Asian-inspired design will combine Japanese and/or Chinese elements.Japanese interiors use natural materials like bamboo and colors from nature. Chinese design may use brightly colored accessories. Chicagoans, I have a question for you: Do you think you know what your design style is? Do you think your home decor is more modern or contemporary, Art Deco or Victorian or Mid-century modern -- and would you even know the difference?
Knowing your design style thoroughly can save you from making the wrong investment in big purchases, such as furniture pieces, artwork and accessories.
What's your style?
By Carley Roney and the editors of TheNest.com
Clarkson Potter, 187 pages, $22.95
Great full-color photos and lots of interesting alternatives to your current style are offered up in this easy-to-navigate guide. If you're looking for inspiration on how to transform your room from shabby to chic, and have a somewhat contemporary vibe, you should certainly give this book a gander.
The Nest leans toward contemporary design and provides step-by-step plans on how to implement their suggestions. All in all, lots of great information jam-packed into this glossy book. In my opinion, it's worth the cover price.
Q: I really need some help with sheers/curtains for my living room. We have a huge living room, which has a great wooded view, and all these years we did not want to cover up the view. But lately the room is getting very hot during summer and we want to do something about it and that is where we need your help.
I really like your creativity and I do not want to spend a huge amount of money on it but achieve the same type of look which could be achieved with your expertise. Can you do something to help this situation?- Mrs. Kanduru
A: It sounds like you have some beautiful views from those big windows. I can understand why you wouldn't want to cover them up. But I also understand how hot it can get during summertime in Chicago, too.
Here's what I would do. To keep the integrity of your beautiful wooded view and block the heat at the same time, I suggest going to Home Depot and trying the DIY home window tinting kits. They run anywhere from $14 to $25 per roll and they are super easy to install. They also come in three different tints: light, dark and mirrored. The tinted glass will diffuse the sun by a great degree thus keeping the heat out yet still allowing you to see the view.
If it's still too hot, I would suggest making your own black-out curtains from discount fabric from your local fabric store and keep them closed only at the hottest time of the day.
Good luck!
540 N. Wells
www.migandtig.com
Although I call it a mom-and-pop shop, Mig & Tig's Chicago store is one of the hippest custom furniture stores in town. At Mig & Tig, you can create beautiful custom furniture that is a true reflection of your home and personality. Go wild with striking leopard print and dark, moody, wood grains; or create your own Hollywood classic with texture, metals and a little bit of sparkle.
But how does one determine their design style? Many factors come to play, from culture and personality to the architecture of your home. Another major determining factor in finding the right style is "functionality." It's important that a design style fits into your lifestyle. It's great to have a high-style home, but if you've sacrificed comfort, flow and functionality, then it makes little sense in the end.
When you define your style, you zero in on what exactly makes up the look. As a result, once you begin shopping for your new design elements, you will have a clear vision of what materials, textiles, colors and artwork you should purchase to create a cohesive and functional design. You'll be more apt to stick to the plan and hopefully won't be lured into spending money on meaningless decorations. Below I have listed five of the most popular and functional design styles derived from my years of experience bringing to life an array of designs on HGTV.
Contemporary style encompasses a wide range of styles developed in the latter half of the 20th century. Distinguishing pieces of furniture can feature softened and rounded lines as opposed to the sharper lines seen in modern design. Interiors contain neutral elements and bold color and focus on the basics of line, shape and form.
Modern style has a clean, streamlined look taking from the furniture style from the 1930s, with roots in the Danish design community, German Bauhaus and Scandinavian modern. Colors can go from black walls to ultra bright hues. A popular look modern look is the stark white monochrome. Characterized by a more functional and sometimes industrial feel, you will often see polished surfaces, sleek geometric shapes and asymmetry as the marquees of this style. Expansive windows and sliding doors that marry the interior with the exterior landscape play into the overall aesthetic as well.
Made popular and coined by Rachel Ashwell, Shabby chic's comfortable, affordable and nostalgic appeal is derived from its time-worn furnishings. Distressed or white-painted furniture, hand-painted accents, muted colors on the wall, slipcovers and vintage fabrics are all indicative of this comfortable, eclectic and lived-in look.
Typically refers to Japanese and Chinese influences. Traditional Japanese interiors are sized according to human form, represented by natural raw materials like bamboo and colors taken from nature, all used to create a serene, calm environment. Items such as shoji screens and rice-paper lanterns are usually present. Chinese interiors are a bit different, with furnishings featuring hand-painted designs on lacquered finishes, brightly colored accessories and walls, and ornaments or statues of animals or mythical creatures. Red is one of the most common Chinese color associations.
This is a style popularized from the 1930s to the '70s. The look is typically made of accessories in organic shapes, clean lines, flat-painted walls and bent plywood frames used for furnishings. Materials developed and used during the period include colorful plastics, vinyl, melamine and Formica. Other materials used abundantly during this period include plywood, wood veneer, fiberglass, steel, aluminum and wrought iron. Lighting became an artistic statement, with pieces featuring floating circles, triangles, cones and radiant arms made out of steel, brass, aluminum and brightly colored shades.
