A home could never have too much storage, especially if it is a tiny house. Every square inch becomes an inch of premium space. As a designer, I see spaces a bit like a Venn diagram - a place for everything and everything in its place by way of close proximity and association. Yes, I do use both sides of my brain, equally! .
One of the most important things to consider in keeping a well-organized home is utilizing case goods or furniture pieces that are both functional and beautiful. We all want to come home to a tidy house that isn’t stripped of luxury or essential things because we simply can’t keep an orderly home.
In the many occasions I have designed a house, no matter what room it is, I place organization at the same level of importance as beauty. When a piece of furniture is both beautiful and purposeful, it will be equally appreciated for both.
Scale and style are two top deciding factors in selecting the best piece of “keep all” furniture. Our fashion sense is a good indicator of our home style. We are often drawn to pieces of furniture that mirror our sense of style. Based on Consumer Buying Behavior magazine’s survey of current popular style, Rustic Glam seems to be the top style category. Those who love worn-out jeans with stylish boots or dressy heels paired with a sophisticated top may lean more towards the style of weathered wood and leather mixed with brushed gold.
As interesting as this may seem, take a look at our case good pairings and see which one speaks to your inner style.
The House of Fashion Rustic Glam mood board is inspired by Peter Do’s crepe yellow and black dress featured on Net-a-Porter. The bright mellow yellow is a reminder of the morning sun that shines across Paris Road and cascades down the birch trees on the property. The touch of black echos the shade of wet hardwood. I love the pairing of the metal and wood bookcase from the Crestview Collection with the honeycomb mirror credenza. I included Regina Andrew’s brushed gold globe lighting for that modern touch.
For those that bend towards delicate, sophisticated, and a bit of whimsy, the Modern English Cottage vibe is the right house of fashion fit. Whenever I am asked to design a cottage, my one go-to case good must be a painted furniture piece. I started my business working in custom decorative finishes which involved doing plenty of painted furniture pieces. Crestview Collection’s cheerful green cabinet with an elaborate fretwork on its mirrored doors is perfectly paired with Harp and Finial’s limewood washed modern armoire - a useful piece in homes that need additional storage for essential items. This Modern English Cottage mood board was totally inspired by an Oscar de la Renta tasseled floral halter silk dress. This classic halter style dress with its fun floral print paints a picture of the perfect afternoon garden party on an English country estate surrounded with beautiful English blooms. The dress is paired with the unexpected leopard print flats from J. Crew. This approach of mixing high style with budget friendly pieces mirrors my approach for a curated look. Of course, a room is not fully dressed unless it is crowned with just the right light fixture to balance the element of style.
If your style sense leans towards Hollywood glam-black, white and gold with a punch of bling, then your eyes will gravitate towards Arterior’s Artsley charcoal gray cabinet. The gorgeous glass front and brush gold is a versatile piece that can showcase pretty dishes or can double up as a handsome liquor cabinet. You can’t go wrong with Regina Andrew’s Nebula chandelier. It is both glamorous and stately. This light swings in the style direction of both Rustic glam and Hollywood glam. For a strong contrast I brought in Crestview Collection’s cream fabric studded accent cabinet. This piece when bought in pairs and placed together behind the sofa creates additional storage for seasonal pillows and blankets. For an added fun chair, I chose this lavender faux fur walnut chair from Harp and Finial.