A coffee table does a lot of work. It needs to hold books, magazines, drinks, food — even games on game night. You might want to put your feet up on it, or the kids might need a place for coloring. Plus it’s usually smack dab in the middle of the room, where you can’t miss it — so make sure it’s a good one. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re picking a coffee table.
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Seaside scenes, landscapes and abstract works all have their place, but portraits have something that other forms of artwork simply don’t. When you look at a portrait, whether it is new or old, painted or photographed, you are seeing a person. A life. Portraits ignite the imagination and populate a room with hidden stories — you can’t help but wonder what the subjects were thinking, feeling and doing. From vintage paintings to blown-up family snapshots and commissioned work, here are some fresh ways to use portraits around the house.
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Rudyard Kipling’s famous quotation, “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet” never proved to be less true than during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Orient captivated the West in the form of chinoiserie design. Chinoiserie (French for “Chinese-like”) is defined as a fanciful European interpretation of Chinese, Japanese and Indian styles in the design of interiors, furniture, pottery, textiles and gardens.
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Whatever your taste in decoration, an element of visual contrast is a great way to make your home more interesting and personal. Something oppositional or unexpected awakens the senses. There are many ways to introduce invigorating contrast into a space, and art is one of the best. Here are some examples where modern art breathes life into traditional rooms.
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In the market for a new bookshelf? If you have an old ladder lying around, you might not need to hit the store. In fact, there are countless ways you can turn old objects into amazingly practical solutions for storing, displaying and organizing your stuff. Here are some of my favorites:
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I hate to break it to you, but designers don’t follow a secret rule book. There are no hard and fast laws governing what we do. We are creative types by nature and love to imagine, dream and explore, following our intuition. That said, there are some rough principles that guide us to ensure a great result every time. They are just tried and true things that work. And these aren’t tricks or skills that take years to master. Anyone can do them from day one. Consider this a foundation for developing your own quirky, creative, rule-breaking intuition.
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So many clients with young kids and pets want cool stuff, but they can’t figure out to do it without worrying that they’ll ruin everything. In the case pictured, solutions included upholstering with rustic leather and outdoor fabrics. The results are a balance of rough-hewn and sophisticated styles, a harmonious compromise that pleases both partners.
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Architect David Marlatt has a love-hate relationship with the sun. He’s always looking to capture its natural light for the homes he designs, but at the same time trying to block — or sometimes harness — all its heat.
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I have compiled a list of habits I’ve observed in the decorating and design world. Habits that I believe need to be broken. Many of these may have begun as good intentions — but we all know where that path leads! I’ve assembled 12 of those habits here. I’ve struggled with each and every one of them personally and feel I have come out on the other side a better designer for it. Although each lesson is valuable, in the hierarchy of habits to be broken, there is none more important than No. 12.
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TWIST on Tradition: Freshen up a favorite display—or create a fabulous new focal point—by mixing traditional accents with updated pieces in unexpected colors, materials, and motifs. Fresh, neutral accents add a layer of texture to any space without feeling cluttered, like this pierced, tapered jar with a finial-topped lid.
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