Scandi Decorating Tips

10 Tips for achieving a Scandinavian interior ....

1. Floors

Wall to wall carpets never took off in Sweden and all truly Scandinavian interiors will have a wooden, preferably light, floor in all rooms apart from the bathrooms.

2. Colour

White walls and cool grey textiles definitely gives off the right ambience of a Scandinavian interior however soft, muted colours can be used for accessories and and accents. 

3. Materials

Use wood to warm up the interior. Incorporate cladding on walls and even ceilings to add texture and warmth. Use a grey oil or limewash finish to take the yellow away from woods like pine or oak.

4. Form

Clean lines from architecture to furniture.

5. Function

A truly Scandinavian interior is practical and liveable.

6. Furniture

There are such incredible pieces from several manufacturers. From the mid-century period designers like Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen stand out and their pieces are just as beautiful today as they were when they were conceived.

7. Put a fireplace in the corner

Scandinavian winters are harsh so most apartments and houses have a fireplace in the living room. They are often not the focal point of a room, they are often very simple columns (many originals from the 19th century are beautifully tiled) and are located in the corner of the room.

8. Be eco-friendly

Swedes have been very quick to add eco-friendly aspects to their houses. Double-glazing, proper insulation for walls and roofs, ground source heat pumps … all these are fairly standard in Swedish new builds.

9. Add an outside/ inside room

Scandinavians, like Australians, generally love a connection with the outdoors so you’ll find a balcony or terrace in even the smallest apartments. These are usually decked and used for barbequeing and entertaining outdoors during the late light nights of the summer.

10. Scale back on accessories

 Declutter! Keep interiors pared back and accessories to a minimum.

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-7, 8 Bellamarie

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Bohemian Living

Here are a few styling tips on how to create a bohemian vibe in your beach pad. 

Try one or all of them!!!

1. Flokati rugs: These sixties style wool shag rugs will add warmth and texture.
2. Kilim rugs: These flat weave rugs from Turkey are made with geometric patterns in a variety of styles and colors. They look great by themselves, but are extra bohemian layered in groups.
3. Jewel tones: Look for fabrics with deep vibrant colors in ethnic prints or florals. Add fabric to your home through curtains on windows or in doorways, pillows, upholstery, or blankets.
4. Wall tapestries: Hang small scale rugs or wall hangings on your walls for a bohemian feel.
5. Casual book storage: Instead of neatly arranging your books on a shelf, by color, or by size, try letting loose and letting your collection have a mind of its own. Stack up books on tables — or on the floor — and use them as a base for lamps and other decorative objects.
6. Lots of cushions: The point is to provide an atmosphere where people can chill out. I'm not talking about perfectly punched cushions, but rather piles of scatters haphazardly placed on sofas, or even better, on the floor. The best kinds of bohemian cushions are ones made from old kilim rugs, needlework cushions, or round shaped ones.
7. Informal art arrangements: Try steering away from perfectly placed artwork and hang a collection of beloved art, record albums, or even just loved objects, on your walls in an informal fashion. 

Melissah xox

Imagesvia The Style Files

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Creating the Hamptons Look

The Hamptons, situated north of New York is where the wealthy escape to the beach for summer. Hamptons style is defined by casual, relaxed beach living but done in a classic and very sophisticated way. The look is bright and breezy, plenty of natural daylight with discreet window treatments to really let the light pour in.

To get this look even on a budget here are some of my tips:

walls

Interior walls are often plain white with just a hint of softness to them – try Dulux Antique White USA.  Wall panelling is also very Hamptons chic, even in bathrooms.  Buy wooden panelling such as tongue and groove pine lining from your local hardware store. I find that by adding subtle panelled detailing to an otherwise plain room gives it so much more style and interest. Paint as you would your doors and skirting boards, I like  to use a half strength of the wall colour but in a semi gloss enamel.

Painted timber wall panelling 

 

floors

Timber floors throughout are all part of the look, either in a very dark chocolate brown or pale and bleached.  For dark, try sanding and staining ordinary boards in the richest, chocolatey colour you can find such as Wenge. For light flooring, try Porters Wood-Wash in white and finish with a low sheen clear varnish. Add natural rugs such as sisal or jute or light coloured carpets for softness under foot.

Use sisal rugs to add warmth to timber floors

 

furniture

Linen upholstery is my favourite and a popular Hamptons pick, it always looks great.  Slip-covers in pure linen or else white cotton drill are easy on the eye and cool on hot summer days.  Accesorising is easy with soft scatter cushions. Wicker or cane furniture is popular too but don't overdo it.  Remember the key to this look is high end and sophisticated, not beachy, shabby chic. Look out for smart occasional tables in op-shops and perhaps a nice chair to which you can add a coat of new paint and a cushion.

Hamptons style is elegant yet relaxed

lighting

A variety of lamps adds subtle ambience to a room. Look for medium to tall sized bases in ceramic or wood and choose shades in natural fabrics such as linen, cotton or silk.  For overhead lighting consider pendant lighting over tables and island benches as well as to illuminate key areas of your home.

This carriage lantern adds character o the dining area

old with new

Keep this look fresh and interesting by mixing old with new. Go antique shopping for a few rustic items like old timber dining chairs and pair them with a new table. Retro kitchen canisters, old shop signs and bottles add charm and fun while contemporary art, lamps and furniture pieces keep things very fresh and up-to-date. Don’t forget to include a few natural items such as driftwood and shells and display them in glass jars and ceramic dishes throughout the house.

