Great Decoration

Work is keeping me quite busy over the last several weeks and blogging always drops off when this happens.  I'm beginning a series of posts called Design Solutions that will  address common design issues that often crop up when I work with clients.This is a great way for me to come to  terms with options and at the same time it provides a written commentary that I can send clients to in the future.  If I can help my readers in any way, it's a bonus.

Being a lover of asymmetrical balance, I can't explain why I am so attracted to the placement of a bed between two windows.  But I am. The windows become part of a larger design tableau in such instances, and the whole wall must be considered as a unit including headboard, night tables, lamps, table vignettes, art, window treatments and bedding.   Here are several guiding principles to keep in mind.

 Keep it symmetrical


When you start with a layout that is symmetrical, it works best to continue using this form of balance in your design .


Consider  your headboard shape when choosing art


 The height  and shape of your headboard will dictate what you place over it .  When you have no headboard you have to choose something that will fill the space well, and circular shapes with lots of texture and warmth are brilliant.

Many designers are attracted to  groupings of three objects (art) between two windows.  This is an option, but not one I usually advocate.  When there are too many rectangles my eye craves  something curved or solid. In this room  the art reaches the top of the windows filling the space in between thus making the windows, headboard, and art one large rectangle. 

This is a beautifully designed space, both elegant and simple at the same time.   The headboard  is low and the six art works fill the space nicely.  It is always interesting how you can depend on one element or principle  of design to  negate problems with another one.  With all the lines in the windows you might expect  that 6 pieces of artwork would be overkill in this space.  Not so here.  The dark frames and lines in the romans make the window lines almost unnoticeable. Contrast always wins when vying  for attention.  The curves in the spectacular roman shades also provide some relief from all the rectangles.  I rarely hang roman shades from the ceiling, but in this case it works especially well.


It is difficult to hang art over a curved headboard; it is often best to let the curves be the statement.  In this room a spectacular light fixture adds additional visual interest to the larger vignette.


And the exception to the rule... there's always one!  The lamps fill in the curves and the three pieces of art look especially good hung in a straight line.  It doesn't hurt that there is a circle in the headboard. The art is light and the bed becomes the center of interest in the room.







Use window treatments to frame the bed



My preferred solution for a window treatment on matched windows is draperies.  They soften all the hard edges and make great frames for the bed and the night tables. Think about your table colour when choosing your drapes.  The tables should stand out not disappear. Yes, I would change the black, wrought iron rods! Love the simple pillow arrangement and circular mirror.


Consider using blinds behind draperies for privacy. and be adventurous when mixing designs  in the space. I think this combination works well because all the  patterns have the same colours.


Hanging a drape on the outside edge of both windows and using a shade of some sort is another option for a window treatment .  This solution opens up a small room and gives the bed more room to breathe.    The shades are the centre of interest in this room because they are so dark. Patterned fabric adds another element of interest.   I love  round night tables when there are two windows because they serve to soften all the straight lines.




Romans are simple and linear.  You would never call them soft, but they can frame a bed nicely when they are used in conjunction with tufted or other luxurious materials in a bedroom.  By choosing a simple monochromatic scheme these romans serve to move your eye around the room and allow the white window details to frame the bed.  The white art is a repetition of the the frames. 




My parting comments:  This small  monochromatic space maximizes design in every way. If you want to put three art pieces above the bed it works best when there are soft draperies on either side.  The simple images and large white borders connect with the white bedding and lamps.  The larger white accessories are simple and perfect.   The dark furniture anchors the space and I don't even mind the black rods!

Now you may be surprised  to discover that some people  (especially decorators) put a lot of thought into turning a coffee table into a work of art!


   I frequently admire the sometimes over the top arrangements (vignettes or tablescapes to decorators) found in many decorating magazines and online portfolios, but they rarely seem practical to me.  First and foremost, a coffee table is a functional item that provides a place to lay  drinks, nibbles etc., but  I do agree that it is a flat expansive surface that calls out for some adornment.   How far you want to go with this adornment is up to you. 

Three candle holders of varying heights are very versatile for  your decorating needs. You can change the colour of the candles for seasonal events. Natural elements like coral and flowers always add texture and a little of the outside world.  Think about starfish, shells, ferns, twigs, grasses, etc.as natural complements to glass and ceramic. Heights and textures add interest and move the eye around.

Very simple and effective selection of objects in white and black. I like the fact the tray is wood which instantly warms up the collection.  A sphere of some sort is also a versatile object to own.  One with texture is even better.

