Monochromatic ideas for your home

Look how beautiful Monochromatic can be....

All Pier 1 Imports  images provided via written permission to Dawn Gagnon by Pier 1 Imports

This area rug provides beautiful texture and interest and can wake up any Monochromatic scheme.

Crafted in India, this Ivory Rose Rug is crafted of wool and has been hand-tufted. With a textured finish, this rug is found exclusively at Pier 1. 

Product specs:

Color: Beige, Ivory

Size: 72"W x 108"H

Hand-tufted

Exclusively Pier 1 Imports 

On sale now at Pier 1 for $499.99

How about a touch of shabby chic inpiration for a Monochromatic look?

                                                                       

                                                                 

Rosette Hayward Lamp        

                    

This lamp serves double duty in the Monochromatic design, as it adds sparkle and interest with its lovely metallic curvy base, and texture with the application of these soft white flowers around the shade. These features are what we look for in the design world to wake up a calm pallet and make it anything but boring. This lamp is on sale at  Pier 1 for $79.99

Reflect your good taste with this Pearl and gold round mirror

                                                                  

Pearl and gold round mirror

Do you see where all of these items are well suited together? Well they all have common traits that make them work beautifully together. Oh and mix those metallics. This mirror has gold and silver so it works perfectly with the other selections in this post and allows you to mix your metallic finishes for more flexibility.  

Product specs:          

Gold/ivory/silver               

31.50" Dia x 1"D              

Engineered wood, capiz shell, mirror, glass               

Exclusively Pier 1 Imports               

                                                                Price: $179.95 Get it here

Keeping it floral and posh with the Ruffles Pillow 

Ruffles Pillow
Adding yet again more movement and texture in the room will keep the soft and comforting Monochromatic design interesting and lively. This Ruffled Pillow is just the right accessory for any bed, chair or couch. Check it out here








Take a load off and relax in style

Gillian Chair
Here again we see that with just the right amount of pattern and texture we can create interest and design while keeping in sync with our Monochromatic design. This chair is a perfect marriage of texture, pattern and a soft color pallet. It is currently offered at Pier 1 Imports for $ 379.95 and boasts a silver and platinum color pallet. Perfect with all of the items listed in this article.
See it here

Monochromatic design: making it sparkle

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you are the type that will be reluctant to try a monochromatic design scheme because you think it is boring, take heed, there's great ways to make this soothing design aesthetic pop. When we think of monochromatic, we think of bland colors, similar shades and lackluster appeal. However, this is far from it once you understand the ways to make a monochromatic design wake up. Here are the key ways to make this design aesthetic work for you, without being boring.

1. Add plenty of interest to the room with texture. 
Textures add a lot of interest to design because they force the eye to stop and take in the subtle change in the color scheme. Texture in accessories can make the room feel more dimensional. Texture in patterns and fabrics can give off a subtle color change through the shadows created and this adds interest to the room without veering off the soft color scheme. Adding texture can be as easy as adding textured drapes, pillows, woven patterns and embossed wallpaper.




                                            
2. Add shine with metal accessories
When pressed to create a monochromatic design scheme that comes alive, it is important to recognize how important metallic accessories are in creating the sparkle that doesn't compete with the colors in the room but illuminates and reflects them. Warm metallic accessories like bronzes,golds, and copper will work wonderfully with creams, and beige,and warm pastels. Cool metallic accessories like silver, chrome, nickle will work great with whites, grays, and   soft cool pastels.                                                                            

Image via Wikipedia 3. Get sparkle from glass and lighting
Keeping a monochromatic design scheme simple doesn't mean leaving out all the details that make a room sparkle, in fact these details become more important since they serve more function. To wake up a room where color is simple, try incorporating sparkle through lighting. Crystal chandeliers often add not only sparkle to a room, and visual interest, but refract light and create more detail.








4. Using shapes, lines and curves
To continue to make soothing monochromatic design visually stunning the use of
interesting shapes in the room should be explored. Curvy headboards, or sharp angles that are repeated through the design will pull the room together and keep the eye traveling along the rooms space.

 

 

Related articles by this author:

• Going retro and getting it right
• Holiday decorating and knowing your style
• Are home buyers too obsessed with Stainless Steel appliances?

Why color matters

color wheel (Photo credit: unleashingmephotography)We all have a color pallet we love, and for some of us, well, we're the quintessential color "junkie" loving all colors. While we may have many passions on the color wheel, it is important when it comes to our home to be careful in our selections. Choosing colors you love is the easy part, knowing where and how to use them is another story.
While many  designers may advise you to explore all sorts of colors, and encourage you to try them in your home, it is incumbent upon them to also help guide you in the process.
Trying wild colors such as oranges, purples and reds are a great way to display your creative side, you may have to do a little self analyzing to figure out if these color additions should be long term or short term choices.

