Trends may come and go, but certain design elements will never go out of style. With our immediate access to technology, it’s easy to see the current trends. However, a timeless design will outlast the ever-revolving cycle of design trends. A home with a timeless design has a strong sense of place which is reflected in its color palette, materials, design elements, and connection to its surrounding landscape. It’s thoughtful and intentional, and functionally works now and into the future. In this month’s blog, we review those timeless elements and provide ways to embrace them in your own home. What is Timeless Design? Timeless design is the intentional choice to incorporate classic, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design elements over trendy, fleeting, or socially loud ideas. How to Select a Timeless Color Palette (1) Timeless colors are those that will transcend all design trends. While we can still appreciate current trends, timeless colors never grow old, can be used in different ways and will still be in style. However, timeless colors can be so overdone that they too become trendy (think of an all-gray home). Your safest bet in choosing a timeless color is make your selection based on context. Where will […]
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Simply put, aging in place means choosing to stay in your home with family, friends, and neighbors — instead of moving to a residential facility designed to support long-term care, such as an assisted living facility — as you grow older. (1) THE NEED The need for aging in place is significant and is becoming even more so. Senior citizens make up the country’s fastest-growing population, according to the latest U.S. census results. They’re outpacing the growth of the general population at a rate of 15.1 percent to 9.7 percent, and the total number of individuals over 65 is projected to nearly double before 2050! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 6 will be age 60 or older by 2030. And adding to this initiative is that fact that 90% of US residents aged 45+ say they prefer to remain in their homes even when they need assistance. (2)This phenomenon is significant and deserves discussion. Designers have the ability to prolong an individuals’ ability to safely live at home. There’s a true responsibility here.Aging in place is strongly linked to greater health and happiness outcomes for seniors, particularly when social isolation concerns are addressed, but it […]
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Grout is often neglected in the tile selection process, or just treated as an afterthought. But it shouldn’t be! It’s as much a part of the overall finished look as the tile itself. The selection of grout can truly define the character of a space based on the amount of contrast and rhythm that is introduced. The job of grout is to bring out the best in the tile or stone that it surrounds.Grout seems so simple but there are myriad types of grout that are recommended for various applications, design choices for creating patterns and interest and an overwhelming number of colors to choose from. So, how do you select the perfect grout? The team at Talie Jane Interiors offers some great tips. Grout Types Surprisingly, there are many different types of grout. Who knew? However, all usually fall into one of three types: Sanded, un-sanded and epoxy. Sanded Grout• This type of grout includes a small amount of sand, which increases the strength of the grout joints, improving the overall durability of the product.• Best for large tile seams, interior flooring projects, ceramic and stone tiles, and high-traffic areas.• However, it is gritty and may scratch or scuff […]
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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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Area rugs in our homes are like shoes to a well-put-together outfit. You wouldn’t go to the trouble of selecting your best outfit for a night out and then go barefoot. It’s the same principle with rugs. Shoes complete an outfit and, in some instances, will actually outshine what you’re wearing, if you want them to that is. It’s the same with rugs. They can be a game changer on how a room looks and feels. Rugs can either sit in harmony with your room, or they can make a statement by adding an element of surprise, and I for one, love surprises! (1) Rugs create a visual pathway, add warmth and character, enable texture, color and dimension, enable room flow, provide sound absorption, define a space, connect a space, tie a design together and even act as wall art. Ultimately, they provide comfort. Since area rugs play such an important role in design, it’s critical to select the right rug for your space. With the need to consider size, material, and functionality, it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve tackled some of the hard questions for you below. Rug Materials, Care & Maintenance (2) One of the most […]
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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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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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One of our favorite design projects is a kitchen remodel because of the essential role collaboration plays. Beauty and function/efficiency are of utmost importance, and there are some standard rules to consider (like the work triangle) but, how our clients like to work in their kitchens must be accounted for in the design. After all, the kitchen is the central hub of home life and should be planned to mirror lifestyle and taste. We consider how our clients entertain, who they entertain, if they are avid chefs, bakers or holiday hosts, if they cater to four-legged friends, if they like islands or peninsulas, ranges or cooktops, accessories and storage solutions and of course, who they cook with. There is myriad of questions we review with our clients to ensure that the transformation is not only show-stopping but also a reflection of the things our clients love to do, the way they live and the people who are most important in their lives. One of the first questions, and probably the most important one, is “what brand of appliances do you prefer?” Many of our clients have strong opinions about appliances and appliance brands while others provide pricing parameters and a […]
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It’s finally Spring and soon we will be stepping into summer!! I know we all hoped this summer might be different from last year…and that we could return back to “normal.” But, sadly we are still amidst a pandemic, although things seem to be improving. Even though we cannot go out and live our lives the way we used to this summer, we can still have fun at home. So, what better time to spruce up your house than now? Below are some tips to help you get your house ready for summer.
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