Posts by Category

---

Posts by Date

Month/Year March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

Juxtaposition: Sleek Lines & Texture

Mar 03, 2010

The simple lines and bold but understated look of modern design have always appealed to me. The challenge is making a modern room look warm and inviting. Smooth surfaces, sharp angles, geometric shapes, and crisp lines form the foundation of the look, but I find it requires some added warmth to look really appealing and homey. So how do you get that warmth without sacrificing the bold look you wanted in the first place? With texture. Here are a few rooms that do it well. I specifically chose somewhat monochromatic rooms so that the contrast of shape and texture would be most apparent.

 

 

This living room by architects Fernlund + Logan illustrates the idea beautifully. The windows, columns, built-ins, and major furniture pieces are spare and simple. But the room feels warm due to loads of light, a rough-hewn beam, fabrics and textiles with different textures, and accessories that introduce curves and whimsical forms.

 

Another Fernlund + Logan home is a bit more traditional, but the emphasis on clean simplicity is the same. A stark color palette draws attention to architectural detail. Curves in the architecture and furniture counteract severe straight lines, and texture warms it up: a sheepskin throw, a driftwood lamp base, rough pine floors, and woolen upholstery.

 

The juxtaposition works here within individual pieces. Chairs with right angles look warmer with rush seats. Clean-lined roller shades get added interest from a diamond pattern. A smooth aluminum accent lamp is the perfect foil for all the natural textures. Photo: Sköna Hem.

 

 

A dark room makes textures stand out even more. A textural painting complements the brick hearth, and white accents keep the room from looking too somber. A curvy, molded fiberglass rocker sidles up to its polar opposite, a very linear wooden chair. Photo: Sköna Hem.

 

 

A room like this might normally inspire strict geometry and masculine shapes. But the coverlet and hassocks are all it takes to soften the sharp space and make it more cozy. Photo: Sköna Hem.

 

Want to make modern work in your own home? (Or any other style?) I can help. An eDecor Plan will give you all the ideas, sources, and know-how you need to pull of a sleek but cozy room in your own house. Check out the benefits of eDecor here or just email me. —Diane

TAGS: modern sleek minimalist style interior design how to warm up modern cozy texture inviting photos of modern interiors rooms

 

  permalink      Comments(0)

Like this post? Please share it:

Juxtaposition: Sun + Snow

Feb 25, 2010

While the rest of the country measures record snowfalls (36 inches? pshaw!), we in Northern Michigan are enjoying a slightly milder version of the cold season. Yes, we still have lots of snow, but not as much as usual. And the sun has been showing its beautiful face a lot more than I remember in recent winters. To celebrate, I've put together a few things inspired by sun, snow, and the coming of spring. Few color combinations say "happy" better than yellow and white. —Diane

 

 

 

1. Trace Rug from CB2, $349. Tibetan forms in a contemporary color palette take on a modern, almost pixellated look in this lush wool rug.
2. Vintage Copco Enamel Bowl from Swoonshop on Etsy, $20. Every kitchen needs a jolt of color and a hint of well-worn vintage. Perfect.
3. Echo Chair from CB2, $80. This lacquered bent-ply beauty will freshen up a dull home office or create a sunshiney informal dining space.
4. Vintage Metal Flower Tray from TheBestThings on Etsy, $13.50. Even if you're still only dreaming of drinks on the patio, this 1.5-inch-deep tray can serve any number of wish-it-were-spring purposes.
5. Clouds on the Horizon Fine Art Photograph from JoyStClaire on Etsy, $14. A literal interpretation of sun and snow is never more beautiful than on the shores of Lake Michigan.
6. Vintage 70s Dresser from bamchicago on Ebay, $295 Buy-It-Now or make offer. Wake up to this happy yellow-and-white storage workhorse in a modern or eclectic bedroom.

 

 

Here's the latest yellow-and-white addition to my house: an English Shepherd puppy! She has yet to meet me, but I'm already in love with this ray of sunshine. —Diane

TAGS: yellow white sun snow color combination moodboard

  permalink      Comments(1)

Like this post? Please share it:

Juxtaposition: Marble and Barnwood

Jan 08, 2010

{Short & Sweet Friday}

 

I created this Juxtaposition category on Room for Inspiration because I'm a lover of contrasts in design: dark and light, warm and cool, smooth and rough, or fancy and humble like this pairing. I had a hard time finding photos of these materials together, which means it isn't a trend! You heard it here first: barnwood and marble look fabulous together. Go forth and pair luxurious stone with reclaimed timbers, like they did here at the new Vanderbilt Bar & Restaurant in New York City.

