Going Classic: How to accent your home Victorian style

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Designing a home and decorating it the way you want is a lot more than merely putting a few objects together that serve the purpose. It is often a wise thing to have a running theme across your home as it will give the right idea on how to accessorize and make shopping a lot easier. If  themes are what you are going how about the instant classic – the Victorian style of decorating interiors. It brings a touch of royalty, a sense of class and adds timeless charm. Going Victorian though is a lot harder than picking contemporary styles and design as you are trying to recreate the past. But here are a few simple tips that will you with that task.

victorian style home interior2 Going Classic: How to accent your home Victorian style

#1 Mix a renaissance decorating style with plenty of metal

A Victorian theme is brought in largely by using stuff that is reminiscent to the Renaissance period. You can do that by using plenty of metal wherever possible. It could be in the furnishings, photo frames or even in the accessories spread across the room. Also, the use of gleaming metal with intricate and artistic design helps a great deal.

#2 Decorative moldings, ornaments, plasterwork and arches

The essence of Victorian style is in its sweeping and larger than life design. This can be achieved using arches wherever possible to create a grand look. Use of plasterwork and moldings could be expensive, but they bring in the feel of authenticity of the design. Remember that this will always cost you a lot more than the other modern themes, but it will also attract people in a unique way of its own.

victorian style home interior Going Classic: How to accent your home Victorian style

#3 Use stain glass and stone fireplaces

One of the most important Victorian accent to a home is the use of stain glass as this is an integral part of the era. It adds in a small yet authoritative way to the furnishings around and it really brings out the bright mood in the room. The fireplace is also an essential aspect of a Victorian styled living room and one made with stone or even polished marble accentuates the already classic feel.

#4 Design with dark colors and rich shades wherever possible

Most often modern designs demand neutral tones and dull shades, but you can throw that out of the window if you are going the Victorian way. Dark and bright shades along with very rich colors are the very essence of the style. Even your woodwork should be grained in dark tones so as to compliment what is around it. Feel free to tone up the reds and the violets, the yellows and the blues as you please!

#5 Lavish designs drenched in fabric

Use plenty of fabric whenever and wherever possible in the shape of curtains, separators and even as wallpaper to bring out the Victorian flavor. You can throw away the idea of repainting your walls or even bringing in new wallpaper by just using printed, light fabric instead. This will only make the interiors far more majestic.

#6 Bring in the fruits, flowers, candles and candy

This might appear simple, but nothing says classic like a bowl full of fruits, a wonderful arrangement of roses in a pot, some beautiful candles and maybe even candy in a basket. These are simple to do, easy to get and will increase the charm of your Victorian interiors manifold. Even wilted flowers bring about a new and wild spirit to the room!

Going Victorian takes a lot more care and effort than most other themes. It will also need you to pick out special furniture and accessories and change most things that would be found lying around otherwise in a normal home. The transformation might be tough, but the result will leave you more than satisfied!

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How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

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If you have just moved out to get a place of your own for the very first time or are decorating your home for the umpteenth time, one obvious difficulty that almost everyone faces is how to look for the right home accessories. We all are pretty aware of what exactly are the basic needs of a home, like the couch and the bed, but where else do you go from there? The base is ready, but the direction in which one needs to build on, that is a topic that leaves people in plenty of confusion.

home accesories How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

With modern markets offering everything that you need and plenty that you don’t, what is the right and easy way to accessorize your home? Well, here is a simple guide that will get you started and will help you finish your interior decoration.

Keep in mind the available space and shop accordingly

There might be enough stuff in the store to fill up Michael Jackson’s Neverland, but the point is that you are not trying to fill up a mansion. Most often you will be tempted to buy something that is large and grand, but if it does not fit the scale of your home, then it looks ungainly. Be it a sofa set or a dining table, a big bed or even a large flower vase; things look attractive only when in right proportion. The room must never look too congested or too empty. Make sure that you strike the balance right.

home accesories2 How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

Chalk out a very basic budget plan

The problem with accessories is that many of them look very attractive and most often salesmen have a funny way of making you buy what they wish to sell rather than what you need. Before you go out to shop, it would be wise to make a budget statement and then stick to it. Most of us run on a limited budget and hence this will avoid buying both the unnecessary and the stuff that is too expensive. Decorating your home comes at a price and that must be affordable!

home accesories4 How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

Pick colors and patterns that mix and match with existing furniture

Always pick colors and patterns that are in-sync with what you already own as you do not want to change around your basic furniture for the sake of accessories! Pick shades and textures that run with the theme that you already have going at your place. Do not be tempted buy something that would sit ungainly- like a retro lamp for a modern living room- just because it looked good in the store.

home accesories3 How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

Make comfort a priority

When you do but an accessory, make sure that does not actually disturb the existing comfort and ambient feel of your home. Anything that adds in terms of beauty, but takes away in terms of comfort is a complete no-no. Also make sure that what you buy does not demand too much of attention, care and constant attention. You wish to accessorize your home, not take care of a pet!

