Archive for the ‘interiors’ Category
When we think of textiles for use in the home, typically our thoughts go directly to towels or sheets, and perhaps to pillows and upholstery. But there are other great ways to use fabric-type items within your modern interior, and a wonderful selection of textile types to use as well.
You can add textiles to your interior environment in the form of screens, wall hangings, lampshades, baffles, blankets and throws. And the materials available in these styles range from macramé to shell, wood to standard fabric. This is a great way to add visual texture and perhaps a pop of color to your room without making a more permanent investment.
(above) Modern Macramé Hanging
Textile Shelving + Macramé Lampshade
Foldable Wood Fabric + Capiz Screen
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
After our last look at the clean fresh start of all-white interiors, I was intrigued by the opposite way to approach a space: using blasts of bright color. Bright pastels and sunny colors are all the rage this season, a strong shift from the darker neutrals, and shifts in fashion are often mirrored in the world of interiors. Bright colors convey a sense of optimism and a zest for life, and these vibrant interiors are no exception.
From the use of a single pop of color for an accent wall, cabinet or furniture to a mix of multiple brights throughout a space, bright color should never be overlooked as a great option for a fresh take on interior decor. Stunning against the backdrop of those white spaces we looked at last time, a shot of orange, pink, green or blue can really shift things into higher gear. If the idea of a hot pink wall or tangerine couch scares you, pick a color or two and add it in accessories to your neutral space. If you’re more daring, but not all the way out there, keep a rein on your newfound love of brights by highlighting a small area of a wall that really sets off some furniture or a carefully planned vignette. And a hint to those with terrible cabinets that they can’t really afford to replace: surprisingly enough, painting them a bright color makes the color itself take center stage, and makes the quality of the cabinets disappear in the background.
(above) Flea Market Finds in Orange, Sky Blue and Chartreuse
Bright Blues and Greens + Citrus Accents
Green Cabinets + Aqua Accent Wall
Yellow Wall with Ice Cream Pastels
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
Each year as the New Year rolls around, I get intrigued by the purity and clean looks of the all-white interior. Personally, it’s not something I could do in my own house – firstly because I like wood finishes too much, but also because my huge hairy black dog would really put a damper on the pristine look. But there’s something about the spaces shown here that really lends a sense of calm, a feeling of starting fresh.
Sometimes it’s the lack of color (I do realize that white is ALL color, but you know what I mean) that makes a space feel anticipatory, like all possibilities are still open and waiting. In any case, there is certainly something appealing about these white, quiet rooms.
(above) White Wood Floors
White Loft Bedroom + Cascading White Spaces
White Closet + White Dressing Area
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
Every year around the winter holidays, as the stores begin to put up their decorations, and the Christmas tree lots spring up around town, I struggle with how to keep all of those pieces in line with my modern home decor. Of course, many people just go the traditional route and put up all the pieces that they have collected or been given over the years. I have never been a typical red and green Christmas type of girl, so I wanted to pull together a few looks that give off that holiday vibe without looking like the standard fare.
One of my favorite looks is to bring wintertime nature indoors. Twigs, pinecones and basic pine greenery are a great way to holiday-up your space without going overboard. Add in a little sparkle, either through lights, glass or metallic finishes, and you have a subtle winner. My personal favorite is a green, white, silver color scheme. This a great way to pull in modern and traditional pieces while keeping them visually organized. Or try the simplicity of a Scandinavian look, with wooden and geometric pieces and perhaps a shot of bright color. A mid-century vibe can be another great way to go, marrying a silver tree with shots of chartreuse or aqua decorations. When in doubt, opt for a simpler look, but don’t forget to include at least one of those special pieces, either something from your childhood, or something made by your children – one of those pieces that makes you smile each time you see it. And have a happy holiday!
(above) Bringing Nature Indoors
Simple Color Scheme + Scandinavian Wood
Pine and Flowers + Rustic Charm
Yellow and Silver Color Scheme
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
When we look at finishes for our interior spaces, most thought goes to paint colors, perhaps wallpaper, maybe a wood finish. Stone is typically reserved for flooring and fireplaces. But a stone wall of any type can be a textural foil for all of our other furnishings. Of course, my preference is for stone walls that are part and parcel of the architecture, meaning that they begin outside and make small or large appearances in the interior spaces. You may luck out and find and older home with an actual stone wall. But remember that even the stone walls created in new homes today are standard framing with a stone veneer over the surface. An actual stone wall is cost-prohibitive to create, especially in larger areas. But you can use this gorgeous material even if you don’t have large stone walls as part of your architectural aesthetic. Just be sure that you spend a bit of time thinking about the termination points for your wall, or where the stone ends. Only end at a window if you can put the stone on the exterior surface as well. Your best bet may be between two perpendicular walls where the end condition disappears. If not, be sure to give some weight to the wall – a skinny 4″ stud wall covered in stone doesn’t look realistic, but one whose ends are thickened to 10-12″ looks right at home.
Stone finishes vary dramatically, from colors across the spectrum, to a wide array of sizes and textures. Thin pieces of dry-stacked stone come across very differently than large, perfectly-cut rectangular pieces. The first reads as a highly textured surface, while the latter can be a smooth background for other pieces. The amount of grout between pieces of stone can make a huge difference as well. Thin grout can make for a more homogeneous surface, while large grout breaks the stone up visually. Whether you add stone to a fireplace, interior dividing wall, or just at the end of a room, stone surfaces add a natural feel to the home environment.
(above) Irregular Stone Bed Wall
Stacked Fireplace + Random Shape Interior Partition
2-sided Fireplace + Skylit Bath Walls
Heavy Grouting with Modern Touches
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
I’ve always had a thing for white walls. Maybe a touch of color for an accent wall, set off by some nice wood furniture, but always with a background of white. White seems clean and uplifting. But lately, I’ve really been taken by some seriously dark spaces. Rooms where walls and furnishings are black. Black cabinets in the kitchen, black tiles in the bath. It’s a departure for me, but it comes across so calm, so quiet, and so often, elegant.
Although the black often includes an amount of white, in these spaces, the black dominates. Textural qualities differentiate the blacks in these interiors – sometimes glossy, sometimes matte, in leather, paint, tile or wood finish. The black background makes all those little touches like lighting and objects stand out without overtaking the space. I’m not sure I’m truly ready to do this for my home because the impact of black isn’t something that works only for a single room. It needs to be worked into the adjoining spaces as an overall vibe to really work well. But I’m tempted.
(above) Black and Mirror Entry
Dark Office + Mini Mosaic Tiles
Painted-out Paneling + Black Tub and Walls
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
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