Style Counsel May

Tuesday May 24th, 2011

InsideOut

When your stuck indoors on a cold Wintery day,  wouldn't you just love to bring nature inside?!  I could spend all day here and do nothing but kick back in the chaise and look up at my indoor trees.  Really this look is SO simple but just incredibly effective...what makes it tick?
 

• The tree cuttings of course - one big bold gesture can make a whole room...everything else can be understated.  How easy is this to achieve!  We all have some trees that need pruning, bring them inside rather than down to the bin.  Unlike flowers, they will last several weeks. Then you can change them out with new cuttings and get whole new look every month!
• Generous use  of white – and not a dirty or creamy white either...a nice crisp white that is the same on walls, brick, trim and ceiling.  Keeps it modern.
• Furniture that looks like it did NOT come out of a factory.  The reclaimed timber coffee table is a clever play on the “tree” theme and compliments the vinatge modern chairs beautifully.  Not so sure about that sofa though...think it should be a bit “softer”.
• The honey tones in the wood and rug add much needed warmth.  Many woods today shy away from yellow tones,  but they are very homey.
• There is almost NO pattern – as a dedicated pattern lover,  I admire that this space focuses on all different textures – the brick, art, rug, wood, lantern and trees to keep it interesting.
• If it is at all humanly possible to add a fireplace and window seat to your house – DO IT!  There is nothing that says HOME quite like them

Tuesday May 24th, 2011

Stylish Study

We don’t often feature office spaces, but with so many of us working from home (or just spending a lot of “leisure” time on our computer), we think they should be nice!  For those of us who don’t have the luxury of a big room, isn’t this such a great use of a little nook.  It’s really cozy, inviting and most importantly stylish!

To get the look with Eco Chic, check out our Gleam stripe wallpaper in lots of gorgeous metallic neutrals.  We have a beautiful  gourde lamps Sofia or Virginia that are just timeless.  We can’t claim to have a mirror this great, but we do have quite a few stunning options in our Mirror section.  For a nice cozy area rug have a peek at our Pebble Rug range…the texture would be just gorgeous with the striped wallpaper.

 

Tuesday May 17th, 2011

Cutting a Rug

Just at the feet
This is the most cost effective option as it just involves have the rug right at the feet of the sitting areas.  We think it is just that little bit nicer to have it ticked under the front legs of the sofa and chairs by about 100 mm.  This way you don't hide the design but it keeps the rug firmly in place.


Underneath all the furniture
This is the luxurious option and to get it you may have to get a custom size rug.  Make sure all of the seating (sofas, chairs) and the table all sit nicely within the “pool” of the rug.  Ideally there should be a 100mm border left over aroudn the furniture.


Round Rug
Funky and fun these look great in an entrance, as a clever way to cozy up a little corner of a larger room with a reading chair, or in place of a rectangular rug in a smaller space where you may not want to hide to much of the floor.


Rug on an angle
Dont feel like you ahve to line it up with the furniture.Tilt either the furniture or the rug a bit for a more casual and eclectic feel.


Rug on a rug
Another eclectic and slightly bohemian touch is to layer a patterned rug over a larger plain rug.This is best done with a nice plain sisal or choir and then a thick plushy Turkish rug or other detailed pattern.

Irregular shaped rug
What can we say other then they are statement pieces that are super cool and scream “ I am very creative and have great taste!” I want one.


Bedroom rug
The idea is to have a large enough rug so you end up with a nice soft surface as you walk all the way around the bed ...looks luxurious and provides the additional benefit of cleaning you feet off so you don't drag crumbs and bits into the sheets with you.Two runners down each side of the bed can look brilliant as well.


Cow Hide rug
Always looks best thrown casually on an angle and not taken too seriously.Don't try to line it up perfectly with some sofas and chairs...it will look staged.Toss it somewhere as a transition piece to get you from one area to another...like into bed.

Dont forget to check out Eco Chic's Fair Trade Rugs for more ideas!

Monday May 9th, 2011

Better in Black

We all love our little black dress, slimming black pants, and wicked black heels...is everything just a little better in black?  Well why not our bedroom too.  It does not have to be the least bit sombre or dark.  This stunning bedroom is full of life and oh so chic.  What is it about this space that has such sex appeal?
 

• Don't be afraid of the dark – Go ahead and paint a whole wall black. The furnishings and ceiling will keep it bright.  A great colour to try is Dulux Domino - a really dark charcoal that looks black at night.
• Add plenty of white, not cream, but crisp beautiful white to keep things light & lively.
• The black and white patterns in the bedspread, lamps and art tie the two main colours together with visual interest.  They also add a dash of whimsy to keep the colour scheme from looking too formal
• Add a dash of colour.  In this case it is primaries red, green, blue in small but powerful doses
• The collection of art on the wall is superb - mix different frames, styles, textures, some with matts and other without, modern and traditional to give the room causal sophistication.  Notice there is an odd number of pieces 7...odd is better than even.
• This bed actually looks inviting, not overdone - classic fluffy white duvet, large Euro accent pillows (not too many) and an upholstered headboard for sitting up and reading comfortably.  The wings juts add that touch of intimacy.

Monday May 2nd, 2011

A Lesson in Scale

This wonderfully fresh and invitingly space is a great example of successful use of “scale”.  This facet of interior design is one of the hardest to understand and thus the one where we see many spaces go awry, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to give a little “lesson” on scale. 

• Put simply, good scale means that each item is the right size compared to the other items around it.
• This room is long and narrow,  so they have chosen a furniture layout that reflects that, and individual pieces like the coffee table that are long and narrow, so the room won't feel cramped by trying to force fat furniture into it!
• They have created a nice contrast in scale by choosing a sofa with very low slung curved arms and chairs with very high and square arms...a dynamic look.
• People often think small room, small tiles.  Exact opposite, nice large tiles keep the room from being cluttered and provide counterbalance.
•  Look at the plants in urns at the back of the room.  They are about half the size of the wall behind them, leaving ¼ on each side.  Any bigger and they would look crowded, smaller and they would be ineffective.  They are also about the same width as the windows above them.
• A golden rule in design is the rule of thirds.  Basically something that is 1/3 or 2/3 of the larger space will look harmonious.  The fireplace is about 1/3 the width of the overall room.  The candles in the fireplace are about 1/3 of the height of the firebox.
• The pendant light is tall and narrow reflecting the scale of the upper windows, whereas the sofa and coffee table are low and rectangular, similar in ratio to the tiles.
• Get the theme here?  Scale means responding to the size and proportions of the room and then reflecting them in the furniture, OR very consciously creating a contrast to provide counterbalance.