Posted by PC Design on Mar 22, 2011 in
design,
trends Fashion mania, you hear about it at the movies, in books and on Oprah. Some women are crazy for designer shoes, going to great lengths to get the latest pair of Louboutin’s, Choo’s and Blahnik’s. Other women absolutely love designer handbags and collect them in inordinate amounts. So, ok, I get that fashion has its place and serves some of us very well. But when are those of us who are interior design addicts going to get our 15 minutes? We love our fabrics, sofas and table decor as much as they love their shoes, but you don’t hear about our indulgences?
For example, take my friend Kylie, she is absolutely frantic for chairs. Doesn’t matter the style, she’s got them, 22 in all. Of course, she has many of the important modern pieces including Van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair. Then there are the three King Louis French pieces: the Bergere, the fauteuils and the fausse paire. And the list goes onÖ When asked, Why chairs? She expresses emotionally that they are therapeutic and comforting.
The difference between her and the designer fashion fanatic is budget. She purchases reproductions and fixer uppers and enjoys each as if it were the real deal or in mint condition.
For your benefit and a little chair therapy for all, I asked her to help me choose eight affordable chair designs and ideas for spring. With no further ado, here is what we found
‘Decorative Chair Backs’ (via)
These retro chairs get a little spring makeover with decoupage and paper flowers in bright orange. Of course, when you redo your own you can do so in any color that floats your boat. You’ll find similar chairs at IKEA to use as your canvas.
‘Bertoia Style Wire Diamond Chair’ (via)
Named for the famed designer Harry Bertoia, this handmade reproduction chair looks like a work of art and sits like a dream.
‘Canary Print Slipper Chair’ (via)
Target.com actually has some lovely chairs like this Canary Print chair pictured in yellow floral for instance. The armless design makes it perfect for a small space where the light and air need to flow through the room.
‘Barbie Chair’ (via)
This modern design classic, reminiscent of the ARKANA chair of the ë60s, is hot pink and gorgeously feminine. It would look good in the living room by itself or in a pair at a little bistro table in the kitchen.
‘Rattan Dining Chairs’ (via)
All it took to give new life to this set of rattan dining chairs was a couple of coats of green paint. Seated at the lime green table they look fabulous. What an inexpensive way to get a new look that practically screams spring!
‘Bemz Chair Slipcovers for IKEA Chairs’ (via)
This brilliant Swedish company makes customized slipcovers specifically for Ilea’s inexpensive chair and sofa designs. You can choose from ginghams, florals and solids to match your style. How fun and fabulous is that?
‘Classic Louis Ghost Arm Chair’ (via)
While we would love to have a Philippe Starck original Lucite chair, or even better a pair of them, it’s not realistic for our pocketbooks at the moment. We wouldn’t mind having one of these knock off versions though.
‘Avington Armless Slipper Chair’ (via)
This upholstered chair is another Target find. It is bright and happy in a modern interpretation cherry blossom print. One or two would go nicely in a bedroom or living room.
Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home decor items at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!
A home looks beautiful when it is constructed and decorated tastefully, keeping in mind all the minor details, which if overlooked, can visually annoy you while living in that house. Therefore, it is up to you to put in some effort and common sense while furnishing and shopping for your home. Continue reading to hear some interior design ideas for what to do and not to do in your home!
For a novice homeowner, it is quite difficult to decide what to do and what not to buy. Understanding the dynamics of your house and selecting proper furniture for your habitat is surely not rocket science. Anybody who wishes to live in a beautiful home can easily manage it by avoiding some very common mistakes that can ruin the collective look of the house.
DON’TS of Interior Designing
- The most common mistake that people might end up making is cluttering their house with tons of furniture. Always try not to crowd any of your rooms. Crowding the room will not allow you to enjoy a broad vision, and it wonít leave you with ample walking space. Always remember the popular rule of ìLess is Moreî – the lesser you stuff your home with fixtures and furniture, the more sophisticated your dÈcor will appear.
- Avoid dark paints for your walls. Many people believe that colors like black and purple add character to their rooms. Wrong! Dark colors will only make your room appear smaller in size and inadequate lighting will always remain an issue. You can use dark shades on one of the four walls in a room to make it appear trendy.
- The worst mistake you can make while decorating your house is getting furniture without keeping room dimensions in mind. If you end up buying huge furniture items for a relatively small room, it will look packed and cheap. The same is the case with getting compact furniture set for a huge room. The whole appearance will turn dull and shabby, and your house might earn a lot of critical comments instead of praises.
- Every room can appear good in the dark, but what happens when you turn the lights on? As you design your interior, donít forget to keep in mind one of the most important features of a room. Lighting is the cause of sensation of the room. You donít want the room to be so bright that youíd feel like youíre stuck in a lightning bolt, but at the same time little lighting will cause the area to have a depressing feel. There is a grand variety of lighting fixtures to choose from like chandeliers, pendant lighting, wall sconces, and more so donít be afraid of a little exploration.
