Animal Magnetism
The use of animal skins in interior decorating has a long and distinguished history dating back centuries. It wasn’t long ago that the presence of a lion, tiger, or bearskin indoors indicated an honorable victory in the wilds. For a variety of reasons today, there is rarely a worthy motive to injure or mortally wound one of these regal creatures. However, despite the fact that most of us would never dream of using real animal skins for decorating, their patterns continue to enthrall, lending an air of exoticism to modern interiors. Inspired by the real life coats of the giraffe, zebra, cheetah, snow tiger, Bengal tiger, and leopard, animal prints give rooms a slight accent, as if they have traveled across oceans or desert sand.
Guide to Animal Prints
- Underfoot, animal stripes such as zebra are an effective way enliven a room’s energy and break up rigidity. The pattern may be printed on a wool carpet, painted on a floorcloth or even printed onto cowhide.
- A classic that works year in, year out is a leopard-patterned stair runner. According to Janet Daniel of Elte Carpets, “Part of the reason this particular pattern has enjoyed such success is its natural ability to hide a multitude of stains. Available in wool or nylon pile cut loop well, these elegant patterns create a neutral, though vibrant backdrop.”
- Faux cheetah, zebra, tiger, and leopard patterns are easily incorporated into neutral interiors, breathing new life into reserved interiors. Robert Allen Fine Fabrics has a great selection of synthetics that look great, feel great, and wear beautifully.
- A leopard print lampshade or night-light accents traditional or contemporary rooms.
- Home enthusiasts are curling up at home with faux fur. Drape luxuriously at the foot of the bed, or place within reach of the most comfortable sofa in the house.
- Authentic cowhide has a variety of appealing patterns in various brown, black, white and russet colours. As well, cowhide is being imprinted with all manner of animal patterns, including giraffe, zebra, cheetah, and tiger.
- Decorative artist Beth Halstead suggests faux tortoiseshell is one of the most alluring, seductive paint finishes available for use on interior surfaces such as walls, custom molding, or the ceiling; anywhere a cozy, exotic atmosphere is desired.
Enjoy some exoticism in your own home. Good taste doesn’t always have to whisper!
It must be nice to have multiple talents. That's certainly the case with interior designer and professional photographer Lori Andrews. Lori brings an artist's eye to her projects and her Calgary clients are no doubt thrilled with the results.
A small home is always a challenge to decorate as one room very often meets another. The key to getting it right is planning. Making sure the floor plan accomodates the immediate needs of family members—whether that's watching TV or eating dinner—has to be the designer's first priority. Aesthetics are a close second.
Here, designer Lori Andrews seamlessly combines living and dining space. Warm wood floors and white walls are a clean backdrop, linking the two areas with ease.
 The living area centres around a sleek fireplace with sunburst mirror above. The large sofa has a single, seamless seat giving it a sleek apperance. Rather than distract from the setting, the television is tucked neatly into a corner where it can be enjoyed as needed, but ignored on occasion.
Lori includes several iconic pieces of furniture including the Noguchi coffee table. Pink roses and a green vase inject the space with colour that's easily changeable.
A vision in white, the office harmonizes with adjacent spaces. The wood floors are continuous throughout and the desk introduces a warm and inviting work surface. Lori's opted for attention-getting carpets in the living room and here in the office where a cow hide takes the floor.
To see more of Lori Andrews interior design work visit: www.loriandrewsinteriors.com
Check out Lori's amazing photography at: www.loriandrewsphotography.blogspot.com
 I'm always amazed that clients are reluctant to add accessories to a finished room. In most cases, it completes the setting, injects the space with the personality of the homeowners and generally allows a room to feel finished.
In the setting above, there is nothing particularly "wrong". However, the additon of a few items takes the space from Good to Better to Best. Follow the photo story.
 In this second image a few changes make a big difference. To begin with a conversation area needs more than one seating section. A sofa on its own may leave more floor space, but it's a lonely spot to perch. Adding arm chairs or even occassional chairs—like we did here—creates a sense of community. Placing them close together allows for intimate conversation and the possibility that everyone can reach the coffee table.
