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Wednesday, July 20th, 2016
FFDM Antebellum Collection: This is a classic take in setting up a library.
Organizing bookshelves may not be your idea of spending the weekend but there are actually people who are extreme enthusiasts. The bibliophiles even think that books have their own personalities, even histories, thus, they should be displayed for the world to see, not hidden. You may not be as extreme as these people but it is, nevertheless, needful to have books organized.
The Book Organizing Project
It might be a bit challenging to begin organizing your book collections but your efforts will not be wasted, you’ll see. Once every book has a place to call its home, you will soon feel the joys of clutter-free surroundings.
Consider also if there are books that you would be willing to donate. Once you have segregated the books that you still read and those that you will give away, then it’s time to see what sort of bookshelf you will be investing in.
A Place to Reflect
You don’t have to be obsessessed with books just to organize your own library. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be a designated library. There are corners and spaces in your home that are not used or misused. Find those areas and consider setting up your bookshelves or book cabinets there.
If you have a huge collection of books, though, you can make the library as the heart of your home. You can combine the first and second floors of your home then have a circular staircase complete the two-storey library. The double-height book home will surely be more enticing if the stairs are made with elegant oak.
Other options for larger book collections is for the shelves to run from floor to ceiling. You can have a special ladder to go with these shelves. This is the best tool for easy browsing among these shelves.
If you are feeling more magnanimous with your budget, then have your house built around your book cabinets or shelves. These shelvings look best with exposed wood beams and other industrial theme elements. Your book volumes could also stretch up to two storeys accessible by a wooden staircase. The top can have a simple desk overlooking the garden right outside your home. Picture yourself reading a book here while you peek – once-in-a-while – over the top of the novel that you’re reading.
With smaller collections, you can make do with a book tower. Build this by simply stacking books on the floor. A small wooden desk can also hold your small collections.
Another choice that you can make is to convert an unused corner into your reading nook. Have a designated desk and chair by that corner and have a small stack of books placed on the desk. If you install a corner shelf to house your books, then make sure that it follows the ceiling’s angle. Yet another wooden ladder would make accessibility a breeze.
A crafts desk could also serve as a companion to your bookshelves. Here, you get to hang your arts and crafts on the wall where the desk is nearest. The books can be organized according to the color of their spines if you want to up the level of artistry in that corner.
The Uttermost Accessories Twist Bookends 20140 aren’t your usual bookends.
A Last Reminder
No matter what you decide to come up with regarding your home library, the key is to be able to display the books in a manner that won’t look boring. These books, after all, are meant to be shown. Add a personal touch by mixing a photograph or two in the bookshelves. Remember that saying which says a picture is worth a thousand words? These framed photos should make the display a lot more interesting.
Tags: book collection, book display, book organization, decorating the bookshelf, display tips for books, displaying book collections, displaying books, home library, how to display books, library in your home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing books, setting up a home library, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
FFDM Summer Home Collection: The unifying color in this traditional bedroom is brown in different shades.
Color preferences vary per person, per personality. Some folks like it bright and daring, some feel more secure with neutrals, still others like to experiment. The good news when it comes to using colors is that there is no such thing as a correct palette.
Have you ever gotten inside a home where there is an explosion of colors only to feel that every room seems to be detached from the rest? What’s missing here is what’s referred to by interior designers as cohesion.
The Cohesive Paint Color
A simple way of creating a more cohesive feel is to have color consistency on walls. Connecting spaces, in particular, should have paint color that will harmonize them. This is especially true in an open floor plan.
This does not mean that you should automatically resort to gray, white or beige. You can still use a color that suits your preference so long as the hallways, the foyer and the main connector room are all painted in the same color. The color that you use there will serve as the dominant color in your home.
Plan the Color for Sightlines
People who want variety in their wall colors should pay more attention to sightlines. These are those areas when you are standing inside the living room and you get to look into the other rooms. A clear view of the dining room or the kitchen from there means you have to paint these three rooms with the same paint color. The key here is for all three rooms to work together. Paint them in different colors and what you’d get is a weird look that simply won’t work.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Sunset Point Rectangle Dining Table with Two 18in Leaves
Pick Color Groups
Just as you are admonished to choose your friends well, this is also the case when it comes to choosing your color gang. Your color scheme must effortlessly flow from one room to the next. To achieve this, make sure that you get colors from the same temperature family.
