Chic Galleria » Home Decor

Basic Rules for Decorating Your Home

Ivana Hargasova — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:32:27 +0000

Decorating your apartment is never an easy thing to do. There are so many aspects to take into account (like the size, the number of people living there, whether it’s a rental, etc.), and there are too many things that can go wrong… But it’s also an amazing opportunity for you to express your own personal style, taste and aesthetics. Decorating your home is a continuous process that never ends. You can’t pull a room together in one day, nor you can find all you need in one quick trip to Ikea.

But there’s no need to be afraid of it. You can have so much fun while decorating your pad, and if you follow these simple rules, you can definitely do no wrong:

1. Draw inspiration from everywhere. It can come from books, magazines, art, movies, fashion, hotels, restaurants…the possibilities are countless and unlimited. Just keep your eyes open and pay attention to the things that surround you and make you happy.

2. Set up an inspiration file. It can be a simple binder or a folder in your computer. That’s where you can gather photos, articles, ads, paint chips, wallpaper samples and everything you love and what inspires you.

3. Determine your style. Assess your inspiration file and look for the recurrent themes, colors, patterns, pieces of furniture, accessories. Try to put a name on your style ( or a mixture of styles), like elegant with an edge, classic with a modern twist, minimalist. It is not an easy exercise to do, but it will greatly simplify your life and your home decor shopping (no more impulsive purchases that don’t fit in at all).

4. Choose a color scheme. Pick one that complements your personal style and suits the space. If you’re afraid to get bored, choose a different color palette for every room.

5. Observe your current place. What does work well in your current apartment? What doesn’t? Which items do you want to keep? What’s bogging you and what would you like to change?

6. Assess what you have. Take note (or better, a picture) of everything in your apartment: furniture, rugs, accessories. Look closely at every single item, then divide the pictures into three piles: keep. makeover, give away.

7. Take measurements of your furniture. Write them down so you can keep the proportions in your mind when organizing the space.

8. Draw up a floor plan. Be sure to include all the measurements, proportions and emplacements of windows, doors, and various nooks. Work with your room, not against it.

9. Evaluate the space. Make a list of aesthetic pros and cons of each room. Decide what you want to highlight and what you want to hide.

10. Do a lot of research. Check out lots of websites and e-shops, read magazines and blogs, visit little shops as well as big department stores, compare prices and quality, think twice before you splurge.

11. Make your own to-do list. Write down everything that needs to be done or bought. You don’t have to (and simply can’t) do everything at once, but you have to keep track of your progress and what you have to do next.

12. Have fun! Don’t take it too seriously. Decorating your apartment is a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and your unique sense of style. Don’t think about it as an annoying necessity, but as a great chance to play around and have a good time.

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Macarons and Pearls, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

10 ways to update the decor of your living room

Ivana Hargasova — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:57:29 +0000

Your living room is most probably the focal point of your home. It’s the room where you spend your free time, where you chill out, read books and magazines, watch the TV. It’s also the space where you entertain your guests. You want this room to express your style and taste and to feel cozy and inviting. At the same time, you don’t want it to become boring, that’s why it’s important to switch things up every once in a time.

Giving your living room an update needs not to be complicated and expensive. On the contrary, it can be a really amusing and refreshing exercise. Of course, you can repaint the entire room, but are you sure that you want to put up with all the mess? I don’t think so.

First of all, clear out all the clutter and look properly on everything you already have in this space. Work with what you have, add a few new accessories, move things around a little bit…it’s really as easy as that! Follow our 10 easy steps and your living room will never look boring again!

1. Update the furniture accessories. You don’t need to splurge on a new couch straight away. Invest in a new slipcover and a bunch of coordinated throw pillows. Or, you can make them on your own. All you need is a sewing machine and a little bit of patience. When it comes to fabrics, there are countless possibilities out there: you can play with colors, patterns and structures to your heart’s content.

2. Get on the floor. A few new rugs can give your floor an instant makeover. Just be sure to stick with the same color palette you used for your couch and pillows, to preserve the color harmony.

3. Work with the lighting. You can opt for a dramatic change by swapping your old interior lamp for a more glamorous piece (Ikea has some affordable options). If the room is too dark, place several floor lamps in the corners and next to the sofa. You can also change the lampshades of your table lamps: be bold with colors, add ribbons and embellishments, etc. You can try to play with colored bulbs and different wattage as well. Just challenge your creativity.

4. Extend your seating space. Winter is an ideal time to invite your friends and have a great chat over the home-made spiced wine. If your don’t have enough space for several armchairs, invest in a bunch of stackable poufs. Moroccan poufs are a little bit pricey, but they are seriously stylish and well-worth the investment. They will add an instant wow factor to any room in your home.

