Showing posts with label interior design ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interior design ideas. Show all posts

Friday, April 6, 2012

White on White In the Bathroom


Classy, stylish and beautiful is an understatement for a contemporary styled bathroom which is large, spacious and to be honest the type of bathroom most of us dream of! However, my love for white makes this bathroom special, and even though I'm not sure about the little crocodile (or alligator?) it does add a touch of fun to the large expanse of plain flooring.

The use of green foliage plants in contemporary bathrooms takes us into the realms of dreams, peace and tranquillity. No doubt this style of bathroom has Feng Shi qualities included, but for me one of the most prominent features is the wall of glass and the abundance of natural light flooding into the room giving it a surreal feeling of open spaces associated with being outside.

With windows or glass walls this size privacy is an issue which needs to be addressed without detracting from the style and minimalist style. White curtains would give a bathroom this size a soft look with a subtle touch of femininity; however, if it's only light control and privacy needed then white vertical blinds would look just as stylish. In high-tech contemporary bathrooms, remote controlled vertical blinds are a 'must' – it goes without saying really!

Image: house-design-blog

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

White on White In the Living Room





I have to admit that I love white rooms, not totally white but the vast majority of the room so that I can add pops of colour in my soft furnishings and accessories. I hasten to add that I'm not alone and while too much white can look cold, clinical and hostile, when you have great style it can really give a room the 'wow' factor.

Another great advantage of using white is that it can make even the smallest living rooms look light and airy and the colour suits all styles of homes. From a French inspired chateau, Scandinavian classics, to modern and contemporary styles. You can also use white to create a stunning Shabby Chic interior which is packed full of different textures and materials.

White curtains, especially if they're full length and lightweight will ensure as much light as possible can enter your living room during the day; alternatively white vertical blinds will give you sleek clean lines which suit contemporary homes perfectly. For the ultimate window dressing use a combination of white curtains and white blinds so that your windows look stunning day and night.

Don't shy away from using white as it has a lot to offer, and it doesn't have to be cold if you get the balance just right!

Image: French Antiques Blogspot

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Interior Design Ideas for Balloon Week


I couldn't let Balloon Week pass by without diving in and finding some fabulous bedroom interior design ideas using balloons. I wasn't looking for balloons per say, as it's easy to tie bunches of balloons onto bed-frame to celebrate a birthday or special occasion.

I was looking for children's bedroom which used balloons as a theme and while I can across various wall stickers, balloon shaped light-shades, table lamps, duvet cover sets and childrens curtains I wanted to find something that would have longevity, style and a sense of fun.

Low and behold I stumbled across these wonderful balloon lights and you have to admit they have a mystical quality about them which makes them intoxicating to look at, especially against the blue night sky effect on the walls and ceiling. Due to their neutral colour they could be used for tots and teens alike with the bedroom being decorated in a variety of different ways.

I once remember seeing a hot air balloon's fabric being used as ceiling décor and thought that was cool but I have to admit these lights are superb! What better way to acknowledge Balloon Week – but if I'm totally honest I don't really know what Balloon Week is all about – some further investigation and research needed!

Image: blog.the-dot

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Add a Touch of Glam to Your Bedroom: Dark and Sexy


Dark and sexy doesn't automatically mean tacky and sleazy! Black provides an air of romance to any style of bedroom but if you want to move it out of the realms of tacky introduce a complimentary colour such as gold or silver – eek I hear you cry!! You need to look beyond the colour to see the style that can be achieved using luxury bedding, rugs, lighting and accessories.

If you have a boring overhead central ceiling light swap it for a modern chandelier style in black, coordinate with matching bedside table lamps to bring things together in a cohesive way. Use a variety of tactile fabrics such as faux furs, silks and suede for window dressings and soft furnishings.

A statement headboard can up-date your bed frame and give you bedroom a hotel chic style. If you look for interior design ideas online you'll find a host of great styles and designs of statement headboards you can modify to suit the style of your bedroom and your colour scheme.

If you want your bedroom to be truly dark don't forget to add blackout curtains or use blackout blinds to help reduce the amount of light pollution entering your bedroom.

