Opposites Attract

In home design, I love glamorous, feminine touches. But I don't like when things get too girly, so I appreciate spaces that also have strong, masculine elements. This South African home, featured on House to Home, gets that combination right. And it also offers great mixes of light and dark, sleek lines and rough texture. Have a look:

Photos from here.

Word

Several months ago, I fell for this graphic map of San Francisco by Ork Posters that describes its eclectic neighborhoods through words.

So finally I ordered it -- an it came in the mail today! It's exactly what I need to kick-start my next home-decorating project.

Just inside our front door is a staircase leading to our second floor ... and a huge two-story expanse of wall just begging to become a mini gallery. I have been dreaming of creating a salon look, like those shows in Europe centuries ago where works of art crammed next to each other on walls in academies for people to admire. I want to hang posters like this one alongside photography, drawings and paintings by a range of artists, including myself. I think a black and white color scheme will unify things nicely. We shall see ...

If anything, this poster will serve as a great reminder of a place Iused to live -- and one of my favorite places to visit now.

Photo from here.

Wonder Walls

Lately I have been struggling with a home decorating conundrum. But I may have just found the solution. Yay!

You see, we have a small powder room on our first floor. From the moment we bought the house, I have wanted to do something cool and fun with it. Currently it's painted in a soft grayish tone and it is begging for some drama!

The problem is I haven't figured out exactly what to do. It's just off a hall and the space can get quite dark -- so I couldn't paint it a rich shade of chocolate brown as I had originally hoped. And I don't think my husband will agree to wallpaper the room.

However -- flash of brilliance! -- a wall decal or mural might work perfectly. I love browsing through Etsy for tree decals. I'm not sure if I'll buy one or paint my own tree freehand. But either could work wonderfully.

Here are some decals I'm finding particularly inspirational:

Photos from PopWall, Expressingyou, SurfaceFlik, DecorDesigns and DaliDecals.

Back to Basics

I love color. I fill my wardrobe with it, my art with it, my home with it. I've definitely had to tone it down in my decor choices at times so things don't get too chaotic or bright.

That said, there is a slightly calmer yet more graphic beauty to be found in a black and white palette. Rooms composed primarily of these hues seem more straightforward somehow ... more "black and white" I guess you could say.

Aren't these rooms from Canadian House & Home -- I can't get enough of this site! -- sophisticated? I like how the forms and patterns stand out more when the color scheme is limited.

Photos from here.

Not-So-Mellow Yellow

I used to not care for the color yellow too much. But over the past year or so I've noticed it creeping into my life, showing up in my wardrobe and home accents. I love it! Not to sound completely cliche, but it really is a cheerful hue. And who can't use a dose of that every now and then?

Recently on Canadian House & Home, I spotted several very cool rooms with one thing in common -- great use of yellow.

Enjoy this mini mood boost:

Photos from here.

Green Scenes

Isn't green a wonderfully refreshing color? It makes me feel simultaneously relaxed and energized.

It can be hard to decorate with, though, hard to get just right. But these rooms -- all found on the excellent Canadian House & Home website -- have done it.

Take a look:

Photos from here.

Right On

I can be quite a sucker for quizzes. It's always interesting to learn more about oneself, and the notion that a quiz could reveal something previously unknown appeals to me.

So I recently took a StyleScope quiz on HomeGoods that promised to tell me what my personal home decorating style is.

Here is my prognosis:

You are an EARTHY MODERN. You keep up with culture, style, and trends, but have an appreciation for timeless forms and simple lines. You value good design, quality craftsmanship, and prefer the streamlined to the overly embellished or cluttered. You also appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. This contrast is what makes your home intriguing and comfortable. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly.You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

Now, maybe this applies to everyone and I'm just one of many people seeing myself in this ... but I have to say it seems pretty accurate. I love clean lines, simple shapes and bold colors mixed with textures, natural elements and fun.

Kinda like this fantastic bathroom from Metropolitan Home.

Photo from Metropolitan Home.