Sunday, March 30, 2008

Decor Planning: My Living & Dining Rooms

The last couple of weeks I've spent every free hour poring over decorating magazines trying, once and for all, to coordinate a colour scheme for my living and dining room. It isn't an easy process as I have existing furniture and rugs to use, and also some prints and accessories I want to incorporate. I've pulled so many inspiration boards together with different palettes, but think I've finally settled on a colour scheme (which I'll explain later, with photos!).
Fabric and paint colours are taking up so much time! I've brought home countless sample pots from Farrow & Ball and Benjamin Moore and can't count how many big sheets of bristol board I've painted. Evenings and weekends have been spent moving these big chips around the room at various times of the day to catch the light and see how the colours read.

I've also been hunting for fabrics for new drapery panels. I've finally settled on linen as my fabric of choice because there seems to be a solid selection and some very pretty colours at the shop I chose to sew my projects. I will have them make panels and a new valance for my dining room.

I've been meaning to post photos of the room and ask for your help. But instead, I became obsessed with doing it myself. It seemed too hard to try to photograph all the disparate elements of the room and explain everything. Eventually I'll re-upholster a chair, slip-cover another, re-frame some prints, and so on and it seemed too tedious to explain it all to you! In the end, there were the choices my heart wanted and then the sensible choices that worked best for the room. Decorating is a balancing act when you can't do a whole room from scratch!

This week, I'll do some measurements and hopefully have the shop start sewing my items (unless I change my mind). I haven't settled on an exact paint colour yet, but at least I picked a palette and have some front-runners lined up!

Besides that I've been voraciously reading design books and have fallen in love with Michael S. Smith's gorgeous book "Elements of Style" which is just what the doctor ordered this week for some serious aesthetic inspiration!

Hope your week is wonderful! I'll share some photos of my ideas soon.

Photos: House of Linnea

27 comments:

  1. Linen so wonderful! Just don't expect it to be wrinkle free :) I really love the two photos you posted. Roman shades are very classic and the simple valance and sheers are too! Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very soft and gentle pictures. Much light and a beautiful glow! If this is what your home gonna look like, it is going to be fabulous! But it seems to much hard work involved, so I hope that everything will work out well for you.
    xxx Poppins

    ReplyDelete
  3. hmmm, hmmm, so you are making us wait--building the anticipation levels!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck with all the decisions you are making. I'm sure whatever you decide, your rooms will be gorgeous! You have exquisite taste!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your attention to detail is admirable and I just know that you will be perfectly content with the outcome having given it so much study and consideration. I'll be content to see the photos of the results!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Terri,
    I have always said that it takes way more talent to pull together a room using bits and bobs of what you already have and/or can afford, as opposed to having a blank canvas, good bones, a big budget, and plenty of access to great decor shops. Basically, it is just HARDER to decorate with real life limitations!

    I know, that with your careful planning and great sense of style, you will pull off a wonderful look!!

    Remember to enjoy the process!
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  7. Terri, put the fly swatter away, I've done gone and tagged you. ;> As always, this is purely your choice, but there was one question where I would love to hear your answer. Hugs...lots of them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Terri! I know exactly how you feel! It is difficult to pull together the elements of what we already have, what we can find, what is in our budget and what we like! Never as easy as it should be. I'm sure you will do a wonderful job of finding just the right way to express your style.

    Happy spring!
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog. People who knows me thought it was true because it could have been! I love Canada and my husband being french Montreal would be perfect!
    Best of luck and keep well!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12:43 pm

    I was able to find good info from your content.
    Visit my blog post ; michael kors glasses

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous5:20 pm

    I'm really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A small number of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?

    Review my blog post :: furnace repair

    ReplyDelete
  12. I spend a lot of time on this blog to learn a lot of good information.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I hope you prosper a lot and please post good comments often. I come often.

    ReplyDelete

  14. It was so bravely and depth information. I feel so good read to your blog.

    ReplyDelete

  15. You have brought up a very fantastic points, thankyou for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey, I am so thrilled I found this blog, Just like to say thanks

    ReplyDelete

  17. Thank you for the good story. Considered a great and very useful content

    ReplyDelete
  18. even I also think that hard work is the most important aspect of getting success.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Useful information. Lucky me I found your web site.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.

    ReplyDelete
  21. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me.

    ReplyDelete
  22. You have great knowledge and expertise in writing such blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks to your writing, I am very happy to complete the process now.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This was a really great contest and hopefully I can attend the next one.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am glad to read this post, it’s an impressive piece of info.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very interesting this article is very good thanks for the effort.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you so much as you have been willing to share information with us.

    ReplyDelete