Category: entry

Insanely elegant interiors

Elegant Interiors

Elegant interiors need not mean gaudy ostentatious interiors. True elegance lies in class, understatement, and boatloads of taste. The spaces below epitomize what I consider elegance. Enjoy!

That creamy blue gray, the elaborate moulding, and those aged hardwood floors? Heaven!

The perfect blue wall that’s not too bright or too dull, and a timeless piece of quality wood furniture make this room perfection.

This room for me is just on the cusp of being too “rich”, but the modern art keeps it from being too much luxe.

Images above via 2018 Design Trends courtesy of Tatiana Machado-Rosas of Jackson Design & Remodeling

Wowsa. Those rugs and the aged floors bring the mouldings on the wall down to earth.

via Pinterest via This is Glamorous

The playful pink velvet pillow provides a needed break from jewel tones. I never would have thought to put those curtains with that wall color, but I really like it.

via Pinterest via Kvartblog.eu

Looks like the perfect intimate room to enjoy a glass of wine or a good novel.

via Pinterest via Apartment 34

Check out our other post on Incredibly chic and elegant homes

January 18, 2018
Ideas for Expanding Your Home

There is nothing quite like having your own home. Your house is your castle and you are free to make whatever changes you see fit. This allows for all sorts of customizations which add value to the house, but mostly make it more livable. Most people will remodel the kitchen or knock down walls, but why stop there? Adding new rooms or additions to the house will help give it a unique charm, expand interior floor space, and offer new customization options. Here are just a few ideas for ways you can expand your home.

First: Consider Your Property Lines

Obviously, when thinking about making an addition to your home, you have to keep the property lines in mind. You do not want to completely obliterate the back yard, and even if that is your goal, taking up too much space can mean no more room to grow in the future. You will want to keep some space between property lines and your home regardless, as this provides room for contractors to work in. Not just builders, but any future contractors you may need to bring in for whatever reason.

Second: Consult with a Professional

When considering an addition to your house, consult with a professional architect. They can take a look at the layout of your existing home and make recommendations to keep your addition aesthetically pleasing while delivering what you are after. Note that we cannot guarantee that everything you want is possible with your existing home, but if it is – a professional will figure it out.

Start from the Back

The most common starting point for additions is to look into the back yard. Patios, pavilions, or a simple entryway in the back can help connect your home to the yard. In fact, depending on how you structure and organize the addition, you may even be able to create the sensation of your home spilling out into the yard. This can be an excellent addition for a kitchen – creating an outdoorsy space to enjoy your meal.

Consider Building Up

This depends on your foundation and local building codes, but other than those there is nothing stopping you from building up. This idea can be especially good if you are running out of room to expand. You have a number of design choices available if you choose to add a second floor to your building. Balconies are popular additions once you have some living areas constructed. It can also be a way to feel on top of the world when working from a home office.

Keep Function in Mind

When making any additions to your house, keep the function of these additions in mind. Having an idea of what you want that you do not have will inform your architectural decisions. Let your mind go wild when thinking of these additions, and only take the time to temper them down when it comes time to plan out the addition.

Do Not Neglect the Basics

When you are planning an addition to the home, it can be easy to forget the basics. Remember that you want any comforts available now to remain available throughout the home. This means remembering the electrical systems, cable systems, and of course climate control. Speak with your service providers to get recommendations about how to make sure these services remain available with any addition to your home. This is especially the case with climate control – consider a mini-split system so you do not have go through the trouble of installing potentially expensive ductwork. Cable lines should be run to the new room if it is closed in, along with electrical outlets. Though obviously, an outdoor room might do better without if it is not water-tight – consult with your local contractors when thinking about your addition to make sure your new room is as comfortable as the rest of the house!

this post in consideration with adamsairconditioning.net

December 8, 2017
Pet Friendly Homes

via Lepetitchouchou.com.br

Your household might be toxic or hazardous to your pet without you even knowing. You’re probably aware that chocolate is bad for dogs and cats shouldn’t chew poinsettia leaves, but do you have the full list of household items that can endanger your pets? Being a pet owner is a big job, and you love these animals like family. You need to baby-proof a house when you have an infant, and you should pet-proof your house when you’ve got pets. Whether you’ve just adopted one or have had pets for years, ensure your home is safe for your animals.

