Tag: decor

3 design essentials for a Mediterranean style home

3 design essentials for a Mediterranean style home

When people are looking to decorate their houses in a luxurious way, they often look to the Mediterranean for inspiration. What used to be rustic is now very chic. It stems from the holidays that many people take to the Greek islands, or to the coast of Italy that just felt so comfortable yet elegant. They then try to recreate the look and feeling at home.

There are certain elements in Greek design that you’ll also come across in Italian, Spanish, and even Moroccan architecture and villas. It’s the Mediterranean look and will elevate your home to something out of this world when you take on the tips to make it look like your favourite destination. In this post, we’ll touch on some of the ways you can incorporate luxury home decor in creating a Mediterranean style home.

1 – Use natural materials

What likely made that stay in a Mediterranean villa so comfortable and unforgettable was the use of natural materials in the furnishings and décor of the house. Just about everything in the design has some form of nature in it. And you should try to incorporate as much as possible in your home.

For instance, the tiles on the floor should be made of terracotta. Bonus points will be given if they appear handmade and have some natural defects on them. This is what makes the décor interesting, authentic and gives a warmth to the room.

Try sourcing rustic wooden furniture that provides a simple, yet charming impact that will make your living room homely and cosy while also feeling luxurious. Then, add some accents and accessories made of natural materials to further develop the relaxed ambiance. For instance, lay a woven water hyacinth rug or hang sheer linen curtains.

If your home is constructed of stone, then exposing it in areas on the walls will add to the charm and make it feel like it’s straight out of the Sicilian coast.

2 – Let the light in

In addition to there being lots of natural elements in a Mediterranean style home, there should also be an abundance of light. It’s the best remedy for stress and anxiety to be surrounded by natural light and it will transform any living space.

If you’re lucky enough to have large windows in your home, make the most of them. If you have heavy, lined curtains up to keep out the cold in the winter months, swap them for lighter, brighter ones in the summer time. This will let in more warmth and sunlight.

If you have small or few windows, place mirrors strategically – on walls or propped up on the floor – to bounce the sunlight around the space.

One of the simplest things you can do to allow in more light is to regularly clean your windows – both inside and out if practically possible.

3 – Get the colours right

Using natural colours is essential if you want to achieve an authentic Mediterranean look. For instance, burnt ochre and chalky pink or yellow are very common paint colours for interior and exterior walls. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a deep burgundy shade of red that’s also frequently used in some of the northern Mediterranean areas such as France and northern Italy.

Bright colours are also popular; think of the vivid azure blue paired with brilliant white that can be found on most buildings in the Greek islands.

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Everything you should know about bathroom basins

Everything you should know about bathroom basins

Regardless of whether you want a basin to replace what you already have or for a new bathroom installation, you need to make sure that you measure the available space accurately. Before you decide on your choice of new bathroom basin, you should also think about how you want to use it. If the basin is for a cloakroom, there’s a chance that it may be utilised simply for washing your hands, so you can to opt for a small basin that has a shallower depth.

And, if the storage space in your bathroom is limited, you can choose a vanity unit that comes with a integral basin. You can find different types of bathroom basins that are designed to be fitted in unique ways. This post discusses everything you should know about bathroom basins.

Bathroom basins with full pedestal

Perhaps, pedestal basins are the most popular type of bathroom basins because they are easy to install and you can find them in a wide range of sizes and styles. You can decide to have either a full pedestal or a semi pedestal.

You should note that a full pedestal tends to sit on the floor while the basin is fixed to the wall. This bathroom basin option offers a practical way for you to hide ugly pipes and plumbing. In addition, a full pedestal offers a larger, heavier basin, so it’s suitable for a family bathroom.

On the other hand, a semi pedestal bathroom basin is wall mounted, though instead of having a full length pedestal, it has a small pedestal that can also conceal pipework. Because the pedestal doesn’t reach down to the floor, it gives the illusion of more space, making your room look larger and easier to clean. If you plan on choosing this type of bathroom basin, you need to be sure that your wall is strong enough to support the basin’s weight.

Wall mounted basins

Wall hung bathroom basins are a great option for small bathrooms, cloakrooms and en-suites. Also, if you’re disabled or not of average height, they can be fitted at a position that’s suitable for you. A wall mounted design maximises floor space as well as creates a more minimalist look.

With a wall mounted basin, the plumbing is exposed. Therefore, you may wish to fit a chrome bottle trap instead of a plastic one to have a neater, more attractive finish. You can find wall hung sinks in both traditional and modern styles and they come in a wide range of sizes.

Corner bathroom basins

If you have a small cloakroom or bathroom, it’s a good idea to opt for a corner bathroom basin. This type of bathroom basin can help you to make use of what could otherwise be wasted space.

