Chandeliers

Shedding the Light on What's HOT!

What’s new in the world of chandeliers? Well, what isn’t?

The trend is looking beyond the dining room and now you can find them in bedrooms, living rooms and even bathrooms.

With a wide array of styles, shapes and sizes, there are more options now than ever before. They are now being designed to go beyond just adding light and ambiance to a space; the limitless options available now can truly reflect the personality of the home AND homeowners!

Gone are days of the traditional chandelier draped with cut crystals or subdued with neutral cream coloured shades.  Along with the traditional, we’re now seeing geometric shapes in gold, silver, pewter, and rustic metals. Even the shades have joined in; they’re no longer mini tapered lampshades. There’s drum shades, oblong with straight sides, mylar plastic with cut out patterns, and colour and material options like we’ve never seen!

I dare you to not find one that suits your personality and that of the room it will hang in.

This Foucalt’s Twin-Orb crystal chandelier is a perfect example of old meets new. Combining the basis of the traditional candelabra chandelier with the geometrics of the Foucalt’s orb and finished in polished nickel, this stunning piece is transitional in the true sense of the word; easing seamlessly into both formal and contemporary rooms.

Available at Restoration Hardware.                                    









The simplicity of this fixture and a shade form out of aged steel, combine contemporary with rustic; making this a great option for a trendy loft or a warm and casual eating area.
Available at Restoration Hardware.







The traditional chandelier is taken up a notch with the ‘Liza’ pendant lamp. A sheer shade adds an unexpected softness, making this a great option for those that don’t have a separate formal dining room. For a more dramatic look, you can purchase it with a black shade too!
Available at Urban Barn.





I love the oblong shape of this chandelier. The simple hardware and tailored shade (also available in red, grey and black) are given a touch of elegance with cut crystal drops, making it a perfect choice for both contemporary and traditional settings!
From Dainolite - Available at Lowes.








Simple, clean lines make this fixture ideal for contemporary spaces. The nickel hardware gives it a bit of an industrial feel making it ideal for an urban loft and its unassuming design would even work well in a kitchen.
From Dainolite - Available at Lowes.

NEW INTERIOR DECORATING FORUM!

ANNOUNCING A BRAND NEW INTERIOR DECORATING FORUM!
Be one of the first to join and let's start the ball rolling!

I was on the lookout for a good interior decorating forum to join and was disappointed to find that most weren't as active as I would have liked. So, rather than accept defeat, I decided to start one up.  The more members, the more active it will be, so join let's get to know each other!

Whether you're a homeowner, interior decorator or DIY-er, the forum will be a great place to share ideas, products and projects, post questions and even show off your work.

Join the forum today and start posting your design questions and delemmas, your success stories, and anything home related!
     

stylemyhomeforum.forumotion.ca

Get It Straight-Level App for iPhone

I often stray off the intended path when surfing the net. We've all been there; you're looking at a page, and off to the right something catches your eye and you think 'Oooo, what's that'. Then off you go.
So the other day I came across some apps for decorators and the DIY-ers. One of them was this handy level app for the iPhone. Really cool! Of course I wouldn't be using it to level a wall or anything, but wouldn't it be handy to use it to level pictures on your wall if you think they look a little off kilter and you just aren't sure? Or set your iPhone on a table to fix that wobbly table leg.
Best of all, it's a FREE app!

Check it out and get some things straightened out in your life.......

Colour Blocking

COLOUR BLOCKING:  A LICENSE TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR DECORATING

The trend of colour blocking (or colour zoning) is still alive and well in the world of interior decorating.

Colour blocking is used to highlight a feature or add interest to a space and can be incorporated into your walls, ceilings, or even floors. And the beauty is, anyone can do it!

All you need to do is select a zone and bring in a different colour than the area that surrounds it. The most common approach is with paint but you can also do it with fabric or even rugs.

Colour blocking is a license to have fun with colour without committing to expensive pieces that you may tire of or that may not go with future decorating changes. You can use different coloured circles, squares, rectgangles and even overlap them; have fun with it!

Below are a few examples of how colour blocking can be used to add interest, contrast or even a bit of whimsy to a space. 

Colour blocking has been used here to bring colour into an otherwise stark space. Without it, the walls would virtually disappear.

Modern Living Room design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Vanessa De Vargas

If you're apprehensive about painting blocks of colour on your walls, you can test the waters by painting the inside of some cubbies or the back of a bookcase. This room also has colour blocking in the yellow along the top of the wall and even in the area rug.

Eclectic Living Room design by Los Angeles Photographer Erika Bierman Photography

 You don't have to go bold. This design uses colour blocking to bring in a second colour but it's soft and calming. Notice how they've used it to add interest by highlighting the flowers on the wall.

Traditional Kids design by Chicago Interior Designer Paul Schulman Design

Here's a terrific example of how to incorporate colour blocking through the use of fabrics. It's even applied to the ceiling! This really works well to establish interest and grandeur to a small space without over crowded furniture and accessories.