Do’s of Interior Designing
- Windows can be one of the best things to enhance the beauty of any room. French design in windows has been quite popular. If you have a lot of windows in the house, you will be getting a lot of natural light and some fresh air during summers. Windows can also make your rooms appear big and lively by helping you bring in the outside sights and sounds.
- Pay a lot of attention to your flooring. Clean and shiny floors can earn you a lot of praises. Try to get marble or wooden flooring for the living area at your place and completely ditch carpets. The flooring should match with the aura of room and must not appear uneven.
- Pick a particular style or theme for every room.†Gather a few kitchen design ideas or†bedroom design ideas first.†If you are buying a vintage bed set, you must not simply pair a very contemporary set of chairs with it. This will make your room look unorganized and uncomfortable. Also choose the lighting according to the theme. Remember, everything should match!
Making your house a habitat of dreams is not a very tough or tricky job. Just keep in mind the above mentioned tips and your house will turn into an ultimate destination.
Content provided by Design Shuffle which is a social media site filled with interior design ideas from top tier design talent around the world. Best of all, registration is completely free.
Guest Blogger……
Tags: Advice, cincinnati, design shuffle, Design Styles, Do's & Don'ts, Home makeover, Interior Design, Interior Design Tips, paige castellini, pc design llc
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 5…
Trend 5: New Darks
Last year, black was the big colour for interiors. This year, the New Dark’s signal a bold move away from the hard, dull greys and blacks towards a softer, palette that is accented by bright, vibrant hues. Purples, blues and blacks take centre stage but texture is also a consideration. Patent and lacquered finishes contrast with smoky, matte metals and velvety fabrics. What is created is both dramatic and beautiful. Lots of texture and a more subtle scheme than from the above is used.
Living room
Choose a dominant piece of furniture, such as a sofa, in the dark, dramatic shade that encapsulates this look, but use lighter, toning shades for the walls. Not every home or room suits dark colors – and if you spend a lot of time in a room during the day, you might want to choose lighter colors for walls and floors to make the room feel bright and spacious. Ask yourself if you liked to be “hugged” by the room or feel as if you could see for miles???
Bedroom
This look is perfect for a posh bedroom. Rich colors and soft natural fabrics create a cushy feel and warmth to keep you warm at night. Do be careful to not go too dark, unless you have lots of natural light, to make sure the room does not create a “depressing” atmosphere.
In the end, when designing and decorating for your home, decide the overall feel and concept you would like to achieve and pull-out lots of pictures to show your Designer to make sure you are all on the same page.
Happy Decorating!!!!
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 4….
Trend 4: Treasure Trove
We all have our own personal treasures that we want to display in our homes. They usually take the form of furniture, fabrics, paintings and objects that have been passed down through generations, as well as vintage clothes and objects found on holiday or when browsing in antique markets. These are the things that we want to preserve and admire. Intense, deep colours such as opulent gold, rich burgundy and bold teal; lavish and glittering, concealing our keepsakes and priceless pieces. It’s a colour palette that forms the backdrop to our own treasure and is guaranteed to bring out the inner magpie in all of us. Not ideal for every room in a home, but great in Living Rooms, Studies and Guest Bedrooms.
Living Room
Reminiscent of an old Country Manor. Alternates to the heavy wood paneling on the walls could be paint in a deep chocolate brown to make it cozy, or a pale yellow-green to make it feel brighter and more spacious.
Bedroom
Deep earthy shades are ideal for a bedroom due to the mood the room transcends. The result? A welcoming space that you’ll feel relaxed and cozy in.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 3…
Trend 3: The Recycled Look
Head out to your favorite flea-market or vintage store and rummage through to find pieces to compliment your design. Whether edgy, subtle, minimalist, cluttered or over the top, you are sure to find that… “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”.
Living Room
What’s good about this look? Essentially, its eclecticism and its eco-friendly attributes. What it’s telling you… get yourself down the local antiques/junk arcade and rummage…
Bedroom
So, rummaging isn’t your thing? The key… choose a dominating colour that has a faded look, furniture that isn’t the same style, and think out-of-the-box for placement. Take this room as a great example. The bed is upholstered in a dove grey, while the throw’s colour is a faded version of the bedside table. The bedside table itself doesn’t match the rest of the room, and is really a side table, yet it works within the room because it’s colour ties into the beds throw.
Kitchen
Ideal for a kitchen, simply choose units painted in faded shades, recycled worktops (like Cork/ Bamboo/ recycled stainless), rustic style tiles (mismatched/ hand-painted/ vintage) , match it with furniture that’s recycled rather than brand new and, finally, pick wall colours to complement, adding splashes of bolder shades in accessories.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 2….