Just like a wall-mounted bathroom basin, it makes sense to install a chrome bottle trap to the corner bathroom basin to ensure that you have a tidy and neat finish to the pipework. A corner bathroom basin is suitable for en-suites and small cloakrooms. The advantage is that they combine stylish appearance with a space saving design.

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Interior design tips for a luxury dining room

Interior design tips for a luxury dining room

While determining what items to put in a dining area before guests arrive for dinner is straightforward, furnishing it and knowing how to design a dining room effectively is not.

Whether you’re looking for a sleek modern or rustic design, having a clear plan will make it easier. Rattan dining chairs can tie a room together beautifully.

The dining room is where you, your family and friends can gather to enjoy a meal and each others company. Add a splash of opulence to the surroundings to elevate it to a fine dining experience. These tips and ideas will guide you if you’re thinking of creating a luxury dining room.

Candles

Candlesticks and candelabras are classics of dining table decoration. These accessories are available in various materials, colours, sizes and styles. Candle holders are multifunctional and can look fantastic in any environment. Candles and tea-lights not only provide lighting, but they can also evoke a sense of calm and warm atmosphere to the space.

Mismatched chairs

Some may think that uniformity in chair design is essential, particularly in a dining room. A set of four dining chairs and two carvers at either end, has traditionally been the norm – but this doesn’t have to be adhered to in this day and age.

Using different chairs can add personality and a playfullness to your dining area. Keep colour, style and practicality in mind when deciding on which chairs to put together around your table.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has many advantages. It’s highly versatile, is incredibly durable and can literally cover up a multitude of sins. The choices are plentiful when it comes to sumptuous and elegant designs.

Finding wallpapers that suit your personality and the room’s colour palette is the perfect fit for complementing your dining area. Using highly decorated, opulent wallpaper means there’s no need to hang decorative artwork; freeing up space, if needed, for walking around the table comfortably.

Monochrome

A monochrome colour palette is excellent for a luxury dining area since it draws focus away from the room and onto the food and company. If you believe your dining area could benefit from a colour makeover, a grey-scale design could be just what you need.

White walls, white or transparent furniture

It’s well known that white space promotes the feeling of restfulness, airiness, tranquillity and joy. White gives an impression of purity, balance and harmony in colour psychology.

The colour white is soothing and is ideal for items that are not meant to move or have a very light touch sensation. A white or translucent table & chairs, along with light-coloured or white walls, will provide the impression of dynamic balance and purpose. You can enhance this further by accessorising the dining table with a clear glass or white vase filled with flowers as a centrepiece. You’ll notice an immediate transformation.

Having a dining room that is proudly presented demonstrates confidence, which adds positive energy to the space and helps to foster a convivial vibe to the socialising.

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How to make your garden Christmassy

How to make your garden Christmassy

Christmas is here! Well, not quite – but it’s close enough that you’re already planning out the specifics of your Christmas dinner. The season is a jolly one and feels all the more so when you set to decorating. But all too many people neglect a key part of their home when decorating for Christmas – the garden! So, what should you do to make your garden Christmassy and rope it into the festive season?

Let there be light

A fundamental ingredient in any festive garden decoration is light. We festoon our Christmas trees with fairy lights and lean into the ambience of lamps and candles, so why not bring that warm magic out to your outside space?

Your trees and hedgerows could be enhanced by adornment with outdoor Christmas lights, while the front of your home could become a canvas for light-based installations – whether ready-made neon Christmas missives or creative uses of fairy lights to bring your garden to life.

Even the less glamorous forms of outdoor lighting can help to serve your vision. Some well-placed solar lanterns along lawn sidings or garden pathways can help you create a real ambiance, especially if in service of a path to a secret grotto space in a secluded corner of your garden!

Inside, out

Another unique way to guide your garden decoration plans could be to consider the various embellishments and adornments we use for our Christmas trees and table settings. Might there be a way to decorate your garden as if it were a cosy living room?

With the bigger trees and shrubs in your garden, you could take the opportunity to ‘go big’ with your ideas. Oversized baubles and massive ribbons could be utilised to fancy up your garden trees, while leftover tinsel can highlight hedges and bushes.

Do it DIY

Not many people will have the right decorations for a full garden makeover to hand, of course – which lends more strength to the possibility of taking a DIY approach to garden decorations. For your tree baubles, you could fashion your own from tinfoil – or, more creatively, from frozen by freezing coloured water in balloons.

Natural materials can be used to make other kinds of decoration, too. You could fashion stars from twigs and branches, or build your own household wreath from berries and leaves harvested in your own garden.

Every little helps

Lastly, while festive garden decorations can quickly become about the big installations and gestures, it’s also the little things that make the scene. As well as your lawn and house lighting, and on top of the tree and hedge decorations, why not add some season-appropriate props to complete the vibe?

These could be comical things in the form of small signs for Santa’s elves, pointing them to the chimney – or they could simply be little aesthetic things to elevate the mood, in the form of candy canes and nutcracker dolls.

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