5. Rearrange the accessories. You don’t need to move the bookshelves or the couch to change the look of your living room. By simply moving around side tables, lamps, rugs or plants, you can get some impressive results (and all that without breaking your neck).

6. Buy new vases. It’s one of the cheapest ways to make your living more stylish. Scour flea markets, thrift and dollar shops for interesitng finds. You can create a color-themed vignette by grouping several vases in different shapes and heights, all in the same color. Placed on a side table or on a mantelpiece, they will be an instant eye-catcher and conversation starter.

7. Hang some art or photos on your walls. It’s up to your personal taste whether you choose some classic paintings, a piece of modern art, or a couple of black and white family photos. I’m not a big fan of mismatched look, so I’d suggest to stay true to one style and paint all the frames one color. You can create an interesting wall gallery by using pictures and frames in different shapes and sizes.

8. Keep the space clean and uncluttered. Does your coffee table ressemble one big mess? Change it. Sort out all the magazines, edit the coffee table books (you don’t need twenty of them on display, pick only two or three and swap them regularly to keep things interesting). Put away all the cables and electronic devices and stack all the remote controls in a pretty jar or can. Now, take all the items left on your coffee table and put them in a stylish tray. It will prevent them from traveling all around your table and it will help to keep things organized.

9. Let it smell nice. Place a fragrance diffuser in your coffee table tray, or several scented candles on your mantelpiece. You can switch scents according to shifting seasons.

10. Think outside the box. Reshuffle items from another room in your apartment: why not use that refurbished bedside table as and end table and place it next to to your sofa? And those candlesticks in your bathroom would look fantastic displayed in a bookshelf… Don’t be afraid to give things a new purpose!

You could also use some of these items to give your living room an extra dose of style:

1. Urban Outfitters 3×5 Bargello Rug in Blue, $39.00

2. Etsy Festive Home Decor Decorative Toss Pillow Cushion Cover, $14.00

3. Ikea Blomster Set of 3 Clear Glass Candlesticks, $14.99

4. Bed, Bath and Beyond The Perfect Touch Throw Blanket in Cranberry, $19.99

5. West Elm Large Rectangle Lacquer Tray in Silver Lacquer, $69.00

6. CB2 Float Frames, $19.95-$34.95

7. The Home Depot Ceramic Ivory Table Lamp, $29.97

8. Crate & Barrel Koda Large Vase, $29.95

9. Crate & Barrel Koda Mini Vase, $14.95

10. Crabtree & Evelyn Noel Home Fragrance Diffuser, $40.00

11. Ikea Lack High Gloss Gray Side Table, $14.99

12. Lille Fuchsia Moroccan Pouf, $285.00

13. Etsy ElemenOPillows Gray Decorative Pillow Cover, $16.00

Photo credit: Style at Home

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Style in the City, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

How to decorate in fall colors

Ivana Hargasova — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:34:58 +0000

I’ve always loved the idea of seasonal home decorating. It can make season shifting much more enjoyable, and it makes you seek out the best in each and every time of the year. The nature represents an unlimited source of inspiration, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of everything it has to offer. This being said, there’s so much more to fall decorating that pumpkins and spooky Halloween accessories! Fall’s color palette composed of spicy oranges, rich yellows, rustic reds, forest greens and chocolate browns presents countless opportunities when it comes to home decor. All these colors will make your home look and feel much more cozy and inviting.

Here are a few tips on how to add warmth and that special autumn feel to your home:

1. Get inspired. Just look out of the window or go for a walk outside. The nature brings you the most complete and accessible inspiration board there is.

2. Determine your color scheme. There are many beautiful colors you can choose from, but don’t go too wild. Use one shade as a backdrop and then add two or three hues that complement each other. If you want to use as many fall colors as possible, style each room in different color harmony.

3. These colors look very good together: red, deep orange and brown; forest green and deep brown; yellow, amber and gold; burgundy and deep purple

4. Makeover your couch. Invest in monochromatic couch slip in spiced orange and liven it up with patterned throw pillows. Gold and rich yellow will look perfectly together.

5. Well-chosen curtains are a substantial part of each room’s decor. What’s more, they can help to keep the warmth inside when the temperatures outside begin to drop. Try the curtains in burnt orange or rust – they will add a subtle glow to your room, especially during the sunrise and the sunset.

6. Change your classic white linens for something more daring. What about rich burgundy? It’ll make your bedroom look like a dramatic and luxurious boudoir.

7. Don’t overlook your entryway: welcome your guests with a home-made wreath and fall-inspired perfumed candles. Go for apple and cinnamon, pumpkin or spiced orange.

