What Elegance in Design Means in 2015

Let’s take a look at the new definition of elegance in 2015, it is much more sleek and minimalist than your grandmother’s version of elegance. Image Source: Turtlebeach Construction

Once upon a time, an elegant home was filled with flamboyance, layers of fabrics, and passementerie. Those homes with stratums of accessories all matched to perfection seem outdated in our modern world. For one, we don’t really have the time to fuss with all those matched sets, making everything look magazine-perfect. And secondly, even if we did have the time (or hired an interior designer) who really wants that matchy-matchy aesthetic in their homes anymore?

What is the new meaning of elegance in design? How is an elegant home defined in this upcoming year that promises even more advancements than we ever thought possible a mere ten years ago?

Let’s take a look at the new definition of elegance in 2015, it is much more sleek and minimalist than your grandmother’s version of elegance:

How is an elegant home defined in this upcoming year that promises even more advancements than we ever thought possible a mere ten years ago? Image Source: Cynthia Lynn

Clean Lines and Minimalism

We are all familiar with a modern home, filled with…well, filled with very little. It seems we have gone to the opposite end of the design spectrum, shunning everything ‘fussy’ and going bare bones. This minimalist aesthetic has its benefits: no clutter, very little dusting and cleaning (since there are few items to collect dust), simple hard-surface floors, and perhaps a feeling of relief when one walks in the door after a hectic city commute.

We believe that elegance in 2015 is all about clean lines, and clean lines can be achieved within most modern homes by avoiding clutter and keeping furnishings simple (think: the extreme opposite of baroque styling). Minimalism makes a lot sense, not only does it offer a reprieve from our hectic lives, it allows design elements and architectural elements to stand out. We are a design-savvy bunch occupying the world right now (perhaps thanks to Pinterest and places like Freshome), and we want the clean lines and quality of our furnishings to take center-stage, avoiding all the extra fluff.

But what if you are not a fan of the minimalist style? Read below to learn more about creating elegance in your home.

We believe that elegance in 2015 is all about clean lines, and clean lines can be achieved within most modern homes by avoiding clutter and keeping furnishings simple. Image 

What if You Don’t Like Minimalism?

Aside from the above-mentioned benefits of the minimalist home, there are still many (this writer included) who want to be surrounded by objects they love; they want a home that is clean and modern yet remains ‘homey'; they want their knick-knacks out; they want a few piles of well-loved books here and there.

Yes, clean lines are certainly topping the list in terms of elegance, but it doesn’t mean that you must have a minimalist home in order to attain elegance. Certainly a home that is layered in culture, color and personality is elegant.

In fact, we dare argue that the epitome of an elegant home is one where you break the rules, tossing aside passé put-together rooms in place of an eclectic mix of furnishings, combining them into a space that is uniquely you.

we dare argue that the epitome of an elegant home is one where you break the rules, tossing aside passé put-together rooms in place of an eclectic mix of furnishings, combining them into a space that is uniquely you.

 A Tech-Savvy Home is Sleek and Elegant

We can’t escape it—cords, iPads, iPhones, tablets, chargers— there is no better way to ruin an elegant design than by cluttering it with all these tech devices. Of course, we ‘need’ these devices, they are quite literally a bodily appendage.

How do you maintain elegance with all these extraneous wires and cord clutter? By making your home as tech-savvy and sleek as possible. Home builders are jumping on the tech bandwagon by designing homes that have it all: smart automation, energy efficiency, built-in charging stations, virtual climate control, virtual security…essentially enabling everything in the home to be controlled from anywhere with the tap of a button. Now that is elegance in 2015!

It seems the Jetsons had it right, aside from the flying cars, we seem to be living in the future.

Home builders are jumping on the tech bandwagon by designing homes that have it all: smart automation, energy efficiency, built-in charging stations, virtual climate control, and virtual security. Image Source: Christopher Elliott

Elegant Colors for 2015

We can’t talk about elegance in design without touching upon color. While color is a very personal choice, there are some hot colors hitting the market that embody elegance.

Some of you may already be aware of the Pantone color of the year—Marsala. The reddish-burgundy color is said to be ‘subtly seductive; one that draws us into its embracing warmth’. Well, that sounds elegant, right? Some in the interior design community disagree, citing it made them feel ‘blah’.

