Style Files

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

This post sponsored by Golden Age, all opinions are my own.

If it's true what they say, and history repeats itself, then the masses (that's us) generally follow when the style pendulum swings from a love of industrial to something more natural and organic. A general adoration of all things vintage and industrial has swept the globe over the last many years, without doubt, and has in fact begun to morph into a new trend toward vintage items with a more organic quality. 

True to historical form, I’ve noticed a lovely reemergence and redesign of nebular organic lighting fixtures lately, and I for one couldn’t be happier about this. As someone who loves a nod to the past, but doesn’t want to sacrifice that modern sensibility I’ve grown to love and need, these beauties are perfectly suited to my taste, with their retro style yet undeniably modern vibe and unquestionably organic feel!

What I find really exciting about the direction this genre of lighting has taken is the immense variety of representations that have manifested within this look. It’s incredible… From modern and minimal to grand and organic with everything in between, lighting designers have utterly outdone themselves!

As part of my partnership with Golden Age, I will be bringing you new features each month and chatting all about Lighting and Home Decor. Such a huge part of any room's decor. I hope you enjoy these, and if you would like to check out previous lighting articles, click here.

Sources

1 | 2 | 3 | via | 4 | 5

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

I have always been drawn to a fabulously done boho chic space. I have never been able to reproduce this look in my own home. Mainly for a simple lack of trying or at least because of some sort of brain malfunction which always tends to occur... which just seems ironic. I shop, I see, I love items of a whimsical, irregular, handmade quality...but when I pull the trigger to purchase, I always without doubt choose the item that is new, symmetrical, and more neutral in colorway... 

I have no idea why this is, but I can tell you that these Boucherouite Rugs spark a newfound excitement for me in the irregular handmade, textural, multicolored fabulousness that embodies these beautiful Berber creations. I WILL be successful this time around... as soon as I actually purchase one...maybe. 

There is no doubt about the current popularity of multi-cultural creations in all their various forms, and I for one am dying to embrace it and bring this vibe into my home once and for all! Or at least until I tire of it in 6 months time. After all I am like a child when it comes to attention span. In other words, I have none...

What do you think? Can you embrace this handmade multi-colored pattern making trend? Are you secretly a bit bohemian and yet constantly living in a modern space?

Sources

Via

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Via

Inspiration via Decor8

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

Once upon a time, round used to be my jam... and then one day the beautiful symmetrical square began to creep into my thoughts. I have stayed true and loyal to that square for many years... but lately I find myself wandering, aimlessly, with thoughts of circular decor invading every corner of my mind...

Oh little symmetrical square, it's not you... it's me. Its just that...well... round feels new again, and different, and makes me feel young. I mean, feeling young and fun feels amazing, and I just can't walk away from that. I don't know how long this love affair will last, but little symmetrical square, you will always have a place in my heart. After all, you brought such sturdiness and stability to my life, and I just can't thank you enough. 

Little symmetrical square, from the bottom of my heart, I will never forget you... but round is now my jam again... Xx...Rayan

Sources

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

As we settle into our new home a bit more each day, it has me thinking about those particular elements that I find so charming in a house. Unless you build a home to perfectly suit your whims and needs, you are left to settle for another person's vision, and sometimes that is amazing and sometimes it's a challenge. I feel so blessed to be in a space that has so many well thought out details, but there is one element specifically that I wish was more common in suburban developments and that is the gorgeous carriage door. 

You might find this on occasion, but for the most part this isn't an area home builders tend to splurge on. But seriously... how glorious would it be if they did! Whether you like a traditional exterior, something frenchy chateau-esque, a craftsman, or some rustic finery, carriage doors can take your curb appeal to the next level. And frankly they are just fab...

The garage is typically a large portion of the exterior and is almost always visible in a tract home, so why not at least spiff that baby up a tad or add some fancy hardware? Can I get a yes please? After all we should mind our manners, no?

Behold the beauty... and should you desire to spiff your own garage doors, consider changing out your builder grade aluminum door for something in a faux wood or with some detailing to add a bit of beauty to an otherwise not so pretty specimen! If you want a bit more inspiration, check out my pinterest board!

Sources

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

Whether they are straight laced polka dots or a jagged ikat version... get ready because...this... is... happening. That's right! Already creeping into fashion and accessories, this trend is about to get big. Will it replace the Chevron, Zig Zag, Ikat or Ombre that have hung on so dearly for the last year or more? Well that I can't comment on, because I personally still love every single one of those trends (things die hard for me, what can I say). What I will say is that I predict this pattern to be a fun one that style embraces quite well. In honor of this new trend, yet not new at all pattern and very timeless look, I thought I would share a few of my faves from around the interwebs... and of course a few of my fave DIY inspirations and items available for purchase so you can bring this dotty fun into your own home. 

And of course if you want a lot more dotted inspiration, check out my Dotty pinterest board! 

You know I love a good DIY project, so these quite tickle my fancy... Easy and such a big impact, don't you think?

Of course I can never pass up a cute purchase, and these dotty dolls are to die for! 

What do you think? Will you rock some polka dots? I would love to see if you do or already are... 

