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Monday, October 16th, 2017
Uttermost Accessories Safari Views Silver Wall Art S/3 04121
If you’re a homeowner who’s claiming that your home is the best showroom in the entire neighborhood, you have to understand that your habitat must still have a homey atmosphere. It must not be cold or unfeeling as most showrooms are perceived to be.
You don’t have to come from a family of interior designers or artists to come up with your design preference. You can venture into this new project with just the thought that you want to express who you are or what you do with the things that you decorate your home with.
What Is Safari?
The word safari is derived from the Swahili word meaning journey. In colonial times, this word is also an implication of games, hunting, shooting, and many other activities that the local tribes people participate in.
It was no less than the late President Theodore Roosevelt who popularized this term when he said he ventured on a safari of enormous proportions. His intention was to fill up the Smithsonian Institute with a lot of African specimens. Approximately 11,400 animals fell prey to this project of which 512 were huge games ranging from lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, and buffalos. There were even six white rhinos.
All these led to the negative connotation of the word safari. These days, though, slowly, this term is evolving to a much more positive meaning. Many modern associations, with environmental and social projects, have slowly made safari travel an exciting expedition rather than a blood-filled sport of some kind.
Nowadays, the traditional African safari centers on appreciating the African wildlife and certainly not limited to just game viewing.
Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Black And Young Penshell Inlay Torchiere Table Lamp, Leopard Pattern, Brass Accents 1700-371
Modern Safari
While safari still includes wildlife appreciation, it is chiefly for adventure rather than a killing spree. Many of the safari expeditions, in fact, have benefitted the African wildlife because of their conservation efforts.
Safaris are now looked up to as holiday trips and a means to take part in the protection of animal species. Going on these trips also means you immerse yourself in the beautiful African culture while you enjoy nature’s wonders.
When it comes to interior design, there are many new African trends. All the warm colors that the Kalahari Desert is able to offer can now be beautifully replicated in your home.
All the beautiful and natural elements of angular wooden furniture, light-colored wood walls, ethnic motif, pottery, patterned textiles, and animal skins are highly appreciated in the design industry.
African Safari Design Characteristics
Simply put, this style comes all the way from Africa. This is no less than the sunniest continent in the whole world so you need the typical colors there. Look for warm, sunny colors that would remind you of the deserts, the oases that are scattered there, clay, dry leaves, the sun, and the bright, blue skies.
These colors, therefore, are mainly ocher, orange, shades of red, yellows, browns, burgundy, and bright blue. There are no cool colors since all things there are literally sun-drenched.
The eclectic beauty of African safari design is most appropriate in cold regions where winters linger. This unique style will surely draw warmth into your home even when all hell is breaking loose outside.
Light walls are reminiscent of the clay material in African homes. You can recreate this by using Venetian plaster, embossed wallpaper, or paint.
As for your furnishings, be sure to add dark wood pieces. These have to be slightly artisanal with eclectic accents or ethnic prints. Use faux animal prints for your fabrics.
Make use also of decorative materials that were made in African eclectic style. The African tribes are known for their unique art so go ahead and copy their different motifs of Ikat pattern, zebra design, tribal figurines, etc.
Tags: eclectic design, eclectic Safari theme, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Safari interior design, Safari style, Safari theme
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on How to Recreate Safari Influence in Interior Design
Thursday, September 15th, 2016
Safari is a term derived from a Swahili word meaning to travel, though the Arabic term safara means a journey. Its implication is that of a game that needs to be hunted, shot and eventually dragged by tribesmen. It was President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt who popularized this concept when he had it brought to the U.S.
Basically, safari had a negative connotation to it.
The Safari Evolution
These days, the modern world has completely changed the meaning of this once negative term. It is now being associated to being socially and environmentally responsible when it comes to traveling.
Safari travel in Africa is now a journey that includes game viewing and spending time in national parks. Safari will always involve wildlife and birds, more so their sanctuaries, so you won’t conjure thoughts of bloodshed anymore when this term is mentioned.
Adding Some Jungle Love
The Safari style is all about adding a little jungle love into your home. Man caves and lady pads can also exhibit this beautiful design. It is commonly used to create the wonderful illusion of being in tropical grandeur. All you need to add are some tribal music CDs and you’re good. If you want to raise the temperature up some more, then amp up the African décor.
Using the safari theme is not easy. You are required to plan and to invest in a lot of mirrors. There are also materials that are uniquely safari such as –
Bamboo – this is mainly used in the bedroom where the ultimate jungle should be. There are various styles of bamboo beds that are suitable for this very purpose. Match this bed frame with a bureau and a dresser plus a steamer trunk right at the foot of the bamboo bed and you’re having an awesome start.
Goin’ ape? Add bamboo curtains complete with bamboo slats. Vertical blinds will also offer the same touch.
Authentic African hangings – your jungle room should have the genuine deal. Have some masks and other African wall hangings that will ascertain your theme. There is no mistaking that yours is an African theme if you add wildlife wall murals, banana trees, or some interesting (if not scary) masks.
