Tips & advice for interior decorating, interior design & colour consultation

October 26, 2016 By IO

Focal Points and Home Interior Design: How to Do It Right

In home interior design, focal points can make the difference between a room that says “Wow!” and one that fades—literally—into the background.

And yet it’s so simple to do. I’m going to show you how, in no time at all, you can make your home the talk of Hamilton, Burlington and the GTA.

Using Focal Points to Enhance Your Home Interior Design

Below are some ways to make your home shine using focal points. But remember: only choose one method per room—too many focal points create confusion!

Architectural features: If you’re lucky enough to have some striking architectural features or a stunning view, this is the ideal place to start. Whether it’s a fireplace, an elegant staircase, beautifully shaped windows, high ceilings, arches, or exposed beams, highlighting these will allow the room to shine. Keep other features understated by comparison and add extra emphasis through lighting, accessories and colour. Emphasise something like a fireplace with furniture in a ‘U’ or “L” shape.

Colour: Not all homes have architectural features that stand out. To overcome this, simply create your own eye-catching feature wall. In home interior design, there’s no better way to draw the eye than with colour. Make it complementary or a shade darker than your current wall colour, tying it in with the rest of your room with accessories and other accents in the same colour. Don’t forget your ceiling—that could also be your feature wall. Here you can even add molding and a striking light fixture to draw the eyes upwards.

Texture and pattern: Texture and pattern are as good as colour for grabbing attention, creating drama and drawing the eye to a focal point in a room. To get this effect you can use almost anything: tile, stone, fabrics, wallpaper, ceramics—as long as it stands out from the rest of the space. Texture creates layers and depth; pattern adds dynamism. Use sheer, soft materials for a warmer, feminine feel and shiny, glistening surfaces to add modernity.

Art: If you’re an art lover, incorporate your artwork into your home interior design by making a focal point out of it. Keep size and feeling in mind by choosing work that’s appropriate for the space. You want its tones and colours to stand out, but not jar with the rest of the room. Go for a single large piece against a contrasting backdrop or group smaller pieces together for an eclectic and bold look. No need to stick to paintings—sculptures, clocks, even pieces of driftwood can make an attractive focal point. Whatever you choose, highlight it with a picture light for guaranteed pop.

Furnishings: Your favourite pieces of furniture, mirrors, rugs, curtains, lighting and even plants can form the focal point of a room. Angle your furniture into the room to draw the eye and use mirrors to create light and space. Mirrors can be treated in a similar way to artwork—they come with a variety of frames and shapes and can be grouped together for dramatic effect. Group odd numbers of plants on dining or coffee tables for a touch of nature. And use bright curtains as a focal point if you have windows you’d rather hide.

Simple to create, focal points reinvigorate your home interior design. It’s easy to do yourself, but if you still don’t know where to start, Decor Isabelle is a just a call away!

As an interior decorator, I’ve helped countless people in Hamilton, Burlington and the GTA create their dream homes.

If you’re ready to get started, schedule a personal decor consultation today by calling 416-573-2301 or emailing isabelle@decorisabelle.com.

October 13, 2016 By IO

Home interior design and impact of new technologies

Homes have always been showcases of the latest design ideas but they’re more than that. They’re also benefactors of (and sometimes the driving force behind) new technologies as well. Would we have the light bulb if inventors like Edison weren’t looking for ways to light the home more effectively? What about the refrigerator and the microwave? At the same time as they’ve driven innovation homes have been the recipient of technological advances in communications, materials and construction techniques. In this article, we take a look at the challenges of new technologies in home interior design.

Home Interior Design and the Challenge of New Technologies

In this post we’re going to take a quick look at how technological advances have impacted the job of the interior decorator and influenced home interior design.