Mix old with new to create interest

 

Melissah xox

Source Tara Dennis: Images via 1, 2 SJ Interiors, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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How To Accessorise You Home

How to Accessorise Your Home Like a Professional Designer

Many people have no problem selecting the major pieces of furniture for their home, 

however when it comes to home accessories they are at a loss.

  Here are a few tips for how to accessorise your home like a professional designer.

Declutter
You could have the most beautiful room, but if it is full of clutter it is hard to see the beauty.  Clutter makes a relaxing room feel stressful, so get rid of as much clutter as possible before accessorising.  Find a home for everything, especially the everyday items like newspapers, school bags and mail.

Character
Avoid using only mass produced accessories.  Into the mix add accessories that are unique or one of a kind.  Even better, choose accessories that tell a story - something you made, something you picked up on a vacation, an antique store or a vintage find.

Size
Smaller accessories feel less important, so opt for larger accessories when possible. You can always put smaller accessories on a stack of books or another platform to elevate their importance.  Accessories that seem a tiny bit too large often work best.

Scale
Accessories often look best in odd numbers - 1, 3, or 5.  Many professional designers have found the optimum accessory aesthetic is 3 accessories grouped together with one accessory being tall, another short, and another in the middle.

Texture
When decorating a beach house accessories with texture add interest and an organic element to a room. Things like handmade ceramics, coral, baskets, woven textiles and shaggy rugs will all add natural beauty.

Clean Slate
When decorating your home, you should start with no accessories in your room at all.  Group all of your existing accessories together in another room and select your best ones to keep and give away the old, tired ones.Then gradually add your favourite ones back into the room.  

Collections
If you collect sea shells, driftwood off the beach or interesting pebbles, group the collections together as one unit.  Do not spread the collection around the room or around your home. Fill a jar, basket or shelf to give the collection more presence and a sense of drama.

Don't Overdo It
The more accessories you add, the less important each accessory feels (this is especially true of homes that are flooded with family photos on every possible surface).  Invest in fewer but more special accessories. Not every horizontal surface has to be decorated with accessories.

A Live Element
All decorating magazines know that the finishing touch for any accessory project is to add a live element.  You can add some fresh flowers, a plant, fresh herbs or a bowl of fruit to give your home a fresh feel.

Melissah xox

Photos by Matt Lord for Coastal Style

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Tips on Decorating the Nordic Way

At the moment I just can't get enough of looking at fabulous Nordic homes and their stunning interiors. Scandinavian design has so much to offer and is sure to inspire anyone who is need of some innovative decorating ideas that can be incorporated into any home design.

Here are 8 Design Tips on how to achieve the Scandi Interior.

1.  Start with a blank canvas: Think white walls even white floors. Bright white is the colour of choice in Scandinavian design then bring colours through the furniture and decor.

2.  Geometry:  Something hated at school but loved in Scandinavian Design!
You can introduce this through prints, fabrics, lighting and currently something very on trend - vases.

3.  Splash of Colour: Scandinavian Design is known for being playful and fun. Colourful art, cushions, throws, vases, rugs and even decorative furniture pieces. The canvas might be white, but the colour is splashed everywhere.

 

4.  Graphics & Typography: There is a strong presence of graphic prints and black and white typographic artworks in Scandinavian interior design.

5.  Something Wooden: It is rare that you will find a Scandinavian home without timber being a  feature. Whether it be wooden beams across the ceiling or a divine wooden log stool, this creates a sense of warmth and organic texture in the home.

6.  Layered Textures: Due to the cold climate, popular textures in Sweden are leather, fur and natural textiles (linen, cotton, hemp). This will not only bring visual warmth and a luxurious look to your space, but more importantly comfort! Mix it up and layer the natural textures. Think cowhide rugs, deer skins, large knitted cushions, sheepskins, and luscious throws.

7. Let the Light In: is an important inclusion in Nordic design. The main goal for designers is to bring in as much natural light as possible. That’s the reason for the usual absence of any window treatments. So tear down those curtains and let the light in! Keep all light fixtures simple, modern and minimalistic.

8. Keep it Simple: In Nordic Design the key pieces of furniture have clean, simple lines and should  be a neutral colour. As a result you will see a lot of grey lounges and natural wooden tables. Remember that simplicity is the key, so bring your colours and textures through in the use of accessories.

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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Bathrooms | Maximise your Space

 

 

  

Maximise your sense of space with these clever style tricks.

Reflective surfaces ~ make a room feel bigger so add some glossy surface to your bathroom like gloss white wall tiles.

Mirrors ~ add a large mirror to your bathroom to create the illusion of extra space and to reflect more light around the room.

Large format tiles ~ larger tiles on the floor and walls will increase the sense of space by making the room look less busy. Consider using a 300 x 600mm on the walls and a 600 x 600mm on the floors. The added bonus of large tiles is less grout to clean!

Frameless Glass ~ if it's within budget use a frameless shower screen as it will open up the room and increase the transparency of the space.

Light and Bright ~ limit the palette to white and light neutrals to reflect more light and create the illusion that the space is bigger than it actually is. Darker colours will make the room recede and appear smaller.

Attention to detail ~ add texture, colour and interest through towels and accessories this will prevent the room from looking bland or boring.

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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