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Monday, January 25th, 2016
This FFDM Protege chair will be a lovely ‘mismatch’ to another neutral-colored seating piece.
If your heart jumps each time you see a condominium unit or a townhouse, then know that you have to prepare to live in a place that is cozy. Foregoing the idea of an open space plan is not an easy decision to make but should you sign up for this kind of home, then it’s time to look for the right design that is most suitable for it. ‘Ever considered the shabby chic style?
Okay, so you have saved every bit of hard-earned money and have sacrificed on shopping and travel – what now?
Old vs. New
Carefully plan what theme you will use before you move in to your new condominium or townhouse unit. One of the most utilized, these days, when it comes to limited space is the shabby chic concept.
Rachel Ashwell popularized this stylish interior design concept to focus on comfort, highlight the beauty of seemingly time-worn furniture and objects, and for the homeowner to appreciate practical living.
This concept can even guide you in mixing traditional and new pieces. Choose from our catalogue and find the right furniture, accessories and lighting fixtures.
If you are thinking of buying second-hand furniture, think again. It is much better to have new furniture given a distressed appeal than to take the risk of buying the damaged ones. Bargain shops sell at the lowest prices but you are never guaranteed of the quality of the stuff that you are buying. So, it is much better to invest in a few quality pieces than to have different sets of furniture only to end up spending more money on repairs.
Coming from the Ancestry Collection of FFDM, this light-colored drawer is sure to be a big hit inside any shabby chic setting.
Let’s Decorate
The shabby chic style is basically minimalist and is almost synonymous with white. You may paint the walls of your home with flat white, pearl, cream, or any shade of white. Apart from having white(ish) walls, take note that you also need to have a few white furniture and accent pieces. These will add a distinct as well as intimate feel to your home. White furnishings are also easy to clean using your regular household bleach.
Now, which room would you like to design first?
First, there’s the living room. Carry the modern facade from the outside to this part of your home. Your condominium or townhouse unit will surely have a rustic yet cozy appeal once you start bringing in the lovely furniture and accent pieces.
The living room must have a clean yet non-antiseptic feel. It should be minimalist but with a few accent pieces to boost such as a lovely chest, a coffee table, console table, or some shelves.
In the dining room, be sure to showcase a table that was aged to sit perfectly in this important space. Have a Victorian couch rest against the white wall. Wicker chairs would look lovely when placed with white curtains as backdrop.
Now to the kitchen: have the furniture and appliances in neutral colors. This is so they won’t clash with the condo or townhouse’s overall appeal.
If you are one of those who prefer to have a home office, then use a white desk as much as you can. Now couple the lovely white desk with a unique accent chair and some neutral shelves.
Should you still have space for one guest room, then make sure that this room is just as cozy as the rest of your home. Use the same shade on the walls and on the furniture that will be placed there. Since the bed is pretty much the focal point, then take time to choose the ones that you will invest in for the master bedroom as well as this room.
Lastly, with your shabby chic bathroom, ascertain that you do not miss out on an ornate mirror that will bring character to this room. Find one that has a wooden frame that matches the stylish theme that you have chosen.
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Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | No Comments »
Thursday, January 14th, 2016
This classic wooden drawer is from FFDM’s American Cherry Collection.
Southwestern design is defined with earth colors and the richest textures. This means that you should use more of orange, yellow, turquoise, and red clay. Clay tile roofs, terracotta and handcrafted stuff are all welcome in a southwestern home.
Upholstery for this design is chiefly woven fabrics, suede, animal hides or leather. Blankets could be made of traditional native clothing. Do not limit the use for these beautiful pieces inside the bedroom because they can also be great wall decor.
Wood furniture is a must and could also feature metal accents or a distressed finish. The accents used in southwestern environments can be anything from painted ceramics to hand-painted tiles. If you can find early pieces dating all the way back to 16th century Mexico, the better.
Tribal Design Elements
You will see a lot of Native American pieces inside a southwestern home. Elements such as latillas, vigas and other artwork are design themes that are commonly used in architecture. This style is quite earthy as well as organic as it captures the heritage of Arizona and New Mexico areas. Natural accents, colors and other elements look and feel a lot like Mexican, Spaniard, and Native American designs; open floor plans, flat roofs and courtyards, even gardens can become a part of your home.
This Hooker Furniture Living Room Covington Bogue Club Chair has the right color to give life to a southwestern habitat.
Southwestern design makes use of subdued earthy tones like tan, cream, brown, terracotta, and white. These colors are great as backdrop for American Indian-inspired textiles and accents. Azure is a famous color for windows and doors. Any color found in nature such as forest green, salmon, sunny yellow and slate blue can fit perfectly in southwestern interiors.
Southwestern furniture should be unpretentious. Say no to anything intricate. Cherry, walnut, pine, and just about any mid-tone wood would do. It should have soft leather or natural textiles as coverings. Make use of huge pillows right on the floor as well as hammocks in your courtyard. These can be alternative seats for your guests. Always remember that the rooms must be spacious or have a natural flow.