image via Domino

Grapes and bleu cheese are dangerous for animal digestive systems. If you’re tempted to let your dog snack off your plate, you’ve got to know which human foods aren’t safe for your dog. Though it isn’t as fun, giving your dog the right kind of dog food, or making your own dog food at home, is the safest way to ensure your dog gets the right nutrition. The same is true for cats, though most cats turn their noses up at grapes and chocolate.

via Style at Home

An air quality test of your home could reveal all sorts of particulates that you don’t want to be breathing in. Dirty air isn’t healthy for your pets, either, and can cause respiratory issues or colds that cost you in vet bills and worry. Check your air filter, vacuum often, and be sure to give your furry friend a good brushing every so often. Learn more about having a home safe for pets in the Healthier Pet-Friendly Home infographic.

via Style at Home

October 20, 2017
Spanish Colonial House Tour: Don’t miss it!

Spanish Colonial House

This Spanish Colonial is in Santa Monica and was built in 1928. It went through some changes but then ultimately wasn’t touched for 50 years. That is, until designer Christine Markatos Lowe relocated from SOHO with her family and decided to lovingly restore it while preserving all of it’s charm and character.

Archways galore. Can you have too many? I love the old wood floors contrasting with the stainless steel island. And that chevron tile backsplash?

The entry is kept true to the houses roots by being light and sparse.

Materials are kept relatively unadorned and allowed to shine.

The tiled powder room and stairway are new to the home, but fit in beautifully.

The home originally only had 1 bathroom – not easy with 2 kids, so Christine rethought the entire floor and added an extra bathroom.

Believe it or not this is the mudroom, adorned with pink and green. It used to be a breakfast nook, but with a busy family I’d pick a landing pad over a breakfast nook any day!

See/read the whole story at Domino Magazine.

Want to see more Spanish Colonial homes? Check out Sheryl Crow’s 1926 Spanish Colonial in Hollywood Hills

October 19, 2017
Romantic Interiors Inspiration

Romantic Interiors

Romantic interiors probably mean something different to everyone, but to me they tend to always have a foot in the past, wether because they were designed to look old and have a story to tell or because they really are. I also find that they tend to be slightly “imperfect,” and full of layers of texture and ever so slightly indulgent.

Okay, so this isn’t an interior, but isn’t this one romantic exterior? How could you not want to see the inside of this house?

Old wood floors, and iron chandelier, the space to be able to diagonally position one’s desk!

How amazing is this intricately carved and beautifully styled console?

Hope you don’t mind another exterior thrown into the mix. I grew up with Dutch doors so they’ll always be nostalgic and romantic to me.

Open shelves to show off a beautiful cream ceramics collection.

This iron canopy is what inspired this post. The molding and flowy drapes pooling on the floor clinched it too!

What makes an interior romantic in your opinion?

Want to see more romantic interiors? Check out this earlier post of a romantic white loft.

All images via Dering Hall

October 5, 2017
Ideas for decorating around exposed brick

Exposed Brick

Exposed brick is a beautiful thing. Being a beautiful thing you can just leave it on it’s own to shine, but setting it off with great decor, lighting, and furniture arrangement is paying it the homage it deserves. The spaces below do just that.

I love that the brick in this room is made more sophisticated by moulding and columns. Adding the floating shelves between columns is a nice touch too.

How STUNNING is that chest? And the play of all the linear directions between the chest, brick, and shutter is really cool too. It’s also inspired me to re-style my shelves and dressers!

2 images above via DecorPad

In this entryway the modern wallpaper with the aged brick is a beautiful contrast.

Painting this brick white keeps it from clashing too much with the polished counter top.

I love the simplicity of this space and the mixed materials between the fireplace, brick, wood, and glass.

Modern but warm

4 images above via Dering Hall

Want more brick? Check out Brick and Wood

October 4, 2017
Creating a Unique Painted Floor
These days, wooden floors are all the rage, and there is a choice of colors, materials, types and prices to suit every situation and budget, from traditional solid wood floors made of the finest oak to modern engineered laminate that is even cheaper than carpet.