Here area few questions to ask yourself prior to making bold statements in color for your home:

1. Do I change my mind frequently?
If you tend to change your mind a lot and find yourself changing up your rooms furniture placement, etc. you may want to add bold colors in simple ways rather than to commit to large surface area colors that are often difficult to change without a lot of coats of paint. Bold paint colors that go on large surface areas can change a room in many ways and be costly to correct, often requiring primers and more paint.

2. Do I tend to follow current trends?
If you are a die hard trend follower with design, then you no doubt are aware that about every 5- 10 years you will have to switch it out. This can in some cases translate into some serious money depending on how far you go. If the trend is just about color, try adding some color into the room via decor and seeing how you "live" with it, prior to making a bold move into a bold color choice.

3. Do I mind putting in a lot of work for a temporary trend?
As stated, trends come and go, and when you go all out to create a home based on trends, there will be a time and place when the winds of change come about.  The work to undo a trendy idea can be huge.  Remember when everyone was crazy for Country blue? Well many do, and as soon as the 90's came around there were people assembling en masse at the local hardware store looking for ways to strip the colors off of their kitchen cabinets, and cover it up on the walls.

4. Will I be moving in the next five years?
If you're planning on moving in the next five years, it is a good idea to pass on the wild paint schemes. Studies have shown that homes that have wild color pallets sit on the market, translate to more work for the potential buyer and don't sell as fast. In a struggling housing market, this could be a bad idea if you plan on changing locations within the next five years.


5. Am I sure I want large surfaces filled with this color?
You know, what seems bedazzling and lovely on a paint card/chip at the paint store may be a disaster when seen in your home on a large wall. There are many software programs,(see *link below) available that can help you see your room with the color you select in advance before you commit to buy. For those who are not computer savvy, take home a small can of paint and try a small patch of wall. Take note of which walls you paint, how light effects the color during the day and how the paint color works with the rest of the design scheme in the room.

See your home painted before you go to the paint store:

*Colorjive

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• Updating kitchen cabinets 
• Kitchen design trends that need to take a break 
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Going retro and getting it right

Retro design is a popular and personal design. Nothing quite brings one back to their roots, their childhood memories of grandma's kitchen like retro design can. However, like with most design decisions, going retro in a room requires a little research. You don't want to just jump in because you stand the risk of having the end result look like an indoor garage sale and not the warm nostalgic space you envisioned.

Research
Do your homework for the specific time period you are interested in. This may require hitting up on various informational sources, including but not limited to, Antique malls, libraries, museums, and even grandma's house. In fact, if you take grandma along with you on your quest for authentic retro decor, she may be able to help you a lot with figuring out what is a great piece to add to your overall look. Research popular colors of the specific era you want to capture and don't limit yourself to just kitchen gadgets, there are a lot of vintage fabrics out there that you may want to look into such as table linens, window treatments etc.

Mixing old and new 
There are a lot of new appliances out there that have a retro feel to them. Don't be afraid to mix and match along the way, keep the focus of the overall feel of the space in mind and don't obsess over every little detail being completely authentic. There are new lines of retro inspired replicas and design accessories emerging every day that have some up to date advantages that shouldn't be overlooked. It is better to go with some of these updated options when dealing with anything electrical.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day
Be careful, it is easy to get overwhelmed when trying to bring a vision to life in decorating and design. Start off small and add as you go along. If you try to do too much too soon, you will most assuredly run out of money, patience and energy. Part of the appeal of retro design is it has a time worn, well loved and comfortable feel. This can't be achieved in a day, but takes time, love of the style and a good eye. Relax, enjoy the experience and let the design occur naturally, not under pressure. You want the look to be authentic not intentional.

Going too far 
One thing you don't want to do with your retro design is go too far. How can you go too far? Well, too much matchy-matchy deliberate accessories will  again, offset what you are trying to achieve and actually work against the design aesthetic, especially if you are trying to really capture a moment in time with your design. Better to have a few well chosen pieces, than to have a whole room where each element was bought from the same store, with the same logo, or color.

Also check out : Retro RefrigeratorDealer.com

Take a look at these wonderful retro finds that can really give you a jump start on your retro design scheme:

Hot interior decorating trends for 2012

If you are wondering what the new trends in home interiors are going to be for the new year, well here's a look. We'll see a glimpse of the past with vintage accents and décor in some rooms, while neutrals expand on the success of Gray wall color last year. Lighting will also go in a few directions depending on what part of the home you are working with. Functionality in lighting takes a back seat to style and artistic expression as more designer options become available.


Here's a look at some of the shifts in design for 2012. If you live in South Carolina and love to scout great deals on vintage décor, you have got to visit Columbia, South Carolina's many antique malls. Loaded with treasures from by gone eras, antique malls can be a designer's best friend. See the *link at the bottom of this article for a list of antique malls in Columbia, South Carolina.