Some people choose to work with the warm color palette, others the cool color scheme such as the blues, grays, and greens.
Another option is to pick one or two hues then use variations. If blue happens to be the main color, then you could pair it with gray-blue or you can always go with pure blue which shifts to navy blue as you move from one room to the other.
This same concept can be used in using decorative accessories.
As for your wall paint, paint stores can provide you with tint of particular colors. Your chosen main color can be knocked down to about 50%; all the mixer has to do is to add more white each time. You can go lighter or darker with the main color that you choose.
Walls should be painted two to three shades lighter than the ceiling color. This won’t look stark when you decide to use white.
Paint decks are also great inspirations in finding colors that harmonize.
Edgy Colors, Hid
Rooms that are out of sightline are great places to experiment on in terms of wilder colors. Powder rooms, master bedrooms, kids’ rooms, and other rooms that are encased in four walls are places that you could colorfully indulge.
So, have you always wanted to paint a room black? Begin with the bathroom!
Bold Colors, Cute Accessories
Accessorizing is an easy way of introducing dramatic hues. Limit the bold colors on your accessories, this is if you’re still uncomfortable about the whole switch from neutrals to bold colors.
Choose a color that will excite the senses, bright colors are great in highlighting a thing or worth.
Tie the rooms with accent colors that alter from room to room, though continuing with the major color throughout. Blue and green in the living room, for example, will mean using one of these colors inside the dining room. You could do blue and yellow in the next room.
Always keep the colors cohesive so that your theme would make more sense to you.
Tags: adding colors to a home, color 101, color basics, color harmony, harmony, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, symmetry
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
1118CR Delancey Club Chair 1586-10443-WH3 Swan Room Divider with File Storage
Who cares if it’s another season and you’d want to feel the warmth of summer in your home? Just picture the beauty of this sunny season, from curtains billowing in the gentle wind, shell décor, freshly-squeezed orange juice, and such, and you would be begging to get into the summer vibe straightaway.
If you’re ready to jump into the summer routine, here are ways to get crafty and creative –
Outdoor Curtains Are In
What could be more summery than white curtains hung outdoors? Add these ASAP to your lovely porch, they are the perfect provisions for privacy and a little shade.
Pearly Shells and Flowers
Begin your decorating project by filling up, partway, a huge glass vase with sand. You can then add shells that you found on the beach to complete this summer decorative piece. If you have kids, have them help out in filling up the vase with their own shell picks.
If shells don’t tickle your fancy then you can always add wild flowers into the glass jar instead. Snip some flowers from your own garden and have them fill a jelly jar. This is the natural alternative to buying those bottled potpourri in shops.
Fun and Calm
What was that again? Yup, you can actually have both fun and calm on the same deck. Place colorful cushions, your guitar on its stand, and your collection of pottery out on your deck. This is the perfect setup for a series of relaxed afternoons in that area.
‘Want to hold parties instead? That’s possible, too. Invite your friends and have a fun party right by the deck.
The All-Summer Bar
Set up a lovely tray complete with some glasses and lime – these are the starter pieces for your summer bar. Add a few summer drinks that you love and – voila – you have an instant bar right in your home.
‘Want to set up the bar outdoors? Then do so. A cabana would be the perfect alternative to a corner bar in your home. Hang a colorful swinging chair to complete the theme.
Speak of outdoor changing area, if you happen to have a pool in your backyard, then it would also be handy to have a changing booth right outside. Be sure to stylize this booth in your home, too.
Summer Spells Remodeling
Remove all sorts of clutter in your home, especially from the kitchen cabinets. Have the unused pieces donated or handed down. You will be amazed at the amount of breathing space that you’d be able to create with some cleanups.
As soon as you’re done cleaning, you can then bring in a visual masterpiece such as well-chosen driftwood. This cool chunk of wood can be placed as a decorative piece on the coffee table or in your bookshelf.
Summer Colors Only
It’s only logical to use lively colors when setting up a summer-themed home. Use blue as it is the perfect representation of the color of water. This offers a calming and cooling effect that is very gentle to the eyes.
Orange tones also work because it is as energetic as the rays of the summer sun. Use it with yellow or red to bring a zing to your home.
Whoever thought soft gray could also work on a summer theme? Its neutrality will add that classic touch to the bright yellows that you bring in. This gives any home a concrete-like vibe so it is a convenient and cool foundation to your summer elements.
Pink is a standalone color that will create an impact that’s difficult to forget. Use champagne pink or hot pink to complement the summer hues all over your home.
The Beach Theme
You can never go wrong with white and blue stripes when it comes to summer design so go ahead and freshen up your bed with these crisp stripes. This fusion of colors provides the needful beach house elegance so shop around for the coolest bedding and accessories.
Bring in a surfboard, roll up some beach towels by your front entrance, have everything as bright and sunny as your disposition and, yes, no one can beat your lovely summer theme.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips, white, white color palette, white color scheme, white furnishings, white in interior design, white interior design, white interiors, white palette
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, July 18th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Bedroom Rhapsody King Tufted Bed is nested in a neutral background. Its wooden frame pops from this sea of neutrals.
Muted tones are the go-to colors when you want to be safe with your interior design; yet, at times, you would think what you have created is a masterpiece of muted tones only to end up with a bright, colorful mess.
Neutral tones only become effective in interiors if you know which elements to work with. You need to be subtle, to begin with, and creative enough to make the muted tones more interesting. Know the basics such as which paint color goes with which furniture and what rugs to use on certain areas. After you figure out the major elements, it is also your duty to come up with the pieces that will populate your home such as potted plants, books, artwork, and other things that would bring a personal touch to your place.
Always Within Bounds
The walls are your biggest challenge when it comes to choosing the right color. There is a wide array of shades that come from the same color family so it is wise to choose from within these. Whether you go from ligher to darker or the other way around, picking colors that come from the same color family will give your home a unified look.
Espoused Colors
A basic palette for any room is the tone-on-tone neutrals plus two accent hues. An example is having blue trim paired with an orange-red area rug.
Layer with Love
Homeowners always default to the creation of a purposeful interior. Layering is great for your interiors so long as you use colors in moderation. Again, just to be on the safe side, neutrals can make your life a whole lot easier.
A natural woven area rug will surely work well with in pulling together the rest of the décor. This is a piece that automatically adds texture and softness. In addition to this, pick artworks when you are out to coordinate or complement colors. Art pieces should be in proportion with the room. A few large artworks render a better visual effect than a group of smaller ones. This is – if – you are aiming for the classic look.
1586-50011-SLV2 Alchemist Bar Cabinet
Balance In All Things
As you work with neutrals in your contemporary kitchen, keep glossy cabinets and pieces with sharp edges grounded by having organic elements brought in. Wooden finishes have the power to amplify the beauty of streamlined looks; so bring softness inside the kitchen by having wooden countertop.
Infuse Lively Colors
Don’t think that life in colors is limited only to the bright hues. You can still use neutral colors but still achieve the beauty of a lively interior. Neutrals provide the usual serenity and cleanliness but there is also no denying that they can enhance the mood in any room.
Raspberry-colored pillows, for instance, that have the same prints as your neutral wallpaper would surely jive.
Don’t Forget the Frivolity
Most of the time, you are so engrossed on how the room would eventually look that you end up missing out on special elements that should be used. Lighten the mood with exciting accessories such as animal print pillows with neutral colors blending well with the rest of the design elements.
If you prefer neutral design with a little edge, then go ahead and combine gray or white walls with some industrical accent pieces. There are many industrial-themed pieces in the market now that will provide a convincing aged look for your home.
Being frivolous is simple if you add some natural elements such as potted plants into your home. Successful neutral design is all about popping the right elements against a muted background. Achieve this and you’re already an expert in your own right.
Tags: adding colors to a home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, neutral design, neutral hues, neutral interior design, neutral interiors, neutrals, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Saturday, July 16th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Huntington Morrison Stationary Sofa is already awesome on its own.
Good ol’ days those are, when your grandma used to knit covers for your tables and chairs at home. These seem to exude a homey charm that is just difficult to resist. You may deem these accents to be traditional but you would be surprised at how versatile each of them could get.
Getting to Know the Knit Fabric
A knitted fabric is different from woven ones because of their single continuous yarn that comes in loops and beautiful braid formations. These cute loops give the knitted fabrics their characteristic elasticity.
Classic cable-knit blankets are often draped over benches, sofas, beds and chairs for obvious reasons – to create a down-home look. Pretty much everyone also favors the off-white knitted fabric more than any other color. This might be because it offers a universally comforting look with its pure cotton yarn and all.
