The Advantages of Adding an Accent Colour

Interior design trends are constantly changing.  Personal decorating tastes grow and evolve.  COLOUR, texture, and pattern styles are as fleeting as the changing seasons.

Neutral investment pieces are always a safe and practical choice.  And for some, an entirely neutral space is both elegant and serene.

But, for those who long for a touch of COLOUR in their home, adding a few, well chosen accessories in a favorite hue can be enough to satisfy that need, without making costly changes. 

Emerald green cushions sparkle like jewels amidst their soft and creamy surroundings.   Consider this room with neutral ACCENTS, and it becomes apparent the impact COLOUR has on a space's style and character. 

Fuchsia tea towels and a simple arrangement of fresh flowers provide a pop of delicious COLOUR in this charming kitchen.  The powerful effect would be reduced if every accessory in the room was the same shade of shocking pink.  

This gorgeous conservatory is completely neutral.  Nature provides the only COLOUR in this space, with the addition of luscious ferns and fragrant hydrangeas in full bloom . 

   

This bedroom's plum accent COLOUR makes an appearance in the shimmering window treatments and pillows, exuding a sense of warmth amongst the room's other cool tones.  These select textiles can be easily substituted with a softer shade of purple when milder temperatures prevail.

   

Sapphire ACCENTS were created with a few yards of discount fabric in my own home office.  The room's design story can be successfully rewritten by replacing the shimmering blues with another favorite COLOUR, for a fraction of what it would cost to start the entire decorating process all over again.

Accessorizing with accent COLOURS allows you to make dramatic changes to your home with relative ease.  They're a wonderful way to introduce trends in your design, decorate according to the seasons, or alter the mood of a room to match your own.

Keep it simple, and you'll be equally rewarded with style and savings.  And who doesn't love a win-win combination!

The Keys to Creating a Home Library

BOOKS can be a source of entertainment, a resource for information, or a doorway to another world.  They can enlighten, educate and inspire.   BOOKS are incredible treasures.

For those who love and cherish the written word as I do, a home LIBRARY, however small, is as much a necessity as it is a luxury.

In my home LIBRARY, I started with the basic staples;  a comfortable reading chair, good lighting, and a cabinet to house (a small portion of) my BOOK collection.

Artwork, silk draperies, and a cozy throw in serene shades of french blue, set the mood for a few stolen moments lost deep inside the pages of a favorite novel.  

In this well appointed LIBRARY, the extensive collection of BOOKS are displayed behind glass, their leather covers protected from dust and sun damage.

   

 

This home LIBRARY is anchored by a pedestal table, offering an additional surface to display BOOKS and sculptural accessories.

 

A LIBRARY can be easily integrated into an existing home office.  The eclectic mix of furnishings and artfully displayed collections add to the exotic elegance of this space.    

These BOOKS have been wrapped in white linen, creating a cohesive colour scheme in this sophisticated space.  The display is primarily decorative, as the covered spines prevent one from perusing the BOOK titles in search of that perfect 'read'.

BOOKS are stacked and displayed amongst family pictures throughout these charming built-ins, adding warmth and personality to the landing in this beautiful home.     

 

BOOKS are as priceless as any fine work of art.  Write them into your own design story, and embrace the warmth and richness that they will undoubtedly add to your home.