Image: Decor Pad

Monday, March 19, 2012

Stylish Window Treatments for Spring: Sheer Voiles


There's no getting away from it I admit that I love voile curtains and detest with a passion traditional net curtains – maybe it stems back to my childhood and the memories of nosy neighbours reporting back to my parents my every move! Voiles are also on-trend and can be used in a number of different ways to dress windows. Here's my top 10 reasons you should use voile curtains in your home:

1. They can replace traditional net curtains and bring tired looking rooms up to-date.

2. When full length the add much needed height to some rooms.

3. Used on their own they add a delicate, feminine touch to windows.

4. Voiles are ideal for creating a stylish double layer affect.

5. Lined voiles are available to help prevent (although not stop altogether when an inside light is switched on) prying eyes seeing inside your home.

6. From dreamy whites and ivories to bright bold colours voiles suit all styles of interiors.

7. Voiles must be the easiest style of cheap curtains to hang.

8. Trendy eyelet or tab-tops allows them to be used for more than just window dressings – for example on terraces during the summer.

9. Their lightweight allows them to fall gracefully and pool onto the floor.

10. My favourite is the way they billow in the breeze coming from an open window to create a refreshing airiness to rooms.

Versatile, practical and very affordable voile curtains are the ideal window dressing.


Image: interiordesign-schatzi

Monday, March 12, 2012

Stylish Window Treatments for Spring: Warm Yellows


At long last Spring seems to have arrived and despite the hose-pipe ban being enforced in many parts of the country, we all know that warm summer days are on their way. Warm yellows are the ideal colour for Spring – typically associated with daffodils – yellow brings a natural warmth to our homes and offers a sunny disposition to any room in your home.

It's easy to add flashes of warm yellow to your rooms using soft furnishings and window dressings. Cheap curtains in yellow will add a Spring like feel to your rooms and see you right through this season and into the next. Other simple yellow additions could include kitchen blinds, duvet cover sets, cushions and throws.

Although we might think yellow a little passé and even old fashioned, it's a superb accent colour and can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other colours, from black to white and virtually every colour in between; so don't pass the opportunity of bringing a fresh Spring look to your home it can work wonders in perking up your home and bringing a smile to your face!

Image: I do, I don't Design

Friday, March 9, 2012

Stylish Window Treatments for Spring: Palazzo Curtains


Inspired by fashion Palazzo curtains have to be made from soft floaty fabrics such as silk (real or faux) or lightweight fabrics which catch the breeze of open windows. They also have to be voluminous and full length if they are to replicate Palazzo trousers correctly. Be sure that your curtains look like chic and sexy Palazzo trousers rather than bell-bottom pyjamas if you want to pull this style of window dressing off correctly.

The curtains have to be grand, sleek and eye-catching, in a similar vein to body shapes Palazzo curtains are ideal window dressings for tall, long windows (rather like fashion models) rather than short and squat shaped windows which won't really do them any justice.

With sheer lightweight fabrics it's easy to make your own cheap curtains in the Palazzo style – just make sure that you allow for plenty of fabric with and length and a neat heading (rather like a waistband on trousers) which gathers the volume of fabric up to a neat finish.

If you're looking for interior design ideas you won't go far wrong looking at the latest fashions – once the fashion shows are over we always see interiors following suit to a certain degree.

Image: Design Inspiration

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Stylish Window Treatments for Spring: Wooden Blinds


Wooden blinds are an all time classic for dressing windows. Once thought of and considered to be a cheap window dressing (think along the lines of bamboo roller blinds and student digs) today's wooden blinds are still inexpensive however, their kudos has moved up within the world of interior design and they are now being viewed in a completely different light.

With a wide range of colours, styles and design the humble wooden blind is being used in many interiors either as the sole window dressing or in conjunction with cheap curtains to create window dressings which are practical and functional.

With new designs and revolutionary technology it's now possible to find wooden blinds made from lightweight flexible wood-weave, grasses and reeds which can be used to make Roman blinds due to the suppleness and flexibility of the materials.

Of course manufacturers are also leaning heavily towards making wooden blinds from renewable sources and well managed forestry to keep ahead of consumer and interior design trends.

I think the best aspect of wooden blinds is their ability to blend with any colour scheme and it's been said, on more than one occasion, by interior designers that those who struggle to find a window dressing colour to match their décor should opt for wooden blinds as they provide a natural and alluring look to windows of all shapes and sizes.

Image: Things That Inspire

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Stylish Window Treatments for Spring: Lambrequins


Have you ever heard of a Lambrequin? The chances that you haven't! Their origin lies in a piece of cloth which was used to cover the back of a knight's helmet in Medieval times. It's also know or referred to a short piece of rigid cloth window treatment.

Basically a Lambrequin is a decorative pelmet that is made to fit into the top half of a window and rather than just being a piece of fabric the Lambrequin's fabric is glued or stapled over MDF (similar to a headboard). Usually there are no curtains or blinds used with them so theoretically you can only use this style of window dressing in rooms which don't have a privacy issue such as hallways. However modern styles mean you could use them in conjunction with a roller blinds or curtains. As Lambrequin are neat and tidy they are ideal for windows which are hard to reach or where voluminous curtains would swamp the room or area.

You can make your own Lambrequins relatively simply buy using curtain fabrics and designing yourself a template. Don't forget that the fabric will be stretched so be wary of pattern distortions, fraying etc. A medium weight fabric is ideal.

Another tip – don't get carried away making intricate designs on your first attempt, also make sure that the size of the Lambrequin balances with the size of your window.

There's plenty of interior design ideas for dressing your windows this Spring – let your windows make a real statement in your home.

Image: Design du Monde.blogspot

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

New Year = New Looks in Children's Bedrooms


We all know that children grow fast, that's a fact of life – however, we mustn't lose sight of the fact that they'll also grow-out of the style of their bedroom as that's a natural part of growing up. It can come hard to some parents who have their hearts set on, for example, a princess styled bedroom for their little girl when their daughter actually wants the complete opposite!

Bright colours and children go hand-in-hand, therefore it makes sense to choose bright colours when decorating. Most children, toddlers and 'tweens also like themes – whether this is their current favourite TV character or a theme which shows an interest in their preferred play theme, for instance pirates, boats, ponies etc.

All of these themes can turn a bedroom into a great place to play as well as sleep. Finding childrens curtains with an exact match for your theme can be difficult, as such it's easy to make your own curtains by finding children's curtain fabrics online. Don't forget to use a blackout lining to help keep light out of the room day and night to help your child sleep soundly. A thermal blackout lining will also help to keep the room warm during the winter months.

Image: CosyHomeBlog

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Year = New Looks in the Living Room


If you have polished wooden flooring or tiles you will have probably noticed that during the winter your feet can get very chilly! Stating the obvious, but the easiest way to add comfort and warmth is to add large rugs in front of your seating area. You may even find that during windy weather the draught finds its way into your living room through the gaps in the floorboards.

Rugs can also be used to add a new colour to your living room or help ground your existing colour scheme. Available in a huge range of sizes, colours and designs rugs have found their way into our homes and few of us would never be without them.

Another chap way to bring a new look to your living room is to change your cushions – either make your own or look for the latest styles with wonderful tactile fabrics – during the winter go for those that give you a warm feeling such as velvet, crushed velvet or faux furs – may of us can't help but stroke these beautiful fabrics, so they also make an effective way to de-stress and relax without even realising it – in much the same way as stroking a pet makes you feel relaxed and peaceful.

Image: Small Place Style

Friday, February 17, 2012

New Year = New Looks in the Kitchen


I have to admit when it comes to kitchen designs I try and keep my feet firmly on the ground and be realistic in what's achievable, functional and practical. Kitchens come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and while may interior design magazines show plenty of inspiration the kitchens seem to be huge and nothing like many people's kitchens.

However, I'm an optimist and even the smallest kitchens can look stunning with a splash of colour and careful positioning of cupboards and white goods. If there's one thing I love about France and French homes it's their kitchens. They're focused around preparing good food and in the countryside you rarely find a fitted kitchen – their kitchens comprise of odd mismatches of free standing cupboards and plenty of surface space on which to work – the kitchen table plays a huge role in French lifestyles – they use it to prepare food and of course have family meals.

Window dressings are simple yet stylish with kitchens blinds being a firm favourite. Either roller blinds or Roman blinds are common place as in the countryside there's rarely a privacy issue – I assume if there was Venetian blinds, especially wooden ones, wouldn't look out of place.

The other aspect I love about French kitchens is flowers! They always have vases of fresh seasonal flowers as their kitchen table decoration – parfaite!


Image: Note to Self

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

New Year = New Looks in the Bedroom


If you're bedroom is a little lacking in style and oomph then now is a good time to think about altering it! With the 'bedding sales' in full swing you'll be able transform your bedroom for less, to leave you sleeping peacefully along with an up-dated bedroom to boot.

Usually we decide on colour schemes and then think about the soft furnishings – often finding that our 'fab' new colour is difficult to find coordinating bedding for. You could always reverse this and go against the grain so to speak. Why not choose duvet sets and bedspreads uk first and then build your colour scheme around them?

If you opt for a patterned duvet cover you'll be able to select your wall colours from those included within the pattern – I'd suggest going for duvet sets which have a pale background so that your bedroom doesn't become too dark. Go neutral and it will give you more accent colour choices, which can also be picked from those within the pattern.

If patterns aren't your cup-of-tea then plain reversible duvet sets will give you the freedom to flip them over – in theory giving you two bedroom looks for the price of one.

This may not be the conventional way to go about choosing a colour scheme but it can save a lot of time and hassle, as well as being an effective way to get coordinating colours for those who 'lack' the ability to find colours which blend and coordinate with each other – and without sounding contrite there are many people who don't have any design flair!

Image: Rooms of Inspiration

Thursday, February 9, 2012

What is a Bed-in-a-bag?


I've been asked to explain what a bed-in-a-bag is – before you start imagining inflatable beds – it's not an actual bed but all the bits and pieces you need to dress (make) a bed all conveniently put together in a stylish bag to help you keep your linen cupboard (if you have one) or linen storage place neat and tidy; enabling you to grab your bed-in-a-bag when you change your bedding.

The concept is a great idea as it saves you time having to rummage around trying to find coordinating duvet covers, pillowcases, bed runners and cushion covers – it's all to hand make your life so much simpler and hassle free.

A bed-in-a-bag is also an excellent idea for spare rooms, especially if your spare bedroom is of 'shared' use, for example your home office or hobby room. If you have a bed-in-a-bag all you have to do is pull-out your sofa bed, add the bed in a bag bedding and hey presto! - an instant bed complete with all the matching accessories you need to make your guests feel welcome and not intruding on your precious hobby or computer room.

With some fabulous colours and designs there's a bed-in-a-bag to suit all styles of homes to a Tee.

Image: Trendy Designs

Monday, February 6, 2012

Up-Cycling Interior Design Trends: Patchwork 2


After carrying out some light research for my last post I've come across some amazing patchwork used to re-upholster sofas and chairs. There's something for all tastes including old denim jeans to upholster a chair for a teen's room.

Sofas are seem to be high on the patchwork 'list' and you must agree that reupholstering a sofa of chair offers a stunning end result. If you want to try your hand at patchwork I'd suggest you start small, say with a cushion cover and progress from there. Send off for free fabric samples to get you used to coordinating colours before you set to work cutting up your old curtains or clothes!

Once the 'bug' has bitten you can move up to more complex designs or more challenging projects. There's plenty of help via the internet and many forums and groups you could join if you want to share your idea or simply need inspiration and guidance.

Still don't like the idea of sewing or simply haven't got the time? - no problem as you could always purchase faux patchwork duvet covers to get the look and without close examination friends and family probably won't notice!

Image: ablindpash.blogspot

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Up-Cycling Interior Design Trends: Patchwork


Patchwork has quite literally been around for centuries and made from China to America as a way to create warm bedding, especially quilts from pieces of pre-used fabric. The revival of hand-made soft furnishings has seen an increase in patchwork, particularly for cushions and bedding, however, in today's modern world you can get the look without having to spend time sewing as duvet sets with pre-printed patchwork designs are readily available.

In some ways you'll think this is cheating – and I have to agree to a certain extent, particularly if you're looking for ways to up-cycle and re-cycle unwanted fabrics and materials. You can make patchwork from just about any malleable fabric, from leather (I've seen a stunning patchwork rug made from old leather belts as well as sofas and chairs recovered in patchwork designs) to old curtains and clothing.

The 'art' of patchwork can be complex – the simplest forms being squares which are cut to size and sew together. You can even purchase fabrics which are sold as patchwork bundles where the colour and patterns have been selected to compliment each other – taking the 'guess work' out of finding similar colour shades to create a beautiful quilt. More complex patterns and designs command high prices due to the labour intensity and number of 'man-hours' it takes to make a stunning patchwork quilt or bed throw.