The Sofa Sweater
If sweaters can cover beds, then what’s stopping you from using them on your sofa, too? A canopy can shield soft fibers from harsh elements. This only proves that a knitted cover can also look and feel great even in warmer weathers.
Other Smart Sofa Covers
The classic sofa often comes with a neutral color. Though it often comes with a durable fabric, nothing should stop you from dressing it up. You have the leeway to use throws, pillows, and textiles. There are many other ways to dress up almost every aesthetic.
Say no to the sofa being a bore by injecting texture, pattern, and interesting colors. Even a single lumbar pillow on a simple linen sofa should be able to provide a bold statement because of its length and color. A simple way to add impact on any neutral furniture piece is to add a patterned pillow. This is great for those who prefer the minimalist appeal.
Sometimes, all it just takes is an exciting textile draped across the seat of a boring sofa. This should inject a huge dose of color and pattern but in a non-committal sort of way. For those who are bold enough to use a patterned sofa can drape a simple solid-colored fabric or blanket over it. This should protect the seating unit from sticky hands and stinky paws.
A bolster that reflects the same bold-colored accessories throughout the room is certainly going to be eye-catching. This piece can tie with the colors of an artwork hanging on one of the living room walls while making a powerful statement of its own.
Decorative pillows on a cream sofa could have the same exciting color or they could contrast the solid or patterned look that the sofa offers. When you see a thing of beauty such as this sofa, wouldn’t you be enthused to cuddle up with your loved on at night?
A natural linen sofa can be everything but boring because it can have an exciting cover that comes in a variety of color, shape or texture. Pillows can either stand out or make the sofa fade in the background or it could blend with the background and make a superstar out of the sofa.
A mixture of pillow patterns and sizes will give the sofa a sophisticated look. Have them mirror-arranged, meaning, each piece should have a spouse.
If you ever want to try any of these in your home, then begin by picking accent pieces like slipseats or stools, natural eye-catchers, all of them. These will surely make the sofa’s dress a lot more interesting. This is also great when you want to achieve a more eclectic glow in the living room.
So, should you dress up your sofa?
Absolutely.
Fine Furniture Design Living Room Sofa With Wood Arm Panel 0810-01 shows how stripes and florals can actually work together.
Tags: couch, dressing up the sofa, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sofa, sofa design elements, sofa designs, sofa fabric, sofa upholstery, tips
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Saturday, July 16th, 2016
1586-90001-BLK2 The Poet Eight-Drawer Dresser: Ample lighting and minimal furnishing also does the trick when it comes to creating room height.
Every man is in love with height. People travel throughout the world just to take a glimpse of towers such as the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building. Monuments also elicit the same awe. This same feeling can be duplicated by high ceilings inside your own home. Though in a much smaller scale, they can produce a portion of the awe that one would feel when looking at towering monuments. If, however, you have a home that has a limited amount of height, then it’s time to create the illusion of a higher ceiling.
Begin with Shelving Units
Use tall, skinny bookshelves that can make the beholder look upwards. Always remember that drawing the eyes upward will always evoke the illusion of height.
After fixing the height of your living room shelves, it’s time to visit the kitchen. The cabinets should be as tall as possible but the width should be limited. The aesthetic effect might make reaching the top shelf a little more difficult but it’s going to be worth your effort.
Use Full-Height Doors
Another effective yet simple way that you can make your space feel taller and a bit more open is when you use a full-height door. Having taller passageways is also a must. Keep in mind that lower passageways tend to make the space feel and look more oppressive.
Ceiling-High Curtains
You might want to try hanging your curtains right from the ceiling. This will create that elusive illusion of height. If you want to further emphasize on the height that you just created, then use a curtain that has a ripple-fold detail. This vertical feature is sure to bring the eyes up, height up into the ceiling.
The Grand Fireplace
Use the fireplace instead of just having it sit there, useless, for years. Emphasize the room height by, first, creating a great-looking focal point out of this fireplace. Put the finish on the fireplace but this time, bring it all the way up into the ceiling. This will not just create an illusion of height but also something grand.
FFDM Boulevard Collection features this vertical bookshelf.
Monochrome Painting
When you paint your walls, ceilings and baseboards, make sure that you use the same color. This is so you get to blur the lines where the ceiling and the walls meet. If the wall color is just too dark for your ceiling then be sure to dilute it with 50% white. That’s the color that you can then try on your ceiling.