If you tend to agree with the latter opinion, then look to some of the other elegant colors that seem to be on the tip of everyones’ paint brush such as Sherwin-Williams predicted top 40 colors for 2015. We think they hit elegance spot-on with their Chrysalis palette— a palette of muted, soft grayish-greens.

We think they (Sherwin Williams) hit elegance spot-on with their Chrysalis palette— a palette of muted, soft grayish-greens. Image Source: Square Footage Designs

What is elegance in 2015?  We suggest that all of these above-mentioned modern aesthetics embody the new meaning of elegance: minimalism, clean lines, eclectic mixes, and muted color—they are all parallel when it comes to creating an elegant home in 2015.

How do you create elegance in your home design? We’d love to hear your ideas!

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10 Ways To Give Your Home A Subtle Luxurious Feel

Anyone can add a luxurious feel to their living space. Image Via: Guided Home Design

As the old saying goes, every man’s home should feel like his castle. However, these days it seems like castles are only seen in storybooks and on big-budget reality TV shows. It doesn’t need to be that way. We want to bring that luxury back into your home.

When you develop your home’s design, remember that “luxury” doesn’t necessarily have to be synonymous with “over the top”. There are lots of ways to add a small, luxurious touch to a home. By keeping your look understated, you’ll achieve a timeless style that your family and wallet will love.

Check out these 10 Ways To Give Your Home A Subtle Luxurious Feel. Take them into account the next time you tackle your decorating to-do list. You deserve to have your home feel like a grand escape.

Use these tips to give your home a subtle luxurious feel. Image Via: Oz Architects

1. Round Out the Space with Molding and Trim

Molding and trim are two of the most commonly used tactics to transform a room from a basic box into a comfortable space. Quite simply, these elements provide a visual framework for the space while conveying sense that every little detail was taken into account during the decorating process.

There are a few different types of trims that you can consider incorporating:

• Baseboards: Baseboards start at the floor and run the parameter of the room. They are usually 3-8 inches high, depending on ceiling height and can have a small decorative detail carved into the top.
• Casing: This refers to a flat molding that can be used to frame windows and door frames. It’s often used to as a visual cue of transition between two room
• Crown Molding: Crown molding runs along the ceiling of a room. It is proportionally about 1 inch thicker than a room’s baseboard and often features detailing in the corners
• Chair Rails: A thinner piece of molding the runs horizontally around the room at – you guessed it – about the height of a chair. It’s usually used in more formal spaces and sits around 36 inches from the floor.

As you choose your molding, make sure to get proper measurements. If you aren’t very DIY-oriented, this may be an occasion to hire a professional. Once you’ve finished the installation, take care to use matching paint or stain on all of your molding in order to achieve a cohesive look.

Use molding to make a room feel polished. Image Via: Candice Cavanaugh Interiors

2. Give Every Room A Focal Point

One way to give your home a luxurious feel is by making sure that each room has a clearly defined focal point. While it sounds fancy, a focal point refers to a singular spot where the lines of the room converge and where your eye is immediately drawn upon entering.

The easiest way to pick a focal point is by highlighting an existing architectural detail. Does your family room have a beautiful, old fireplace that’s gathering dust? Perfect. Spruce up the structure by giving it a new mantle. Is there a large window that lets in tons of natural light? Consider adding a window seat to underscore its beauty.

If you can’t find a singular detail to point out, don’t worry. You can just as easily create one. Splurge on a statement table in your dining room. Use two lamps to frame the cozy seating area in your living room. Show off your artistic skills by painting a piece of art to display in your home office.

Ground every room with a focal point. Image Via: Betsy Burnham Design

3. Choose Warm Colors

One of the defining characteristics of any luxurious space is that you want it to feel inviting. You want your family and friends to wish they could spend all of their free time in the safety and comfort provided by rooms. Make sure you create that welcoming atmosphere by choosing the right paint color.

The science behind color psychology has been studied for decades. Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow are perceived as cozy and intimate. Cooler colors like grey and green have been associated with calmness and are used to make a room feel more spacious.

Draw your guests into the space by opting for deep, warm tones. Tan shades serve as a great neutral base on which to build brighter, more vibrant colors. But, if cooler colors are more your style, deep, jeweled tones to still give a subtle nod to luxury.

Incorporate warm colors to make a space feel inviting. Image Via: Dustin Peck Photography

4. Offer Plush Seating

Close your eyes and picture yourself living in the lap of luxury. Do you see yourself reclining back into piles of pillows or struggling to find a comfortable spot on a minimalist seating set? Most likely, it’s the former. Give your home a luxurious touch by providing plenty of plush seating.