8. Play a little bit with your table setting. Choose a rich red tablecloth, accessorize it with saffron napkins and orange dishes. Don’t forget to add a stylish centerpiece: fill a shallow bowl with colorful leaves, red apples and little branches of rose hip. It’s simple and beautiful.

9. Another simple DIY idea: gather a bunch of colorful leaves and let them dry. You can enhance their beauty with a coat of glittery gold spray paint. Attach them to a piece of yellow string with little wooden clothes pegs. You can put this garland on your front door or on the window, but I think it will look best on your mantelpiece.

10. Don’t forget your bathroom: swap your ordinary white and beige towels for those in burgundy and chocolate brown. Indulge in sumptuous topaz hand wash and lotion.

11. Choose high-quality fabrics like velvet, damask, leather and cashmere. They will give your home that wonderful luxurious feel.

12. And finally, prepare a huge bowl of caramel corn, curl up on the sofa and enjoy a quiet evening in your beautifully decorated apartment.

1. Walmart Angela 7-piece Comforter Set in Burgundy, $49.88 – $54.88 Similar: Space Living Francesca, $87.49

2. Target Jersey Sofa Slipcover in Tangerine, $39.95

3. Pillow Garden Golden Garden 17×17 throw pillow, $49.95

4. Pillow Garden Liquid Gold Square Accent Pillow, $49.95

5. Ikea Afjarden brown hand towel, $6.99

6. Ikea Afjarden dark red bath sheet, $14.99

7. Crescent Heights Curtain Panel in Rust, $54.99

8. How to: A rectangular leafy wreath (Better Homes and Gardens)

9. Crabtree & Evelyn Golden Topaz Hand Care Caddy, $44.00

10. Jonathan Adler Mod Dot 4-piece setting, $50.00

11. Caramel Corn Recipe

12. Linen Tablecloth 17 ” Polyester Napkins (1 dz) in Marigold, $5.99

13. Yankee Candle Autumn Leaves Large Jar Candle, $25.99

14. Linen Tablecloth 120″ Round Polyester Tablecloth in Red, $11.29 Similar: Space Living $25.99

Photo credit: Style at Home

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Style in the City, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

How to Bring Glamour to Your Home

Ivana Hargasova — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:01:20 +0000

When I hear people talking about glamour, I always think of old Hollywood, circa 1940′s and 1950′s. And this applies equally in fashion and in home decor. There’s something so special about this bold and intriguing style, with all its rich details, crystal accessories, upholstered sofas and mirrored furniture.

Glamour is characterized by intricate textures, luxe fabrics and all that shimmer and sparkle. Color palette is quite simple: white or beige backdrop, accessorized with soft touches of black, silver, gold and pastels. Then again, too much glamour can kill the glamour, so use it with caution and light hand, especially in small spaces. A faux fur rug here, a mirrored piece of furniture there, white candles all over the space… Just be cautious when it comes to black, because it can be easily overpowering and counterproductive.

Here are a few ways to incorporate little touches of luxe and glamour into your own house or apartment:

1. Add a beautifully ornated mirror to your entryway.

2. Reupholster your chairs with a soft grey or charcoal velvet.

3. Use a natural-colored faux fur rug in your living room.

4. Invest in a jaw-dropping crystal chandelier. You can use it in a classic way (in your living or dining room), or in a more unexpected manner (in your entryway or your bathroom).

5. Buy at least one piece of shiny or lacquered furniture (i.e. mirrored coffee table).

6. A total must-have: white candles in crystal candle holders. Place them all over the room to enhance the sparkle and the luminosity.

7. Think metallic instead of wooden: scour hardware shops or flea markets for interesting furniture knobs.

8. Opt for dramatic prints when it comes to throws and throw pillows for your sofa.

9. Give your bedroom a significant makeover with one wall entirely covered in black & white wallpaper.

10. Don’t forget to liven up the space with fresh flowers in glamorous vases. A chic white bouquet in crystal clear vase will never go out of style.

Do you need some more inspiration? Here’s a round-up of a few beautiful and glamorous pieces that will add that extra wow factor to your home:

1. West Elm Chester Tufted Leather Sofa, $1699.00

2. Colonial Candle Crystal Cut Taper Dinner Candle Holders, $10.00

3. IKEA Birkeland 6-drawer Chest, $299.00

4. IKEA Hemnes Dressing Table with Mirror, $249.00

5. Anthropologie Caricature Knob, $8.00

6. IKEA Ung Drill Mirror, £25.00

7. West Elm Chester Tufted Leather Chair, $799.00

Similar: Soflex Tufted Accent Chair

8. Graham & Brown Pallade Black & White Wallpaper, $40.00 a roll

9. Cymax Landmark Lighting Angelite Six Light Chandelier, $413.00

10. Crystal Drop Votive Stands, $23.95

11. Ralph Lauren Caitlin Cut Glass Urn Lamp, $777.00

So, are you tempted to add a little bit of glamour to your home?