Remote control and monitoring: More components of the house are joining the “Internet of things” every day. You can see who’s coming and going from your Toronto home on your smartphone while you’re out in Hamilton or Burlington picking up the kids. You can activate the furnace so that the house is just the right temperature when you arrive and turn lights on and off in different rooms without leaving your perch in front of the TV. Such capabilities influence how we live in our homes which influences how we design and decorate them.

Water related technology: Many toilets today, including water saving models, come with automatic flush mechanisms which fundamentally change the ergonomics of the bathroom. And, strange as it may seem to some, decorative toilet lighting (think pool lights) has also been gaining in popularity. Also, don’t forget those toilets that play music and allow you to warm your feet at the touch of a button!

Automatic cabinet doors: Drawer handles are becoming a thing of the past as cabinet drawers can now be opened by simply touching the face. Interior cabinet lighting is also catching on so that you can see what’s at the back of the cabinet without having to grab a flashlight. The type, colour and intensity of such lights will need to be integrated into the overall kitchen decoration scheme or it could have a jarring or otherwise unpleasant effect.

Outdoor Kitchens: The outdoor kitchen has come a long way from the humble rollout BBQ and folding chairs. Today’s outdoor kitchens are high tech marvels with climate control, high tech audio, heated floors, state-of-the-art LED lighting schemes and more. The interior decorator faces a major challenge integrating this exciting new outdoor realm with the home interior design in a harmonious fashion.

LED lighting: LED bulbs give off beautifully clean light of whatever colour you wish while only using a tiny fraction of the energy of an incandescent or standard fluorescent bulb. LED bulbs can also last 20 years or more. Today’s interior decorator needs to understand how to utilize this incredible technological resource to create focal points, mood and atmosphere within the context of the home interior design.

Handle-free faucets: While hands free faucets have been in use commercially for some time they’ve only recently begun to appear on the domestic scene. A sink without handles is a small but important change in the way kitchens and bathrooms are perceived. A skilled interior decorator will know how to make use of this new look without calling too much attention to it.

Home interior design today must take into account the fundamental changes being wrought by the digital age and learn to incorporate them in useful and visually pleasing ways. At Decor Isabelle we welcome change and are constantly looking for new ways to express the joy of living through the art of interior decoration for our clients in Hamilton, Burlington and throughout the GTA.

October 7, 2016 By IO

Some Notes on Furniture and its Importance to the Interior Decorator

When people think of interior decoration they typically think of wallpaper, window treatments, throw rugs and the like, and that’s all well and good because those things are incredibly important tools in the decorator’s arsenal. What many don’t think of (beyond perhaps a passing thought about upholstery) is furniture. But if you make your living as an interior decorator in Hamilton, Burlington or anywhere else you know furniture is your bread and butter.

How the Interior Decorator Uses Furniture to Create Magic

You could make a very convincing argument that, when it comes to interior decoration, furniture is the most important element. While we’re not going to make that specific argument here we are going to try and demonstrate just how important furniture is to the interior decorator.

Creating rhythm: Furniture is notoriously static by nature but at the same time a talented decorator will know how to use the forms, volumes, colours and textures of furniture to create visual rhythm. When all the ‘active’ elements of furniture are properly deployed they’ll guide your eye from one part of the room to another effortlessly and create the impression of movement.

Balance: Every interior decorator knows balance is not always as simple as placing matching end tables on each side of the couch yet all successful design and decoration is predicated on the notion of balance. Balance is a classical idea that establishes a sense of ease and comfort and makes the experience of a space a pleasant one. By virtue of its sheer mass furniture can play a central role in the establishment of balance within a decor or it can be used as a counterweight to other elements like artwork, lighting and area rugs.

Scale: Furniture needs to respond to the scale of the room in which it’s set. To give it context. It should never overwhelm or be overwhelmed by the setting. By finding just the right scale of furnishings you also comment on the overall experience of the space in subtle ways that enliven and inform the decor. Scale can be used to create intimacy, promote socialization or to create a sense of awe and wonder.