Bring home stuff that merges with local culture and topography

While picking stuff for decoration you can always chose a theme and most often it serves you well if the theme is in touch with local culture and topography. This has more advantages than those that meet the eye. The obvious reason being, it will sit well when guests come for a visit. It also makes your home an extension of your natural surroundings. If you live by a beach, go for plenty of shells and sand. If you live in a green and hilly region then bring in some plants and stuff in shades of green. Apart from the already mentioned reasons, this also costs you less as you can buy the stuff locally. This way it not just looks good but goes easy on your purse.

home accesories5 How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

Remember that your home is reflects your thoughts and designing it in the way you wish to see it is an important part of both your personal and social life. You need not always spend extravagantly to look good and the above simple suggestions more or less are the basics for shopping for accessories. While you can always improvise on them, it will help you a great deal if you keep them in mind the next time you hit stores!

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Five Steps to Making Your Home More Beautiful

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picnik collage 1 Five Steps to Making Your Home More Beautifulimage sources 1, 2, 3, 4

Most of us have watched those cruel home make-over shows at one time or another. You know the type, where a hyperactive bunch of designers and tradesman bombard their way into an ‘unsuspecting’ civilian’s home, with only an hour to complete a WOW transformation. The magic designer snatches up a few old cushions, whips up the rug, and hey presto, the whole house is a wonderful palace. Don’t we all wish that our tired houses could be awoken with such hasty and invigorating fervour? I’m not promising to make your home your dream mansion, but by following the simple steps below you can bring beauty into your house.

De-Clutter

1 6 Five Steps to Making Your Home More Beautiful

This step sounds so exhausting, but believe me, it’s worth it. Pick a room to start on, and attack it with a pair of rubber gloves and a bin bag. Poke into hidey holes you’d forgotten about, delve into cupboards you’ve been putting off forever, jump right in to the depths of all your clutter and let it go. Don’t be afraid to chuck out that gaudy yellow vase because you made it when you were six, if it’s sentimentally valuable, box it, be strict with yourself about what really is sentimental. Use ‘time since last used’ as your rule of thumb, if it’s been three years since you last used it, chances are its rubbish.

Remember, start as you mean to go on- don’t sort piles into piles, if its rubbish throw it, if it’s not, put it away. Consider recycling any items you don’t need, charities are always looking for items they can sell on. You could also try to make a few pennies out of your old stuff, pop it onto eBay and see what happens!

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House Baetens – Strange or Just Modern?

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The same country, the Netherlands, this new house by JagerJanssen architecten BNA looks a bit like the one from the other days, that kept sound away – M House. And I’m talking about the exterior. True? It’s a 200 sqm two-storey house that uses a very simple design, with hard materials (lots of bricks) at the ground floor, and wood and glass on the upper floor.

house baetens 1 House Baetens   Strange or Just Modern?

But a nice large open kitchen that maximizes space, large windows and modern materials are not the only things to get me convinced that’s a dream home. One of the most interesting things about the House Baetens is the lovely balcony. Can you find something else? Do you like it? – via ArchDaily

house baetens 2 House Baetens   Strange or Just Modern?

house baetens 3 House Baetens   Strange or Just Modern?

house baetens 4 House Baetens   Strange or Just Modern?

house baetens 5 House Baetens   Strange or Just Modern?

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Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

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I will have to be honest and say that I never thought a barn could be turned into such a beautiful home. It happened in Belgium where architect Rita Huys from Buro2, got her hands on a an old barn in the rolling hills of Central West Flanders, kept its rustic touch but transformed it into a modern home with an elegant and luxurious living space, at the countryside.

redesigned barn house belgium 1 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

The exterior looks simple with an unique character that blends well with the scenery, while at the interior where artist Wim Delvoye worked his magic, style is king. With large glasses that let the light get in easily, with modern furniture, well defined shapes and high quality materials, the verdict is clear. That’s the most beautiful barn I’ve ever seen, and the one I’d sleep in without thinking. – via Wallpaper

redesigned barn house belgium 2 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

redesigned barn house belgium 3 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

redesigned barn house belgium 4 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

redesigned barn house belgium 5 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

redesigned barn house belgium 6 Old Barn Transformed into a Stylish New Home

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