PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN {EMPHASIS}

Emphasis is the creation of a focal point -an area visually important enough to draw and hold attention. Examples of dramatic focal points include a beautiful fireplace, a wall of dramatic art, or an impressive piece or grouping of furniture.

This room's focal point in the fireplace and mirror. Because the mirror is so enormous, it's most likely the first thing your eye goes to when you first see the room. -That makes it a great focal point!  

Even if you do not have any type of architectural feature in your room, you can easily create a focal point with a large painting. This room above is a great example.

For bedrooms, headboards and decorative things above a headboard is a great way to bring in some emphasis to your space! 

An oversized headboard, a great mirror, painting, or collection of photos can create a great focal point.  

This headboard I absolutely love! Not only does it make a great focal point, it makes a great conversation piece. 

I personally love the idea of creating a collage of photos. It's a great way to add a personal touch to your space. Picture frames like these can easily be found at flea markets and thrift stores. And a can of spray paint will magically bring any old picture frame back to life!  

GET THE LOOK {THE HUNGER GAMES}

After seeing the Hunger Games this weekend, I have been completely inspired by the Capitol and it's world of ostentatiousness. The luxurious, technically advanced quarters that served as Katniss Everdeen's and Peeta Mellark's twelfth floor penthouse was especially inspiring to me, and I couldn't resist writing up a "get the look" post.  Hunger Game fans, this is for you! 

My first reaction to the look of the penthouse was what I would call "cold minimalist". There is a chilly ambiance about the entire place, however it is extremely modern, and over-the top luxurious. 

Here are some ideas for the penthouse living room:

Purple Shag Rug

Leather Sofa

Faux Fur Throw

Coffee Table

Side Table

Ideas for Katniss' quarters

Platform Bed

Forest Mural Wallpaper

Faux Fur Throw

Hanging Lamps

May the odds be ever in your favor, in your next decorating project!

 

INTERIORS TO INSPIRE {A MODERN DESERT}

I never thought I would say this, but I have been completely inspired by the desert! Although I have an inseparable bond to the ocean, I find beauty in everything I see. The desert terrain is another example of the sublime and flawless beauty God has created in this world!

In Ralph Lauren's latest collection "Desert Modern", he brings the color palette of the desert terrain into the home with a modern look. 

Check out this beautifully done, and inspiring home! 

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN {RHYTHM}

What do you first think of when you hear the word rhythm? I feel most people would say music! In music, rhythm is the beat that continually carries along the melody. In interior design, rhythm carries the eye along a path at a pace determined by the elements that illustrate it. Rhythm is also used to establish a continuity and flow within a room.  

Here are the five basic types of rhythm in interior design, 

of which I will give examples of:

1. Repetition 

2. Progression 

3. Transition

4. Contrast

5. Radiation

Repetition

Rhythm can come from repeating shapes and colors to help your eye move throughout the room.    

Progression 

Progression can be seen in shapes progressing from large to small or small to large, such as a set of nesting tables, where each smaller table fits beneath it's next larger component. 

Transition

Transition is a rhythm that leads the eye without interruption from one point to another. Rhythm by transition can be established by a continuous line, usually an architectural element such as a crown or dado moulding or an arched doorway or shelving. 

Contrast

Contrast is an abrupt change that forms interesting, repetitive rhythm. It can be seen in patterns - open/closed, busy/plain, light/dark combinations.

Radiation

Radiation is another type of Rhythm which is closely related to radial balance. This type of rhythm can give a room a circular radiation feeling. 

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN {SCALE & PROPORTION}

Proportion and scale: are usually expressed in terms of the size relationship of parts to one another and to the whole. Proportion also deals with shapes and forms and their dimensions. When the relationship ratio is pleasing, the furniture is well proportioned and fits the scale of the room. 

When furniture is off scale by an obvious amount, you almost feel like Alice, from Alice in Wonderland. In Alice and Wonderland, Alice goes through many drastic changes in height in order to get past the obstacles on her journey in her dream world. This however, leaves her too tall in some places and extremely small in others, and this made her feel uncomfortable. Imagine sitting on a couch where your legs can't reach the floor. You would feel smaller, and perhaps uncomfortable because the piece of furniture you are sitting on does't "fit" you. (Given you are in the range of an average height for a human)  To avoid all of this in your home, you essentially don't want to feel like your furniture is dominating the space, or in opposite cases, not "filling up" the space.

Classic examples of disproportional furniture in rooms:

The coffee table in this living room is disproportionate.
I don't see how guests who are sitting around such a massive table
can even get in their seats, because this table is taking up all the walking space! 

This bed seems to be enormous in this room because it's filling up almost all of the space.
A smaller sized bed in a smaller room would have this room in a better scale.  

Does this room seem sparse to you? That's because it is!
With the scale of this room being so large, the furniture here is not big enough to really "fill up" the space.  

The most basic method to achieving the right proportion and scale for a room through furniture selection is to measure, and "try out" your furniture before making a purchase. By measuring your room and the furniture piece, you will be able to estimate the amount of space it is going to take up when you add it to the room. And by "trying out" your furniture, you can determine whether the piece "fits" you. -As some pieces may work better with different people because of weight or height differences. So the next time you are decorating in your home, keep an eye out for proper proportion and scale! 

INTERIORS TO INSPIRE {LOVELY GREYS}

According to the little weather widget on my MacBook desktop, it's actually going to be raining in Southern California! You might as well start brewing your tea, and light up the fireplace, because the rain is going to be here all weekend long. Here's some inspiring interiors for this rainy grey weekend.

  

PS. Have a lovely weekend!