Home Styling

"Tina Seidenfaden Busck and Pernille Hornhaver are the founders of ‘The Apartment’ an interior showroom/shop in Christianshavn, Copenhagen. The space is what it sounds and looks like in these photos, an apartment that has been restored by the founding partners to showcase design objects, furniture, antiques and art. The all-white space serves as a blank canvas where innovative modern design meets the unparallelled craft of traditional furniture making. In these photos you will see how the space has been transformed over time as it is dressed with different furniture, objects and art."

One day it would be nice to have a library in my home, but I would happily settle for a wall of books.

Today designers and architects are finding new and exciting ways to utilize space. One form of doing so it to use all available walls. A wall of plants (vertical garden), a wall of books and a wall of photo frames, there are many options. 

This apartment is a combination of warm and cool elements;

Cool: white walls and ceiling, dark grey wooden floors, metal table and furniture legs

Warm: Coloured books, lamp shade, tones of grey, woolen colourful rugs

images via http://www.stylebyyellowbutton.com/p/about.html

Space + Colour

The interior design colour you choose for your space will influence the effect the room has on clients, yourself and your work and those around you. By understanding how this works, you can then deliberately select the colour to get your desired effect and feel. 

It is common knowledge now that a colour affects everyone's mood. Recently on the blog someone asked for advice with decorating a white office with a little hint of colour.

In fact, the key to using white successfully in your interior design scheme is to add interest in ways other than colour. The overall effect you can get will depend very much upon the styles of furniture, fabrics, furnishings, floorings and accessories, which you choose.

Have a look at how these white spaces were totally changed by adding a delicate touch of colour. 

Colour can be introduced in many ways;

adding a feature piece of furniture to a space. Introducing colour through a chair is an interesting and easy to change way to liven up a space.

A similar effect can be achieved by bringing in small items spotted around the space.

A coloured rug not only add... colour, but also brings warmth and texture into the equation.

Colour does not always have to be drastic. Here colour has been used in the form of wooden panels, the wooden legs of the chair, coloured glass vases, and the light blue in the painting.

Wood is an easy and clever way to use existing furniture to bring colour and tone into your surrounding.

A pin board is a very useful tool in an office but there is no need to buy a cork board. Think about using a fabric covering and using a colour or even a print.

Colour can also be established in a space by using different types of fabrics. This space has incorporated a woollen rug, and 4 leather chairs in different tones.

Adding black and wooden detailing to a space brings a sense of drama. Try not to overlook black when hunting for something interesting.

And finally, you know I love texture so I will remind you... Introducing different types of textures into  a space is a clever way to allow colours and tones to sparkle. 

Artwork is a fun way to add colour to a space and the best part is, you can change it at any time!

Ok, just one more, don't over look lighting. A copper or chrome pendant light or an interesting lamp shade can lighten up a space in more than one way.

Working with colour is not easy. 

My number one rule when it comes to colour;

If you aren't 100% sure don't spend too much on colourful items. Rather spend less and change them more often. This makes the decision process easier while also allowing you to change your mind and space to suit your mood.

Elle x

All images via Pinterest and LivingTec

Abigal Ahern: 5 steps for creating a fabulous home office

From the design guru, Abigail Ahern;

Morning, I’ve spoken before about the importance of creating a home office to die for, that’s cosy, tantalising and that inspires productivity, creativity and anything else you so wish. I’ve broken it down into steps to make it easier so you can dip into or out of as you wish. The steps aren’t rules (there are no rules when it comes to design) so tweak and improvise as much as you wish.

So in no particular order:

Step number one is a practical point, I am so not a practical designer but this is pretty fundamental. Move your home office into an area away from noise, kitchen noise, and more importantly TV noise. You don’t need to dedicate a whole room to a home office in NYC I’ve seen some beautiful home offices in hallways, passageways even alcoves. I’ve seen bedside tables that double duty as home offices, hell I’ve even seen home offices crafted from an impromptu table sitting on a landing. The important factor is not to have a load of distracting noise going on or at least as little as possible.

Step two, ramp up you’re lighting, you might think you have enough but believe me you haven’t. Now you’ve all seen my studio a thousand times I am sure but I’ve recently created another desk space in the adjoining room and upped the anty with the lighting. An angle poise gives me perfect task lighting for typing, reading etc. and a super sized table lamp adds a decorative note. Go round the room and you will find seven other lights (yikes)!