The Age-Old Mirrors
Make use of a full-length mirror to create the illusion of a higher ceiling. This is almost an ancient trick that every magician seems to know. Mirrors are basically tools of illusion to begin with.
The Clear Chandelier
When you want to use a chandelier on a low ceiling, then choose one that you can actually see through instead of the usual dense types. Hang this piece at no less than 36 inches from the dining table. This will give the lighting piece a seemingly far appearance.
Buy Low Furniture
When you pick low-profile furniture pieces, you inevitably create the illusion of a much higher ceiling. Of course, a low-hung ceiling just has to have a low-lying furniture. This kind of furnishing can even produce dramatic effects for your home.
Feature Walls
If you have to have a feature wall on a low-ceiling apartment, then be sure to orient this wall vertically. Be bold when designing a low ceiling. Just remember not to emphasize the lowness of the ceiling during the process.
Declutter
Cluttered rooms or ones that are too stuffed just won’t work with a low-ceiling home. Every item that is not needful but remains in the room will add to the look and feeling of the room being boxed in. Make good use of storage methods to keep your home tidy.
Tags: creating height, creating height illusion, illusion of height, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Friday, July 15th, 2016
1586-90002A-GLD1 Bewitch Nine-Drawer Mirrored Dresser
Falling in love with a room that you have just seen from the pages of a magazine is a normal feeling. Some could even be envious. Most would dream of having a lovely kitchen, living room or dining room but only a handful would wish for a dressing room instead.
If you are dreaming of having the same space in your home, then there some guidelines that can help you do just that. Be ready to invest in recreating the best dressing rooms that you will find online. Tweak them a little and you make the design your own.
An Unused Corner
This is all that you will need to have a decent dressing area. A corner on your bedroom should be allocated for your dream dressing area. Be sure to show the line of demarcation between the dressing zone and the sleeping area.
Place a free-standing rack for your clothes. This rack doubles as a storage rack plus a guard for your privacy.
Have a full-length mirror set up at this corner, too. This will allow you to check your appearance before you leave for work. An ornate frame should add character and appeal to this mirror.
An ottoman or chair is yet another item that you should add to your dressing area. This is a practical place where the owner could sit while putting on a pair of shoes. This could also serve as a surface where you could lay your clothes when you are getting dressed.
Complete that corner by laying down an area rug. This provides a comfortable underfoot piece. It will also protect your floor from scratches and scuffs brought about by hard soles and high heels. Apart from defining the zone, an area rug will also make your design scheme more awesome.
Using a Folding Screen
Also known as a modesty screen, the folding screen is practical and compact. This is a wonderful solution to your designated dressing room.
Folding partition will close off the nook that you segregated for the dressing nook. This is a great area where someone can change his clothes without worrying about others taking a peek. This is also a piece that will surely not compete with the bedroom scheme.
Partition in the Bathroom
The folding screen will also be a great addition to the bathroom, especially to one that has heavy traffic. All you have to do is to duck while showering while allowing other family members to use the other part of the bathroom.
Just make sure that you choose a folding screen that is water-resistant like faux leather. Mirrors and wood furnishing could also be waterproofed so they are better able to withstand the damp surroundings.
Accessorize
You have to get some dressing room essentials for your walk-in closet of sorts. Install a full-length mirror so it becomes a walk-in closet instead of a simple dressing area. See if you can also put a comfortable chair or bench plus a dressing table. Be sure to relax and sit down while you dress up and put on your shoes.
The Thomasville Living Room Shenandoah Bench 1091 18 is a great alternative to an ottoman or a couple of chairs.
Find a way to display your accessories, too.
Bed Placement Rule
One easy way to squeeze your dressing area to an open-plan bedroom is to properly reposition your bed. Instead of the usual placement against the wall, you should consider moving your bed forward just a few feet. Install a tall headboard, a bookcase, or a room divider right behind it. This is an effective way to zone off the area right behind the partition. This will easily become a private nook where anyone can get dressed in peace.
Tags: designing the dressing room, dressing room, dressing room design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Friday, July 15th, 2016
1586-75203A-BRN1 Horizon Line Round Dining Table is great for small dining areas because it occupies less space than square tables.
Any size of dining space is often dressed up in a formal manner. This becomes more so if that space is rarely used. If the dining room should become your remodeling project, then you have to design with care. You will be making an inviting and warm place where you could gather friends and relatives so make it showcase your personal style.
