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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: wood

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

16 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts

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bamboo, blinds, curtains, decor, design, diy, eco friendly, home, home decor, light, modern, roller bilnds, tone, venetian blinds, windows, wood, wood blinds

From their easy fitting to their ability to control tone and light, blinds provide an excellent way to modernize your home. Moreover, they can provide essential solutions to establishing an overall decoration scheme, while updating your fittings to be more environmentally sound, and making the most of the space. It’s important to look at the different kinds of blinds that you can use, from horizontal Venetian blinds to UPVC vertical blinds, as well as single fabric roller and Roman blinds. With the multiple options available for those looking to update the feel of their home, it’s worth considering how each of these blinds will provide different but complementary effects.

Choosing the Right Kind of Blinds
First, you must think about what kind of blinds best suit your home and the ways in which you want to create a modern look. Vertical UPVC blinds are particularly recommended for creating a minimalist look, and are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. However, horizontal wooden Venetian blinds work well for creating a relaxed atmosphere in studies and living rooms, and can also work well in bedrooms. Roller blinds are similarly effective as single pieces of fabric that can be decorated to tie into your overall decor.

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

The Best Blinds for Managing Tone and Light
You need to think about the best way of managing color, tone and light in your home and how it will contribute to an updated, modern style. Roller and Roman blinds that use high quality fabrics and insulating materials are recommended if you want to use striking or more understated colors, while single color vertical or horizontal blinds can blend in with the tone of wallpaper.

In terms of managing the amount of light passing into a room, easily adjusted UPVC and horizontal blinds are excellent at making small changes to a room’s atmosphere. By contrast, roller blinds can be easily removed from view, or converted into black out blinds if you want to create a more striking look.

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

Contributing to an Overall Decor
The perfect blind should contribute to an overall decor, and should be consistent with the look of a particular room. Kitchen blinds should consequently be lighter, using UPVC materials and horizontal slats to best let in light, while bathroom blinds should have the option for complete blackout for privacy. If you want to create a minimalist and modern look for your home, using these kind of simple blinds can ensure a clean finish. By contrast, heavier Roman fabric and wooden Venetian blinds are effective if you want to establish a rustic look for living rooms and bedrooms.

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

Being Eco Friendly
A modern home should take eco friendly materials and appliances into consideration as part of an overall commitment to recycling. As well as eco lighting and LEDs around the home, blinds can be chosen to provide the perfect blend of style and environmental strengths. Vertical and horizontal blinds can be purchased in materials like bamboo, woven polyester and honeycomb. These materials are naturally sourced and designed to be long lasting and resistant to dirt, while improving insulation and protecting from UV rays.

Maximizing Space
The best blinds are capable of enhancing the space in your home, and work particularly well for rooms with low ceilings. Vertical blinds work well at lengthening a room when combined with high bed posts and mirrors. Roman and roller blinds that can be removed from view during the day will also let in more light and open out the room. Skylight blinds fitted in conservatories and to windows in bedrooms can also work well to maximize the space in a room.

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

{Writing in coordination with Web Blinds, Christina Appleworth reviews the process of choosing the most perfect blinds to modernize your home. Christina’s passion is creative writing but when not writing she enjoys DIY design and modernizing her own home!}

Coastal Cottage

19 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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antique, beach, blue, botanicals, coastal, color, cottage, decor, decorating, design, flowers, gray, green, interior design, ivory, lavender, nature, nautical, neutrals, pastels, pink, plaid, purple, rustic, shabby chic, style, texture, vintage, weathered, wood, yellow

Coastal Cottage

Summer brings the warm sun and nature’s beautiful colors. It also brings a breathe of fresh air to a lot of people who love the heat so beaches, parks and lakes are most popular during this season. I personally love beaches, just not in the summer. I always thought the cooler months really brought out the beauty in coastal scenery. When its hot, some of the personality that clear skies and cool breezes brings out in the water and the surroundings is just hidden.

