Extended Island

Mid-Counter + Tiny Table

Low Bar

Freestanding Counter + Adjacent Table

Table on the Wall

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 have to admit that my first inclination is to leave a wall blank. I tend towards good bones in a space and good furniture and I don’t mind having a lot of white space in my home. But having a graphic designer and photographer for a husband means that we have a large number of artwork pieces that we want to display. In our case, most of these pieces are fairly large scale, so often they place themselves in the home based on size and color. But there are many great ways to display artwork throughout your space, and I thought I’d go through a few methods to possibly spark a couple new ideas.

First of all, there is always the single large piece. You can place this on a wall space in between areas, centered over a piece of furniture like a sofa, or placed asymmetrically over a sideboard. Another method for placing artwork is to use a grid, especially for pieces of similar size. This can also be used to hang pieces in a row either horizontally or vertically. Try grouping by color – a set of pieces in a monochromatic color scheme can have all different sizes with different frames and still look pulled together. You can corral smaller pieces within a larger framework like a bookshelf or even a painted rectangle on the wall. Anything that holds the pieces together visually will work. Or use a ledge or shelf to tie disparate pieces together. If you have pieces in varied sizes and you don’t have an obsession about your space looking perfect, stacking is another great method of displaying artwork. Be sure the best parts of each piece are visible so that you can enjoy each one, even though you can’t see the entirety of each piece. Do you have any other great ways to display art in your home?

(above) Framed pieces on multiple ledges

Stacked on a low ledge + Stacked on a table

Hodgepodge with mirror and window as artwork

Large scale with supporting artwork + Single large piece

Grouped over furniture

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.

One of the interior trends that I’ve seen this year that has really been making the rounds is oversized lighting, used mostly in dining areas, kitchens and sometimes in living rooms. We had some really positive responses from the first one of these I posted looking at golden touches in the home. There is something about adding an out-of-scale object to a room that brings it to the forefront, takes something you might not notice and gives it a little extra oomph.

Although you can certainly use a single one of these oversized pieces, they also make a great impact used in multiples. Simplicity seem to be the key here. Large-scale lighting needs to be able to make a statement without going overboard. But the finish should be anything that fits with the style of your surroundings. Even placed in a smaller niche over a beautifully accessorized sideboard, oversized lighting can be a fun way to rev up your interior landscape.

(above) Multiple black pendants

Black over blue dining + Multiple washbasins

Golden disc

Large metal + White Dome

Black Dome

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.

All of us know what constitutes a standard dining room chair. It is typically wood with a fairly straight back, sometimes with a gently padded seat or back. Often they are sold as sets with armless versions for the sides of the table, and armed versions for the two ends, many times designed to match the table itself. ‘Designy’ options have included either an Eames fiberglass model, or perhaps a Wegner bentwood frame.

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of license taken with what constitues a dining room chair, and I think it’s a super idea to note that all kinds of different styles can work well within the dining room setting. From vintage chairs on casters to fully padded options, no option is really verboten. Try benches only, or opt for an acrylic piece that is barely there. Slung leather typically found in more of a lounge setting may work, or perhaps try a molded bucket. If the style and color fits your decor, your choices are wide open.

Rolling vintage

Benches + Bentwood

Lucite

Molded shell and Leather sling

Overstuffed Option

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 been a fan of silver – I think it stems from my interest in the black-white-grey color palette. When I got older, the metal shifted to platinum, but the palette was essentially the same. But lately, I’ve been struck by some of the golden beauties I’ve seen around, especially those placed in modern interiors. These aren’t the creepy brass fixtures and ornate frames I remember seeing in my youth (although you can see below that one of the spaces uses just that,) but these interiors use a touch of gold in just the right way.

The reason these spaces are so successful is that the amount of gold used is just right – enough to make a strong impact, yet not so much as to look ostentatious. And the neutral backgrounds that house these gilt treasures keep them from getting out of control. Try bringing a few golden pieces into your decor. They can be true accessories, like a trinket placed on a shelf or table, or can be a single major piece. I’m particularly taken with the contrast of the matte black against the gold-leaf finish in the first shot. It really lets the gold have a modern edge.

Oversize gold-leaf lamp

Golden sink + Gold-leafed wall surface

Ornate frame

Cabinet interior + Stove

Oversize Gilt A

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 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

 Tent-Like Baffles

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

Orange and Pink

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 Dining

White Closet + White Dressing Area

White Accessories

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

Mod Tinsel Trees

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

Barrel Vault

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.