10 Worst Mistakes in Home Decoration

1. You should never buy textiles on-line unless you have  seen exactly this fabric in person. You need to first hold it in your hands, to see how it will look and feel in your interior. And only  then you can order it in the store.

2. Budget is always a compromise. You have to understand that you will most likely exceed  the purchase budget by 15-20%, and the construction budget by 30%. That's life. It is impossible to foresee everything. But you definitely will be able to do something  on your own, like painting the walls or applying Wallpaper. I always do this at home myself.

3. It is very important not to overuse accessories. Have you ever tried to sleep on one of these beds from the magazines with 30 pillows? I usually need a "manual" to properly disassemble and then assemble this beauty back. Good design is not about taking a snapshot of one particular moment. Good design is when you feel really cozy and comfortable all the time.

4. Restyling shouldn't be stressful! Trust your intuition and  use  more lightness and sense of humor.

5. And again about the paint. It doesn't matter as much how expensive it is as it is important to know how to apply it correctly!

6. The worst sign that you read too many magazines for interior decor is if you have 2 sofa opposite each other. In most cases this isn't the best idea since it creates a strange soft island which you always have to work around. It might be better to replace the second sofa with a couple of the chairs or ottomans.

7. Mirrors, mirrors, and once again mirrors. Not only they always increase the size of the space and illumination of the room by several times, but they are also incredibly beautiful.

8. Less is more perfectly applies to interior design. It is much better to have fewer items of  furniture or accessories as long as they are of the best quality of what you can currently afford. Even if you will buy one really expensive item once a year, then in 10 years you will have a great expensive interior.

9. Large furniture in a small space has always been impeccable. It makes the room look bigger. Always!

10. Children's rooms - a topic for another discussion. Generally, try adding softness and functionality. And don't forget to leave space for creativity.

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7 Mistakes in Jane Lockhart's The Peyton Project

Below I am going to discuss 7 biggest mistakes made by Jane  Lockhart -  one of the leading interior designers in Toronto. The project I'm focusing on in called The Peyton. All the pictures are taken from Jane Lockhart's website. 

Mistake #1 - Curtains

I have to admit that it is very difficult to decorate an arch window, especially when ceiling has slopes, but unfortunately this project is not the best example of such window treatments. Although they are correctly covering the walls on both sides of the window curtains are too low. It does not look appealing to have curtains that start in the middle of the wall. One of the main rules of decorating windows is that curtains should always be  as high as possible.  Also the rod does not go over the window which means curtains have absolutely zero functionality. A much better way would've been to cover the entire wall with sheer curtain with drapes on the side and curtain rod following the slope of the ceiling. 

Mistake #2- TV Area

OK, so there are multiple mistakes with this one, biggest one of which is hanging picture frames around the TV. Not only is the focus lost, but is does not even look very nice. Also flower vase is actually blocking the TV and looks out place there. A much better solution would be to use TV storage system  that would actually occupy the wall space or patterned wallpaper with open shelves.

Mistake #3- Blocking Window With Console

Well, I guess this goes back to mistake #1. Since the designer apparently not too familiar with the use of sheer curtains her window ended up looking empty and ugly with nothing underneath it. However, this totally prevents an easy access to the window. 

Mistake #4 - London Blinds

I have nothing against the blinds in the living room as they are nice and are made of the same fabric as other drapes  in the room. However, they way they hanged on the windows is by far not the best way. Now, to be fair, the windows are long and narrow which makes it pretty hard to work with them. These windows would have been complimented much more if London blinds were hanged above the windows covering the wall above them instead of the actual window. 

Mistake #5 - Pendant

This room is in a desperate need of the big crystal chandelier. This pendant belongs in a lobby or a hall, and she did hang another one at the entrance. The designer seems to just go with what's popular, without understanding of what is appropriate for each space. And unfortunately it is a very obvious demonstration of her lack of creativity. 

Mistake #6 -Girls Bedroom

OK, so she painted the room pink and hang a few sad cheap little pictures of girl's shoe. Are you kidding me? There are millions of things that can be done to decorate a room for little girls if you have a little bit of imagination. Well, I guess we all know now that this designer has none. And the small table she used trying to make room look cute actually made it look like daycare instead. Unless of coarse parents decided to save money on this room, in which case I take my words back.

Mistake #7 - Too Many Small Pictures

Dining  room and balcony room have too many small, cheap pictures of leaves, mechanical stages and fabric patterns used for decoration. It almost looks like designer forgot about all other accessories that can be used for decoration.  Further, none of those pictures actually give any perspective. In short, all her decorations look cheap and very much like "Do It Yourself" project. 

Here are a few photos of a proper way to decorate this room :

 1- A better use of curtains for sloped ceiling

2- TV storage system to occupy the wall

3- No need for console with simple addition or sheer curtains.

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Classic Furniture in Modern Style

Classic furniture is quite popular in modern interior, especially among people with exquisite taste. However, strict traditional furnishings don't always combine with modern trends. And yet if you have a burning desire to dilute modern with timeless classics - below you will find out how to combine the incompatible.

 

1-Loft Style 

Loft style unlike any other belongs next door to the elegant classic. The rudeness of the bricks combined with exquisite vintage furnishings makes a successful combination. Moreover, you can easily dilute such interior with the modern touches like large floor lamps, bright shelves and prints inspired by Andy Warhol. Furniture can be far from new. For example, a sofa in old-English style with leather down amid a massive brick wall is unconditional chic.

2- Minimalism

Minimalism is a favorite style among lovers of order, cleanliness and simplicity in the interior. But although  it is light and easy it is also the perfect background for classic furniture, especially antiques or vintage  (strict classical in this case it may be out of place). Discreet North-European interior should  not be overloaded so better stick with a single piece that will fit the situation. Better if it is a coffee table with elegant legs, dining table, glazed cupboard or a couple of chairs.

3- Modern

Modern style by itself can sound quite harsh. Cool colors, simple furniture minimalist decor are rather masculine traits. Female interior is more classical style with softness and use of drapery. In the bedroom it is appropriate to combine both. The most organically classic furniture will fit into the "ladies" zone. It can be elegant, table, chair, mirror. The elements can also support the age of decadence like a powder box, a jar of cotton or jewelry box. Don't be afraid to overdo it. At least you can hide your personal corner of the screen.

4- Neoclassicism

A good combination would be a pair of simple, classic chairs in tandem with a simple dining table. Style can be supported with high white molding and stylized with classic chandelier. However, as with any eclectic interior, it is important to keep it down. If you overdo the decorating the interior will look ridiculous. Harmony is the basis of all creative experiments. This means you may have to give up wallpaper with large print or Greek style tiles. And remember, if in doubt, therefore is no doubt.

5- Modern History

If your favorite classic furniture does not fit the interior you can try to disguise it. This can be done by changing the trim, repainting or polishing. This may seem radical, but it is not necessary to choose eye-catching colors. Just change the textiles to neutral one with a minimum of decorative elements, and favorite sofa will become a real decoration of the living room and will perfectly fit with modern design.

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