Smart and Stylish Decorative Screens

(via Lee Louz World)

Folding screens have long been a highly favored element in interior design. Remarkably versatile, they can be used for privacy, as a room divider, in place of a headboard, or as a stunning and dramatic backdrop.

Decorative screens can inject a space with additional colour and texture, and offer the illusion of much needed height and dimension.

Regardless of its purpose or application, a beautiful folding screen becomes a fabulous statement piece when featured in a room's overall design plan.

(via Auction Decorating)

(via Martha Stewart)

(Keller Donovan)

(via Decor Pad)

(via Beclaire House)

(via Decor Pad)

(Ralph Lauren)

(via Easier.com)

(Phoebe Howard)

A perfect marriage of form and function, decorative folding screens are a unique and interesting way to add a beautiful focal point to a room.

Available in a vast selection of finishes and price-points, these versatile pieces are a decidedly smart and stylish design choice. 

Eclectic Elegance: Light and Lovely Living Rooms

(Barbara Barry)

When I happen upon an image of a beautiful room, I save it in one of my many inspiration folders.  My largest folder houses a vast collection of living room pictures, as this has always been my favorite space to plan and design.

The following images are the epitomy of Eclectic Elegance, each layered in soft colours and alluring texture, and generously graced with the incredible beauty of natural light.

 

(Lloyd Ralphs Design)

(Samantha Pynn)

(via Eclectic-Revisited)

(Source Unknown)

(via Eclectic-Revisited)

(via Mix-and-Chic)

(via Better Homes and Gardens)

Rooms flooded with sunlight already have a natural advantage, and when they're decorated in an Eclectic and Elegant Design Style, the results are light, bright, and undeniably beautiful.

The Softer Side of Grey

Grey is considered the colour of compromise, balancing comfortably between the extremes of black and white.

The new neutral, grey has made a strong appearance in almost every aspect of interior design.

 

Warm grey walls appear classic and refined when framed by substantial, crisp white millwork.

Mixed with burnished or antique gold, grey is soft, subtle and sophisticated.

Rich, dark woods look stunning against shimmering shades of silver and grey. 

Grey painted cabinetry and doors add dimension and interest, and are a popular finish in 

new home design.

Combine light grey, creamy white, and warm beige for an understated colour palette that's
easy to live with.

Docile grey walls are a smart compliment to the stainless steel and marble finishes in a

timeless white kitchen.

 

Walls covered in a metallic finish add a touch of glamour to a bedroom layered in

soft and silky neutrals. 

If you're interested in adding this latest colour trend to your home, consider a light grey with warm undertones to enhance your existing design scheme.

You won't be disappointed if you stay on the softer side of grey.

A Mini Series: Chapter I - One Space, Two Styles

Our home was a blank canvas when we moved in four years ago.  I chose a shade of soft suede for the walls, and a warm white for the trimwork.  Rich, mahogany stained floors were installed throughout the main level.

This is a picture of our great room sitting area a few weeks prior to moving in (complete with lovely builder dust).

My challenge was to decorate this new space using furniture and accessories from our previous home.   I needed to fit our twelve foot, curved sectional sofa into a new, decidedly smaller footprint.

After endless hours of playing with a scaled diagram, I created a furniture layout that would realize my vision for a cozy sitting area, and reflect my tailored and traditional design style.

Over the last four years, my vision for this room has slowly evolved.  I wanted the space to remain classic and elegant, but have a more modern sensibility.

Colour was the key in this mini transformation.  Adding darker elements changed the mood of the space, and provided the sophisticated update that I was looking for.

I painted the feature wall a dramatic shade of gray, and surrounded my husband's new flat screen television with a cherry blossom decal to create dimension and interest.

The pale area rug was replaced with a chic cowhide, and two white leather side chairs were added for light and contrast.  Cushions and mirrored accessories were imported from other rooms in the house.

The room now represents my current 'Classic Chic' style - a mix of traditional and modern design, with a touch of glam.

A dramatic change doesn't have to involve selling your furniture and starting from scratch.  Sometimes, a bit of paint and some thoughtful accessorizing is all that's needed to create the look and feel of a completely new space. 

This new mini series is dedicated to changing the style and mood of a room through colour and accessories.  I hope this first chapter has provided you with some inspiration on how to recreate a space in your home.

This design story has been entered in Debbiedoos July 24, 2011 'Newbie Party':

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/2011/07/newbie-party.html

Sensational Sunrooms

In my dreams, I have a sunroom...
A haven of light and energy, where I quietly retreat
to relax my body, refresh my mind, 
and renew my soul...

A SUNROOM is all about indulging the senses - a place to appreciate nature's incredible beauty from the luxurious comfort of an indoor space.

Rich cream and gold furnishings enhance the glow of natural light in this sunroom.  Tailored window treatments provide essential light control without obstructing the lovely garden view.

A limestone fireplace and a layering of sumptuous, textural elements ensure that this sunroom will remain warm and inviting, regardless of the change in seasons.

Comfortable seating and chic accessories create a relaxed elegance in this new sunroom addition.  It's sophisticated design style ensures a seamless transition with the rest of the home, while the nature inspired colour palette provides a visual connection to the outdoors.
              

In this sunroom, organic elements draw the eye through the space to the incredible view beyond.  The neutral furnishings appear weightless, quietly receding into the background.

These cleverly designed indoor swings are the ultimate sunroom addition.  They evoke a feeling of gentle motion and airiness, capturing the true essence of relaxed summer living.
 

In my dreams I have a sunroom...

Do you have a dream of a sensational space? 

Creating an Open Concept Dining Room

Many of today's floor plans integrate the kitchen, dining and living areas into one large, open space.

Depending on the needs of the homeowner, this layout can be designed for casual and relaxed family living, or transformed into a chic and glamorous room for entertaining, as illustrated below.

Our beloved DINING ROOM furniture dictated the classic design plan for the open living area in our home.

A silk shag rug helps delineate the dining space from the adjoining kitchen, while architectural columns add a subtle separation from the sitting room.  Mahogany floors and iridescent paint visually link the spaces, creating a cohesive design scheme.

With the addition of tailored window treatments and glam accents, the area now imbues an eclectic elegance, suitable for day or evening entertaining.

The captivating chandelier and traditional pedestal table clearly define the DINING ROOM in this space.  Two distinct and separate side bars offer additional seating for casual meals and afternoon cocktails.
 

The addition of an elegant buffet and traditional style rug implies that this area is designated as the DINING ROOM.   The kitchen is tailored and sophisticated, creating a seamless transition between the two spaces.
 

This DINING ROOM shares the same neutral palette as the adjoining living area, but a subtle change in paint colour creates the illusion of separate rooms.   The homeowner has cleverly positioned the sofa to act as a visual barrier, further delineating the space.

With thoughtful consideration given to furniture, flooring, lighting and paint choices, a traditional DINING ROOM can be created in a not-so-traditional, open floor plan.

And for those who secretly long for a separate room specifically allocated to formal dining, this alternative is both appealing and attainable.  

What do you prefer - a design style that offers casual comfort, or classic elegance in a open concept living space?