Image: First Sense

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

2012 Interior Design Trends: Chinese Year of the Dragon


This year is the year of the dragon and not just any dragon, The Black Water Dragon to be exact. For those who have their homes organised and live by Feng Shui will love bringing soft golds teamed with black, blues and greens into their homes this year. Obviously the element of water is to be included along with wood and earth.

Integrate gold stripes into your home on duvet cover sets, bed throws and cheap cushions to team with black and blues to create a rich and interesting colour palette in the bedroom. Don't forget to abide by the rules of Feng Shui when deciding where furniture and furnishings should be placed within a bedroom.

The soft golden hues will bring warmth to your home and while earth is represented by rich earthy colours these can also incorporate the natural tones and colours of wood, making browns and greens ideal colours to blend with gold if you don't like black.

In bathrooms accessories of seashells and fish will be more than acceptable, while living rooms could include black dragon images or ceramic figurines. Just because it's the year of the dragon doesn't mean you have to go mysterious and mystical – take your inspiration from the Chinese and have a Happy & Prosperous Year of the Black Water Dragon.

Image: tattoo4u

Thursday, January 19, 2012

2012 Interior Design Trends: Reflecting Your Personality


We all know, or should do, that our interior décor, the colours we choose to use and our tastes in furniture and furnishings should reflect our personality. However, for many having the spare cash to get the designer interior we lust after is a dream we hope one day will come true.

This year is a year for change and despite the gloomy economy and high unemployment figures hope is always on the horizon. You should remember that you're not alone, retailers are also struggling in many areas and as such are offering some great discounts as well as generous sale prices.

'Strike while the iron is hot', so to speak and look for a bedding sale to re-vamp your bedroom on a budget with cheap duvet covers and ready made curtains uk. Up-dating your home is a great morale booster, so rather than let the 'winter blues get you down' surf the net and find yourself some great bargains.

Look for online retailers who guarantee quality and offer such things as free fabric samples to enable you to 'feel the quality of the cloth' before you make your final decision on colour and pattern.

There's a lot of proverbial sayings in this post and whilst I'm no great believer there may be something in them to make you take note and be inspired to change your interior this year to reflect the real you!

Image: Things That Inspire

Monday, January 16, 2012

2012 Interior Design Trends: Eco Colours


Eco, eco-friendly, eco-awareness 'going green' are buzz words which we hear repeated again this year and whilst this is not a bad thing, I don't know about you but it's becoming rather glib – as such interior designers have embraced the eco trend with the use of colour palettes inspired by nature along with promoting the use of natural materials and up-cycling in our homes.

This style lets you chose which aspects of nature interest you the most; for example those who live near or love the sea can adopt colours which remind them of stiff sea breezes and white horses created by crashing waves. This style is not the typical coastal or beach interior design styles that we've also become accustom to. This year the colours come from Northern Europe and are far more invigorating than sand yellows and sky blues.

Others can turn towards Scandinavia for inspiration by using eco-friendly wooden furniture and furnishings with soft grey and white colours interspersed with pops of natural colours, typically greens and blues.

Simple kitchen blinds made from natural cottons and kitchens rugs made from jute are just a couple of examples of how you can bring this fresh new look into your home.

Image: BELLE VIVIR

Friday, December 30, 2011

Looking Back – 2010 Highlights


2010 has been an exciting time in interior design, so let's take a quick look back and remind ourselves of the highlights.

I began the year by sharing the new trends and colours forecast to be big throughout the year – we saw designers re-cycle and up-cycle, create eco-friendly interiors and focused on using the space in our homes to their full potential.

By the summer we'd given you ideas on how to make statement headboards as well as ways to brighten bedrooms and kitchens on a budget. We touched on fantasy ideas to bring a completely new look to your rooms and took a brief look at using Feng-Shui.

We also talked a lot about window dressings, the art of layering and how the catwalk can also inspire interior design ideas. As autumn approached we looked at using bed throws, cheap rugs, curtains and blinds to help keep your homes warm and cosy; and of course in December we've looked at ways to add festive cheer into your rooms.

So what's in store for next year? Well, we can look forward to more stunning interior design trends, new colours, different perspectives on design as well as tips and hints on how to transform your home on a budget. 2012 is set to be more fascinating than ever before, especially as designers are introducing to their latest design innovations which we take build or adapt to suit our own homes.

Happy New Year everyone, and I look forward to your company throughout 2012!

Image: Design Heaven
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