Many styles are reworked every few decades. Does the 80’s sound familiar? Think; ruffled “Pirate” shirts (or Seinfeld’s “Puffy Shirt” episode). What was popular 30 years ago…. is back again, in a more updated form.
The same goes with Designing around the Home.
Today’s popular home decorating style is Baroque. According to Wikipedia….Italian Baroque interior design refers to high-style furnishing and interior decorating carried out in Italy, during the Baroque period, which lasted from the early 17th to the mid 18th century. Rococo (less commonly roccoco; pronounced /rəˈkoʊkoʊ/, /roʊkəˈkoʊ/) also referred to as “Late Baroque” is an 18th century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly more ornate, florid, and playful. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings.
Modern, Baroque furnishings, design elements and accessories are available everywhere and you might even find that you have something in your home and didn’t know it.
Target, has a whole line DwellStudioat Target geared towards this style; affordable for everyone.
Rugs
Mirrors
Fabric
Lighting
Feminine Baroque
Create a soft feminine bedroom with this combination of Modern and antique Baroque style.
Traditional style Baroque Design
Traditional style Living Room with gilding and heavily ornate furnishings (characteristic of the Italian Baroque style)
Modern Style Baroque Design
Hard graphic prints designed with classic Baroque style and clean edges.
Baroque With a Southwest Flair
Mixing in traditional southwest colors with the classic yet simple Baroque style shown below.
For more information on this and any other style or design….
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.
We often get so comfortable with our favorite TV shows that we don’t really notice their surroundings (even if their kitchens are only partly surrounded). But there are kitchens on certain TV shows that have some great concepts that could be incorporated into your own kitchen (in reality). So look no further than reruns to get your next kitchen idea.
1. Seinfeld.
Jerry rarely cooks or eats anything but cereal, but he has to have a stocked kitchen for Kramer and, well, mainly just Kramer. The Seinfeld kitchen is spare, but effective: plenty of storage space for dozens of boxes of cereal. (Bet you didn’t even remember Honeycomb existed.) His work triangle (sink, stove, fridge) is darn near isosceles. While at first glance you might think this style would only fit a cereal-eating bachelor who never has dinner parties, and you are correct. (Your thin-slicing is remarkable). But if you remember the episode where Jerry has the kitchen remodeled to add more cabinets, it ruined the flow of the apartment and worse, the flow of the gang. It had to go. TV Advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.
Seinfelds new kitchen
2. That 70s Show.
While the basement is more the hangout than the kitchen in this show, there is some wisdom in Kitty’s Kitchen. First is that the style of the 70s is only to be made fun of. It was, and is, terrible. Second, this is a kitchen for the home that doesn’t like to entertain in the kitchen, and while weird, this is the way some people want it. If you’re one of those people, follow in Kitty’s steps and make this function in the way you want. Kitty doesn’t have many tall shelves that she can’t reach, a layout that isn’t very expansive. When people come into the kitchen, they get what they need and get out of your way. Don’t doubt Kitty’s wisdom. TV Advice: Get a kitchen that suits your everyday family needs. Not that elusive dinner party you might someday have.
That ’70s Show: Another Bacon Scene
3. Will & Grace.
This kitchen is the most modern of all the kitchen on this list, plus it’s the only galley kitchen. There are a few things that Will does well. First, his kitchen is a step up from the rest of the living space. No clue why this is smart, but it just seems to be. Next, he has a very modern, sleek style that fits his tight T-shirt wearing self. While apple pie might seem out of place in this kitchen, sushi, wine, and expensive desserts will feel right at home. TV Advice: Make sure that your design style matches the kind of food that you enjoy. This sounds crazy, but it’s true. So true.
Will and Grace
4. Friends.
Monica is a chef for crying out loud, of course this kitchen is perfect in every way. Sure, they spend most of their time in the kitchen hanging out around the table, but the room still seems large enough to function well. Monica does a great job of keeping everything nice and organized – barking orders at people along the way – but it makes their apartment kitchen bigger and sleeker than any apartment kitchen should be. Brightly painted shelves and trim add some character to an open-style kitchen and give it plenty of personality. Plus, it kept Joey fed for like 10 seasons. No easy feat. TV Advice: Organization is king. Also, don’t let Rachel cook. Ever.
FRIENDS (Rachel’s Trifle)
5. The Cosby Show.
This is the life we all want. Big family, great house, funny, and they put on a great musical show a lot of the time. But the kitchen is a place where they play cards, have big meals, and talk. There’s even a fireplace in there. What’s great about this kitchen is that it’s all self-contained. Podium stove, island bar counter, and a kitchen table. You could have big meals right there without being more than a few steps from the sink, stove, or fridge. This is a kitchen that is tailor made for a large family or even a smaller family that is a hub of activity. If you have lots of friends and have them over often, this is a kitchen to consider. TV Advice: Sandwiches are the best. Don’t take away my sandwiches.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contemporary design can often times, be confused with modern design. Similarities between both include; clean lines, neutral colors, use of woods and metals.
There is a thin line between the two but Contemporary takes design a step farther than Modern. It takes everyday items and pushes the design limitations.
A sink in your powder room, instead of white porcelain, might be zebra wood mdf board and mounted on the wall with the chrome faucet pouring out from the wall.
It will take a handful of clear lightbulbs, gather them together and create an industrial looking chandelier over the dining table.
The style will take a zebra skin and use it as a rug on the floor in front of the fireplace.
Contemporary style takes design a step further than any other design. It tends to lean toward an idustrial, sparce look with very limited color. In fact the only color in the room, might be a large painting hanging on a wall or a large hand blown glass chandelier hanging from a vaulted ceiling in the foyer.
Contemporary furniture is typically covered in solid fabrics ranging from Chenille, leather, linen, silk, nubby wool and cotton. Some have wood or even metal legs and rarely do you see a skirt on your upholstered pieces.
Rugs tend to be used as an accent adding color or a simple, abstract design to balance the simplicity of the upholstery on furniture.
Tables tend to be glass or metal (typically chrome or steel) or a mixture of both. The glass keeps the design clean, open and simple.
There isn’t an abundance of furniture used and there tend to be a variety of seating areas; some for a group or for just a a section for a reading area. It all varies depending on the amount of space you have.
Overall Contemporary design, from the outside in, keeps the spatial relationship simple and flowing. The sterile exterior is carried inside, keeping spaces open flowing from room to room, limiting the amount of walls a home has.
Floors are often wood and sometimes, polished stone, again keeping in line with that sterile, clean feel. Countertops are granite, stainless, or a solid composite material. Cabinetry can be metal, glass, some wood as accents coordinated with stainless appliances, closely resembling a kitchen in a high-end restaurant.
Window treatments, if used, are simple in design. Long panels framing in the window, custom roman shades to diffuse light for during the day, double top treatments to create drama on tall windows that carry your eye toward the ceiling.
Sometimes, drama is added to windows with bold, geometric fabrics.
In Contemporary design, art is used as accessories, but sometimes sample knick-knacks are added here and there, but used very sparsely.
Glass art used in Architectural alcoves with lights to highlight it.
Variety of accessories used throughout homes.
If you are looking to design your home in the Contemporary style and still have questions, contact pcdesign@mac.com for more information.
from heavy…
