If someone asked you to name the kind of decor you like, could you do it? Or would you stumble and mumble, mention a few stores, and look off into the distance in search of the right adjectives? You’re not alone.
But the thing is, articulating your style is the key to creating a room that really reflects it. If this sounds esoteric, have no fear: We’ve have some simple steps to help you identify the look you crave, a few visual tutorials to make you a mini expert on design, and dozens of sources to let you shop your style and bring it home. So whether you’re overhauling a mishmash of furniture bit by bit or doing a rapid-fire redecoration, you’ll learn how to make great choices and get cohesive results that you’ll love.
3 STEPS TO NAMING YOUR STYLE
Decorating is an extension of your personal style, but so much better, because it comes without the concerns of sizing and fit. That should make it fun, but for a lot of us it’s incredibly stressful — a too-blank canvas that involves big commitments and potentially pricey mistakes. Aside from the money part, choosing a sofa is not all that different from picking a pair of shoes: It’s all about who you are and what you like on a gut level.
Finding your decorating groove depends on getting in touch with that; We’ve created a plan geared toward home decorating. Here’s what to do.
1. Tour your home, and really look at your furniture.
With a pad in hand, walk from room to room examining your belongings and make two truthful lists: “Love It” and “Wish I Could Replace It. Catalog everything you can, including art — and be real, even if it’s difficult. It’s all based on how things make you feel. Maybe you come across a piece of art that bugs you, but you’ve kept it around because it was your grandmother’s. Pay attention to that — and categorize accordingly. You can also photograph the room, print out a copy of the photo and cross out what you don’t like and circle what you do. You can think of that photo, as a bouncing off point and use it as reference when shopping or getting advice.
2. Pull together small items you love, including clothes.
Check the top of your dresser, your mantel, your bookshelves, your china cabinet. Sift through collections and mementos. Make a pile of favorites on your bed. Then pull special clothes from your closet. Focus on the items that make you feel beautiful and joyful, the ones that inspire you to stand tall. Take the same eye to your jewelry and accessories. Open your closet doors and see what colors pop out the most. You can see which color dominates and use that as a reference point for the “colors” that you are drawn to.
3. Tap your memory and your imagination.
Get comfortable, then close your eyes and think about places you love to be and why you love them — from a local cafe to a faraway beach. Recall paintings, movies, and books that have stuck with you for some reason. Then go into fantasy mode. Imagine that real-world constraints don’t apply. Picture your dream home. If you could live anywhere in the world, would you choose a loft in New York? An English manor? A tree house in the tropics? Then think outside of home: If you were invited to the Oscars, what would you wear? Include jewelry and shoes. This moves you beyond the limitations of your own lifestyle and budget and into a new realm of creativity. Jot down your answers.
Now for the hard part. Look for common threads — design, colors, shapes, materials, vibe — among the things you love. You may find yourself attracted to a blend of styles rather than just one. Notice which features appeal to you and which don’t. This will help you translate your taste into smart decorating choices.
4. When all else fails, call an Interior Designer.
“Style Samples”
SOPHISTICATED CLASSIC
An elegant blend of refined traditional furniture, jewelry-like accessories, and pale hues. Patrician old-world elements pair with cleaner Art Deco shapes. The look evokes a more formal lifestyle. Think Grace Kelly, Tiffany & Co., and Charlotte from “Sex and the City”.
FEATURES
Delicate furniture pieces with feminine lines and tapered legs.
A palette of neutrals and soft colors.
Grand chandeliers.
Luxurious fabrics, like silk and velvet.
Rich dark woods with polished veneers.
Luxe accent materials, including metal, marble, and glass.
Symmetrical floor plans.
COZY CASUAL
A warm, traditional look made for relaxing with family and friends. Draws on English and early-American furniture designs, as well as laid-back country, cottage, and farmhouse styles. Weathered, low-maintenance furnishings are easy, inviting, and built for daily life. Think golden retrievers, fuzzy slippers, and just about any movie by Nancy Meyers.
FEATURES
Plush upholstery, often slip-covered, with roll or square arms and skirts or ball feet.
Indestructible tables with turned legs, trestles, or substantial pedestal bases.
Warm wood tones with rustic or distressed finishes.
Natural fabrics, like cotton and wool.
Solid textiles, simple stripes, or unfussy floral’s in muted colors.