Photo credit: Nicholas Haslam

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Style in the City, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

Excuses, Excuses. What’s Holding You Back From Your Dream Home?

Jennifer Hicks — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:41:47 +0000

Over the years I’ve realized that making a room look attractive requires much more than just knowing which chair to put where. There is a significant amount of psychology that goes into great design and any decorator worth her fee knows how to combat her clients’ fears and misconceptions, helping them overcome whatever is holding them back so that they get the room they really want. Today I would like to cover a few of the most popular fears or misconceptions that may be keeping you from hiring a professional decorator to finally achieve the design you deserve.

1. Decorators are too expensive. I can do what they do for a lot less.

As gently as I can may I ask “and how’s that working for you”? While to some it may appear that a decorator is nothing more than a paid professional shopper, there are many aspects that require professional education and training- knowing building codes is a requirement for those who call themselves designers, for example. Knowing which fabrics are suitable for certain items and environments is a big one. Having great taste simply doesn’t cut it. As harsh as it sounds, if you could do what we do on your own, it would be done. Professional decorators know of the resources available to the trade that it will take to get your job done right-the first time- while many homeowners wing it by searching online and hoping for the best. They are also aware of sale prices that could be of benefit to you- prices that retailers won’t tell you about. Additionally, the fees a reasonable decorator charges pale in comparison to the thousands of dollars one can spend trying to DIY without a clear plan of action.

2. I have no idea what my style is. Why hire someone until I know what I like?

While it can certainly speed up the process to know what you love and hate, part of my job is to work with you to help determine your true style. You may have gone the last ten years assuming your style was French Country but a series of questioning and some quality shopping time may reveal you’re really more modern. Just because you’ve been living with aunt Edith’s antique heirlooms all this time doesn’t mean you have to let them dictate your personal style!

3. What if the decorator tells me to get rid of everything? Won’t she just do what she wants in my house?

A true professional won’t. Of course there are cases where the client dictates that everything goes and the decorator is given carte blanche to start fresh. But for the most part, I (and my thousands of colleagues across the country) am very good at due diligence- that is, discovering exactly what you will go for and what you won’t before any walls are painted or any furniture purchased. I tell all of my clients that I can think a room is amazing but once I leave, if the clients hate it everything was a waste. You have to live there, you should like it! I have a home that I get to decorate for me; a real pro will not force his or her personal taste on you but rather, will work closely with you to achieve the factors you want with ideas of her own that will complete the space.

4. My life is too hectic, there’s no way I have time to work with a decorator.

While every decorator works a little differently, most of them will gladly take the wheel for a busy client and do the legwork without them. If you would prefer not to go shopping with your decorator, he or she will gather up the pieces they want you to see and deliver them to your home. I personally love to utilize email, getting clients’ approval on work orders or items to save us both time. If you let your decorator know ahead of time what your schedule is like, he or she will work with you to keep your end of load nice and light. Most decorators will even show up on the job site to let contractors in if you have somewhere to be. Of course, details like how much access the decorator has to your job site should be outlined in the contract.

So if any of these sound like you, I’ve got your number! No more hiding behind that 70′s wallpaper, its time to get moving on the house you’ve hoped for but never got! It isn’t as scary as it may seem and once the ball gets rolling most people find its quite a fun process!

After studying interior design for four years in my native Oklahoma and becoming registered as a Certified Interior Decorator, my passion for breathtaking rooms led me to introduce Designing Diva Interiors LLC. I believe in livable, affordable homes that reflect the unique style of each of my clients and their families. A beautiful room can transform your life, and I truly love being a part of that process. With each new project arrives a new opportunity to create a space that will welcome you home at the end of a long day, or provide a cozy corner for rainy day reading, and everything in between!”

Jennifer lives in Yukon, Oklahoma with her husband and their four-legged child, a boxer named Duke. Jennifer serves on the board of directors for Heart and Hand Ministries (http://heartnhandokc.com/page04.html) as well as House of Healing (http://www.house-of-healing.org/). She shares her decorating insights each month with multiple local publications such as Edmond Active Magazine, Realtor Ryan Hukill’s blog “Its All Realitive”, her own daily blog “Back Talk” and is a new contributor to Tulsa’s online magazine “Chic Galleria”. Her work has been featured in these outlets as well as in the 2010 Symphony Orchestra Designer Show House.