This must be aqua week! I am noticing it everywhere.  After writing a post yesterday about aqua, I opened one of the blogs I follow this morning to be greeted by a lovely room make -over by Kelly Porter of Color Sizzle and the walls are painted aqua. The accents are red.  I wanted to share this lively combination.  While it is too much colour for me, I know it will appeal to lots of my readers. 

Although I am interested in the latest colour trends in home decor, I am not a slave to them.  I choose gray as the neutral in my house in 1986 and it wasn't a  growing trend until 2011!  It will still be my neutral ten years from now because I feel comfortable with gray as a backdrop.

 We should all choose colours for our homes that we like.  My first order of business in a colour consultation is to determine what kind of colours a client really likes.   Next I check the room's light  orientation and lastly I look at the furniture and art in a space.

I just went through all my pins on  my colour inspiration board on Pinterest to look for trends in my own pinning.  I have quite a few with aqua.  I do not have aqua in either of my homes, but I am obviously attracted to it  because I love blue greens.  How about you?

Aqua is a versatile, fresh colour as you can see from the interiors below.   You can use it for an accent wall, to paint furniture, in pillows, or even on  a ceiling....use a little or a lot....



 And here we have the merest hint of a dark aqua with magenta and off white.  This is a great way to have pops of colour without over committing.

 All those pictures on Pinterest  over the last several weeks make me wonder to what degree the "average" person goes to celebrate changing seasons, holidays, etc.  I feel like I am letting my profession as an interior decorator down when it comes to special events decorating in my own home!

I  make some effort to decorate, but notice I said "some".  It will never wear me out or cost more than $20.00.   I usually choose several very simple changes to  give a gentle nod to any special event.  I am also a firm believer in using what you have in your house and garden.  If I can't figure out  something to do with what I have supported by a trip to  Dollarama, nothing happens.

 When I was younger I admit putting more effort and money  into seasonal decorating, but it all seems so over the top now, and surely I can find better things to do with the money I would have spent!  Simplifying has been my mantra for the last ten years. That goes for decorating too.

My current effort in the family room....

One gray tray; three gourds from  the supermarket; a ceramic paper bag vase purchased three years ago at Homesense for $ 9.99; a mercury stylized bird that is really a little too big, but I love it and it gets used everywhere; and daisies from the dollar store.  Sometimes I buy fresh, sometimes I use artificial. And best of all is the sun patterns on this glorious day.

It's colourful and simple. Here's more inspiration from Pinterest all with trays.


 This one has a collection of objects from around the house (books and jars), pinecones and three clear jars with sedum.  The art work behind the vignette adds the autumn colour.




Love the ceramic pumpkin on a cake tray surrounded by fall berries. Variety in heights and textures make this work well.  If you can have just one tray, a silver one shows up best on dark furniture.


This is as simple as you can get with candles in plain glasses, a distressed tray and some autumn foilage.



 And finally, good-bye from the table of my summer place.  No tray but lots of plants and shrubs from my garden.  White ceramic anything is a good purchase.  I love the shape of pears.

Is your home different from your friends or very similar?  Could someone match you to your home?  Are there things around that denote your interests,  pursuits etc.  or do you have a generic home?    I asked my husband if our home is like other homes we are familiar with or is ours different?  I found it interesting that he did not  readily identify the things in our home that make it different from other homes e.g., he made most of the furniture, stained glass, railings, etc.  It has the distinct marks of both of our interests. 

In an effort to describe the individual aspects of one person's home when compared to another, the design world often refers to a home's "personality".   I love to go into a home that "feels like" the people who live there.   In my book, designing a home with "personality" (the homeowners , not mine)  is one of the most difficult aspects of being a decorator.  I spend quite a bit of time getting a handle on the people I am working with and trying to  reflect that knowledge in the choices I make for their home.   I don't understand decorators who are known for a set "look" and anything they do is recognizable as their work  I loved the lady who told me she was looking for a Pottery Barn decorator!  Silly me had to ask what that meant. I'm much better dealing with an individual look.

 I am helping a friend solve several home dilemmas. We have agreed to work on this project over a long term basis.  She has little interest in  new trends for 2014 or what the most popular colours are this year.  Here house is totally wood except for ceramic  floors downstairs, and it has  personality galore, but it is not a house for everyone. We talk about function, natural materials, textures, warmth, minimal living, wabi sabi, zen spaces and  the "feel" she wants.  We talk about how her interests have changed and how this influences her living space.  It is not my usual decorating job, but I enjoy our chats and the progress we are making.  I am up to the task because I truly believe that my job is to listen well and lead the homeowner to a place where they make their own decisions. It takes longer, but it is more rewarding for everyone in the end.

These rooms all have very different personalities.  What do they say about the owners?  Look at your own space.  What does it say about you and the people who live there?