MODERN GRAPHIC
A fresh, fun, contemporary look that combines urban styling (imagine a downtown loft) with edgy, colorful elements and mid-century design. Simple furniture forms balance out bold accents and patterns. Think the Museum of Modern Art, Frank Lloyd Wright, a Rubik’s Cube.
FEATURES
Furniture with clean lines and no extra adornment.
Blocks of saturated color.
Boxy upholstery with plain legs or skirt-less bases.
Lacquered finishes and a mix of woods, both light (birch, oak) and dark (walnut, mahogany).
Geometric or abstract patterns and Pop Art–inspired accessories.
VINTAGE ECLECTIC
A rich, layered look combining flea-market finds, furniture designs from various time periods (including Victorian pieces and 18th-century French styles), and a diverse collection of accessories and artwork. Dusty colors, timeworn or handmade textiles, and collected objects create a lived-in feel. Think Paris flea markets, Granny’s teacups, the film Grey Gardens.
FEATURES
Furniture with shapely, feminine silhouettes, intricate detailing, and weathered finishes.
Jewel tones mixed with washed-out, chalky shades.
Antique and vintage elements interspersed with newer, offbeat items.
A varied mix of fabrics (on pillows, upholstery, and window treatments), including Jacquards, paisleys, ethnic tapestries, folk motifs, botanicals, and florals.
Crystal chandeliers and embellished lamps.
Abundant art and decorative accents on walls and surfaces.
For more information regarding these and other styles, contact pcdesign@mac.com.
Tags: affordable interior design, decorate, decorating styles, design blog, Design Styles, eclectic, Home, Home makeover, interior decorating, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, modern, msn, paige castellini, pc design, vintage
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
With an overwhelming response to last weeks blog….here are some more “affordable” tips to revitalize your home for Spring & Summer.
Give your windows a temporary face-lift:
If you have “layers” on your windows (panels and sheers), take the panels off and give an airy feel to your space with simple sheers, allowing light to flood in and give a beachy feel to your home.
from heavy…
to breezy.
Lighten up your bedding by removing the heavy comforter and adding a light weight blanket or coverlet that highlights a brighter or “sunnier” color from the comforter. If it’s a solid, find something with a pattern or floral with bright “Juicey” colors to change things up.
Change out the pillows on your sofa….
Remove these dark wintery pillows….
and add these bold, beautiful Summer pillows.
Accessorize with clear glass bowls with floating candles, white vases with a single brightly colored flower and bring the outdoors…in. Flowers, reeds of grass, cattails, single bud flowers, floating magnolia’s and potted Gerber daisy’s. Anything will work as long as it doesn’t give the feel of being too heavy.
For the kitchen:
Change out dish towels, soap containers, table linens, centerpieces, chair pads and wall display to something light and lively.
hang these on the wall for a summery change.
For additional ideas email pcdesign@mac.com or visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, Do's & Don'ts, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, interior, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, modern design
Follow these tips to create a good home environment and making everyday life easier.
1. Home Interiors are ALWAYS a work in progress.
Keep things fresh and loose by changing things up. Perfection stifles creativity. No, one item, has a specific place.
Change out pillow covers on your sofa or in your Guest Room in the Spring and Fall (or anything else movable and easy to store for the season).
In the winter…use candles for a warm feel; and in the spring….use fresh flowers to bring the outside in.
2. A home isn’t a Museum.
Use every room for fun and gathering. If you have a room that is only used for special occasions (maybe 6-10 times per year), what do you use it for for the other 340 days?
3. Don’t over accessorize..
Follow the rule for getting dressed…. get completely dressed, then, take one item off. A space with too many items in it will look cluttered and junky…even with the most expensive of items on display.
4. SURPRISE!
Just like when you are looking in a store and you turn the corner and see a great display….that’s a surprise.
Add spontaneous items out in the open. If you are working with a neutral palette in a room, add one bold, unique looking item that will make someone say “WOW” and people will take notice.
5. Don’t think in terms of Feminine and Masculine.
Stay away from overly ruffled items, bows and too much lace. Think in terms of “soft” or “glamorous” when wanting something a little more girly.
6. When shopping for furnishings….
It doesn’t matter where it came from, YOU, just have to love what your living with.