Focus: If you have a treasured antique or a piece of custom made furniture you’re particularly proud of your interior decorator may suggest you use it as anchor for the room. Conversely, furniture can also be used to draw attention to another point of interest; say a painting or fireplace. Furniture can also be arranged to direct traffic to a particular spot where a desired focal point comes into view.

Texture: If you have several large pieces of furniture in a particular room the upholstery can be used to provide primary or complementary textures that other elements – like window treatments – play off of. The colours that accompany these textures can also play an important role in setting the temperature and feel of the space. And if you have a throw rug with a particularly strong pattern some of the bite can be smoothed over by neutralizing patterns and textures in the furniture.

Before you pick out the furniture that will occupy your new or renovated space call Isabelle Tremblay at Decor Isabelle. She’ll help you make wise choices that will dovetail perfectly with the other elements in your Burlington or Hamilton home. Furniture means more than just a comfortable place to sit or a convenient place to set your glass or plate. Furniture is the indispensable tool of the interior decorator who will use it to unlock a room’s full potential. Call Isabelle today to find out more.

September 8, 2016 By IO

The Great Home Interior Design Debate: Paint or Wallpaper?

Whether you live in Hamilton, Burlington or anywhere else in the GTA when the time comes to redecorate you’ll be faced with a plethora of choices regarding everything from upholstery to area rugs to lamps and lampshades, window treatments and more. One of the most important decisions you’ll be faced with is whether it’s best to paint the walls or hang wallpaper. The home interior design choices you make will influence many of the other choices regarding your decor and so it’s a topic you’ll want to discuss at length with your decorator. Both options have their strengths and potential limitations and in this post we’ll take a look at those.

How Wallcoverings Influence Home Interior Design results

Whatever you choose to put on your walls will act as a foundation element of the overall home interior design, if for no other reason than so much of what you see in any room is wall. Making the right choice for your wallcovering then is crucial to the success of your home interior design resorts. To help you make an informed decision here are the pros and cons of each type of wallcovering.

Painting Pros

Relatively inexpensive and does not require a lot of preparation work.
Paint is available in an almost unlimited variety of colours and finishes
A custom colour can be made to match your decor.
Painting is often something the homeowners can do themselves.
It’s easier to repaint a wall then to repaper a wall.

Painting Cons

If you mixed a custom colour and need to do touch ups it can be difficult to match.
It can be difficult to create visual interest with paint alone.
Walls in high traffic areas may be scratching and damaging faster than wallpaper.

Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of wallpaper.

Wallpaper Pros

Vinyl wallpaper is very durable and will hold up to wear and tear of children and high traffic areas.
As a result your long-term costs can actually be lower than painting.
It’s far easier to create visual interest with wallpaper then with paint alone.
You can add textures to your interior decor that would be impossible to do with paint.
Wallpaper brings with it a cultural cache paint alone simply can’t match.
Typically easier to cover cracks and other imperfections in the wall.

Wallpaper Cons

Should be done by an experienced wallcovering installer.
Wallpapering can entail larger upfront costs than painting.
Wallpapering a room is more labour intensive than painting.
If you decide to paint later you’ll likely have to remove all the wallpaper.
If the wallpaper becomes damaged, it’s not easy to repair it.

The decision to proceed with either paint or wallpaper often comes down to two primary considerations: cost and convenience. Painting is no doubt cheaper than wallpaper, (at least as far as upfront costs are concerned). It’s also an easier process. So if cost and convenience are paramount concerns to you you’ll probably want to opt for paint. If, on the other hand, your primary motivation is to create the most compelling home interior design possible you’ll likely want to go with wallpaper. The decorative possibilities are simply much greater than with paint alone.

Isabelle Tremblay is one of the GTA’s most sought after home interior design and decoration professionals. She’ll guide you through the process of selecting the right type of wallcovering to perfectly compliment the interior decor of your Hamilton or Burlington home. Call her today on (416) 573-2301 to set up an appointment to discuss your interior decoration plans.