A ROOM SHOULD NEVER BE TOO PRETTY TO ENJOY
I will never forget that moment when my heart stopped because my girlfriend spilled red wine on my friend’s white sofa, which trickled down on his white carpet. Gasp! You could literally hear a pin drop.
The night was going pretty well until this happened, but suddenly cleaning agents and vacuum cleaners appeared from nowhere as the host frantically cleaned up the mess. This mood board below reminds me of that particular night.
My aunt proudly purchased a white sofa. It was stunning for sure, but she covered it with plastic to keep it from getting stained. Whenever you sat on it, the plastic would sweat and stick to your skin. And in my own home growing up, there was “THE OFF LIMITS ROOM”. It was the room for guests and grown folks and it never ever had a speck of dust.
It was these experiences that taught me that when I grew up, I would never have rooms in my home that were too pretty to enjoy. My home would be inviting, welcoming and comfortable. It’s why I love to design with a relaxed elegance, or a laid back lux vibe in mind.
We use our rooms, curl up on the sofas and put our feet on the tables. We want our guest to make themselves at home. So how do we achieve the laid back yet elegant vibe? Here are a few ideas.
High performance fabrics
Fabrics and textiles continue to improve with advances in technology. Ask about stain, and soil repellent qualities when choosing fabrics for your next seating purchases. Sofas and chairs get the most use and should definitely have durable and resilient upholstery. The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice style with these fabrics. The sofa below is an example of a custom sofa using a textured Herringbone high endurance fabric. These fabrics are also ideal for families with young kids and pets.
Protect hardwood floors with area rugs
Increase your cozy quotient, elegant factor and lux vibe with lovely Area rugs. They help to define areas and add comfort under your toes. I am particularly fond of the hair on hide rugs currently on trend.
Add elegant touches to low maintenance areas like ceilings and windows
Light fixtures can elevate your space significantly and custom window treatments have a way of tying your design elements together, giving rooms a finished and polished look. Once these items are installed, they subtly or boldly add the “it” factor. Keep your lighting finishes in harmony from room to room and try to choose fabrics that will stand the test of time. Images: ( light fixture is from our online shop and the window treatments are from a recent installation)
Go for Leather in your decor
Leather is amazing for adding a lush, lux vibe. What I like most about leather is that it typically out performs the life of fabrics and is super easy to maintain. I added a faux fur throw to the wingback below for a little something extra. Is it my fav reading chair? it sure is.
Add lux touches in low traffic areas
Entryways, powder rooms, and stairways are places where you don’t spend a significant amount of time, but are great places to make a good first impression. Create a gallery wall of art along a stairwell, invest in stunning wallpaper for the powder room or add a lovely sculpture in the foyer.
There is literally no place like home. My home will always have an inviting liveable vibe with a few elegant touches. It will never be too pretty to enjoy, but that feels authentic to me. What about you? Describe your perfect home space in three words. Come on, it will be fun! Just leave them in the comments. We love creating spaces that feel authentic to you and if you don’t like homes that are too pretty to enjoy, you are our ideal client.
Thanks for stopping by friends. We partner with busy homeowners to create spaces that feel authentic to their lifestyle and we blog about subjects that educate and inspire. Contact us to learn more about our products and services. You can email us at rjackson@yourdesignpartner.com or
call 513-409-3759
Inspiring creativity,
Ricci
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