White Inspiration from Home Life Mag

I love, love, love white decor or in fact, neutral interiors (on the other hand I adore vibrant colour ....) but anyway, let's stick with what we've got ... here is a selection of great indoors all from a white background perspective and livened up with natural elements and touches of soft colour..... Hmmm... think it's time for a makeover!

A white wednesday post

Credits :  Home Life magazine Australia

Gena

Verandah magazine Home Inspiration

Gena

Glorious Bedrooms

I adore bedrooms ... possibly because its the one place where you can make the space yours - truly yours - you can go over the top, or as simple as you wish .....

These images are also great examples of what makes a neutral scheme work - the use of texture and contrast ...

All Images for Living etc.

View more White Wedneday posts here 

Gena

Modern Elegance

a selection of images from a gorgeous home in Australia - a blend of modern style with touches of retro (the armchair below, the glass top table, teh anglepoise lamp), classical, such as the chandelier, and brought to LIFE with vibrant splashes of red ....

this is definitely one of my favorite homes when it comes to a mix of styles with a funky edge.

All images from :  Home Life Australia

click here to view more Ruby Tuesday posts

Gena

Blue Decor

More great ways to enhance your space in shades of blues ... from upholstery, to wallpaper, paint, lampshades, art .....

see more Blue Monday Posts here

Images:  Home Life (Aus)

Gena

French Friday

some french chic glamour for a easter friday

images from Home Life

oh yes... the more I do the white/ neutral the thing, the more I'm loving it .......

have a splendid easter!!

Gena

Living in a White Space

I've always adored a "clean", white or neutral space, where one can bring to the fore textures and pattern to create a really interesting and inspiring living space.   These examples are what I'm talking about.   The upholstery, the throw the dark wood african drum table, texture on the floors and walls ....

whiteashed wooden floors, interesting mats, rugs and other items to create a welcoming entrance ....

books and more interesting objects, dark wooden stools .... all working together to make a really lovely home.

In fact, I'm finding that the more I explore white or neutral spaces, the more my love of them evolves and the more I want to create spaces like that for me too!!

Images:  Home Life Australia

Have a great White Wednesday and don't forget to vist other participants here

Gena

French Friday: A Chic French Inspired Bedroom

a very chic French bedroom. 

To me bedrooms are the most amazing spaces, it's where we should spend our quiet time, our relaxing moments, and it's the space where you can "play" around with ideas and visions. 

Have a very happy weekend!

Gena

Picture credit:  House Beautiful

A Danish Apartment : Decor Styles

a great article which typifies Danish (or rather Scandinavian decor style).  Stripped wooden floors, soft grey-blue tones, simple furniture, in fact just about simple everything, and then.... an unexpected spot of vibrant colour!

 

simple furniture and accessories

white bed linen, soft touches of colour - note the grey tones of the chair

kitchen eatery in whites

modernist touches

vibrant crockery - just to liven things up a bit!

the simplest of artwork - focus of colour or texture not loads of detail. (also see first picture)

Picture Credits: scanned from old issue of Vogue Living Magazine

French Style - Decor Themes

In this first post on decor themes, I decided to cover all things French, well not quite, but at least the decor side of things.  Why?  Well I guess because it appeals to most people, looks good, it's charming, it's about comfort and glamour, sophistication and elegance, it's also about romance and the senses.    

I think one of the main reasons French style decor is so appealing is that it can be beautifully simple, or rustic to over the top glamorous.

don't you just love the over the top pink upholstery on these dining chairs?

French style decor is certainly all the rage in every conceivable form -  from the whitewash to faded blues and greens to the glamour of French chic - with it's chandeliers, toile, mirrors, crystal, silver, silk, etc.   So what makes French style, french?

although not a pure french scheme, it's still depicts exquisite details: chandelier, detailed mirror, black and white prints, and a soft colour scheme

Here are 14 (some of the) characteristics of French Chic (French Provencal will be covered in another post at a later date):

note the curved legs, the headboard detail, silver lamp base, the soft lilacy hues of the walls and bed linen

French doors - normally leading onto a patio or balcony.

Classically styled furniture in gilt or (paint) wash, in particular Louis styled chairs, Bergere chairs and armchairs, all with curved legs.


Also scrolled metal work/ wrought iron furniture.


Either a rich jewel colour scheme e.g. deep red or purple, or alternatively  warm, soft shades e.g pale blue or green. 


Toile de jouy fabric or wallpaper.


Luxurious looking/ feeling fabrics - Silks, damasks, brocades, velvets as well as pure cottons and linen.

a dining area: toile de jouy fabric covered chairs, chandelier, ornate mirror, and more ...

soft colouring, ornate furniture, sumptuous fabrics

Ornate mirrors - carved, gilded, painted.

Vintage style art and black and white prints.

Silver, glass, crystal objets.

round table covered with a white tablecloth, gorgeous chairs ....

Chandeliers - metal, crystal.

Beaded or fringed lampshades.

French/ Pinch pleat curtain style (or other ornate form of window treatment).

Soft carpeting in pale neutral colours, or alternatively stone flooring with.

Oriental or silk rugs

So there you have it, a list of things that make french decor truly french, and very chic.

Oh and by the way, for those not familiar with some of the words and terminology, Lauren of Pure Style (blog) recently posted an article with meanings and pronunciation - click here for the post.

Picture Credits :  House Beautiful Gallery

Next up?  Bedrooms in the French Chic Style.

PS. Remember to leave me a comment (below) or feedback on the blog.  Thanks for visiting.

Creative "Halloween" Displays

Pumpkins used as "vases" to display a floral arrangement - fun and different!!

Like the seasons, events such as easter, xmas, halloween, thanksgiving and others' are truly great times to create new and interesting ways of decorating our spaces - whether it's a table setting, an entrance hall display, the garden, the kitchen, etc. etc. It's a great way to get with the action, get with the moment, a way to have fun ....

Let's face it, it is a time to think creatively, be creative and come up with novel ways to display the ordinary and make something extraordinary. To me the added bonus is that short of having to buy a few pumpkins and/ or squashes (if you don't grow your own!) you simply take what you already have at home and think of different ways of displaying the seasonal bounty. So to inspire you, here are some truly ideas take out the Country Living magazine's gallery pages ....

Pumpkins simply laid out on a work surface in a truly magnificent kitchen!

A Crown pumpkin on a mantel amidst black and white art - now who would have thought of that !?

Small pumpkins and squashes as a table setting for dinner!

Glass cake platters and cloches - a wonderful contrast of simplicity and sophistication!


Such fun ... I'm going off to work on some displays of my own. What interesting displays have you come up with? let me know - leave a link and I'll take a peek!!

For more creative and fun Halloween displays see the post on Vintage Rose - click here

AND before I go, take a look at this simple idea posted on Inspired Room!!

Picture Credits : Country Living Magazine Gallery