Whenever possible, make sure that your seating is cushioned and upholstered. Opt for richer, high-quality fabrics to really cement the luxurious feel. Don’t hesitate to choose a textured fabric that will help bring an extra layer of depth into the space.

Of course, it’s impossible to discuss plush seating without also discussing throw pillows. Those striving to achieve a more modern look should choose an odd number of pillows and arrange them asymmetrically. If your design is more traditional, go for an even amount and display them as bookends on your furniture. Whatever your style, be sure to choose pillows in varying sizes and coordinating colors.

Plush seating makes a room feel luxe and comfortable. Image Via: Streeter Associates

5. Layer Floor Coverings

In the same vein as the cozy seating, you want your floor coverings to be plentiful as opposed to sparse. Not only will layered floor coverings add an extra layer of padding to underfoot, but they will also help to keep your family’s feet warmer during the dead of winter – which is a luxury worth any price.

If you can, start with a basic layer. Hardwood or a realistic-looking faux option is your best bet. They will coordinate easily with a variety of color schemes and decorating styles and give you a solid foundation on which to build the rest of your décor. If you are a fan of carpeting, you should choose a solid, neutral color and make sure it has a thick layer of padding underneath.

Then, add in your personal style with throw rugs. Oriental designs are a classic choice for those who want to add a luxurious feel. But, whatever style you choose, just make sure to use colors that are already present in your design and sizes that work with the shape of the room.

Use floor coverings to add depth to the space. Image Via: Hayneedle

6. Add Antique Charm

There’s something about incorporating an antique element into your décor that adds a feeling of grandeur to a room. By choosing one or two antiques to tie a room together you can add a layer of visual interest to the space without it clashing with your more modern aesthetic.

When it comes how you should incorporate your antique, the sky is the limit. Mirrors are a great option since they will add weight and depth to any space. You could also anchor the room with an armchair or vanity. Those who are newer to antiquing and want to start small could look toward a decorative vase or desk lamp.

Looking for antiques is not an exact science. It may take a bit of time to find the perfect piece to fit into your space, but when you find the one, it will be worth the wait. Make searching for your antiques into an enjoyable experience by spending afternoons combing local flea markets and yard sales. Look at everything and think carefully before buying. A little bit of elbow grease will go a long way toward making an antique shine, but make sure its structure will hold up to use.

Choose one or two antique items to add grandeur. Image Via: Chalet

7. Embrace Metallic Accessories

No luxurious space would be complete without a certain amount of shine. Decadent gold, demure bronze, and lavish silver can each add a rich touch to your rooms. Pick the one that best fits with your personal style and incorporate it into your accessories for a subtle hint of glamour.

Belfort Furniture cautions against going overboard with metallics. They recommend keeping the pieces simple when possible, using one or two items as a statement piece for the room, and always pairing the metallics with solid hues in order to create a relaxing atmosphere.

With those tips in mind, aim to incorporate metals in things like lighting fixtures, wall hangings, and other décor items. If you’re feeling particularly bold, you could also consider a singular, bigger pop of metal like a sink basin in your bathroom or cooker hood in the kitchen.

Add in some metallic accessories for richness. Image Via: Thompson Custom Homes

8. Splurge on Finishing Touches

Buckle up for one of the best-kept secrets in interior design: A little bit of luxury will go a long way. Splurge when it comes to your finishing touches and you’ll create a luxurious feel for relatively little expenditure.

When talking about finishing touches, designers are referring to small details that are often overlooked on their own, but when added together, really round off the room. This can be anything from window treatments, to hardware finishes for cabinetry, or even live plants to add a pop of freshness to the space.

Choose one or two of these small touches to really drive home your take on luxury. Replace your facet and drawer-pulls with stainless looks for a modern kitchen. Make your bathroom feel like a spa by springing for hotel-quality towels. Top off your master bathroom with satin sheets and a heavy down comforter.

Splurge on finishing touches like high-end bedding. Image Via: LDa Architecture & Interiors

9. Put Effort Into Ambiance

Ambiance will go a long way towards influencing the feel of a space. Soft piano music and lit candles will give off a much more romantic feel than harsh overhead lighting coupled with silence. Make sure you are using atmosphere to really drive home the luxurious feel in your space.