An Exotic Bird – if you want to commit to this theme then you might as well go all out. How about having a pet macaw or parrot? Just make sure that you research about the feeding and proper care of any of these exotic birds. Don’t make the mistake of cramping your new pet into a small cage. Buy a cage that is large enough for the bird to flit around in.
Your guests will surely be awestruck with the beautiful bird; just be prepared to handle a little bird noise. Plus, it might help if you talk to your landlord first and ask about any animal restrictions in your area.
Greenery – no African theme is deemed successful without any plant. Bring in some potted plants but make sure that you keep them well-lit, fed and watered. Palm trees are a great choice and so are a couple of banana trees.
African Accents – you would want to convince everyone about your theme so invest in some bamboo lampshades, too. If you can have an elephant, gorilla or lion standee, then use it. Any of them are great conversation starters which will make you an interesting social being in the sight of your friends and visitors.
Cap the African theme by covering an entire wall with a map (of Africa if needs be). If you are bringing friends over, you could don your khaki pants and boots, grab a pair of binoculars and you’re all set.
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Tags: African, African design, African interior design, African interiors, African theme, eclectic, eclectic interior design, eclectic interiors, eclectic Safari theme, eclecticism, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Safari design, Safari interior design, Safari style, Safari theme, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2016
mix
This sofa from the Fine Upholstery Collection of FFDM is oozing with eclecticism.
Imagine finding a streamlined L-shaped couch and a lovely shag carpet in the middle of your living room. These can provide the modern side to an eclectic home while any wooden piece will lend the eclectic vibe. The eclectic design is a spectrum of many different styles. It is the gathering of different elements coming from various sources then used together in perfect harmony. This style, however, is not an easy one to replicate more so to create. You need to learn to mix and match certain interior design and decorative elements coming from different themes.
Yeah, this is not as easy as it seems since taking different elements from your favorite styles and throwing them all together is not the way to go. So whether you will design a bungalow or a much wider space, make sure that you have an eye for balance and harmony. Now going back to that L-shaped couch and the wooden center table, such pairing will become acceptable if the background features neutral or any light-colored wall or floor-to-ceiling curtains.
Though you may like different elements separately, these may not look great when brought together. If you want to avoid creating design mess, then you have to be careful about your choices. Moderation is key to creating the contrasts that you need. Variety and contrasts, after all, are what comprise eclectic interior design.
What Strikes Your Fancy?
Think of eclectic as the union of the luxurious and simple; neutral and bright; even the East and the West. The leeway that you enjoy is what makes this whole design scheme tricky. Keep in mind that the borderline between chaos and acceptable contrast is very thin. The leeway that you enjoy is what makes this whole design scheme tricky.
Do you think you have the skill to mismatch something systematically? This is the very core of eclecticism. Find enough elements that will become the foundation. This common ground will be responsible for harmonizing everything else.
Any room, for instance, can showcase wooden furniture pieces that can give your home a rustic and earthy feel. Yet they could also turn out to be overpowering or monotonously boring if you do not use them carefully. Find decor pieces that will soften the overall look of your home (bright throw pillows or colorful area rugs for instance).
Don’t bother about matching chairs. Use a narrow palette and a dash of both shimmer and silhouette. Find artwork, accents, rugs, and lighting elements that play well with your background. Use light against the dark, flat and glossy, traditional and modern. Always look for prospects of creating analogous unions.
This inspiring dining set from the FFDM American Cherry Collection is a powerful anchor to the ornate carpet.
Another great rule of eclecticism is to edit as you go. It will be impossible to cram all your ideas in one room. As you go along, you will observe that finding the right balance becomes easier. Establish optical marriages of furniture and artwork, shapes and finishes, even focal point and accent pieces.
The fundamental pieces should serve as the anchor to your whole theme. Architectural elements can be repeated throughout, say, a gold-colored chair propped against a distressed white desk in your home office, all against pearly white painted walls, trim and door posts.
Before bringing any piece to a room, consider its relationship to the rest of the design elements. Will it overwhelm or become a dull addition? If this is so, then it is certain that your furniture piece should go someplace else.
Accessories Uttermost Iced Trees Abstract Art 31304 is a frameless masterpiece that spells eclectic throughout. This artwork will surely leap to life in any room.
Scale, composition and proportion are always important when it comes to interior design, however, they become crucial the moment they are used in a home with incongruent design elements. Pay attention to the mixture of artwork and accessories as there should be nothing unintentional in your space.
Lastly, eclectic design is also about texture layering. Create depth by bringing in on Oriental carpet onto a wooden flooring and trim. Upholstery pieces look great when paired with sleek desks. Different textures can create visual sensations that will surely excite the senses.
Tags: contrast, eclectic, eclectic design, eclectic interior design, eclectic interiors, eclectic Safari theme, eclecticism, guidelines, interior design contrasts, match, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, mixing and matching furniture, mixing designs, mixing interior designs, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | Comments Off on Eclectic Design: Your Home, Your Style
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