Inspirations To Create A Wall Drama

One of my favorite Pinterest boards is what I call “Wall Drama.” There are only 36 pins because I sat the bar really high for that collection. Some of the walls were created with wall paper (can you believe it!), others are paintings from abstract to spectacular scenes. These are not your ordinary faux painted walls. I’ve done my share of the tame and timid painted walls from antique lace bordering to tone-on-tone striped paintings to sponging. I even had one entry faux painted with castle-like boulders, topped with an eastern red bud tree.

I’m talking real wall drama! Here are just a few:

Pinterest for sweethomestyle.tumblr.com. Could this be a blown up photo!

Not an artist? Can’t afford one to paint your walls? Well, there are other solutions, such as wall paper recreated through a copy print of art pieces. There are several companies that will do this. Check out this one called PixerSize.com for wall murals. I found one of their wall pieces on Pinterest.

This is not a Pixers creation, not sure of how it was done. But I think it’s beautiful, serene blues warmed with golden yellow and oranges and red. You get the picture.

How exciting . . . and it’ll wake up any non-coffee or coffee drinker.

Pinterest from service en brocante.blogspot

Okay . . . just one more. It reminds me of zindangle which is so much fun to produce.

Found on Pinterest from Pretty.little.world.fashion.blogspot

Why am I so interested in wall drama? The outside of my studio is complete with the exception of muddying and sanding. My art neighbors keep asking what color will I paint it. The problem is that I change my mind from week to week, especially when I see images of wall drama. The pressure is on, and I need inspiration!!

Help yourself to make a suggestion . . . would love to hear from you!

Decorate By Mixing Patterns

Decorating with pattern on pattern or what is more often called mixing patterns is exciting. I so admire interior designers who do this so well and have often wondered how. By now, you may know I’m a strong proponent for looking to clothes in the closet for inspiration. Yesterday, I discovered this fabulous dress (no, not in my poor miserable closet!) from Net-A-Porter.com and used it as the palette and pattern play for this design:

Inspiration: Client’s Most Favorite Dress by annsliee featuring book ends

Personally, I would never have had the guts to even think of such a complex design so rich in color and patterns had it not been for the dress. What I found to be important was selecting a focal color (the orange family in this case); keeping colors in the same value; and keeping patterns in similar size and shape. To give the eye a place to rest from so much busy-ness, I added solid colors found in the chairs, the ottoman and the chests. Second step to creating such a decor: Be Bold. (I wrote about this in an earlier post.) Mixing patterns is not for the screamish! Let’s look at some real examples of mixing patterns.

On Pinterest from Beach Bungalow8 Blogspot

Did you notice the color value, size of the different patterns and solid colors to rest the eyes. Here are some more:

From The Pink Chandelier, design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

If you really want to be daring in mixing patterns but are a little timid, visit the blog of Keltainen talo rannalla, interior designer. It is a must see blog for inspiration and getting that “get moving feeling.” Here’s one of her examples I found on Pinterest.

Check out these fabulous mixed pattern rooms:

From Apartment Therapy on A Victorian Rowhouse In Toronto

On Pinterest from HGTV, A Cape Cod Inspired Living room

If you find yourself liking, even loving mixing patterns in a decor but it’s a little too busy for you, remember you can always just add it to a vignette or the corner of a room.

Already have something in this style or something in mind? I would love to hear about it!

Decorate With A Neutral Color

Thinking a neutral color scheme but not sure where or how to start? Afraid it will look lifeless and boring? A successfully decorated room in neutral colors can be achieved by using various textures; contrasting light and dark shades; and incorporating a variety of shapes and sizes. (For an ultra modern look, see how these elements are paired down in the third image below.) If desired, however, a warm color can be added to give the room just a little pop. Let’s see how decorating with neutral colors works.

I started here with a black and off-white zebra pillow as a “color-spiration” for a city apartment:

Urban Chic In Neutral by annsliee featuring Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Obviously, black and gray are the primary neutral colors. But note the statement piece, a divider screen with enlarged photo print of New York City. Shapes and texture play a major role in making the room interesting: the faux fur pillow vs the smoothness of the black chair fabric and the pile-textured rug vs the smooth silver metal chair legs. The gold bowl and the wood base of the lamp add a touch of warm natural colors, along with the green-leaf candle holder. The silver pouf is a lovely, feminine touch. (Learn more about using poufs in Spice It Up With a Pouf, April 23, 2014)

In stark contrast to the black as the primary neutral color above, here is one in white:

White is very calming and can easily be “taken up a notch” with dashes of colors, such as the black pots contrasted with the beautiful pink hydrangeas and the magenta color small bowls on the table. The warm color is repeated in smaller and larger amounts in the background room. Again, texture and shapes play a key role in making the room interesting. Here’s another white room but it’s truly stark, very modern. But notice how the long linear lines are iterated to give it interest like repetitive notes heard in lovely song or music:

I love the room above but if it’s too stark for your taste, here’s another one of my favorite decorated with a neutral color scheme. It’s bold and dramatic, and it has “pops” of color in the rug to warm it up.

Do take the tour, found on Apartment Therapy, of this very modern DC Home.

The next one makes fabulous use of neutral as a monotone color scheme. Here again shapes are repeated but pattern and contrast give the vignette drama.

You’re thinking the martini warms up the room in this design board below? You may be right! (Writer smiles.) Along with the martini, texture, pattern, variation in shapes and neutral colors renders the scheme interesting and a space to want to be in.

Warm Minimalist by annsliee featuring tufted furniture

The rooms in the images below work very well in the neutral scheme. Any idea why?