When it comes to ambiance, lighting is key. Use lampshades to keep lighting soft and diffused. If your fixture utilizes more than one bulb at a time, consider mixing colors – white and pink work well together to create a subtle hue. If you have overhead lighting in your space, install dimmer switches to allow you to control the brightness.

Beyond lighting, music will help you add a luxe touch to any space. Invest in a solid sound system and thoughtfully place speakers so that sound will be evenly distributed throughout the space. Consider wiring them into the ceiling to keep any unsightly hardware and wires out of sight.

Use multiple light sources to create ambiance. Image Via: MS Architecture & Design

10. Keep Everything Neat and Organized

Think about all the luxurious spaces you’ve seen on TV and in magazines. Are there knick-knacks cluttering every space and personal items lying about? On the contrary, the rooms are always sleek and clean. Fortunately, you don’t need a team of art directors and photographers to achieve the same feel in your home.

Do your best to keep clutter to a minimum by investing in storage solution that you’ll actually use. Solid bins that match your décor will easily hide away any amount of chaos you can store inside. Station a few of these in every room within easy reach of couches and other high-trafficked areas to ensure you have no excuse store your clutter inside.

A clean space will, of course, feel more luxurious that one in need of a good scrub down. Do your best to make a cleaning scheduling and stick to it. To ensure your space is always photo-ready, take care of heavy-duty tasks during your days off and weekends. Then, you’ll only have to give the surfaces a quick wipe down on days when you are rushing out the door.

Clean and organize your space to keep it looking luxurious. Image Via: Carol Vaughan-Davis

Everyone wants a home that feels like a high-end oasis. However, what most people don’t realize is that you don’t need a six-figure budget in order to achieve that aesthetic. All you need is a few simple touches. By taking care to add those details in the right places, you create a subtle luxurious feel in your home that both your family and your wallet will love. Use the tips above to get started today.

How have you brought a luxurious feel into your home? What are your favorite luxury details? Tell us in the comments.

Originally posted on freshhome.com

10 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Interior Decorator

10 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Interior Designer

It’s something to think about if you haven’t already done so. Hiring an interior decorator is a smart decision if you’ve invested a good bit of money into your home and want to be able to showcase it to look its best. Decorators truly serve a purpose for everyone. Whether you have no idea where or how to begin to decorate your home, or whether you have an idea but need help tying pieces together, or you simply haven’t the time to execute your style and desires due to your busy day to day schedule.

I recently asked myself, if I were a client why is hiring an Interior Decorator a wise and sensible choice? Toss aside the idea that interior decorators are only for the rich and famous or those with so much money that they don’t know what to do with it all. In reality they save you a great deal of time and money and headache medicine!

1. Save Money.

It might sound strange that hiring someone to decorate your home would save you money since you have the additional fee of the designer. “Hiring a designer can help you to avoid costly mistakes that will not only help you save money but can increase the value of your home.” Especially when selling your home – interior design is essential when listing your home. It can help boost buyer appeal and set your home above the competition.

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2. Professional Assessment.

“A designer can give you a professional assessment of your situation, that will will lead to a solid plan of action. The order of things in a design plan is key in determining what can be repurposed or should be edited. This will not only effect the budget but help you to spend it more efficiently.” A designer offers an extra set of eyes, but these eyes are trained to see and notice things that you may not.

3. Budgeting and Planning.

A designer can keep you on budget and save you time and effort. A designer knows where to go for resources for everything related to your home. This will save you endless amounts of time researching products, brands and prices. A designer will have all this readily on hand, and should he or she not, will spend the time researching so that you don’t have to.

4. Liaison

A designer will be able to build “a stronger bridge between you and your architect or contractor early on and can head off design misses in your overall plan. This is crucial in managing time and money. Also designers are trained to think about things we may overlook. “It’s so important that the lighting and furnishing needs are addressed before construction. If your living room sofa is floating in a the middle of the room you want to make sure you have the proper placement for floor outlets.”

5. Wide availability of resources.

There are things available to designers that are not available to the general public in terms of connections, resources and general merchandise. By culminating these resources designers can  help to make your space look more collected, unique and pulled together.

6. Contacts.

“In addition to vendor resources, designers have many home improvement industry contacts. They can save homeowners time and headaches trying to identify reliable, contractors, plumbers and electricians for their projects.”

7. Wow Factor.

Designers can help to give you the “wow” factor you’ve been looking for. They are trained to think differently, spatially and to see an overall picture that clients often cannot. “Thinking outside of the box is what designers do all day long.”

