If you are like me - your home may not have a lot of interesting architectural details - or you may live in a vintage home with some strange nooks and crannies. So how do we make your home more interesting or deal with those awkward spaces?
Use natural materials and neutral paint to achieve this look - even if you don't have the amazing beams and stunning hardwood. The large art piece adds architectural type interest to the room without changing anything of the structure. It is all about scale and balance.
On the boring architecture - maybe you don't have the money to add those rustic wooden beams that you crave, or maybe it just won't work in your space. There are ways to bring in that feeling into your space without major renovations. First off - paint is extremely important. Paint can make or break the mood of a space, and it is not just the color and shade - it is also how you use it. If you want a space that feels more organic and natural, consider painting the walls, trim and ceiling in the same neutral color. This will allow your architecture to fade away and highlight the furnishings of the room. Use lots of natural materials in your space - slip covered linen sofas - jute rugs - natural woods. For your case goods - choose a couple of pieces with architectural detailing instead of more cabinet like detailing. A large wall cabinet or buffet with either a vintage feel or architectural details can really set the mood for the space. If your flooring is darker than you like - consider a natural colored wool rug to brighten the space and draw the eye away from the flooring. Consider all the details carefully and you can pull off the mood you want without having to change the whole space. It is still important to keep the overall architecture of your home in mind throughout the design process - it all must work together in harmony.
If you like more of a Victorian detail and color but your home is a boring box - don't fret - we can bring those influences into the room. For this - don't be afraid of adding in some color to your walls. Carefully thought out rich tones on your walls will really bring the mood into the space. Be careful about accent walls - while they can be an effective tool to use they can also end up overpowering the room if they aren't balanced out. One of my favorite things to do is to take a wallpaper that has a similar color in it as the wall color and use it several places but on smaller walls. For example - if you have a fireplace wall that sets out into the room - consider painting that wall the same as all the other walls but wallpapering the two inset walls. Another thing I love to do is wallpaper a hall. So often halls get left out of the design process - embrace them - use an interesting wallpaper and make it an architectural detail. It doesn't need to be a long hall - a small space can have a lot of impact with wallpaper. Choose upholstery that really works together to create interest within the space. Accessorize wisely but don't be afraid of a bit of color and pattern. Try to pick pieces from multiple different design eras so that your overall space doesn't feel like museum pieces stuck into modern architecture. There is a balance there that must be struck to keep the cohesion.
Painting the wall above the cabinets in the same color as the cabinets gives this space a cohesive and architecturally interesting design. Had the wall above the marble backsplash and shelf been painted in the same white wall color you would have lost much of the visual impact of this space. (In this design - I could do without the barnboard ceiling, but I do find the rest of the space very high impact. I think that is just one detail that was not needed.)
For that awkward architecture - if you can't disguise it - embrace it and make it interesting. Especially in older homes there can be odd details from renovations that make things feel less than cohesive. Don't let these details stress you out - instead make them interesting. If you have a wall that was obviously added to the home later and the trim can't be matched - consider painting that wall in a different shade and adding a large piece of art or a gallery of art. Think about lighting and how you can emphasize this area. Sometime homes have had to have duct work / a chimney ran up a wall and it leaves an awkward bump into the room. Consider using this area as a break to change paint colors or to add wallpaper to just one side of the mail wall. Or, if your home is more minimal - consider painting just the protrusion in a different shade and hanging two small art pieces on it. There are lots of solutions. Just be careful.
Leaving the natural stone exposed in this corner created a perfect little interesting nook. Logically - it could pull too much attention away from the fireplace - but it doesn't - the two balance each other out well. (For the love of god, don't try to recreate this look with faux stone wallpaper - just don't! However, if you wanted to use a dark matte paint color - that would look lovely.)
Each home is different - there is not a one size fits all - so in everything, choose carefully and don't be afraid to get a consultation or hire a professional.
Let's get creative! - Trent
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