Vintage
Vintage will always have a following, as many vintage design and décor pieces have a distinctively nostalgic and heartwarming appeal. However, vintage isn't necessarily retro in “feel”. Vintage is more about classic design that holds onto timeless appeal. Vintage is making a comeback primarily in the kitchen. You may see a move towards such design elements as, Soapstone counter tops, and vintage décor in the way of school house lighting, subway tile back splashes, vintage apothecary jars and old world touches. Also don't be surprised to see back to basics white cabinetry in the kitchen as well. Marble is also a hot kitchen island item and even with the special care required, consumers are wiling to take the risk for the beautiful old world classic touch.




Cool neutrals
There were two shifts in the previous year one was colors that were warm and spice inspired and the Neutral Gray was a big hit. This year there will be a gray inspired shift in all neutrals giving them cool tones. Sages, blues and even beige colors will cool down with this gray infusion. Why? Well one theory is once new construction homes started adding a beige color pallet to the walls of the newly built homes, a shift began to disassociate from builder beige. In shifting, consumers wanted to stay neutral but change the color to reflect individual style. The number one most popular trim color for walls is still bright white and with a high gloss, but in some cases, trim work in the room has been going quite dark with Mahogany and Walnut. Wallpaper is also coming back as designers alter the appeal of wallpaper with a design aesthetic more in line with today's homeowner's taste. Wallpaper has much more contemporary flair today, and offers flexibility. Many wallpapers are embossed and allow homeowners to paint over a wide array of design styles and textures.



Lighting
Lighting will take two shifts, one will go old school with a vintage feel especially in kitchens and bathrooms, the other shift will be more artistic. One way many homeowners can express their style, and tastes is through lighting. Lighting today can be as sedate or creative as the mind can conjure and because it is easily changed with trends coming and going, lighting can afford to be a little taste specific, if one doesn't go too far. Going far beyond functionality, lighting will be another piece of art in homes.
Antique Malls In Columbia

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Unifying large multi purpose spaces in your home

Image via Wikipedia

A clean slate is best. It may be best to clear out the room if it isn't already done. Take note of things like wall outlets, cable and phone lines etc. These all will play a key part in space assignment and definition. Once the room is clear you will notice the large expanses of individual surfaces like the ceiling, floor, and walls. These large surfaces have to tie in together to create a unified design. When choosing paints, or flooring, window treatments etc. remember that they will be the background for the room entirely. Creating too many colors, and varying window treatments or flooring will make the room feel disjointed. There are far better ways to create definition for a large space. If you live in South Carolina and would like to have a local contractor help in your renovation or remodel, see the * link at the bottom of this article for more information.

Ideas and potential problems

Ideas are free, so this is perhaps the easiest part of your project. Start off by writing down a list of ideas based on need vs. want and cost vs. budget to get a good idea what you are in for. After you've gotten a list going, it is time to take a look at the space and survey it in these key areas: ceiling, floor, walls, windows, entrance and exit. Assess if you space needs a new ceiling, flooring, walls removed or added, windows or lack thereof, and adequate accessibility. Not all large spaces were designed to be something else and in the case of attics and basement areas, having proper entrance and exits may need to be looked at. By going down this list you can write down your thoughts on how to improve them, as well as in what order. Most people who have done renovation work will tell you these broad surfaces have to be addressed in a certain order especially if the room requires painting. Ceilings should be installed and painted first, then walls painted, added, or removed, Windows can be installed next, and finally flooring. Flooring is best do to last so that paint drips, damage from wall and debris, etc wont destroy it's finish.

Here are a few common ways to utilize wasted space in your home

home office/study area

If you lack a home office, this large space may be just the place to create a home office, study area for the kids, or even a small library to read in.

Need media room/ game room

Many homes being built today are incorporating into their design media rooms and home owners are also requesting game room/play room space. Why? Well it may be due to the fact more Americans are feeling the pinch economically and spend more recreational time at home.

Additional Storage

If your home has cramped storage, having a partition built may be a clever way to create storage. In most cases, it would involve installing a wall framed in 2 X 4's spaced every 16 inches from the stud's center point to the center point of the next stud, a few pieces of sheet rock, molding, and joint compound. Creating a hidden area or large walk in closet in a large space is a great way to add storage that may be lacking in other areas of your home.

Define and unify

Once you have chosen the right details for the large surfaces of your multipurpose room, it is time to designate space allocation. Work on the room as a whole so that you don't end up with a disjointed space. Example: If you are adding a home office, you may want to take care to make sure that the finishes you use in choice of materials is one that can be carried out into the rest of the space. Cherry cabinetry in your home office area needs to be repeated elsewhere in the space to create a cohesive feel. The same applies to fabrics. Whether it is window treatments, throw pillows, furniture coverings, they need to have one common among them all. This should be in color, texture, pattern. Try to keep it simple by choosing three main colors to work off of. Similar textures, shapes and patterns with like colors will give your space a unified feel without compromising each rooms defined purpose.

How to define and design large spaces

Image via Wikipedia

As hard as it is to decorate and create space in a small area, it is equally difficult to take a large space and make it feel cozy. Add to that, the frustration of how to best utilize and define a large space and suddenly you see the challenge. Many people become overwhelmed with large spaces and after trying to paint and find ways to fill it give up. The key in pulling a large space together is to give the room a true identity or two. Yes, or two. Sometimes the best way to deal with large spaces it to make them multi-functional. The real problem emerges when you have a room serving so many functions how to pull it together in a cohesive way so that it looks less like a catch all room and more like a well planned and comfortable space to share.


Assessing your needs
In assessing what your needs are, take into consideration what the space already offers. Is there adequate number of electrical outlets? Phone jacks? Cable line? Is there a bathroom in this space, or existing plumbing for a bath room? Is there any natural light? Are the windows large enough to crawl out of in a fire situation? Many people looking to convert an unused space like an attic or basement into a room need to understand that certain rooms like adding an additional bedroom have certain criteria that must be met. For example in some states, a basement bedroom must have a large enough window to allow a person to crawl through it, as well as the bedroom can only be sold to a buyer if it has a closet. Knowing this in advance helps you plan especially if you are looking to increase the value of your home or wanting to sell it later on. If you are unsure about plumbing or electrical issues, it might be well worth consulting with a contractor, plumber or electrician before you begin.

Potential problems
Almost every home renovation or remodel runs into unforeseen problems. If you are working on a tight budget, allow extra for the unforeseen and keep things simple. Elaborate design ideas done on the cheap are almost impossible and if you aren't careful could cost twice as much through error. Instead keep your design ideas simple, practical and realistic. Rooms like basements can have issues with moisture, mildew, flooding etc. and these problems have to be fixed even if it means postponing your renovation to a later date. Attic space could have circulation problems, need additional insulation, electrical etc. Be sure to consult with experts before jumping into a project.


Possibilities and ideas
Once you have addressed any potential problems and have assessed what your family's needs are, it is time to start planning. Large spaces offer the potential to be many things. Taking a look at the rest of your home will provide some clues as to how to best utilize and allocate space in this large space.
Storage?
If your home has cramped storage, having a partition built may be a clever way to create storage. In most cases, it would involve installing a wall framed in 2 X 4's spaced every 16 inches from the stud's center point to the center point of the next stud, a few pieces of sheet rock, molding, and joint compound. Creating a hidden area or large walk in closet in a large space is a great way to add storage that may be lacking in other areas of your home.
Word to the wise: Every state is different and if you plan on making major structural changes to your home you may need a building permit. If that sounds a little too complicated, you may if budget allows, get a contractor in to do the small job.
Home office/study area
If you lack a home office, this large space may be just the place to create a home office, study area for the kids, or even a small library to read in. If you need a little privacy, consider using a room divider. This works great for many spaces.

Media room/ game room
Many homes being built today are incorporating into their design media rooms and home owners are also requesting game room/play room space. Why? Well it may be due to the fact more Americans are feeling the pinch economically and spend more recreational time at home.

Getting started
A clean slate is best. It may be best to clear out the room if it isn't already done. Take note of things like wall outlets, cable and phone lines etc. These all will play a key part in space assignment and definition. Once the room is clear you will notice the large expanses of individual surfaces like the ceiling, floor, and walls. These large surfaces have to tie in together to create a unified design. When choosing paints, or flooring, window treatments etc. remember that they will be the background for the room entirely. Creating too many colors, and varying window treatments or flooring will make the room feel disjointed. There are far better ways to create definition for a large space.

Define and unify
Once you have chosen the right details for the large surfaces of your multi-purpose room, it is time to designate space allocation. Work on the room as a whole so that you don't end up with a disjointed space. Example: If you are adding a home office, you may want to take care to make sure that the finishes you use in choice of materials is one that can be carried out into the rest of the space. Cherry cabinetry in your home office area needs to be repeated elsewhere in the space to create a cohesive feel. The same applies to fabrics. Whether it is window treatments, throw pillows, furniture coverings, they need to have one common among them all. This should be in color, texture, pattern. Try to keep it simple by choosing three main colors to work off of. Similar textures, shapes and patterns with like colors will give your space a unified feel without compromising each rooms defined purpose.

Related articles by this author:

• Giving space an identity in your home 
• Kitchen design trends that need to take a break 
• Interior décor an investment in your home's value