However, some people can go through the entire range of wooden floor solutions at a supplier like Discount Flooring Depot, make their choice and then still decide that they need to add their own personal twist. Just take a look at these remarkable effects that designers in Russia have come up with using a solid wood floor and a pot of paint.

This has led to one of the most common questions from those with a flair for the unusual who wish to be unique. Can you paint a laminate floor?

So can you?

The short answer is that you can paint just about anything, as any unattended two-year-old will attest. Whether it is always a good idea is, however, another matter. As with so many DIY projects, it is all about preparation and detail. There are some examples of people who have tried to paint laminate floors and it has gone horribly wrong – this is usually because they fell into one of the following two elephant traps:
- Failing to properly prepare the surface
or
- Not using the right paint or primer
For the avoidance of doubt, painting a laminate floor is fraught with difficulty and danger, and is not for the faint hearted. But if you are determined to give it a try, read on.

via BrittKingery

What do you need?

To paint a 500-square foot area, it will take you a good two days. Here’s what you are likely to need:
- Around 10 litres of primer
- Around 10 litres of floor paint – or possible more, depending on just how creative you plan to get
- Around 10 litres of epoxy
- Brushes and rollers
- An orbital sander
- Sand paper and other incidental items.
Preparation is key

Benjamin Franklin told us that in failing to prepare, we prepare to fail. Evidently, he painted a few floors in his time. You need a spotlessly clean surface to start on, so make sure you scrub and vacuum it several times. The paint is not going to look good on dirt and dog hairs.

via Bright Green Door

Some suggest that you can prime straight onto the surface with nothing but a good clean, but you have a better chance of success if you scuff the wear layer of the floor, to create a key for the primer to adhere to.

What paint to use

One thing that is in no doubt is that you will need a good wood primer. Apply this first, and take your time over it. When you have an even, properly primed floor, you are ready to start on the top coat.

via Pinterest

You will need a good quality paint that is specifically designed for floors. Do not use wall paint, as this will bubble up and not adhere properly.

via One Kings Lane

At this stage, the world is your oyster in terms of colors and design. Good luck!

*this is a collaborative post
July 18, 2017
Interior Design Tips for Adding Versatility

Interior Design Tips

No sooner have we got the home looking perfect and summery than the days start getting shorter, and thoughts start to turn towards Thanksgiving. The temptation is to completely change the décor again, but that is not always practical. Here, we take a look at four design tips for adding versatility to your living space and making it perfect whatever the season.

via Instagram

via ?

Start with the doors

Every room has them, but they are often the last thing you think about when it comes to interior décor. The fact is, the choice of door sets a tone for the look of the entire room. A light wood finish gives a fresh, airy sense in the summer months, yet is still warm and inviting when the weather turns colder.

In a smaller room, white is a great choice, as it gives a better feeling of space, but be careful in larger rooms, as it can end up feeling cold and stark. That does not mean white should automatically be ruled out, but think about combining it with soft furnishings and perhaps wall hangings.

There is a huge variety of doors available, why not have a look here to see what would work best in your home?

Soft furnishings

via Glitter Guide

via ?

When it comes to setting a theme without spending too much time or money, there is nothing like focusing on the soft furnishings. Everyone loves cushions, and it is so easy to change the covers from something pastel and bright in the summer to something warmer and darker in the winter.

However, it does not have to stop there. Also think about throws and blankets. In the summer, a white or stonewashed style throw over the back of the sofa gives that seaside feel. As the weather gets colder, change it for something thick and textured – perfect to snuggle under on a cold night.

Accessories

via Design Love Fest

A wooden basket is one of the most versatile accessories your room can have. In the summer, use it to store newspapers or magazines, and in the winter, it can become a log basket. Even if you don’t have an open fire, it is a great accessory to give your room that feel of being a sanctuary from the cold weather.

Think about what goes up on the walls too – those seascapes or wicker hangings that look great in the summer can be replaced by something warm and textured in the winter months. It is the work of five minutes, but makes a big difference.

Try a little Feng Shui

via The Snug

via The Decorista

Some people go for years without moving a piece of furniture, but we say you should redesign the layout according to the seasons. In summer, you want an airy, more minimalist feel, and if you have large windows looking out onto the world, these should be the focus of your attention.

