How NOT To Decorate A Beautiful Room - Revisited...

I'm still on holidays at the moment, and will be for another few weeks yet. Woohoo!

The weather's been lovely, and I've found quite a few bargains at the after Christmas sales - life is good!

Whilst delving back into the depths of my previous posts recently, I found this little treasure! I've always loved this post, so decided to bring it back to the present for a new viewing. (And, it saves me time while I'm in holiday mode).

Hope you enjoy it!

How NOT To Decorate A Beautiful Room...

This is not an example of 'how not to decorate', this is to soothe you

before we get to the headache inducing pics below!!

A beautiful, soft, gorgeous, dreamy bedroom

from The House of Turquoise via Phoebe Howard.

My design philosophy is all about following your heart and going with the colours, patterns, objects, textures, scents, materials, art, furniture, and pieces that mean the most to you.

However, and this is a really BIG HOWEVER, that doesn't mean going absolutely beserk in ways with no organisation, logical reasoning, or rational thought behind them.

Nor does it mean squashing as many of the things you love as possible into one space, or making sure everywhere you turn there's an oversized representation of whatever it is you love that would be better suited as a prop in some weird movie.

Proportion, symmetry, colour theory, editing (decluttering) and the appropriate use of space are guidelines to follow in any room, all of the time.

Be warned.... if you don't allow for some modicum of sense, if you let your head go whilst following your heart.... things that aren't nice ARE going to happen......

I understand bears are cute.... I really do... but...

Image Ugly House Photos

....ENOUGH already!

Image from Lovely Listing

Too much..... everything! Bleh!

Image from Lovely Listing

I know deer heads are in fashion, but I don't like 'em.

I especially don't like a whole herd of them or their cousins.

Image from Lovely Listing

Busy wallpaper, plastic fruit on top of the cupboards,

and bear cookie jars. Headache approaching.

Image from Ugly House Photos

Cows..... what cows?

Image from Amazon

Now, I love owls. I collect them myself. And whilst I agree

with the author on Apartment Therapy that this is a

cool collection of owls (displayed facing out from an

apartment window), I think it'd be too much for an interior.

I have quite a few owls at my place, but no more than 3 in any one spot. That way they each retain their individuality and can be seen and appreciated. I find grouping them in one large collection may look great from a colour perspective, but detracts from their individual attributes (just my thoughts!).

Ask yourself: 'Am I letting my head go too much? Have I lost sight of common sense where my decorating is concerned? Am I paying attention to not only what I love, but also the principles of design that stand true no matter what?'

Which leads to: 'Is there some re-arranging, decluttering, eye-sore removing, colour harmonizing, balance restoring action I need to take anywhere?'

Because: Whilst our homes should be full of things we love and decorated in a way that means something to us personally, common sense should still prevail lest we devalue and disrespect the things we love by turning their display into a headache inducing mess.

And now, to re-adjust and harmonise everything once more....... here's another beautiful, serene, gorgeous bedroom from The House of Turquoise via House to Home.

I feel better already! :)

Cheers,

Linda.

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Flowers As The Perfect Piece Of Decoration...

Today I welcome a guest post from Patricia Hall, a florist and lover of flowers! Thanks for your terrific post Patty.

Flowers As The Perfect Piece Of Decoration...

Giving fresh flowers has long been associated with special occasions. A bride carries a floral bouquet, men give their wives and girlfriends roses on Valentine's Day, and flowers are placed on the graves of the departed. And, of course, using fresh flowers to decorate your home is a wonderful way to bring life to any room.

The History of Floral Display

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians would display vases of fresh flowers in their homes. The tradition of placing flowers in the tombs of dead loved ones started with them. The Greeks and Romans continued the trend, favoring floral wreaths instead of vases of flowers. All around the world, and throughout time, the hobby of arranging and displaying flowers continued, mostly with the use of locally grown flowers. This was to change with the age of exploration.

        

     

When European explorers set out to explore the lands beyond the ocean, they brought back some of the native plants founds in the New World. Tropical fruits and flowers brought back to Europe made their way into floral arrangements, adding more color and texture.

