Wallpaper is back and better than ever! As one of our favorite materials, we are thrilled about its exuberant return to the forefront of the interior design world. Wallpaper is one of the manifestations of design creativity; it has come a long way over the decades, with fresh new designs and uses. We’re not only finding a shift from minimalist to more layered spaces on social media, but we are also seeing more beautiful wallcoverings in hit TV shows and movies, like Emma, Bridgerton, The Goldfinch, and The Queen’s Gambit, that leave a lasting impression. (1) But before wallpapering every room, lets learn more about this single most transformative element in our design arsenal – its history, materials, applications and creative uses. History (2) Wallpaper has been around for centuries, with roots tracing back to the ancient Chinese, who are said to have pasted rice paper onto walls as far back as the Qin dynasty. It was used as a form of decoration in palaces and homes, and eventually made its way to Europe in the 16th century. By the 19th century, wallpaper was becoming increasingly popular due to advancements in printing technology, which allowed wallpaper to be mass-produced and accessible to a larger audience. Types […]
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Everyone wants a beautiful, organized home. So, when it comes to design, storage and functionality need to be a top priority. Afterall, homes are meant to be lived in. That means accounting for clothes, shoes, winter coats, books, paperwork and files, countertop appliances, toys and the “stuff” we surround ourselves with every day. (1) Without an organization strategy, the best design vision can fall victim to clutter and disorder. Keeping an organized home allows the interior design to look and function at its best! (1) The Talie Jane Interiors team has put together some creative storage solutions for key areas that tend to gather clutter. Which ideas work best for you? Entry One of the most clutter-prone areas in the house is the entry. Shoes, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, dog leashes, it all finds a home here. But it doesn’t have to be messy or disorganized. In fact, it should be a pristine space to welcome guests and showcase the beauty of your home. Try some of these ideas: Living Room There are so many ways to add storage to a living room or family room. One of my favorite and easiest solutions? Incorporate multi-functional furniture that doubles as storage […]
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“The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.” Le Corbusier – Architect Think about the difference between getting your photo taken in at your local DMV under harsh fluorescent lighting, versus your picture at a sexy, low-lit restaurant. Good lighting is truly everything, but it is oftentimes an afterthought when designing a room. Whether it’s a bright task lamp on your desk to help you stay productive or a sconce by your bedside for cozy late-night reading, lighting is one of the most powerful tools for creating a specific mood. Bringing lighting decisions to the forefront of the design can make all the difference, and we’ll show you how. Layer the Light Lighting, like any great interior design element, should be layered to create contrast. A mix of accent, ambient, natural, and task lighting in the home provides a nice balance of light and dark that grants each room richness and depth: Accent lighting – supplementary light that illuminates dark corners or small spaces. A can light placed above a shower enclosure is one example. Ambient lighting – the general overall light that illuminates the entire space, such as a chandelier in the center of a […]
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John. Loo. Can. Commode. Potty. Prive. Pissoir. Oval Office. Porcelain Throne. WC. Reading Room. Crapper. Head. Shi*ter… The Toilet! Toilets are the most functional fixtures in a bathroom, but there are many different design options available. Heights and water flow vary, as well as basic shapes and outlines to suit different style preferences and space limitations. So, let’s learn more about this famous seat and how to best incorporate the right one into your “cloakroom.” (1) Stylish Stools (2) Toilets, believe it or not, can enhance the style of your bathroom. A toilet can add to the vintage charm you’re seeking, keep it sleek and modern, or stay in line with a good ole traditional bathroom aesthetic. Check out the different types of toilets. Two-Piece Toilets (Close-Coupled) Two-piece toilets are the standard. A two-piece consists of the toilet bowl and tank. The two pieces are secured with bolts and a gasket that seals the passage of water from the tank to the bowl. Most affordable Incredibly durable – longer life span More design options to choose from One-Piece Toilets One-piece toilets are a bit more expensive than the standard two-piece toilets but the benefits and characteristics outweigh the bigger price […]
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If you ask someone, “what is art?” they will usually refer to a painting or a photograph. In reality, art comes in many forms – performance art like dance, music and song, nature, poetry and architecture. Now, just for a moment, imagine a world without any art. Our world would be a very dim and boring place, devoid of imagination. Without art, the banality of reality would be intolerable. To paraphrase Nietzsche, “We have art in order not to parish from the truth.” Why Art? While it feels like a simple question, with an even simpler answer, the truth is that it goes way beyond bringing a little color into a living room. (1) Art breathes life into a space. It allows us to express ourselves, encouraging dialogue and welcoming emotion. It reminds us of what is possible—all to help turn an ordinary house into a home. Art connects us to the past and future. It feeds our curiosity and inspires our imagination. I love this quote from fellow-designer, Tara Bernard, “For me, art is like punctuation to a sentence; it is that all-important ingredient and without it, a space lacks the layers and attitude that a significant piece can […]
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Let There Be Light! Lighting is arguably the most important element in interior design. It is an essential ingredient and not an afterthought as many consider it to be. If you’re tempted to spend more time picking out furnishings or puzzling over layouts, remember that lighting can completely transform a space – not just by brightening dark corners, but by affecting your emotions. (1) Lighting creates mood and sets tone. It can affect the perceived size of a room, add dimension, draw attention and create depth and balance. In order to achieve the true power of lighting, designers consider lighting placement, amongst a myriad of other things. Standard lighting layouts with symmetrical cans, chandeliers and pendants (peppered with table, floor and task lamps) are a great starting point. After all, you need more than one source of light in a room (think layered illumination). (1) But, when you get creative on where and how to place lighting, “wow-factors” can be born. Here are a few creative lighting placement ideas that take lighting to the next level. Forgotten Corners: Light ‘em up The goal is to create contrast between the light at the center of a room, the light around the […]
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Gone are the days of square porcelain tiles in neutral shades with matching grout and monochromatic designs that serve utilitarian purposes. Bathroom tiles are helping create memorable spaces that are more than just a place to powder your nose.
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Whether you’re installing brand new kitchen cabinets or looking to refurbish existing ones, the range of available kitchen cabinet styles can seem overwhelming at first. Exploring the most common options and keeping a few helpful pointers in mind will help you choose the style that’s right for your home. (1)
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Choosing paint can be a difficult and daunting task – of the thousand shades of white, one may be too gray, another too green or too yellow. On many occasions, I’ve walked into a client’s home and found small patches of various shades of paint on the walls where colors are being “tested.” But what clients don’t realize is that the paint finish, or sheen, is just as important as the color they’re meticulously debating.
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Homeowners in all stages of life – from first-time buyers to retirees – are seeing the merit of living in less space. Downsizing and consequently de-cluttering or simplifying, has become a popular “less is more” trend.
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