In winter, bring things together. Create more of an inward focus, on either the fireplace or, of course, the TV. It will feel like a completely different room.

*this is a collaborative post

July 17, 2017
Fall decorating ideas

Beautiful fall porch decorating ideas

I’m a sucker for a beautifully decorated porch or container garden. I though Friday would be a good time to share these ideas with you incase you were looking for a weekend activity.

I love this swing and the cozy tartan blanket. I’d go out there in the morning with my coffee and baby son and we’d read.
via Country Living

A burlap sack filled with flowers is a unique way to decorate your door.
via Country Living

Kale and pumpkins make a pretty pairing in this container garden.
Unique by Design Landscaping

Another pretty container garden – I love all the layers.
Unique by Design Landscaping

If you like a brighter look, a blue door with a painted magnolia leaf wreath makes for a cheerful welcome.
via Country Living

If you’re into more is more – stacks of pumpkins and lanterns stuffed with string lights is an attention getter.
via Pinterest via ?

How do you decorate your porch for fall?

October 28, 2016
Rug Love: Kilims, Oriental, and Moroccan

Amazing rugs, amazing spaces

I’ve had a bit of an obsession with rugs lately. Particularly oriental, moroccan, and kilim. They are just so effortlessly stylish and also have a story to tell in the patterns and colors.

You wouldn’t want to hide too much of those beautiful floors, so these accent rugs do just the trick.
via DISC Journal

Here are some handy definitions for you, I have trouble telling kilim, oriental, and moroccan rugs apart sometimes

Kilim Rug
Kilim, a word of Turkish origin, denotes a pileless textile of many uses produced by one of several flatweaving techniques that have a common or closely related heritage and are practiced in the geographical area that includes parts of Turkey (Anatolia and Thrace), North Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and China. Although at times you may find kilim rugs included in the general genre of “oriental rugs”, in more accepted practice kilims are in a class of their own. The major difference between a kilim area rug and a carpet or a pile rug is that whereas the design visible on a pile rugs is made by individual short strands of different color being knotted onto the warps and held together by pressing the wefts tightly, kilim designs are made by interweaving the variously colored wefts and warps, thus creating what is known as a flatweave. via

Oriental Rug
By the strictest definition, Oriental rugs are carpets hand knotted only in Asia. Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Tibet and Nepal are some of the biggest rug exporters. Persian rugs also are Oriental rugs but they are made only in Iran (formerly known as Persia). Characteristics of a Persian rug include an unusually thick pile (up to 160 knots per square inch), extremely rich color combinations and unique designs, and a very distinct knot. Persian carpets are traditionally known for their tremendous variety in design, color, size, and weave. Moreover, they are known for the uniqueness of each and every rug produced. Rugs are generally named after the village, town or district where they are woven or collected, or by the weaving tribe in the case of nomadic pieces. via

Moroccan Rug
Moroccan rugs are the weaves, carpets, and textiles that have been traditionally hand-woven in Morocco. Rugs have been woven by the indigenous people of Morocco since the Paleolithic Era. Traditionally, Moroccan rugs have been woven by tribal peoples for their utility rather than for decorative purposes. Twentieth-century Moroccan rugs are widely collected in the West, and are almost always woven by tribes people who do not seek nor possess formal artistic training via

I’m really liking the options with pink and fuchsia in them. It makes the whole room feel fresher.
via DecorPad

via Sarah Catherine Design

I have an oriental rug from Iran in our master bedroom, and whenever I take time to actually admire it, I’m always in awe of the colors.
via The Interior Collective

Beautiful as they are, the budget doesn’t always allow for an authentic kilim, oriental, or moroccan. Luckily some rug manufacturers have tried to cash in on the trend by creating machine woven polyester rugs in similar patterns and colors. Does anyone here have one? I’d like to hear what you think.

Below are a few examples of “budget-friendly” oriental, kilim, and moroccan rugs.

This rug costs from $99 to $249 depending on the size. I love the colors.
Get it here

This one around $150.
Get it here

This moroccan style rug is hand knotted and ranges from $129 to $159
Get it here

July 12, 2016