Decorating a Smaller Home: The Traditional Look Done Right!

This is the look of traditional styling done right!

One of the most well known decorating styles is the traditional look. On its own or combined with complimentary elements from other styles, this classic decorating scheme is known for the use of dark, rich woods, Persian and Oriental carpets, along with antiques and reproductions. Decorative tassels and fringe are often found on window treatments and furniture. Because it can feel heavy or crowded, a traditional style does not always work well in a smaller home. But as shown above, it can be lovely if a light touch is used and you don't go overboard on heavy accents.

Traditional Gone Wrong

So how can you create a beautiful traditional style for your home? First, let's look at what to avoid.

The patterns in this room clash and the furniture pieces don't compliment each other. The overall look is too fussy. Haphazardly putting antiques together in a room is not the same thing as good decorating.

Whatever is wrong with this room is no small thing. The spindly antique side tables have no business being in the same space as the dark heavy carved arm chairs and the blue cushioned 'coffee table' creates a strange focus.

Tassels and fringe should always be used sparingly, yet here we see window dressings with fringe made out of tassels! Next we have curlicues and stenciling on the sideboard. This look went out of style in the late 1600's or early 1700's. If this is a valuable antique, my advice is to auction it off and get the cash. And why is that antique arm chair - that looks too fragile to sit in - placed under the window by itself? Furniture needs to be functional and have a reason for being in the room. Enough said.

Traditional Done Right

What does traditional styling done right look like? Use the stunning rooms below, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens as your guide. Each has traditional elements, but their use is never overdone. Also, you will notice that the color palettes are neutral. Why? This creates the best balance visually and brings harmony to the space. By the way, only the last three photos are from smaller homes. Someday I'll be able to run around and take all the photos I need - or pay someone else to do it - but for now my day job keeps me busy. Enjoy!

Warmly,

Genevieve

My Decorating Pet Peeves - Wallpaper, Is It Ever a Good Idea?

Could you sleep in this room? Not me!

This month as we discuss decorating basics for a smaller space, I'd like to bring up a few of my 'pet peeves'. High on my list of 'no-nos' is wallpaper, especially floral wallpaper. I expect many of you out there will disagree with me, but wallpaper, is almost never a good idea. Here are my reasons:

• Wallpaper makes a room look dated, regardless of whether the pattern is new.
• A wallpapered room often feels cluttered and claustrophobic. The 'busyness' of the walls overpowers every other design element.
  
• Wallpaper gets dirty very quickly and can be difficult to clean.
• It takes a professional to hang wallpaper correctly and it is hard to remove and replace.
• Wallpaper 'chops-up' the continuous visual flow needed to make a small space harmonious.
• Wallpaper almost always becomes a room's focus. To create balance, walls should be the background for a room, not its focal point.
  

Now, if you must have wallpaper, here are photos of some acceptable wallpapered rooms. But let me tell you, these examples were not easy to find.

This works because the wallpaper is monochromatic.

The natural light and uniform color scheme saves this room.

The black wallpaper is the only accent color here so it is not overwhelming.

Again the wallpaper is the only accent color in this room so it works.
These are all complimentary colors which balance with the the wallpaper.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Decorators Don't Always Know Best

My decorator made me do it!

Just because a professional interior decorator creates a look for you or subscribes to a particular trend, does not automatically make it a good idea. You may not like the look, or it may not be right for your home. In other cases, a decorator creates a space that is so unique and cutting-edge, that it is uncomfortable for both family and friends. A friend of mine, after
purchasing a new home, decided to splurge on an interior decorator for help with her living and dining rooms. She hates the end result, but she lives with it because she paid so much money to her decorator and spent so much on the furniture. The lesson here is, just because you hire a decorator doesn't mean you have to do whatever they want. Be assertive about your likes and dislikes. And never forget, you can always fire your decorator!

Let's take a look at the room in the picture. There are many things right about it. The scale of the furniture is in keeping with the proportions of the space, the chairs and table have nice clean silhouettes, there are black accents and the curved base of the table is visually appealing. But the color scheme completely blots out all these positives.

Until next time!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home: Cottage Style Dos and Don'ts

"Barbie is calling, she wants her dream house furniture back."

We've talked about creating a Jewel Box Home and capturing the Jewel Box Look, so now its time to cover Jewel Box Dos and Don'ts. Today, let's look at cottage style decorating.

The cottage style is very difficult to pull off in any size room, let alone a small space. Why? Charm, the defining trait of cottage style, is almost always expressed as an abundance of cutesy frou-frou pieces that are over-accessorized with shades of pink, yellow or blue, or some combination of all three. Generally speaking, no man - straight or gay - would ever willingly choose to live in a house that looks like this, unless forced to. Of course, if you are trying to break-up with your honey, this is a good way to drive him out. Let's look at some examples of cottage style gone wrong.











So what are the don'ts for these two rooms? Let's make a list:

• Never mix florals, plaids and checks in the same room. I don't care if they are from the same color palette and you love the look. You must restrain yourself. It will always feel like there is too much going on.
  
• Never use ruffles or flounces, unless you are decorating a room for a young girl who is between the ages of 5 and 12. Remember, cutesy is not a style.
• No more than 2-3 pillows on a sofa and 1-2 pillows for each chair. You must leave room for people to sit down!
  
• Baby blue and pale pink should be used as a color scheme only when decorating a baby's room. But if you absolutely must use these colors, then please limit them to accent pieces.

So is it possible to do cottage style well? Absolutely! Just take a look a the beautiful room below.


Until next time!
Genevieve