While the gray sofa is handsome on its own, the addition of plump, down-filled pillows makes the seating look a lot more inviting. We might have opted for gray pillows, but as this colour is such a great neutral, it's an opportunity to introduce colour. The chartreuse works well but so would a variety of choices.
On the coffee table, you'll notice the accessories got larger. In 9 cases out of 10, the do-it-yourself decorator will make a choice that errs on the side of "too small". These horns act as sculpture and are no doubt a conversation starter.
In this final image little changes but the impact is noticeable. Instead of a pair of matching pillows, I opted for two different pillows. A better choice in most cases than a repetitive selection of the same pillow. In addition, the coffee table gets a bigger set of accessories and the black echos the lampshade (great choice for drama) and the frame of the ink drawing.
Sometimes a few tweaks are all that's needed to take your space from Good to Better to Best.
Happy Decorating.
Touring a designer’s show house in South Hampton, New York, I was amazed to overhear the diverse opinions elicited by an all white living room. One visitor found the room ‘sterile and antiseptic’; another remarked on the ‘purity of vision and lack of artifice’, some found the room warm; many commented that the room was cold. How is it that one colour (er… rather, an absence of colour) elicits such a dichotomy of opinion?
People misunderstand white. Often, it’s assumed that white is a ‘standard’, a tone that is uniformly agreed upon. In fact, white is a wide range of tones and hues like any colour.
The precise shade of white is dictated by the undertone. When decorating with fine antiques and rich wood floors, I opt for whites that are slightly yellowed. This adds an authentic patina to traditional rooms since the white pigments used prior to the 20th century had a tendency to darken and yellow with age. In contrast, for modern lofts, I nearly always work with stark whites or blue-whites. Again, an authentic choice since brilliant wasn’t invented until the 1920’s. For powder rooms and dining rooms, my first choice might be a rosy or blush white.
Below are some of my favourite whites and a little guidance on how you might use them:
Modern White
When it comes to decorating ultra modern, urban lofts and condos, nothing defines the space like a crisp white. Just under the surface of modern whites you are likely to find a blue undertone. This range of white works beautifully paired with charcoal, gun metal silver, icy blue, and black. It is also simply the very best choice to highlight pastel colours within a room.
- All White #2005, Farrow & Ball: pure and clean, this is a bright summery white.
- James White #2010, Farrow & Ball: a slick white that is best described as “the colour of glass”; an ideal choice for urban bathrooms.
- Decorator’s White CC-20, Benjamin Moore: 5 million decorators can’t be wrong.
Romantic White
Envision flea market finds in shades of chalky gray or a Swedish palazzo with northern light streaming in the windows. The romantic whites are grey-based and they bring a dreamy, ethereal presence to walls. This range of white works in both traditional and contemporary interiors. Gray white marries well with any gray-toned colour including Wedgwood blue, sage green, and dusty rose.
- Shaded White #201, Farrow & Ball: don’t let the grayness deter you; there’s nothing cold about this mushroom white
- Off-White #3, Farrow & Ball: slightly less grey than Shaded White.
- Ballet White OC-9, Benjamin Moore: I frequently use this colour for trim; especially when I want to contrast with yellow or putty walls.
Antique White
Nothing enhances the look and feel of fine antiques and old wood floors like a mellow, yellow white. This range of white is reliable; providing sunny warmth to northern interiors.
- New White #59, Farrow & Ball: clean and bright, yellowy whites are ideal for European decor
- Antique White 2001, ICI: this is one of my all time favourites; particularly effective paired with glossy, rich woods like mahogany and cherry.
- Floral White OC-29, Benjamin Moore: try this in the kitchen next to white appliances where it won’t compete, instead it enlivens other whites.
Blush White
With just a mere suggestion of rose beneath the surface, these whites are lusty and youthful - and sure to flatter nearly all skin tones. Though this range has femininity below the surface, paired with strong neutrals like chocolate brown, charcoal gray, and black; they make a handsome statement.