As for the walls, they are often made with the same materials as the exteriors. Mostly adobe, interior walls are roughly plastered. Others use smooth stone or stucco. If you want to add warmth and color onto a boring wall, then use hand-painted tiles. They can also be used in covering kitchen backsplash. If not, use the tiles as individual accents.
Murals are also a huge depiction of southwestern culture. Have spiritual stories or rituals painted on murals then have them installed as a statement wall.
You can also try stucco plaster then add builder’s sand to the paint. You may also use special paint effects such as suede, color washing, or faux paint.
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Biltmore Select Bidjar Rug 1773RS02000300450 at McCreerys Home Furnishings
Southwestern floors are often honey-colored. Other homeowners prefer terracotta tiles. Adding visual interest on your floors is easy. Just arrange the tiles in patterns and layouts.
Parquet or light wood flooring is widely used. You can color this kind of flooring with cobalt blue or any other earthy color to make it more exciting. Carpets and rugs are valuable pieces but if you do not want these in your home, then be sure to opt for hardwood flooring.
Use brick or stones throughout your home without letting the style suffer. Use lovely rugs with traditional patterns and colors brighten up the room.
Southwestern accents are mostly paintings, candles, wrought-iron stuff, dried flowers, sculptures, pottery (the hand-painted type), and animal skins.
Learn these Southwestern design tips and begin bringing rustic beauty into your lovely home.
Tags: animal print, brick, earthy, guidelines, leather, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Mexican, Mexican interior design, Mexican interiors, Mexican style, Native American, Native American design, natural stone, neutral, neutrals, paint, rustic, rustic decor, rustic design, rustic elements, rustic home, rustic interior design, rustic look, rustic style, rustic theme, southwestern interior design, southwestern interiors, Spanish, stone, textures, tips, tribal, warm colors, wood elements, wood furniture, wooden elements, wrought iron, wrought iron furniture
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Wine bottles in this photo are from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection.
Choosing to highlight the rooms in your home with a vineyard or wine theme can add a casual ambience that is often linked to country French or Tuscan style. Wine accents permeate your place with a glamorous yet tranquil atmosphere. Pick hues that are commonly found in nature to harmonize with your wine accents. Use sage green, burgundy, and deep blue for a calming effect. Sunshine yellow and red, on the other hand, can make a room come to life. If you want to add a hacienda feel or mission touch, then use rustic textures.
This lovely wine rack is also from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection
Guidelines for the Innovative Vineyard Theme
First, what is a wine theme without bottles of wine, right? Keep those wine bottles in a wine rack made of wrought-iron. If you can find those with grapevine and grape bunch embellishments then do so. Display this kind of rack inside your Napa Valley design kitchen.
You can also set up a wine bar with different kinds of wines placed on a glass-topped, wrought-iron table. If you don’t want to take the risk on metal, then go safe with the traditional beauty of wooden racks. To add a country feel, wind some grapevines among the wine bottles.
As guests arrive, place fresh grapes with cheese board showcasing a number of cheeses, crackers, crusty bread, and fruits. Place a terracotta ice bucket complete with a vineyard logo and wine glasses and you’d be the talk of the town!
Now don’t think that the wine theme is just great for your kitchen. You can bring this same rustic look to your bedroom by grouping grapevine wreaths on the place where the headboard should have been. Embellish these with sunflowers to achieve the sunniest Tuscan atmosphere. Here, you should opt for faux grapes complete with dried herbs or some yellow starflowers.
Put this same treatment above the couch in your living room. You can pick one oversized wreath or settle with a group of smaller ones.
Of course, just like any design, one of the fundamental guidelines in achieving cohesion or balance is the use of a focal point.
Make a focal point inside the dining room or kitchen by using a wine puller collection showcased on a bead board backsplash. Put this on the side of the kitchen island or right above the counter.
You can reach a higher level for this look by filling up a pottery bowl (preferably brick red or muted yellow) with different fruits. Use purple and green grapes with all the other fruits, of course. Place this fruit bowl in the middle of your vintage farm dining table. None can be more perfect as a rustic centerpiece.
The bathroom can also be given an eclectic flair as you place vineyard-themed towels, bathrobes and a shower curtain. If you cannot have these theme towels made, then you can just combine white towels with towels in red or purple shades. Highlight the walls with wallpaper in the same hue or print.
Winners Only Dining Room 52 Inch Franklin Server DFD470B at McCreerys Home Furnishings
Designing a Wine Cellar
You may not be a wine connoisseur but if you enjoy a glass of wine after dinner, then it won’t hurt to use this unique them when you remodel your home. Here are some ideas before you set out to build or remodel –
Never think that the wine cellar is merely a storage area. This is an important room just as much as the dining or living room. Obviously, wine bottles need to be kept in a quiet, undisturbed, cool and private place. While this is so, you should not decorate the space as if no one is ever going to see it.
Add a wooden wine rack or cabinet, even a wrought-iron bar in the corner. These furniture pieces are not just there to beautify; they can also serve as storage units in your cellar or wine room. Add a framed artwork on the wall to complete the artistic vibe in your wine-themed home.
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Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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