While perusing this month's Real Living, I came across an article on Greg Natalie, a Sydney based interior designer, which I found really refreshing. In the article he gives six great tips for creating the perfect home. Some may seem simple, even obvious to some, but they are all too often forgotten. Sometimes it's the most basic things that can make a home.
I'm going to go through the steps to show you how I would put together our {new} living room.
Step 1. Find your starting point.
Greg says even for a trained designer, this is the most difficult thing to nail.
He recommends having a look book of things/styles/rooms you like that you can refer back to. I highly recommend this as well, as it has helped me with clients over the years. It's a good way for people to show you what they like if they can't communicate it. If anything, they can often tell you what they don't like, which is extremely helpful too!
Start with something that has caught your eye, that is a staple in the room, or something that you just love the colour of.
In my case, for our living room, it's our zebra rug.
I adore it because it's neutral, it adds a texture to the room,
and it's animal print.
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| Zebra print cowhide rug available here |
Step 2. Research
This is by far my favourite step, and one of the things I love about interior design. Although, as Greg notes, you generally have a list of suppliers that are tried and true, it's crucial to continue to look around, find out what's available, and find new vendors for your pieces. You never know what you will find, and it could be the key to completing a room.
My favourite thing to do is to go to antique markets, auction houses, and flea markets. Generally, the pieces you find there are the pieces that add the character to a room. There is NOTHING I hate more than walking into a space that has clearly been purchased out of a showroom. It lacks personality, warmth, and character. Even if you just find old coffee table books, or antique silver frames, something to set the room apart from a showroom makes the world of difference. Trust me!
Step 3. Layering & Contrast
As Greg says, "Layer it until you get it right". Bravo, Greg. I couldn't agree more.
This step adds depth to a room, again making it look lived in. It also makes the room feel thought out, and ultimately, if successful {and you'll generally know if it's not!} creates a cohesive feel from one room to the next.
In my case, because our terrace is an open plan in the front half of the house, I'd like to get another rug for the living room area to designate the space from the dining room. Because I like neutral, natural textures, I'm going to stay true to that and go for a jute rug to lay under the zebra hide, which is too small for the space {but layered it looks great!}.
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| Tarnby Rug, flatwoven available here. |
I'm thinking this is what it would look like...
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| keep in mind the proportions aren't spot on, but you get the idea, right?! |
Step 4. Use traditional decorating techniques
PEOPLE, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!
This is what everyone SO OFTEN forgets to do, and it is really simple.
Here are some examples Greg gives in the article:
*Use bedside lamps and tables to flank a bed
*Beds need to be finished with bedspreads and throw pillows
*A resolved sofa must have cushions on it
*A sofa is incomplete without a coffee table and, where appropriate, a side table
*Decorate the entry area
*Position a single light pendant over the middle of a table, but don't hang it too high
*Rugs anchor a space, USE THEM!
*For a dining table, the rug needs to be slightly larger than the table with the chairs pushed in, and the same shape as the table
*Mix curves with straight lines
For our room, a side table and a coffee table is imperative. It's also imperative to be able to use the coffee table for additional seating if need be {we live in a terrace remember, space is limited!} When we entertain, I'd like to be able to use an upholstered coffee table as a bench, ideally at least two people could use it for seating. The couch is not the colour I want {I'm thinking charcoal because we have two dogs who jump on furniture and they would ruin this, and we're about to have a baby!} and the chairs are existing, and they are a pair of antique black velvet and gold Louis XIV armchairs. I got them for a BARGAIN {$300 for the pair} from a shop owner who was using them in her store in Surry HIlls. So, we're working with those and a gold side table. I also have a Bay & Fyfe scarf I've mounted on to a canvas that hangs over the fireplace in the room {available through my online shop!}. Here it's shown on the right side of the couch, but that's just to show the colours in the room. The Juju hat {from Table Tonic} is also already in the room.
So here's the layout I want to use:
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| Sorry for the upside down chairs! Polyvore wasn't as helpful as I had hoped today! Note to the right is a fireplace, to the left is the front door. The ottoman/bench would go to the right if need be for additional seating. |
Step 5. Keep it neat & tidy
Ahem, husband. :)
According to Greg {and I agree, of course!} clutter is the enemy of good interior design. He even admits to being a naturally messy person, but says anyone can train themselves to be tidy {so there is hope for us OCD folk and our messy husbands!}.
So this is something I may need to work on a bit, according to Greg. I do tend to like eclectic looks, so according to him, I should stick to 3 or 4 common themes throughout a room and make sure they all connect somehow. I think this is what I struggle with the most in design personally, and what a lot of people struggle with. Lesson of the day:
Learn to edit.
Step 6. Stand back and look
If it doesn't look right, keep trying until it does. Ask for a second opinion, constructive criticism is always helpful, especially when it is someone who isn't emotionally attached to the project or room.
Stepping back from my plan of attack for the living room, I'm seeing a lot of pink. I'm actually not a pink person at all {I really generally hate pink, unless it's neon and there's very little of it}. Therefore, I need to rethink the cushions a bit, although the ones in the armchairs are already there. I do think they are standing out more against the white than they do on the real chairs, which are black. I also don't have that stack of books {it's just a clip from polyvore} and I think it's adding too much colour to the room, making it look like fruity pebbles! I like colour, but not that much.
Other than that, I'm pleased!
So what do you think? Did Greg's tips help you as much as they helped me? It's always good to hear what steps successful designers take to creating rooms, it's clearly working for them!
Anyway, hope this helped, it certainly gave me some clarity to that pesky front room of ours.
Hope you all have a lovely Tuesday.
Xx A
