home decor

This is the first post of a series I have planned to focus on arranging objects in a pleasing way in your home.  The same principles of design that are the backbone of a good painting can be applied to designing a room or a vignette.  People often know when something doesn't look right , but they might not be able to articulate why they have that feeling. I thought I would focus on some of the finer points that can move a space from fine to fantastic. Do you have.... Kissing objects  That's the best way to describe objects that touch each other or look like they are touching  thus causing an odd tension/confusion.  Is it one object? Two objects? Why are they side by side? etc.  source These two nesting dolls tell the story.  Do you want to move them apart? Another thing that happens when object touch or are too close together is the creation of boring negative space especially when the objects have the same form. You can see that the shape between the ...

Modern style is a clean, streamlined furniture and architecture style that first appeared in the  1930s with roots in the German Bauhaus School of Design and Scandinavian modern design.   The modern movement was a response to what happened in design and history up to that point.  Art, architecture and  interior design broke from traditional detailing and styles and forged a new path. Modern design is still a prominent style in today's homes where homeowners seek original mid century modern furniture and accessories or resort to reproduction pieces.   Defining characteristics of  modern interior design include:  John Maniscalco Architecture  simple, minimal, flat surfaces and unbroken lines  low profile furniture with raised legs for an airy look  wood floors but sometimes, cork, cement or rubber minimal accessories emphasis on form, geometric shapes large windows that let the outside in natural elements for accessories (large pl...

A client recently asked me if valances were outdated.  Of course the answer is never yes or no in decor;   it's usually "that depends".  When it comes to window treatments for 2013 the key works are  streamlined  and crisp.  The once popular love for  yards of gathered  or draped material, floppy tabs and ruffles has died a quiet death.  A valance is a  soft  window treatment  made from fabric that is used at the top of  a window and usually mounted on a strip of wood or a  velcro rod.  Valances  conceal drapery hardware, blinds  or architectural flaws and are commonly used in more traditional decor to add layers and soften the decor. Valances are not to be confused with cornices that are usually structured from wood and padded.  I still recommend valances for certain windows and rooms, but you won't see a gather or tab in sight. 1.  Soften a bare window  Sometimes you have windows were p...

My choice for kitchen cabinets has always been white because I just don't like living with dark colours or too much wood grain. I liked white before it became popular; I fought the natural oak trend when we built our home in the mid 80's and now that  dark stained cabinets seem to be the going trend where I live, I continue to love white. Just how popular are white cabinets?   I decided to conduct a very unscientific poll using the kitchen section of Houzz.   I looked at the first 50 pictures of long views of kitchens  sorted by most popular today and here is what I found out:  Of the 50..... 8% were  natural wood or stained wood  There was a mix of  stains...   Laurysen Kitchens Ltd. ....from this very dark espresso like colour ... Paragon Kitchen & Bath Studio .... to a mid value cherry.... Christian Gladu Design .....to n atural wood .  14% were painted colours other than white/cream    Photographer Maxin...

Young children often call Valentine's Day "heart day" .  The heart motif is constantly used in home accessories and these gems aren't just for Valentine's Day; they add lightness and love to your home all year round.   Have you woven any hearts into your home decor? Honey Pie Design This simple, graphic pillow  would look great layered with other pillows that have hits of red. The stitching and asymmetrical layout makes the design. Totally Tutorials Creating a wrapped yarn heart over a wooden or cardboard heart is so simple.  If you create two different sizes you can hang one inside the other. How about Oragne? A great activity if you are bored. source  In 1930s Hungary, farmers  personalized the designs of their grain sacks so that they could easily identify the bag while transporting grain, flour or sugar. Some of these distinct grain sacks are being repurposed as decorative pillows for the home.  A pillow with history.... UncommonGoo...