Today, people do not have to commission an exploratory voyage to overseas to get unique and colorful flower bouquets. With the advent of the Internet it has become even easier to order flowers and receive those flowers by post in just a few days, as fresh as the day they were picked.

What to Do with Fresh Flowers

Flowers bring a splash of color and texture into the home. No matter the decorating theme of the home, a bouquet of flowers can be custom-designed to match. Old-fashioned arrangements with heirloom flowers in subtle shades is at home in a Victorian-styled home. Bold, simple arrangements add an eye-catching visual spot in a home with a modern design.

  



When the flowers arrive, getting them into water immediately will lengthen their life. Cut the stems at an angle and submerge them in water with the plant food packet from the florist added. The vase of fresh flowers is then ready for display.

Instead of candles, place a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table. For this option, it is best to use flower arrangements that do not have a strong scent. Low displays are best on the table so the view of other diners is not blocked.

                        



Fill a bedroom with the scent of fresh roses to create a romantic atmosphere. A bouquet of fresh flowers on the dressing table or chest of drawers will enhance the room's appearance and smell. Choose flowers to match the color theme of the bedroom for a subtle effect, or opt for a contrasting color so the floral bouquet stands out.

                    



Greet guests in the front hallway with the sight and smell of fresh flowers. A bouquet of deeply scented flowers in the entryway adds an air of hospitality and a fresh look that can be changed weekly just by ordering more flowers by post.

Flowers displayed in the living room can soften the sharp lines of modern furnishings or blend easily in with classic decor. Placing the flower arrangement in front of a window will keep the flowers fresher longer. A mirror placed under or behind the flowers doubles the visual effect.

For homes with pets or children, it is best to keep a floral display out of their reach. The beautiful, eye-catching colors will entice pets or children to sample the flowers, which can result in the ruining of the floral display and sickness in the child or pet.

Indulging in an age-old tradition of floral display in the home is easier now than ever. Exotic flowers or local varieties are easily procured with a simple procedure to order flowers and have those flowers by post sent home for display in any room of the house.

About the Author

Patricia Hall works part-time for a florist and flower delivery but loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna.

'To me there is nothing more beautiful and global as the language of flowers - it is the easiest to understand all around the world in the same way. That is one reason why I truly admire flowers for what they represent in some ways - unity of all mankind!'

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Image credits:
1. Roses In Hair
2. Elizabeth Anne Designs
3. Apartment Therapy
4. Homedit
5. Martha Stewart Votives
6. Orange Flowers
7. Gap Interiors
8. White Lilies

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Bedroom Beauties.... Or Not?

Our bedrooms are our special places of rest, sanctuary, and hiding away from the ravages our daily life sometimes brings us.

I found this bunch of bedrooms on Home Designing the other day, and thought some of them looked interesting and quite nice.

They all have some aspect in them I love... books, a great rug, gorgeous colour, glowing light, terrific artwork, a quote on the wall (you know how I love quotes everywhere)....

All pics via Home Designing

But, I also know myself well enough to look at them all and admire them from afar.

I can recognise what's good about them, I can see why lots of people would love to be in their spacious, roomy, and light filled surrounds, and at the same time, I can know that none of them are for me.

I like my bedrooms smaller, like a cocoon, and not quite so cavernous. I'm not saying I want to live in a cave, and I'm not saying I like my room to be the size of a matchbox... but I need 'cozy' in my bedroom.

I could almost survive for an extended period of time in the one with the brown wall containing books... nice lamps (although being a 'symmetrical girl' I'd need the lamps to match - but that's just me), great floor, some feel of coziness... but, the bed's too modern for me.

I've learned over time that it's quite normal and ok for me to oooh and aahhh over pictures in magazines that I can tell are beautifully designed and look terrific in almost every way (not talking about these pics here).... and yet just 'know' they wouldn't work for me.

I have to 'feel' it, I have to know I'd connect with it in MY way, not just dig it with my eyes and brain for a  room to be right.

Atmosphere is everything in my book.... and sometimes it's the hardest thing to manufacture.

Linda. xox

P.S. To see more bedrooms similar to these, pop over to Home Designing. I only picked a few!

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