Revelry in Neutrality
Neutral colors can be used with some interesting textures if you are setting up a dining nook. Use wicker chairs to contrast any smooth and sleek table. A corner banquette should have ample seating for everyone. If drawers can be made available at the bottom, then this is an additional storage to the dining nook.
The Wondrous Duo
You just gotta make the most out of a small dining room. See how you can make the seats double as a storage unit.
You can also take the dualism up a notch by dressing up the small dining room with anything two tone. Dark colors can also have a room inside smaller spaces so long as you pair them with the right neutrals.
Go Deep
Small dining rooms are generally nooks that have been carved out of bigger spaces. It is your role to unify the area with the adjacent spaces. Employ like design characteristics in order to achieve harmony. Imagine this, just a foot or two away from the kitchen, you could have a nook that models the black and white theme. This same color should be available in an adjacent room but there has to be distinguishing accents (e.g. plum).
A square table can be effectively contrasted by a round lighting fixture. Silver-lined cabinets would add a modern touch so go ahead and them all together.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Chablis Backless Barstool also occupies less space than regular dining chairs.
Warmth and Coziness
Another rule to remember is for you to follow the banquette bench lines. This is for optimal seating concerns. This quite useful in a narrow nook; that rounded bench plus an oval-shaped table can fill the limited space nicely. These round corners make movements or getting in and out of the dining area a lot easier.
Use curtains that will cover just half of the windows so that natural light will still be allowed to pour in. Since it’s covering the other half of your window, then you still get the privacy that you need.
Pop Some Color
Use bright colors to give some life to your petite dining room. Use hues of orange and pink to bring excitement and energy in the room. Corner banquette can save you some space while making your dining room appear cozy.
Bold print on the throw pillows and window shades could make the room appear contemporary.
A Relaxation Nook
Another design that would work in a small dining room is having a dining booth. A white bench with striped cushions will also contribute to the light-heartedness and comfort in the small room. Use a pedestal table minus the legs on the corner. This should make it easy for you to get in and out of your dining booth.
Learn to Blend
The white corner banquette can easily blend in with any white décor and the equally white walls. Cream cushions go well with printed pillows. This combination will make the banquette pop up. To complete the look, add texture and color to the corner.
Dark table can contrast a white color scheme and this is the simplest that you could go. Lamp sconces on your wall would also provide the subtle lighting needed. Framed canvas and artwork can also add more character as well as color to the small space.
With quarters that are tight, are you ready to apply what you have just learned?
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, small dining room, small dining room design, tiny dining room, tiny dining room design, tips
Posted in Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Tiny Homes | No Comments »
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Sanctuary Four-Drawer Thin Console may appear distressed but it also offers a bluish hint. This makes it unique.
Many designers have been approached by clients and asked if they can create a French style for their house. This may not be the correct term to use but if you ask enough, you would then learn that what clients mean are whitewashed furniture, candleholders, lanterns, chandeliers, white lace and linen towels. Silver trays work, too.
Apparently, French style actually means French provincial or shabby chic. Some can even see elements of this style inside French homes. So, what makes a home essentially French?
A Little Geography Lesson
Each region in France comes with its own identity and style. There are also different decorative materials and building structures. These give the regions their own distinctiveness along with a unique regional culture that is too hard to ignore.
Don’t think of Versailles as the capital of everything that’s French. This could prove to be true if you were living in the time of King Louis XIV. His was an era of royal debauchery and the excesses the monarchs had unsurprisingly led to their downfall.
If you’re thinking of going French then you have to learn to do things in moderation. Being excessive like Louis XV is not going French. In fact, moderation is the very concept of French style. Use deliberate designs but not in such a way that they are no longer discreet. The features must look effortless.
Even children’s bedrooms that are done in French style should be minimalist. The color palette should be simple and the rest of the space, clean.
Aim for Harmony, Not Luxury
Almost all French people don’t like vulgarity and garishness. To them, what’s elegant and beautiful are those that have zero glitz, shine, travertine, gold brocade, polished mahogany or fine silk. The lesson here is, for as long as the design elements feel right to you, then they’re just that – they’re right for you.
Materials that are good for French style are wood, terra cotta, stone, plaster, iron and steel. You should consider using prewashed linen because it is soft but has creases, it’s never perfect but it feels just right.
All’s Not White
French people don’t live in an all-white home. While many people believe that white is the fundamental color of anything French, this isn’t the case at all. French people actually feel that this color is too impersonal.