7. Fabulous Finds.
In today’s world of “Going Green” recycled items are a must. If a friend offers something to you, that they are tired of, do a trade and (provided they don’t want the item back) re-purpose it to coordinate with your interiors or add a “WOW” spot to your home. ANYTHING old….can become new again!
Wood floor planks to Wine Rack.
Toothbrushes as wall hooks for kids.
Old armoire turned game center.
8. Think outside of the box.
Think of all the business out there and what the possibilities there products hold. Download a picture you like online and cut-out a pattern to create your own stencil. Go to a tile store and ask for their discarded or damage products (some will be greatly discounted, others might even be free) and revamp an old side table you are looking to spiff up. There are tons of mosaic ideas online. Go to a produce company and ask for their fruit crates and create vintage storage containers. Use wide, colored tape, to create stripes on the walls in a small area .
Old milk jug...turn to table base or bird bath.
Industrial Coils turned barstools.
9. Party in a Closet.
Impromptu party? Keep everything you need stored (and organized) in a closet. Bar napkins, containers of peanuts, cups, plates, candles, wine and more. You don’t want to have to run out and shop at the last minute before entertaining. When you start running low, replenish.
10. You get what you pay for.
This is tried and true! When you find good people to work with, make it worth their while and yours. It will reflect in the work and maybe…get it done sooner, rather than later. And by the way…don’t forget to tell them how much you appreciate them….It goes a looooooooooooooong way!
Want to find out more? Visit: www.affordableinteriordesigners.com.
Tags: Add new tag, Advice, Affordable, Budget Design, Budget interior design, Decorate on a budget, Do's & Don'ts, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior Design Tips
Posted by PC Design on Apr 6, 2009 in
Interior Design Tips When you think of the style, French Country; you think of France, in the Provence Region. You think of old French Chateau’s in the country with rolling hillsides and romantic french accents.
French Country is a category of Design within the Country theme. There are many attributes to the “Country” them (depending on the provenance, country, city you are taking influence from), but we will get into that in the future.
French Interiors hold a romantic yet casual feel, with pleasing colors of contrast, wood and upholstery mixed together and Natural elements used to accent Architecturally.
Color is one of the first things that pop into your mind when you are thinking about what French Country entails. You think of mustard and burnt reds, oranges, grassy greens and deep dark hunter green, powder blue and sunny yellow. Don’t forget about the stylish Black & Whites as well.
One of the first elements used in French Country Design are “Natural” materials. Rough stained items (otherwise known as Rustic). Woven chair seats of straw to give a “rough” texture. Distressed wood with flowery carving. Old, distressed wood repurposed to make furniture. Stone Flooring with cotton throw rugs. Stone or brick fireplaces with large openings and iron accessories to the side. Plaster walls (or faux plaster walls) to give the aged effect of the outside coming in.
Distressed wood with straw seating.
This armoire is made out of antique door panels from France (sometimes referred to as a “Knock-down” armoire).
Rustic furnishings are a key element in this design. Wood panels, old french milk crates, hand carved pottery, distressed tables, white wash (milk painted) finishes, carved sofa’s with tall legs, wood and upholstery mixed.
The one item you CAN’T forget in a French Country Design, is the timeless Rooster. Used in many different facets throughout the home; from chandeliers, to pottery, to clocks, fabric linens, tableware and more; this icon is one element you cannot be without when designing your home with this beautiful theme.
Other elements (or icons) used are; olives, grapes, lavendar, cows, copper accessories (especially pots & pans), sunflowers and vintage wine items. Things you would think of, or have seen on the French Countrysides.
White, yellow and cream grounds stand as the popular choices for fabrics with the design in bold contrasting colors, as in toile. Most carry a cream or white background and then red, black green, blue and orange as the design. Window treatments are ornate and layered in fabric or simple with decorative trim.
If you find that you lean toward the French Country style, give it a try. It is cheery, “Green” in today’s standards if using items (like the antique armoire above) that were previously used in a different manner and fun to coordinate. Accessories are easy to find, due to the popularity of the style and searching through flea markets and old antique shops will surely bring out your creative side.
Be sure to watch for the next….Interior Design “Style”……. Revealed! Au Revoir!
Tags: Advice, Decorating in French Country, decorating styles, Design Styles, French, French Country, French Country Design, French Country Sytle, French Design, Home, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles, Style
