Decorating Tips: Wall Decor

If you're looking for a different way to decorating your walls - take a look at these wall accessories. Instead of the usual paintings or prints, go for three-dimensional accessories.  Above we have a variety of floral decor, the silver and red flowers are made from metal and available from Joss & Main. The turquoise carving is from painted teak. Below we have colorful ceramic tiles with a raised sunflower motif - from Hayneedle. 

For a classical theme, try plaster relief panels.  This graceful urn from Restoration Hardware could top a fireplace mantel.  If you want an exotic theme, turn to this intricate Islamic pointed arch plasterwork from Hayles & Howe.  The panel can placed over a door or simply by itself on a wall. 

(Urn Plaster from Restoration Hardware)

Islamic arch from Hayles & Howe

If you really want creative control and a variety of configurations to choose from, take a look at the Wallter panels from Inmod.  These are light weight shapes that can be painted and positioned into different designs. Below is the Retro Hex shape and the Retro Teardrop shapes. 

Wallter Panel from Inmod

Wallter Panel from Inmod

Interested in learning more about accessories?  Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.

http://www.inmod.com

How to Dress Up Your Walls - Part I

One of the first things I notice in homes when working on an interior design job is the artwork or lack of artwork on the walls. Usually there’s very little on the walls – just a lonely print or photograph and that’s it. I don’t know if it’s a tight budget, fear of making a mistake or just sheer laziness, but dressing up your wall can really be the easiest and most enjoyable way to establish a style in your home.  It could even be the least expensive way to liven up your interiors.

(photographs, courtesy of Sonic Editions & from left to right: Michael Ochs Archives, Peter Ruck, Michael Ochs Archives-next two, and McKeown) The first question I get usually asked is where does one start? That’s easy - usually I begin with what the client has.  This can also be the cheapest method.  I ask what kind of collections, hobbies, artwork, and photographs do they already have. Then I start nosing around in their photo albums, their closets, and their attics (with their permission, of course!)  to see what I can work with.  Sometimes a client can overlook what’s right under their nose. 

After I’ve evaluated the available art work and accessories, then I turn to creating possible themes.  Sometimes, by just looking at what the client has, I can figure out their interests.  It could be travel, which can be narrowed down to specific countries of the world; it could be animals, nature, sports, and so forth.  The third step is determining the mood they prefer – do they want formal, casual, rustic or sophisticated? After those three steps, then I really get down to work and plan out the walls. 

If a client has portrait photographs of friends and family, I start with those and create a story around them.  Above is a version of a photo wall in a formal and elegant mood.  To invoke an elegant style, I kept the photographs to black and white mode with simple frames and interspersed it with the sparkle of distressed mirrors to add dimensionality (Dubois mirrors from Crate and Barrel). The strong photos (limiting it to close-up portraits) and the beautiful mirrors create a strong statement to any room.

A more casual and relaxed approach is to create an asymmetrical wall with different shapes and sizes that are hung in a non-linear way. This technique is great for those odd shaped art work or accessories. Since many people usually have souvenirs lying around their homes from their vacations, travel can be a starting point for dressing up a wall. Above is an example of a travel theme – that of Spain. I started with a travel poster of Madrid and expanded from there. Spain is known for their beautiful tiles, a result of their Moorish history, and these tiles have such intricate designs that they can be hung like artwork instead of just using them for flooring. The final touch is the Marietta mirrors from Joss & Main with a shape reminiscent of Moorish tile work. The muted earth tone colors ties all the art and accessories together.

Stay tuned next time for further examples on how to dress up your walls!

Interested in learning more about accessorizing? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you'll learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.

Designer Wish List

Don’t know what to get for that picky…ahem…I mean… discerning person on your holiday list?  Here’s a few that caught my eye.  Each one has that unique designer look that will liven up any beautiful home. 

(Front Page Magazine Rack from Front)Is it a sculpture, a flower, or a table centerpiece?  It’s a magazine rack from Front, a Swedish design firm.  Imagine pages riffling in the wind: Front recreated the feel into a beautiful polycarbonate storage rack.     

(24karat Blau pendant from Ingo Maurer and Axel Schmid) We all want that sparkle for the holidays but how about year round? German designer Axel Schmid encased 24 karat gold leaf in plastic to create this sculptural light pendant.  The Blau pendant will cast a warm, intimate glow over your festive gatherings.

(Pillows and throws from Anthropologie)For those cold winter nights, I suggest these pillows from Anthropologie.  The grey Ikat pillow, the Bohemian, has a dual personality: one side is a demure pattern, the other has bright pink sequins. The Bohemian also comes in a throw.  And for a fun color pop, there’s the Puffin pillow with a bright graphic red pattern. 

(Crystal chair from Domitalia)Who says casual has to be boring?  Domitalia designed this eye-catching Crystal Chair in jewel-tone violet, perfect for seating those party guests.

(Marrakesh Planters from Joss & Main)For the green thumb or just those with a global view, we have these ceramic Marrakesh planters from Joss & Main.  The red quatrefoil patterns are reminiscent of Moroccan tile designs. 

(Trays from the Foundary) When you serve your guests, do it in style!  These gorgeous serving trays from the Foundary come in many different styles, the golden Lady Fern, the blue & Green Autumn Fern, and the red Quince. Pick one for your home and for a holiday gift!