because the room is vaulted and the dark colour connects with the wood on the ceiling.

Number 4

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

Many times in our homes we have to use the furniture that is available and arrange it to best advantage. I think the table is such a piece of furniture. It reads as just a tad too big to place between the two chairs, but thought has been put into creating visual flow with red to connect the disparate pieces and make the vignette look inviting. Your eyes have no choice only follow the pops of red that have been set up in the age old triangular format. My one great annoyance in this room is the plant that obscures the art work behind it. It is never a good idea to mount art work and then cover it up with the next layer of design. Perhaps it is only me who has this pet peeve; it might be the artist in me rising to the top.

IMHO... in my humble opinion. As I said, there's no one correct way to design a room and we all perceive a room differently. Do you have any reaction to these rooms?

Thursday Tip -Fall is in the air

2011-09-22T07:54:00.002-02:30

Many people focus on new beginnings in January, but mine are always prompted by the arrival of September. I put it down to my past career as a teacher when September was the month of planning and new possibilities.

I just returned from a month in Europe and my mind is agog with all the possible posts I could write and it's hard to select the best idea . When I feel like this I have to do something to focus my thoughts. Rather than choosing one topic I've decided to go broader. I'm beginning a new post focus which I'm calling Thursday Tips. Each Thursday I will feature one image and several simple ideas that could be easily translated into your home decor.

Houzz

Orange gaining favour in 2012

The colour forecasts for 2012 are just beginning to appear and orange seems to be in favour. Not the toned "dirty" oranges of past years, but a fresher variety that brings warmth and thoughts of a fresh autumn day.

Layering in Decor

While this orange chair is very striking, you don't need to make such a large purchase to get an up to date look. The tulips in the vase above are lovely in spring, but think about Chinese Lanterns to bring a blast of fall orange. Twigs and branches in the arrangement add structural elements and height which helps focus your attention . Stacking two mirrors of different heights on a console table provides a backdrop for your arrangement and also provides interesting layers.Always think layers when you are decorating.

source

If you have a neutral chair, an orange throw draped over the back or arm would add just the right amount of colour.

Crate and Barrel

source

When I'm adding in colour accents in this way I usually think in threes and using varying proportions of the colour. Think about small, medium and larger sized accessories and you can't go wrong. Variety is another key word in decorating. Find your varying sizes in pillows, boxes or canvas totes, a piece of artwork or large pillar candles. Style at Home offers 10 ideas for adding Tangerine to your decor.

What's your favourite accent colour?