- Dimity #2008, Farrow & Ball: just a blush of colour; ideal for powder rooms
- White Snow 500, ICI: I love this rosy white paired with pale green. Try it on ceilings.
- White Blush OC-86, Benjamin Moore: young and fresh.
There’s something about the work of Atlanta-based designer Suzanne Kasler that really gets me in the mood for spring. Her cheerful and colourful decorative accents breathe new life into traditional settings.
Details are distinctly important factors in traditional design. Check out the pink grosgrain ribbon that outlines the settee’s seat and back. Design Tip: Any time you outline something, you underscore its importance.
In the dining room, rose pink draperies are well suited to the taupe wall colour, which keeps the colour scheme from veering to sweetness. The Louis XVI style chairs are modernized with simple, wide stripes, repeating the taupe colour. A crystal, antique bronze chandelier (looks like something you’d find at the Paris Flea Market) hovers over the linen skirted table. As evening approaches, the light transforms the room into a soft and comfortable space where family and friends linger in comfort.
It’s worth considering how pink is used throughout this home—as an accent. In other words, it’s used frequently, but not always in large doses. In the dining room for instance, pink draperies are a big splash of colour. But notice the bookshelves (below). Here, pink is used in some of the decorative objects that rest on the shelves, lending a hint of the accent colour to the space. The room still gets the benefit of the chosen colour, creating a nice flow between rooms, but the variation keeps the colour scheme from becoming monotonous. Nicely done.
The natural light-infused corner highlights Suzanne Kasler's smooth touch when it comes to creating well-organized and stylish spaces.
White bedding with embroidered accents complement the similarly toned window treatments. The tangerine lampshades are bordered in hot pink, adding a bold contrast to the room’s nut-brown walls. The dreamy bedroom inspires sleep and play.
To learn more about Suzanne Kasler’s work, visit www.suzannekasler.com
If I told you I could take 10 years off your looks for less than $100, what would you think? No doubt, you’d be skeptical. But I’m not talking about some sort of at home face-lift. Instead, looking years younger is as simple as adding the right lighting to a room.
 Interior Design: Kimberley Seldon Design Group
For the price of a single table lamp, you can create a more flattering, comfortable and cozy environment to live in.
 Lamps by Lesley Anton
Overhead pot lights, which I affectionately refer to as ‘hag lighting’ are ideal to create ambient lighting that fills a room. But they are far from flattering, as they cast light down onto the top of the head, creating dark shadows on the face. Table and floor lamps however, provide a warm, flattering glow to rooms and to inhabitants by shining light directly onto the face.
 Interior Design: Kimberley Seldon Design Group
In addition to providing general illumination, the right table lamp is a practical task light as well. In the bedroom, a reading lamp is essential. Opt for a shade that stops at eyelevel. In the office, a desk lamp needs an opaque shade to force light onto work surface.
New on the design scene are Mottega lamps - http://www.mottega.com/about. Using their interactive website, it’s possible to create a ‘custom’ lamp in three simple steps.
- Choose a base from the ten available colours and nine different shapes.
- Choose a shade from the four options, tall drum, flat drum, taper and coolie. Each comes in neutral white, linen or ivory.
- Choose a decorative finial to top it off.
You can order directly from the company’s website, however purchasing from a Canadian retailer like ELTE means the shipping and duties from the US are included.
Bottom line: you don’t need a face-lift. You need a lamp.
Sure, anyone can decorate, but getting your room to look ‘camera ready’ takes a little practice. By following the evolution of a particular space, it’s possible to learn design principals and hone your decorating skills.
Take the room above for example. It’s a lovely setting. For many, this room looks ‘finished’. What more can be done? After all, there is a lovely sofa and it appears to be the right scale for adjacent items. The sofa’s colour is a warm mushroom colour, making it a long-lasting neutral choice that’s easy to live with for years to come. The carpet in tone on tone shades of gray is tasteful and classic.