Trend 2: Femininity With A Hard Edge
This is a more dynamic trend, which includes pretty yet powerful colours, from their palest to most dramatic shades. Think of peonies that burst into colourful life and then slowly reduce in intensity as they fade. Imagine delicate whispers of texture from vintage lace and silk, offset by hard modern ceramics and metals. You could sum it up as femininity with a tough edge. While not ideal for every room in the home, this does work best in living rooms and bedrooms.
Paint Colours
It might be that you choose a white or pale green background colour for your walls, then add a touch of ‘wow!’ with stronger shades of the accent colour like, raspberry or periwinkle with accessories and soft furnishings. This scheme does not need to be dramatic, if you want something easier to live with, try something a little more understated.
Wallpaper
Just as choosing a paint color can be difficult and tiresome between a man and a woman…ditto for wallpaper! Go for soft, feminine shades as a base, add sharper (or more masculine) tones to pep up the scheme.
Living Room
This room, with all the tendencies of a more feminine room; also, sways toward the masculine with the finishes and shape. Find this look a little heavy? Keep the wallpaper, but swap it for a lighter colourway and change the flooring to a pale, soft carpet…
Bedroom
The idea of a pale lilac bedroom would turn most men’s stomachs, but this one is edging into grey, while the contrasting colour – mustard yellowy green is a fabulous foil for the walls soft tones. Add to that the contrast of white furnishings with a single high gloss black piece and you’ve got femininity, masculinity, light and dark all in one space. Brilliant.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, interior, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 1….
Trend 1: Nature Inspired.
What a relief for lovers of neutral color schemes – everyone agrees this year that understated room schemes inspired by nature will be one of the strong trends for 2009. Designer’s have been inspired this year by everything from rich ochre colors to the simple beachfront homes with bleached cream wooden shutters, weathered and worn woods, and stones in warm hues, punctuated by cooler tones of blues and greens to create a natural balance of colour and texture that is warm and embracing.
Elements of the natural world have also inspired Wallpaper palettes such as this colour palette and is combined with flame red for an injection of vibrancy. Combine the ever popular greens with fresh yellow’s and add a touch of raspberry and mint green for a unique combination.
Being “Eco-Conscious” or “Green” is a deciding factor for many when decorating. In 2009, the will be slightly more subtle. With people moving less frequently, look for fresh and bright to become increasingly more important. Expect to see “New-Neutrals” take root, as the year continues.
Natural tones will also be an enduring popular choice for furniture, with wall colours being chosen to echo the tones of the upholstery.
Living Room
Inspired by nature doesn’t have to mean “No” color in a living room ! You can choose anything from deep dark browns to rich ochres, mustard yellows, pale greens and blues. When incorporating patterns… using something light and airy as opposed to heavily patterned choices creates a visually pleasing environment.
Bedrooms
Natural schemes doesn’t mean feminine and traditional – you can give a nod to the trend within a contemporary scheme too, as in this bedroom. Combine wood panelled wardrobes or walls with natural floor coverings and furniture in woody tones, and add texture with throws and cushions in deep earthy shades. Combine with a bold accent color to add a “Punch” to the area.
Kitchens
When making selections for your kitchen in the Natural trend, think sensibly and long term. Walls can always be painted and Accent your Kitchen with unique objects such as lighting, accessories, rugs, stools and window treatments to add flair….
Dining Room
This is a particularly good look to go for in your dining room. And, if your dining room is part of your kitchen area -like in an open plan – a Neutral scheme is a must to create a relaxed and cohesively calm space.
Kids’ Room
Design a neutral scheme for a kids’ room is easy and sustainable for the long-term (not having to change the scheme every few years is easy for the wallet as well). So, whether you’ve got a baby or a teenager, hit this trend in a big way…
Bathroom
Space is always a factor, but any bathroom can be given the natural touch easily. When looking for a new bathroom cabinet, choose one in real wood. Flooring, choose a natural stone. Wall tile, choose something light and airy with some visual texture. On a budget? Paint the walls a soft shade of green or blue.
Tags: 2009 home trends, Advice, choosing colors, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic style, home decorating, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles, paint colors
Posted by PC Design on Jul 13, 2009 in
Hot new items,
Resources,
design,
trends PSST….
I wanted to share some great new items HomePortfolio is showing off for “Outdoor Living”.
****Remember....Your backyard/frontyard/porch/patio/etc...
are all area's to consider when decorating in and around your home.
Check out HomePortfolio.com to see more great items.
Tags: Advice, affordable interior design, backyards, barbeque, decorate, design blog, design trends, diy, frontgate, grills, homeporfolio, Interior Design Tips, Lighting, Lights, new items, outdoor living, outdoors, party, patio's, pc design, pools, seating, tables, water