If you want to do it the authentic way, then you’d have to settle for neutrals. The French palette is all about being subtle so use a lot of gray, beige, light blue, black, taupe, brown, or sage. The patterns have to be discreet just like the rest of the design elements.
Orient Express Furniture Bar and Game Room Harper Barstool – Stone Wash Bisque French Linen 6415-BSUP.SW BIS
French Can Be Colorful, Too
When you have to use color, then you’ll have to embrace the vibrant hues that tend to make a statement. Make sure that you keep it simple, though. Use no more than dual colors since having too many colors in a room is just wrong.
Since French homes tend to be small, they use color in order to maximize space or to define zones. A one-room apartment, for instance, would do well to reduce its clutter and to have small cabinetry and accent colors in lime green, peacock blue, terracotta orange, red, hot pink or mustard yellow.
French Is Eclectic
If you’re also thinking that going French also means being traditional, then you’re wrong again. Instead, you’d have to embrace eclecticism. This is because the French have undergone evolving civilizations; hence, there isn’t a single French identity. So go ahead and mix styles and eras and you don’t even need to apologize for that.
The French has a complex history so if you try to sum it all up in one box, then you’re going the wrong way. While you can use whitewashed furnishings, you are also welcome to use anything rustic.
Tags: French, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, French interior design, French interiors, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
FFDM’s Villa Cascina: Wood tones are a great alternative to black.
Color plays a huge role when it comes to interior design. The mood of an entire room can change in a jiff with the right or wrong color choice. The wrong choice will conceal interesting designs, helping create a dull space. A color that is just right spells success for the designer, it can make an art pop, or it can make the neighbors swoon in envy. When creating drama for your room, though, perhaps you’ve been told that there is no better color than black.
Embracing Dark Colors
So, you want to use dark colors in your home. There is a wide array of hues to choose from – there’s navy blue, dark chocolate, charcoal, etc. All these colors are hues that people normally shy away from. If you want to use them, then you’re one of the few that are willing to.
Pick the Room
Or more like, pick the right room. Darker colors have the capacity to make a room appear more intimate or cozy. There are rooms such as the parlor or bedroom which would do well with such intimacy. Imagine the deep charcoal color on your bedroom walls, wouldn’t they be lovely? If you want to hold cocktails with your friends in your large living area, then have them gaze at a little more drama…well, not your drama but the depth of emotions that the dark walls would evoke.
The master bedroom should have a cocoon-like ambience. Chocolate brown walls inside this room would make the white linens and wood tone furniture pieces pop out.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Balmoral Maurice Recliner comes in delicious navy blue.
Add Contrast
Reddish brown tones on upper portions of any room can be offset by white wainscoting as well as a white wood ceiling. There isn’t a better way to welcome your guests than with the rich drama of your home’s furnishings and accessories.
Don’t resort to the usual black and white when achieving contrast. Remember that there are many other color combinations that you could experiment with.
Your palette for the hallway should be simple – deep brown and white would be the simplest. White picture frames on a white console table plus a unique mirror should fuse beautifully.
If you want to highlight bright colors, on the other hand, use deep neutral tones for depth. You might think that having brown in the nursery might be a little off but the right tone could work with the right artwork and the right shade of furniture.
You can also use dark tones to showcase beautiful architectural features. A powder room, for instance, would be more interesting if you add the right contrast. The walls painted in truffle can be used to balance white architectural features such as crown molding, trim or the shutters.
The contrast is what would make you want to look at the featured architectural piece so better do the color contrasts right.
Lighting for Dark Hues
No matter what room you’re considering to remodel, think what sort of lighting you would be using. A full lighting system should be set up to highlight your art gallery wall. Spread the light all around the room unless you have to put a ceiling fixture that needs to focus on a furniture piece or a work of art.
Go-To Colors
Alright, so it has been established that black isn’t the only dramatic color in the world. But what colors would be just as appealing?
Begin with navy. This classic nautical color would look wonderful whether in a male or female room. This is also a great choice for the guestroom since it comes with a neutral appeal.
Warm gray and charcoal are cool off-black hues. A hint of brown somewhere is also a wonderful choice for any bedroom. This is especially useful if black is too stark for you.
Other colors that are not black are cool gray, anything chocolatey, burgundy, emerald, deep forest, and chalkboard.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark color schemes, dark colors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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