 

 
 

 

Or here, in the kitchen of a Michigan home profiled in Northern Home & Cottage magazine:

 

 

What juxtapositions do you love? Have a photo you'd care to share? Send 'em to me, please! —Diane

TAGS: marble barnwood reclaimed wood timbers weathered polished high & low vanderbilt bar northern home & cottage magazine

  permalink      Comments(0)

Like this post? Please share it:

Juxtaposition: Leather & Metal

Oct 06, 2009

Contrast is an important part of my design aesthetic. I like the way two different shapes, colors, or textures complement each other. This Juxtaposition post is all about leather and metal. I'm using minimalistic examples, because I think leather can really warm up a sleek, modern design. Now, I didn't call this post a Style Steal. Some of these items are very… shall I say, dear. But if this look catches on, more budget-friendly examples are bound to start showing up. —Diane

 

Atlas Homewares Paradigm Collection. Knob in chrome and black leather, $23. Towel bars in brushed nickel and washable suede, $131 for the 18" model. A tactile, unexpected touch for the kitchen or bath. The knobs and pulls would instantly make a thrifted piece of furniture look expensive and designery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avery Modern Table Lamp with Leather Base, $159. Masculine and marvelous!

 

 

Global Views Leather Magazine Rack with chrome frame, $415. A softer take on Bauhaus.

 

 

Turnstyle Designs Chestnut Leather Bath Accessories. TP holder, $229. Soap dish, $179. Towel ring, $123. I love the way the pieces recall vintage luggage. I can picture a whole bathroom designed around these!

 

 

 

 

1940s French Maple & Brown Leather-wrapped Metal Desk, (sit down!) $67,500. A girl can dream. I'd love to make this the centerpiece of a small but open home office space.

 

 

What about Faux leather?

If you're vegan or just not keen on using real leather, a lot of faux leathers are quite convincing. Used in small amounts or on pieces that aren't often touched, you might not even know the difference. So aesthetically it can work. Just keep in mind that faux leather, usually made from PVC vinyl, cannot be considered a green choice even though it is an alternative to an animal product. Read more about it here.

 

Do those bath accessories have you dreaming of revamping yours? My "Spiff it up" eDecor Plans for kitchens and baths are 20% off through October 31. I can give you a vision and a plan to create a kitchen or bath that's all about you for only $320. More info here.

TAGS: leather metal juxtaposition atlas homewares paradigm bath accessories magazine rack desk antique vintage french luggage

 

  permalink      Comments(0)

Like this post? Please share it:

Juxtaposition: Vintage and Modern Furniture

Aug 31, 2009

Above: Sleek lines in the major pieces of furniture contrast with ornate detailing in a traditional room. Image via livingetc.com.

 

For my first "Juxtaposition" I'm writing about a combo that's important to my own style. Whether it's fashion or home design, I love my vintage. My obsession began in 1988 when I bought my first piece of vint clothing: a WWII Ike jacket. I've now amassed a small collection of 40s-60s clothing and shoes that I love to wear with modern pieces. That same era sets my heart aflutter when it comes to furniture and home accessories.

 

(Click that montage so you can see my notes better.) In my guestroom, I mixed a comfy sleeper sofa from American Upholstery with a 1920s-30s birdseye-maple desk and a 1960s Norwegian sewing caddy that holds gift-wrapping supplies. The maple desk chair came from the same antiques store (Wilson Antiques in Traverse City) but it's 20-30 years newer. I recovered the seat last winter. Both of the tables were steals from Salvation Army. The 1950s freeform walnut end table was $5 and the woodshop project holding the lamp was $2. I'm not sure that kid went on to great things in furniture design, but there was something about the piece's awkward proportions that drew me to it.

Old and new live happily together. It gives a house some soul. But there's a fine line between a curated mix and an out-of-control mish-mash. Here are some tips for successfully marrying vintage and modern pieces.

 

1. Limit the eras you collect. Most people are naturally drawn to one era or another. Whether you swoon for a Victorian fainting couch or drool over a Midcentury Danish Mod rocker, pick a decade and go with it. You'll be more successful at finding quality pieces if you specialize in one era and understand it thoroughly.
2. Go for contrast. In a room filled with traditional furniture, one mod piece can stand out in a beautiful way. Same works in reverse.
3. Let the vintage piece drive your buying decisions. It's much easier to find new stuff to go with your cherished vintage piece than it is to find that one perfect antique.
4. Don't try to match. Upholstering an old piece in fabric that matches your sofa (but is likely uncharacteristic of the antique) will only diminish the beauty and unique qualities of the vintage piece.
5. Know when to stop. Only buy pieces that are useful and effective in your home. If you don't have a good place for a piece of furniture, even if it's "your thing," pass it up. (Thus I conjured a steely resistance to a reasonably priced Finn Juhl bent-ply chair at Treasure Mart in Ann Arbor this weekend. Don't even get me started on how fun that place is!)

Check out this previous post for tips on displaying vintage accessories from Kelly Nogoski, owner of The Best Things. Kelly is an Etsy seller with a beautifully curated shop of both kitschy and classy vintage curiosities. Like this set of vintage black enamel pans, which would look great as organizers on a sleek wooden parsons desk. —Diane

 

(Hey, comments are working now!) What are some of your favorite vintage furniture pieces, and how have you mixed them in your own home? Send me a photo! I might show off your inventive combinations here and you'll be entered in the monthly drawing for a $50 Inspired Room Design gift certificate.

  permalink      Comments(0)

Like this post? Please share it: