homestylesnow

Tag: home decor

  • Decorating Country Style

    Decorating Country Style

    Country style is making a comeback, and it probably isn’t what you think it is.  Generally when we think of country style, we think of our grandmother’s house and very old fashioned colors and clunky furniture.  Today’s country style has changed a bit.  You can decorate in a “modern” country style and still have a home that looks very elegant.

    The modern country style is quite varied, but is generally characterized by a room that is grounded by neutral colors, and comfortable furniture.  I tend to be a visual learner, so we will go room by room and look at elements of country decor.

    Let’s start with the foyer.  What makes this look country instead of modern?  The console table could be either, but the vintage style mirror and the light fixture give it just enough hint of the past to look country yet still elegant. Also, the little bench has what is known as “shaker” style legs, which means they are square legs that are a little larger at the top and tapered slightly toward the bottom.  Notice that there is a pillow on the bench to make it look more inviting.

    Here is an example of a living room.  Notice that all of the seating is upholstered, although solid wooden rocking chairs would also fit into this style.  Country decor leans toward practical items.  The console under the TV, for example has tons of storage space.  Since country decor tends to give a nod to bygone days, it remembers that farm homes 100 years ago tended to be more for practicality than showing off.

    In this room, every seat looks very comfortable.  The table, and cabinets are not fancy shapes, but very practical.  I especially like the ceiling fan in this room.  It is almost industrial, and brings a bit of modernity to the room.  Small touches in this room make a big difference as well.  Take a look at the little green lamps.  They have decoration on them, but very little bling.  Just enough to be noticeable.

         

    In the dining room, country decor generally calls for a tablecloth.  I honestly can’t tell you what my grandmother’s table even looked like, because I never saw it without the iconic red and white checked oilcloth tablecloth on it.  The more modern country style leans more toward soft colors and cotton tablecloths, so you aren’t tied in to red gingham.  The room is still practical and not overly decorated. The curtains have an understated check pattern, and the only art on the wall is one canvas.   The only furniture in the room other than the dining table is the cabinet.  This cabinet in the room is just right for storing things a dining room needs; napkins, tablecloths, charcuterie board, serving platters, and these days, charging cables. This one has charging ports built into it.

     

    In the bedroom, comfort continues with soft fabrics and soft colors.  You don’t have to be a fan of blue to see the country cohesiveness of this bedroom.  The soft, comfortable bed is made with a thick comforter to give it rounded corners.  The relief pattern on the bedside tables is a floral pattern reminiscent of the outdoors.  The two chest of drawers add old world charm by being side by side instead of one large piece.  Again, notice that all of the pieces of furniture in the room are geared toward practicality and storage.

              

    When putting together a country style home, go for pieces that you find attractive.  They don’t have to all “match” in order to look good together.  In the end, whether you want to go full country, or a little eclectic, remember that you are not decorating your house for others, you are decorating it for you, so pick what you like, and love where you live.

     

     

  • Mid-Century Modern Style

    Mid-Century Modern Style

    There is so much buzz going around these days about how mid-century modern style is beginning to trend again. If you were born after the early 1970’s, you may not recognize the characteristics of the style. But once you see them, they become obvious.

    The mid-century modern style is most easily recognized by the legs.  Almost everything had round, tapered legs that were slightly splayed.

    Notice the legs on this night stand.  They are slightly splayed, round, and tapered from top to bottom.

    Another identifying feature of this style is that it tends to be very tailored.  No overstuffed chairs or ruffles.

    See in this photo that all of the furniture has round, tapered, splayed legs.  Also, that it is tailored.  Even the cushioned pieces are not soft or comfy looking.

    Another trend that developed in mid-century modern style is rounded edges and sliding doors.

    Notice the night stand again.

    The cabinet doors do not open outward. They slide open around a curve to disappear into the sides of the cabinet.  Here is another example of a larger piece.

    This piece is designed for a vinyl record player.  Notice it has all of the elements of mid-century modern – the round, tapered, splayed legs, the rounded cabinets with sliding doors, and double level shelves.

    Now, knowing what the true sense of mid-century modern is, you can be more informed when you are decorating your home.  You can go strictly with one style, or you can mix and match.

                                               

    Many mid-century modern pieces mix well with country cottage pieces or very modern pieces.

    Here is a cottage design that incorporates a mid-century modern coffee table, and it works perfectly.

    Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching different styles and periods.  This  will help develop your own style and make your home unique and distinctly yours.

  • Color Your World

    Color Your World

    People often have a difficult time selecting paint colors for their homes.  They want it to be cozy, comfortable, and perfect.  Here is a little truth bomb.  There is not a perfect color.  But let’s start with some very basics to help you decide what you might like best.

    First of all, your home is YOUR home.  Paint it whatever color you like.  For example, my living room is light blue. The bedroom is pink. The dining room is dark green, the kitchen is sage, and the bathroom is pale purple.  People have questioned my choices, but they don’t live here. So if you want your home to reflect YOU, then go wild and paint whatever you like. If you are a little shy about cutting loose and decorating your home the way you like, just check out this lady.

    (3) Facebook

    She may not be your style, but she is definitely sticking to her own style.  “But what about resale value?” It is paint. If you are selling your house, you could repaint the doors back to boring beige or white.

    If you are going for a trendy look, you will generally be repainting about every 5 years, which is not a problem. Paint is more expensive that it used to be, but $500 every five years to keep up the trendy look is not so bad.  So what is trendy right now? Greens; greens are trendy.  One of the favorites is Clary Sage from Sherwin Williams

    It is a lovely color, and they recommend coordinating colors.  If you don’t love Clary Sage, you can pick up a multi-colored example chip and go up to a couple of shades lighter. That keeps you in the same family, without being too dark.

    If you are ready to sell your home, this is where paint color really comes in.  This is the time when you want to go ultra trendy.  Painting you home’s interior will drastically increase its resale value.  So paint it in the trendiest color there is.  Right now, it seems to be the Clary Sage from Sherwin Williams.  And you will likely hear from your husband, “I hate this color.” And your answer will be, “No problem, babe. Now that I have painted, you won’t have to look at it for long.” If you just can’t bring yourself to paint green, go to a couple of open houses and see what colors are being used to stage them.  Take a handful of paint chips, because human brains have a limited memory for colors.  Also, light green can mean a lot of things.

    You can buy little sample bottles of different colors to try for just a few dollars each.  Paint large squares of each color, and give it 24-48 hours to see how it looks in different lighting. I once painted a living room a shade of blue that turned to lavender when the sun began to set.  It changed colors all day with the sun.  I loved it…but I digress.

    The main thing to remember is that it is just paint.  If you love it, use it. If you don’t like it, paint over it.  If you are trying to sell your house, paint it trendy and don’t look at it, because you are leaving anyway.

homestylesnow