Let’s look at how some simple improvements increase the room’s style quotient. Adding the velvet pillows in dark chocolate immediately injects the room with drama. High contrast (pairing items of opposite colour value) does that for you. The new coffee table is a little chunkier and the weight of the gold frame gives the setting a more substantial feel. A change of carpet adds a hint of pattern and a touch of gold underfoot. Keeping a glass top on the coffee table allows the carpet to get the attention it deserves. The darker chair acts as a balance to the pillows and its dark legs draw attention to the carpet.
Finally, artwork completes the setting. In general, try to fill the wall visually with artwork to obtain the most dramatic results. The former artwork was lovely but didn’t have the impact of these larger pieces. See how they fill the wall, creating more impact in the setting. In general, we want artwork to make a statement, as it certainly does here. We also swapped the delicate gold table and lamp for a more substantial pairing of nesting tables and urn shaped lamp. The visual weight provided by the new grouping feels more compatible with the scale of the sofa and the heavier pillows.
Good, Better, Best – how small improvements deliver big results.
Sourcing Credit: All furniture and furnishings ELTE www.elte.com
Historically, a bohemian was a refuge from central Europe. Today, the term is used in fashion and design to denote style that forgoes conventional trappings in favour of individuality. Ironically, the moment such a style is “on trend” it can hardly be called bohemian. Nonetheless, boho-chic continues to infuse runways and homes with colour, pattern and playful abandon.
Boho-chic Style
To get boho-chic style at home you’ll need to be brave and layer on pattern and colour. There’s no better place to start then with a great carpet. Think of an area carpet as an opportunity to lay down a foundation of pattern and style within a room. A vibrant colour or intense pattern on the floor creates a drama and sets a tone for the room as a whole. When possible, opt for medium and large-scale patterns, which have a more gracious appearance than tiny all-over patterns. I love the artisan feel of the chartreuse-yellow and beige carpet seen here.
Once you have a carpet, it’s time to choose a sofa. For boho-chic style, it’s not necessary to find a sofa that ‘matches’ the area carpet. Instead opt for a harmonizing effect.
Decorative toss cushions or pillows are an easy way to introduce another layer of pattern. The cushion (above) in bright blue, magenta and green injects immediate style into a room. In fact, anytime you introduce bold texture, pattern or colour into a room you increase visual impact. And, power pattern is an essential element of boho-chic. The unique pattern on the blue pillow is created by a technique known as ‘burning out’ or in French as dévoré. It’s a complicated process that involves applying various layers of acids to the backside of the velvet.
Finally, finish any room with accessories that underscore the desired style. Not only does the shapely vase have an artistic pattern to contribute to the room, it also has a shimmering iridescence that suits the overall look and feel.
Boho-Chic is easy to accomplish. Be fearless and you can’t go wrong.
Furnishings: Carpets, pillows, vase ELTE www.elte.com
It's spring, and that means it's time for new beginnings. In keeping with the change of season and the fresh palette of colour we are about to experience, we would like to welcome our readers to a new venture at Sympatico Lifestyle - the Project Décor blog. From the newest trends to practical tips on how you can incorporate some style into your own home, we hope this blog will be an inspiration to make your home nest the place that you aspire it to be.
No doubt, inspiration will be endless thanks our very own design expert.
Meet Kimberley Seldon...
...who will be lending her professional eye and foolproof tips to help us make sense of the countless trends floating around. Kimberley brings over 15 years experience in television; hosting three of her series including the HGTV series “Design for Living with Kimberley Seldon”. Kimberley presides as guest design expert on CityTV’s CityLine and appears regularly on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in the United States.
Quite recently, Kimberley has taken on the role of Design Editor of Canada’s Chatelaine Magazine and is the Editor-in-Chief of Dabble Magazine; an online magazine that encompasses design, travel and food, three of Kimberley’s greatest passions.
We look forward to your own design comments and suggestions and hope you enjoy the blog, just as much as we have putting it together for you.
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