5 Design Rules to IGNORE!!!!

Yes, rules guide us on the right path and are important in shaping our life.

But being always told what to adhere to and what to avoid kills the whole fun, don’t you think?

Think about it; you won’t be able to use your creativity!
No brainstorming!
No innovative ideas!

Of all the industries, wouldn’t this be especially scary for the interior design service provider?

A highly visual and subjective medium, interior design is a service that requires a creative “eye” for pulling it off, to determine whether a room looks stylish and successfully put together. The success or lack thereof lies in the eyes of the beholder. While designing requires one to follow certain rules, restricting would be limiting your bandwidth.

While I believe that there are some rules that keep one from making the most egregious design mistakes, there are others that are no longer relevant. Here are a few design rules that you no longer should fret over:

 

Only paint small rooms in light colours.

People’s hesitation is understandable, considering the myth that is being passed on as to how a dark colour makes a small room look even smaller. But such is not the case, and instead, a dark colour would visually expand a small space. A dark painted room can actually make a small room look larger because it allows the corners of a room to recede and disappear. Below is an image that illustrates this concept.

How you can further give the impression of a big room is by hanging mirrors strategically and opting for a few windows or none at all.

 

Large furniture should only be used in large rooms

Quite the contrary, I always recommend using large-scale furniture in a small room. Using larger furniture tricks the eyes’ sense of proportion. In addition to this, it causes one’s eyes to move around the room less. This allows us to take a zoomed-out view of the room. It is an optical illusion that works marvellously.

 

You can not mix modern design elements with traditional design elements

Quite simply, yes, you can; it is called transitional design! You can mix rustic with modern, the country with modern, etc…… Mixing styles add depth to any space.

Mixing vintage designs such as art deco, Victorian, or mid-century modern might look difficult, but can be easily done. Below is a modern and Victorian mix……

 

If the room has a fireplace, it should always be the focal point.

The fireplace undoubtedly makes for a beautiful focal point, but it does not always need to be the star of the room. If one’s home has access to a breathtaking view, or one should possess museum-quality art, both would supersede the fireplace’s status in that space.

The designer above smartly made the view the star of this room. The lack of window treatments allows the window moulding to “frame” this home’s gorgeous view.

 

The ceiling must always be white.

The ceiling is a room’s fifth (and forgotten) wall. Homeowners often forget that it also holds the opportunity to showcase your style. I love to paint children’s room ceilings a contrasting colour, and wallpaper the ceiling of a powder room or master bedroom closet.

The family room below makes the ceiling a focal point by adding coffered moulding and using a deep grey to showcase this detail. This look is always a show-stopper!  

Add a metallic ceiling to a dining room or a gold-flecked paper to your powder room. Don’t be afraid to try it. If it doesn’t work for you, a few swipes of white paint and you are back to where you started.

 

Interior doors should always be painted white.

There is nothing chicer than a black high-gloss interior door. The French have been doing this for decades. A black high-gloss door is dramatic and makes a statement; it is the exclamation point added to a room. It lets all those who enter know that those who reside on the other side of that beautifully glossy door, live a little North Of Chic. Try it and let your guests bedazzled with its sheer enigmatic presence. 

So, these are some of the rules that you shouldn’t mind overlooking when designing the interior of your home. Let your creativity flow! Or a better option lets a professional interior design service provider take care of it for you and give you the desired results.

Instaroll-Currently Coveting…..

Hello Friends,

When one’s job is to shop all day every day, it takes something really special or unique to grab one’s attention.  The physical rush when I see that perfect piece causes my heart to beat a little faster and I lose all sense of my surroundings.

Some of the pieces below are pieces I have recently found, and a few are ones that I fall in love with a little more each time I see them.  The lines and proportions of the tuxedo sofa below are simply perfect!!! The ebonized fluted cocktail table is the punctuation mark in any statement room.  Each of these pieces are beautiful  and unique and add that special something to any room.

I am at a place where I do my best to only buy pieces for my home that I truly love.  I have come to realize that if I am totally mesmerized by something and it gives me joy each time I look at it, it will not become a piece that I am looking to replace in 6 months.

I hope some of these pieces serve to inspire you.

 

Vanguard sofa and cocktail table, Serena & Lily basket, PB Teen zebra rug, Circa ceiling light, Worlds Away mirror

Instaroll-Current Musings

Current Musings:

Hello!

A quick post on some trends I am seeing.  I predict GREEN is going to be the next “it” color!  With maximalism coming back in a big (but in a more restrained and edited way – which seems like an oxymoronic statement), you will see bold and saturated colors popping up in everything from furniture to rugs to accessories.  Color is back.

Love it or hate it, white appliances are coming back!  Since things never come back in quite the same way as before, this white will be more of a white glass vs a white plastic or white aluminum of years’ past.  It is actually quite nice.  According to my friends at Monogram appliances, white is where it’s at!

Lastly, with the return of color and my love all things Parisian, I couldn’t help but post on one of my favorite pastimes while in Paris; photographing all of the beautifully painted doors.  I hope this serves to inspire you as much as it did me 🙂

 

Want more?  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook!…..links below 🙂

 

XO

Laurie

 

http://www.instagram.com/northofchic

 

Valentine’s Day Inspiration

What’s not to love about the Valentine’s Day color palette?  The colors for this holiday are happy, fun and vibrant.  Also, with the right shade, EVERYONE looks good in pink!

I have been obsessed with this pink and red silk dress from Staud Clothing FOREVER!!  It is simple and pretty, which is how I like my rooms 🙂  The second pantsuit is bolder with a strong silhouette.  Knowing the way you dress, is important when planning out any room in your home.  More than once, I have designed a room inspired by an outfit.  This is also one reason I tell people “If you don’t like the way a designer dresses himself/herself, you will not like the way he/she dresses your home”.

My design interpretation of the color palette above would look something like this:

The black is a really important element in this design, as it serves to keep this room from looking overly sweet and juvenile.  Mixing gold elements like the floor lamp, side table and mirrors give the room a luxe touch.

There are no shortage of pink and red elements available.  These two colors (especially pink) have been hot in home decor for some time.  Some decor Items I love for this color inspired room are :

Framed printRed striped art, Poppy Art, Pink and Red swirlBlush Art

 

Dot pillowMid Century chaise, Drapes, red pillow, geo table, red chairpink pillowred lampstulip pillow, side table, feather art, baskets

Would you ever do a room in this scheme?  If you have, what was the element you feel made the biggest impact? If not, what is stopping you?

I hope you enjoyed my Valentine’s Day inspired post 🙂

Wishing you love and happiness this Valentine’s Day!

XO

Laurie