8.Home sale.

A decorator can potentially add a great deal to the aesthetic of your home, which in turn can increase showings and sales. This increased appeal can exponentially speed up the amount of time your home sits on the market before it is sold. The benefit here is two-fold, a faster turn-around time and more money in your pocket.

9. A trained eye.

“A designer is a professional with a trained eye that can automatically tell you if there is something wrong or right with a space. Having that immediate consult is a major advantage when making aesthetic decisions. It is the result of years of experience.” Often times homeowners try to do it all themselves and get frustrated. 

10. Visual story-teller

In conclusion : “Interior design is a skill and an art that will only enhance the space and the quality of your life in the space. Hiring a pro raises the level of that experience and makes your house a home. A designer can help you tell your visual story. I can’t think of a better reason than that!”

Given all this information will you consider hiring an interior designer the next time you remodel, buy a home or move?

Lovely Range of Themed Children’s Beds Mixing Fun, Play and Rest

Balancing fun and rest, these new children’s beds from Danish company Lifetime are a treat. The collection below features special themes ranging from pirates and princesses to Morrocan style materials and airplanes. These fun sleeping solutions provide kids with more than just a place to rest their heads as they also double up as play areas. Most of them come equipped with drawers and hidden shelving units, for easy cleaning. The beds are made from the best solid knot free pine and hand crafted in Denmark. Safe and also beautiful, they features a whitewash finish applied on the solid pine, to preserve the natural beauty of solid wood, treated with a combination of lacquer, wax and pigments. Have a look at the gallery and see if there’s any model you like!

Give your child the chance to explore the universe every night with the discovery children’s space rocket bed. The Discovery Kids Bed comes complete with space ship curtains to cover under the bed, (this area can be used as a play den, homework area or for storage), ladder, discovery shutter for ladder and safety rail bars.

The Tree House Bed proudly showcases a top cabin with open window, slanted ladder, rope ladder and there is 73cm high area below where you can add a mattress as the picture shows, or use as a play, reading or study area.

Silversparkl Cabin Bed for young girls eatures an open window, silversparkle curtain, underbed shelving, drawer and cupboards. This storage space is very convenient for toys, bedding, clothes, books and much more.

The Ice Cream children’s Bed by Lifetime is made from the best solid knot free pine and hand crafted in Denmark. This luxury kids bed features a fun illustrated ice cream design, hanging storage box and book rack.

This stylish and practical Children’s Cabin Bed comes with great storage solutions with an under bed shelf, drawer and cupboards. This storage is very convenient for toys, bedding, clothes and books.

The Pirate boys L shaped bunk bed is a fun bed that comes complete a high bunk with pirate detail, ladder and a low bunk with under bed storage. This can be used to make a third guest bed.

This girls bed entitled Wonderland features a four-poster frame, Wonderland style canopy and curtains and a large under bed drawer which can be used as a pull-out guest bed.

The Circus Children’s Bed features a fun illustrated ice cream design, hanging storage box and book rack. Its colors are fresh and vivid, making kids feel entertaining and entertained. 

The Knight and Castle boys L shaped bunk bed is a fun bed that comes complete a high bunk with castle detail and slanted ladder and a low bunk with under bed storage. This can be used to make a third guest bed.  You can also place a mattress under the bunk so it can be double up as a play mat or second guest bed.

The Butterfly Cabin Bed by Lifetime features a four poster structure with a Butterfly-inspired canopy and curtain, under-bed shelf, drawer and cupboards. This storage is very convenient for toys, bedding, clothes, books and more.

The Pebble Beach single bunk is a modern bed for kids and teenagers. This luxury kids bed comes complete with pebble beach curtains to cover under the bed, (this area can be used as a play den, homework area or for storage), slanted ladder and safety rail bars.

This four-poster Moroccan style girls bed comes with a Morocco Chic canopy, large under bed drawer which can be used as a pull-out guest bed. The exotic color palette and materials give away a vibrant ambiance.

The Aeroplane children’s Bed features a fun illustrated airplane design, hanging storage box and book rack. this highly creative furniture piece and its genuine feel will certainly appeal to both children and adults.

The Hang-Out Bed for boys features a top cabin with window, inner two-step ladder, bottom bunk and pull out drawer. This drawer can be converted into a third tier guest bed. These beds are handmade to order and you will need to allow six weeks for delivery.

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