When I think of the water and the vast sea, usually the first thing that comes to mind is relaxation and a calmness. The bluest of nature is the star. When I think of some styles of decor, there is only one that comes to mind that I feel is comfy, soothing and natural as nature and nautical surroundings. That is surely cottage style.

It’s not surprise I love this style. Not only do I represent it in every room of my home it clearly is showcased in a lot of my design work as well. Over the years I have grown to love this style with all my heart. It is where I feel most calm. So I combined my two loves into a style Mother Nature would love herself – Coastal Cottage. Such a great combination.

To successfully create this style in your home there are a few things to remember. When you are choosing colors, let nature lead the way. Pastel blues, greens, pink and purples are just a few of the many hues that are popular. A sunny yellow in the kitchen, a lavender in the bedroom and a blue inspired by dusk for the living room are just a few examples. Always include darker tones that are inspired from nature to help weigh down the space such as warm browns and cool grays. These all help to maintain a peaceful environment.

Coastal Cottage Colors

When deciding on furniture, look for unique pieces that tell a story. Vintage finds play the perfect role in a cottage style space. Warm woods, soft and comfy cushions, patterns and subtle texture; these all help bring the style together. You want your pieces to feel weathered and rustic while showing craftmanship and strength. This allows them to bring character and personality to the space and help it feel lived in and comfortable.

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Accessories are very important because they allow for a cohesive design and help bring your personality to the table. You want them to feel handpicked and important. Textiles such as curtains, tablecloths, blankets and upholstery are key elements here. By showcasing plaids, stripes and botanical prints the cottage style will come alive. Don’t forget to include plants of all types. They will add that natural touch every style needs.

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Be careful about bringing too much nautical in because you don’t want the room to feel like you are the captain of a ship or the preppy kids took over. If so, you can kiss the cottage mix goodbye. You also want to watch the colors you add to the space because using too many reds, blues and greens may bring in that Americana feel. And although that is somewhat incorporated into the cottage style, its not the star. It can easily overwhelm the space and give it a completely different look.

And for all the fun details in between, have fun and make it yours. These next few photos are great examples of this style. Get inspired by this unique look and let it fill your heart with glee. I do everyday.

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Coastal Cottage

Shop of the Month – Terrain

01 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Shop of the Month, Shopping

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country, garden, home, metal, natural, rustic, terrain, vintage, wood

Terrain is one of my favorite shops because they carry items that are unique, rustic and garden inspired. The natural vibe that carries through the products the sell and their designs is welcoming. Whenever I look around on their website I want to kick off my shoes and get comfortable. I’m sure if I visited the store in PA, I would fall in love all over again. It’s such a beautiful place to be and shop!

Terrain - Glen Mills, PA

Here are some of my top picks from Terrain. All are worth every penny and would make gorgeous accents to any space.

Library Armchair

Bakers Work Table

Stratfor Locker

Slatted Gate Pendant

Round Wood Mirror

Traveler's Key Rack

Reclaimed Wood Chalkboard

Tiered Tin Basket

Batik Salt & Pepper Cellars

European Wall Sink

{For color inspiration check out the SHOP PALETTES page for some palettes inspired by items in this shop}

 

One Beautiful Engagement Party

15 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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Tags

antique, blake shelton, country, design, earthy, engagement party, flowers, natural, nature, rustic, vintage, weddings, wood

I saw a photo of Blake Shelton and Miranda’s wedding the other day on TV and really loved her dress. It got me interested to look for more photos of their big day which really made me happy. Their wedding was natural, rustic and expressed who they really are. Exactly what a wedding should be. I also came across photos of their engagement party which I had to share. I really fell in love with the design and feel of everything. It was done so well.

The party was held at Front Porch Farms in Nashville which is such a beautiful place. All the flowers looked as if they were handpicked from the garden and I love the addition of found objects and vintage finds. So nostalgic and pretty. One of my favorite elements was the tablecloths. They were so adorable! Patchwork quilts led the way for guests to sit and relax.

The outside was just as gorgeous while keeping with the rustic, earthy theme. I can imagine all their guests being so comfy and having a great time.

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