Sources

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

I have loved herringbone floors for as long as I can remember... there is something about them that resonates with my former life as a stylish parisian, at least the former life I wish I had... it's modern and vintage all at the same time and that is, without doubt, my favorite kind of design. Given the difficulty we had laying down flooring here, and coming up with the pattern, herringbone seems like it would actually be easier and so much more fun and rewarding. The next time I take on a flooring project, you can bet this style will be on my short list...

If you live in the UK, UK Flooring Direct is a fabulous flooring source with free shipping, free samples and 100's of options in stock and ready to roll. Just sayin... 

Also a quick sidebar... I have started a tumblr site! If you have any desire to follow along for gorgeous inspiration, feel free! It's one portion of my plan for Finding my True Design North, which I will share with you all soon!

Sources

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Note

This post brought to you by Andy Gough, a serial blogger in a wide variety of subjects...

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

Classic Foundation, Playful Punctuation is more than just a whimsical saying, it's the mantra of famed designer Jonathan Adler and a pretty smart M.O. at that. Now his philosophy is more of a description of his style, rather than an ideal, in that his basic foundation is that of classic design pieces with modern playful elements and a retro throwback twist layered on top. But there is something fabulous to be gleaned from this idea, aside from the fun and fabulousness of his style of course, and that is one very smart philosophy to live and design by. Think about it... by making your foundation pieces classic or timeless even, you can change out your accessories on a whim and without major cost. That is the basic sensibility of investing in pieces you may never tire of as the foundation of your home decor to be built upon by adding layers of fun on top. Love it... 

Check out some Jonathan Adler inspired rooms here and then visit the Look Book for more! I have partnered with HomeSav to bring you this deliciousness and I think you will enjoy this fun and playful smattering of decor and ideas!

Sources

All images courtesy of Jonathan Adler

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

It seems that regardless of your preferred design style, there is a fabulous version of it floating around the interwebs (aka pinterest...duh) that is bathed in the most beautiful white light. I took me until last week to realize that part of this amazing 'lightness and brightness' comes from white walls! I know, I'm slow... #newbornbabymamadrama

The more I perused my inspiration boards on Pinterest and my saved images on my computer, the more I realized that virtually ALL of my most favorite spaces have white walls! Gah! I kind of always considered myself a sophisticated gray paint on the walls kinda gal. Who knew I was actually a purist... ya it's a real thing. You see a design purist believes that the art and decor should be the spotlight of the room and the color of the walls should actually simply fade away behind this drama. Now I won't go crazy on the all white kick and say that paint on the walls is terrible in any way shape or form. No, in truth, as a renter I envy those design and DIY bloggers out there who get to paint their walls in any way they like. Heck I adore a good striped wall and want one in the worst way! Yes it's true and it's straight up envy. But what will I do when I have this option in the future? Now I'm truly not sure. I think I need to start listening to my inner designer a bit more than I currently do. I am clearly, and have been for a while now I think, living in a design bubble based on a lie. I don't always go for high contrast, blues and greens and yellows (as we discovered here) and gray on the walls... No. As it turns out I like corals and pinks and white walls a plenty... seriously you guys I feel like I don't even know my design self. Every time I take a closer look I'm shocked by what I find...

How about you guys? Are any of you ever surprised by what you actually like versus what you have always believed yourself to like?

For more Design inspiration, browse my Style Files or visit my Wonderous White Walls pinterest board...or all my pinterest boards (I have a ton of them!)

Sources

image 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / image / 5 / 6 / image / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 image

I always try my best to find the original sources, but that is much easier said than done sometimes. Especially when people pin from tumblr...sheesh folks.. please click on the image to go to the post and THEN pin so it returns to the pinned image and not page 40 out of one billion never to be seen again! end rant....

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

I am always a strong lover and proponent of cool colors with high contrast and streamlined, organized, and clutter free spaces... but if I really take a close look at what inspires me, it's often quite the opposite, and I'm always taken by surprise... shocker... I hardly know a thing about myself, clearly I'm delusional! 

There is something magical about an office space that is so obviously inspiring to it's human inhabitant and tends toward the chaotic and highly layered. I adore the messy and carefree moodboards and the warm girlish colors each of these spaces shows. While normally I think I fall into this design style personality, perhaps I'm wrong... or schizophrenic...

Multiple Design Personalities... it must be a thing...

Sources

1 / 2 / 3

I try my best to find the original sources but sometimes they allude me. If you know the original source please let me know so I can provide proper credit. Xx...Rayan

Submitted by RyTurner / The Design Confidential
Project Image

From grey painted wood floors to grey laminate flooring and tile, there is something of a perfect compromise in the gorgeousness that is a gray floor! We spoke earlier in the month about the dreamy and ethereal quality of white floors and while I absolutely adore the look, I'm fairly certain the responsibility is more than I can bear. But gray... oh j'adore gray... and as far as the amount of work a gray floor might require, I see it as being the perfect choice and a wonderful compromise from all directions. Not too light as to show all of the spills and footprints while not to dark as to show every dog hair and speck of dust within a mile. In a word...perfection!

I'm excited to announce my partnership with BestLaminate as an official blogger, and today's topic is all about grey flooring and the art of compromise that it presents! Perhaps one of the more perfect flooring options out there, and of course it fits perfectly within the reclaimed love fest happening in blogland and beyond today!  

Sources

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Syndicate content