We Answer Wednesday - How to make a beige room look modern

"I know grey is trending but I can't change all of the beige (tiles, paint and furniture) in my home.  How can I make my beige house look modern and current?"

You are right grey is still the hottest neutral right now but don't get down on your beige.  Beige is still a classic and the good news is  - it works with everything.  We are actually working on a model condo suite and we are re-purposing furniture from a former model and we are working with beige.  Beige is beautiful and it has a really nice warmth to it - so even if it is not trending doesn't mean you need to toss out your beige! Think of your beige home as a perfect canvas for just about anything you want to do to make it look more current.  Here are some ideas to give your beige space and instant lift!
 

1 - Add Grey - ok so grey is hot but you can't re-do the whole house.  Since beige is a neutral it works will all other neutrals so why not add a bit of grey? Take a look at this image below.  Beige walls and furniture but that area rug in a cool charcoal makes this room stand out. It really keeps this room from looking washed out.



2 - Add Black.  Yes, black is another neutral but adding black to an all beige space gives it instant glamour and sophistication.  We love the pops of black in this beige bedroom. And if you look closely you will notice the bedside table is a glossy charcoal grey - adding these dark neutrals really make the room pop with some contrast




 3 - Add Texture. A beige on beige room can be boring but not if you add texture.  Mixing different textures in one space can make it very visually interesting. This room isn't bold or bright but it is far from boring.  This neutral tone on tone room has some different textures - the solid glass coffee table, the macrame wall hanging, the cow hide rug ;and the velvet and silk textures on the sofa - give this room some depth and sophistication.



4 - Add some colour.  Beige is a beautiful blank canvas so have some fun! Add some bold pops of colour and some pattern, too. This gives any room some life.  Because beige is a neutral you can opt for any colour and as many as you like.




5 -  Add some animal print.  Pairing a neutral like beige with any animal print adds a luxurious touch.  Any animal print will work - leopard, cheetah, zebra even cow. We love the classic glamour of an animal print - think area rug, pillows, accent chair or ottomans.



6 -  Add print.  Many think beige can be boring but add a little print and you are back to life. We love these chocolate and cream print pillows they add some real pop to the room.  The natural elements in this room also play with the natural tone of beige - the sisal rug, the decorative wood sculpture and the greenery add an organic factor to the space.  Simple yet chic.

We Answer Wednesday - Traditional art in a contemporary space

" My decor style is contemporary.  I like the clean lines, simple colour palette and minimal accessories but I have inherited some art that I would like to incorporate in my decor scheme - how can I do that ... the art pieces are pretty traditional looking and I don't want to change my style.  Is there a way to use these family heirlooms?"

This is a great question and we complete understand why this is stumping you.  It can be very tricky to combine styles like contemporary and traditional and get it just right.  It's all about finding that balance.  We love that you want to keep these beautiful art pieces in the family, it is so special to hold on and display meaningful items like art. 

 

You can absolutely use these pieces in your decor.  Depending on the look or display style you choose, you may need to spend some money on frames and matting but there are often some great sales on custom framing so you can definitely save a bit. Just re-framing and matting with something clean and simple can completely transform the look of your piece and make it fit in with your decor without comprising the art itself.

Take a look at the art pieces you have.  Are any of them from the same collection? If so, it would be great to keep those together in a wall display. The image below is a great example of clean frames and matting and letting the art stand out.  It looks modern in this arrangement and makes a statement above the sofa. Plus it still works with the contemporary look.



If you have larger pieces on hand, again opt for a clean and simple frame - in white or black with an over sized matte.  This will be an instant update to your piece.   This would be perfect above a sofa in a living room, dining room or bedroom.  Over sized art looks modern no matter the style of art. This is a timeless look so you won't tire of it quickly. In the image below the white matte and frame almost disappear against the light wall colour and the art stands out more



Some times just the arrangement itself can  be modern.  We love a gallery wall and why not show off all of your pieces and their interesting frames in a gallery wall? It's a more modern way to display your art. This arrangement is basically an accent wall.  We love the mix of frames and pieces with and without frames plus look at the heights of the pieces.  The one constant here is that the pieces that do have matting have white matting - you want to make sure to have a common thread.  So in this case, we have a mix of frames, colours and sizes but there is one constant.  This look is a bit more eclectic but it is definitely not traditional and it really allows to show off a lot of art pieces.




Another way to display your art in a more modern way is layering it on your mantle.  We love how casual and cool this look is and it is so easy.  Try a large piece at the back - art or even a mirror is perfect and in front you can layer some smaller art pieces even photography and a few knick knacks - it looks so chic.  You can try mixing modern art with some old family photos as well - it's up to you.  this look also works on  floating shelves or even bedside tables.



Our advise when it comes to art is to always follow your instinct.  Don't get caught up in style, size, colour etc...if you love it there will always be room for it in your home.  Don't worry about matching - art is a creative form of expression so displaying it should be too!

What is contemporary decor?

If you are someone who likes to keep up with the trends then chances are you like contemporary style.  Many people use the term 'modern' when they actually mean contemporary.  A contemporary home isn't minimalist like a modern home but it is still sleek and sophisticated but with warmth.  This is a style that works just about anywhere - stores, offices, lofts, condos an homes - it is current and welcoming.
If you are staging your home to sell, this is the style to borrow some tips from since it is so broad.

When it comes to colour in a contemporary home, start will neutrals for furniture and walls.  Your 'pop' will come from accessories and art.  In contemporary design, line is really important.  Highlight architectural elements like angled walls or even bulkheads.  there should be bare spaces between furniture pieces and hanging wall art. Elements like brick walls or concrete floors add visual interest and texture to the space.  Furniture pieces should be clean and without curves - streamlined.  No skirts, trim or fringe either.  In contemporary design you make you impact with accessories - such as bold and graphic art and splashes of colour!