Contemporary Home Office design by Toronto Interior Designer Jane Lockhart Interior Design

This is colour zoning at it's boldest! The designer has chosen to apply distinguishing colours to entire walls rather that isolated areas. They've used vivid and pure colours which compliment the artwork and bring in a good dose of fun. This one is definitely not for the faint at heart!

Contemporary Dining Room design by Dc Metro Interior Designer Kelly Porter

This design illustrates how you can highlight a feature using colour blocking. Painting the fireplace a vibrant orange reinforces it as the focal point of the room.

Contemporary Living Room design by Vancouver Interior Designer Maria Killam

I absolutely LOVE this idea. Rather than the television becoming the focal point of the room (which, unfortunately, they almost always do), the purple is what your eye is drawn to first--Yay!!!

Contemporary Family Room design by London Photographer Chris Snook

Dining Room Gets A Virtual Makeover

I'd love to give my dining room a complete overhaul, but that will have to wait for a while.

So, instead, I have to satisfy my wants in a virtual world.

Here's the first option that I'm considering. The plan is to extend the wall between the living and dining rooms and to have a built in sideboard and shelving installed in the recessed wall.

The shot on the left is the how it looked before I bought the house--the hardwood floors have been installed and the walls are currently a Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore, but I don't have a pic to show right now.

Decorating with Neutrals Boring...NOT!

All too often people are accused of being boring or timid if they decorate with neutrals. This misunderstood palette is far from bland and drab; it can be timelessly classic, slick and contemporary, calm and soothing or even downright bold.
As with any successful design, a neutral colour scheme requires some basic elements and components and if you keep the following in mind, you can create a stunning space that is definitely NOT boring.

Contrast
Contrast creates depth and visual interest; it forces the eye to stop and start as it moves around a room. Without it, a neutral palette can easily become a colourless ‘blob’. Remember contrast when you’re choosing fabrics, furniture finishes and accessories. A balance of light and dark is the key to just the right amount of contrast without making the room too busy.

Texture
As with contrast, texture is required for visual interest and depth. Paint a wall white and you have a white wall. Install white brick veneer on a wall and, voila, you’ve got a wall with interest and depth. Texture can be incorporated with fabrics, finishes, flooring and artwork.

Architectural Details
Any amount of architectural detail adds character to a room and is a great addition to any room. Oversized baseboards, crown molding, chair rail and raised panels all give a room personality and compliment a neutral palette without taking over.

Bring the Nature in
Make sure to bring nature into your design. Nature’s green breathes life into any space. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t fret; some of today’s silk plants are so convincing that you may be the only one who knows they’re not real.

Colour
Yes, COLOUR!
Don’t assume that a neutral palette has to lack colour. You can create a neutral design around any hue as long as it’s not deep and vivid. A colour’s intensity is referred to as chroma and any low chroma colour can be the start of a good neutral scheme. Try a pale blue grey or even a purple grey and bring in varying shades of that colour to complete the look.

Contrast is evident here in the use of the dark blinds, black picture frames and wood trim on the chairs, while the rug and ottoman provide texture.

Contemporary Living Room design by Chicago Interior Designer Sean Michael Design

The low chroma blue in this bathroom keeps the mood of a neutral scheme while bringing a bit of colour into the mix.

Contemporary Bathroom design by Detroit Kitchen And Bath Xstyles bath

This calming bedroom incorporates contrast with the dark wood bed and black picture frames which provide visual interest and balance to the space. You can also see the use of architectural detail in the door and trim below the window.

Contemporary Bedroom design by San Francisco Home Staging studio D

In this neutral scheme, you see how contrast is established with the deep toned brown playing against the white trim. Also note the greenery and the texture in the area rug.

Contemporary Family Room design by San Francisco Design-build Urrutia Design

The browns and warm taupe tones of this space make it a true neutral colour palette. It's brought to life through the variety of architectural detail and contrasting elements. They also made sure to bring in hits of green

Traditional Kitchen design by Minneapolis General Contractor Stonewood, LLC

With the light grey walls and white trim of this entryway, texture and visual interest is key. The lack of fabric does not allow for tactile texture so they've provided strong visual texture in the area rug and large print. They've also made sure to provide contrast through the dark finish on the floor.

Contemporary Entry design by Dc Metro Interior Designer Liz Levin Interiors

THE POWER OF PAINT!

Don't underestimate the power of paint!
The biggest impact in your space may most likely be the least expensive investment of all--a can of paint. Paint can make a room cozy, cool, calming, energizing or dreary, so, regardless of what you put in it, the the real power is in the paint! A room can be transformed without changing anything but the colour on the walls, so when you need a change you can do it quickly and without breaking the bank! 
If you keep your staple items neutral and timeless you can redecorate around them easily whenever you're itching for a new look. Just change the colour on the walls, bring in some new accent pillows, update a few accessories and VOILA!--a brand new space to enjoy!
The following pictures show just how much colour can affect the look and feel of a space. Nothing has been changed in each example but the paint colour and a few accessories.

This ochre colour with a hint of green gives the space a rich earthy feel

 A cool deep blue gives the same room a more serious look

but remains enveloping and rich

A mocha tone creates a contemporary and crisp look

while still bringing warmth to the space

Having trouble deciding on a colour? White is always clean, refreshing and classic