Step three; add flowers or plants they immediately soften the space give it personality and break up the corporate feel. I’ve got white faux blossom on my new desk, take it away and it just doesn’t have the same impact. I’ve also got a posy of fresh flowers from Columbia Road on the desk this week purple and pink hydrangeas, next week who knows, herbs, eucalptus some lovely scented foliage it really doesn’t matter.

Step four, move away if you can from buying office furniture particularly the desk since it takes up the most room and sets the tone. I’ve got an old zinc thing from Petersham which I adore, you don’t have to go vintage you just ideally need to source something that doesn’t look too corporate. If you have a corporate looking desk then acessorize the bejesus out of it.

Step five, accessorize. Prop pictures and paintings against the desk, skim the floor with a rug, heap a pile of books on the table, add a scented candle. Easy no?

My new space below, (don’t look at the wiring we haven’t wired it all up yet, its me being impatient and wanting all lights on asap so extension leads, tons of wire all sorted by my DIY guru this weekend). So the trouble I now have with with creating this second zone is the internal battle each and every day - which desk to sit at, it’s a conundrum!

Oh I forgot one more step making it 6 – ditch the beige haze paint colour, go dark, cross over to the dark side its way, promise way more fun this side and pretty darn life changing!

http://abigailahern.wordpress.com/

Copenhagen Influences

Today I would like to share with you all a little love from Copenhagen. These images were taken by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen for a new restaurant 'Höst' in Copenhagen. You can see more on Norm's new blog, New Norm, which is all about their new dinnerware.

Elle x

 

Changing a cool room to a warm & cozy space

When you first walk into a room it really shows itself. It ignites feelings, hopefully happy ones. 

However, sometimes when walking into a cool space it doesn't provide the warm, comfort and coziness often sort after.

Here are a few easy solutions which can change a cool space and transform it into a warm space.

1. Painting - By painting the walls a warmer colour, (such as a dark grey, I bet you wouldn't have guessed I was going to suggest a grey!) it will make the walls appear closer together (left & right). Painting the ceiling a darker tone invites the ceiling closer to the floor and the furniture. Although normally I have a strong opinion of keeping ceilings within the white tones I believe this space is screaming for it.

Wallpaper is introduces patterns and texture and is a great way to liven up a space. Be bold!

2. Furniture - Furniture heights are crucial to complimenting a space. In a small space- think smaller but in a large space, with high ceilings - think big(er). 

Tip: When thinking big try finding furniture with legs, instead of having the items sit directly on the floor.

Even a super over-sized floor cushion would be fantastic in this space and encourage people to focus their attention towards one point.

3. Texture - An easy way to incorporate texture into a space is by adding a rug. The sensations people feel when in a space is important to. Walking onto wooden flooring gives a very different feeling to stepping onto a luscious rug. A fabric couch would also work wonders as leather is a cool material selection. (Once again, think a charcoal fabric to match the wall). The ultimate fix in this situation is adding cushions, you can never have too many, think floral or pattered cushions. 

Tip: Rugs should be placed under your furniture and not around them. 

4. Lighting - Lighting is often the place I encourage clients to have a little fun. Find something you love and cannot live without and find a home for it. Just ensure the colours and heights suit the space.

5. Flowers - Embrace flowers and plants and try and include them where possible. In this space, think big and work with varying heights. 

Enjoy & feel free to leave comments

Sticky Business with Wallpaper

One year ago, what would have been your average visit to a hair dresser yesterday became a little bit of interior design education. As I was having my hair washed (nothing better than a mini head massage) I noticed the wallpaper and the way in which it had been formed around the arch (see image below). Have a peek at the zoomed in image of the place with the wallpaper meets the arch and you can see it has been stuck directly to the edge of the wall. 

Although the wallpaper is gorgeous, rich & livens up the space I believe highlighting the archway with paint would have created a cleaner finish (the wallpaper is pealing now). 

Of course, cutting in to the wall and re-creating the arch would be the best option in a perfect picture but this approach is too expensive. 

See the images below for my proposed concept.

Original wallpaper & arch

Detailed image of the arch

Proposed painting of the arch

Looking for a make a wall just a little more beautiful?

Is there a wall at you home or office that is flat, lifeless & not terribly beautiful?

How warm, interesting & creative does this wall feel?

Adding a natural creeper to a wall does take time but is an easy way to bring colour, interest & texture to a space. Besides, there's enough brick in this world, so why not make it a little prettier. (Think of it as a little make up for your wall!)

Elle x