Mid-century Modern

12/6/2019

Mid-Century Modern Design Style

This very distinct look features clean lines and is sparsely furnished. It reflects the 1950’s and 1960’s nostalgic look and homes are mostly on the smaller side of the spectrum.
This design style is fuzz free with crisp and simple lines. Designers from this era broke-free from traditional design conventions and jumped right into the modern times.
Main design elements:

The colour palette ranges from the kitschy bright colours from the 1950’s to the sophisticated and earthy colours of the 1960’s.
Rusty metals and wood emphasise the natural colour palette.
Subtle silhouettes with clean lines and organic shapes define this mid-century modern design style.
New materials like plastic and construction methods dramatically influenced the Mid-Century Modern designers.
A liberal use and mix of traditional materials, such as wood, and non-traditional materials like metal, glass, vinyl and plywood.
The design was following the functionality during this design period and defined many of the iconic design pieces.
Using this design style on its own can easily create a ‘dated’ look for your home. Try to combine some design elements with another design style to create a unique and modern look.

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Modern Interior Design

12/6/2019

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Modern Interior Design Style

The modern interior design style is very minimalistic and can come across as uninviting an cold. Many people appreciate the look of it, but in real life this style is very rare to find. Builders and architects incorporate modern interior design elements in homes, which can be combined with softer element from other design styles to warm it up to make it unique and welcoming.
Main design elements:

The modern interior design style is dominated by a neutral colour palette with bold colour contrasts to create more interest. The monochromatic colour scheme (mostly black and white) combined with hints of blue, red and green.
Crisp angles, sharp lines and the absence of ornaments are essential in order to create this very sleek look.
Roller blinds, vertical blinds and venetian blinds matching the colour scheme are mostly used as window treatments. Metal hardware in chrome, brushed nickel and powder coated aluminum is preferably used for this design style.
Modern fabrics with geometric patterns can be found in blinds, area rugs and upholstery fabrics. Throw pillows in a contrast colour is the perfect punch of colour for a modern monochromatic colour scheme.
Ideal furniture pieces for this design style have clean lines and basic shapes. Metal, chrome or glass are streamlined with polished, sleek and smooth surfaces.
This style is clutter less and accessories are hardly found in this design style and large pieces of art are preferred to this design style.
Open floor plans are essential to the modern style and design features like fire places, built in cabinets and stairwells are created from basic geometric shapes and have clean lines.

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Traditional Interior Design

4/5/2019

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Traditional Interior Design Style

The traditional interior design style originates from a variety of old-school European styles like the Tuscan Castillo, English Cottage, or the French Palais (see Blog “Old World”). The most popular styles, when it comes to traditional interior design, are the British Colonial revival, the 19th century neoclassic, the French country and the 18th century English.
The Main design elements are:

Neutral Colour palette with vibrant accent colours inspired by nature. Muted green and peach tones with aubergine and tan create a floral and natural colour scheme
Warm wood tones and bronze accents can enhance the colour palette to create a warm and inviting interior.
Formal swag and panel combinations create very elaborate and dramatic window treatment in each room.
Tasseled cords and fringe accents on the scalloped edges of the swag treatment add beautiful design details.
Silk, cashmere and cotton are the preferred materials to create the elaborate fabrics for this design style. Damask and velvet with floral patterns work perfectly with the natural colour palette and add an elegant yet warm and inviting feel to a room.
Intricate tile and wood floor patterns live up to the ornate fabrics used in this style. Natural materials complement the natural colour palette and floral prints.
Elaborate built in furniture, wood panelling and elegant moldings are essential for this intricate look.
Gilt frame, oil paintings and antique furniture pieces are the perfect accessories for this design style.
A crystal chandelier will not only illuminate your room beautifully, it will also create the perfect centerpiece for you your room.
Decorative ornate vases with lush silk flowers, candlesticks and crystal bowls in pairs will create a wonderful traditional home for you and your family.

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The Old World

10/9/2018

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The Old World - European Interior Design

Today I would like to talk about “Classic European Style”, what it means and how it can be incorporated in your home.

The classical European home décor was very much influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans, with a large central focal point like a fireplace and the décor organized around it. High ceilings are not only impressive but also symbolized the power and wealth of the owner and them being close to their gods. Natural materials like sand stone, Italian marble, Egyptian cotton and finest woods were the go-to materials to achieve this very sophisticated look. The colour palette included off white, beiges and browns with accents of burgundy, cobalt and terracotta. The furniture for this look was mostly on a larger scale to host large groups of guests and visitors.

From this origin, many different styles developed over centuries in different regions of Europe; yet those styles all have a very special feel and look, the key elements are still to be found in all those settings.

The Tuscan Casillo

A typical Tuscan Castillo is built of bright natural stone, which reflects the sun and keeps the inside nice and cool. Shutters and terracotta roof tiles also help to make the hot summer bearable, and are important for the style of those houses. The inside also has a bright colour palette and tiles are usually used throughout the house. Large, rustic, wooden dining tables are meant to host large family feasts, which are cooked over the fireplace in the large kitchen.

Tuscan Castillo Colour Palette

The English Cottage

English Cottages are usually set with a darker colour palette, wood paneling and bold colours in fabrics and wallpapers. Floral patterns on curtains, wallpapers and upholstery are also commonly used with this style to draw in the feel of the beautiful English gardens.

English Cottage Colour Palette

The French Palais

On the contraire we can find the French Palais, which is inspired by Versailles. Very high ceilings with elaborate stucco, crystal chandeliers and golden accents make a very great first impression. Large mirrors make the rooms appear even bigger than they are and walls are covered in ornamental silk fabrics. Lush drapes frame the windows and brocade covered furniture hosts large groups of guests.

French Palais Colour Palette

These styles are only a few examples of the variety that developed over time and they all have their own local touches and accents; but they all have their décor organized around a large focal point in each room and are based on their own unique colour palette, accessoires and materials.
With those guidelines in mind you can achieve an Old World look in your own house easily. Applying just a few of these steps can transform the look of your living space:

Accomplishing a “Classic” European look that reflects your personality and style can be accomplished easily during your design Journey with me. Let’s talk about your vision and ideas so I can learn more about you, your space and everyone who lives in it and create a professional design plan for your wonderful project. You prefer a modern European look over the classic style, we can talk about this as well and I will talk about this topic in one of my future blogs.

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