On Pinterest from the blog This Is Glamorous.

There is always something romantic about an all white room that I find so very inviting.

So what exactly are neutral colors? Ask.com describes it like this:

“Neutral colors include hues like beige, black, gray, ivory, taupe and white. Neutral usually means without color, but these hues sometimes have faint undertones of blue, gold, peach, pink, tan and yellow.

Neutral colors do not show up on the color wheel. People in fashion, decorating and other professions that use colors prominently refer to neutral colors as earth tones. These colors have a flexibility and visual balance that works in a number of settings. They also have a classic, subtle feel in rooms, clothing and furniture that also make use of bolder and more vibrant colors in their designs.”

It’s important to remember that neutral colors do have undertones and thus should be carefully selected, particularly when adding other colors to the decorating scheme. And don’t forget, lighting source will very definitely bring out or mute these undertones.

Considering a neutral color scheme for a decorating project? I’d love to hear from you!

Designs That Fascinate: Stiletto Heels

Oh my goodness, I’m in love with these shoes: Stiletto Heels. The designs fascinate me, they’re stunning and wild and sometimes utterly ridiculous! A flood gate of designs has been unleashed. Do I wear them? NOooo!!! I’m not crazy, I just love how they look. I applaud women gutsy enough to wear them.

You may be asking what on earth does Stiletto heels have to do with home decorating or making pillows or even artists: COLOR, sweetie. DESIGN, IMAGINATION. Often I even find old designs reinterpreted, just as one takes a home old color scheme, freshen it up with a new interpretation. We never tire of blue and white or blue and yellow color schemes. We just reinterpret them in ways that give them a contemporary look.

Here are some of my favorite color combinations in Stiletto heels. Others are fascinating just by sheer design. While some, well . . . they’re just dangerous.

Soft color palettes not only fun for the city but wonderful for simple, beach and cottage life styles:

Love the color blocks on these Stilettos, contemporary and classic color schemes. Great Design.

Classic black and white color scheme with a splash of color: yellow.

These wonderful, strong colors and classic patterns reminds us to just be bold!

How lovely this floral ceiling references the blue and green hue of floral Stiletto!

Decor aside, I simply love these Stilettos for their colors, design or just plain fun:

These are just so sexy. They're by Giuseppe Zamotti. — These are just so sexy. They’re by Giuseppe Zamotti.

Now what could be more daring than Hot Pink Stiletto from Dior?

They’re just sweet and so down to “country” earth!

I must include the following two Stilettos. They’re examples of platforms which I view as dangerous and should be sold with accident insurance.

Far from being a comprehensive show of the many wonderful designs, I could only give a few examples of Stilettos I find fascinating. And again, no I don’t own or wear them. Been there, done that during my very youthful years. Still, I love the look of them, marvel at the women who wear them, and like that they can be inspirations for home decorating. Or perhaps it’s the other way around?

You are of course free to let me know how you feel about them–or don’t feel about them!

The Case For A Chaise Lounge

My chaise lounge from Milling Road furniture

I have a chaise lounge. I love it. Ten years later from when I bought it, I continue to love it. Recently, while sipping a caramel leche and chatting with a new neighbor, we discovered that we both have a chaise lounge. But she said that not many people buy them. That got me to wondering if this is true; and if so, why don’t people buy them. I can certainly make a case for adding one to a decor.

Here is mine when I first bought it for a dining nook off a kitchen, including the garden.

I had placed the chaise lounge next to a bank of windows and a door to the patio and garden.

The dining nook was the perfect spot for relaxing, gazing out into the garden and watching squirrels try to outsmart my Yankee bird feeder. Winter months gave me stunning views of snowy days into the garden and the woods beyond, especially when a thick blanket of snow covered the garden then lit by the sun. It was a very relaxing spot and a great place for reading.

I once had two guests who sat for hours on the chaise having a tête-à-tête while the rest of us enjoyed a patio tea. I still sometimes wonder what on earth they were talking about!

Winter scene of my Northern Virginia garden

That was in Northern Virginia. I have since moved to a lovely coastal town in Wilmington, NC. My chaise sits in storage to which I can’t stand it much longer and will set it up in my home studio. Hope I’ll be able to get work done in my home studio with a chaise lounge in it!

For this post, off to the internet I went to do some research (the Wiki of course) and I stopped by Pinterest for great images on contemporary styles for the chaise. This is what I discovered. The “lounge” in chaise lounge is really misspelled. It should be chaise “longue,” the French spelling and meaning for long chair.

You can use that tidbit of info in your next trivia game. It’s historical use actually is believed to have originated with the Egyptians. This lounging chair was also enjoyed by the modern Greeks “as early as the 8th century BC,” the Romans, the Etruscan and then of course down through to our modern times.

The design evolved through many different shapes: a back with one arm or no arms; a back and two arms; the broken chair style; the back and foot support style; the foot rolled down to the floor; and the sleek modern look that I so adore.

Prices range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, and I mean thousands of dollars. Here are just a few examples:

Chaise Lounge with downward foot roll, found on Splendid SASS Blogspot

Designed by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, produced by Cassina and found on Design Within Reach

Since my above chaise lounge images are neutral in color (my favorite), I’ve added these just to show that chaises do come in colors, striking colors–limited only by the imagination and fabric availability.

I thought this a fabulous chaise for the Man Cave! It's a Zero (tm) chaise lounge that can be found on Pinterest for PROJECT DÉCOR. — I thought this a fabulous chaise for the Man Cave! It’s a Zero ™ chaise lounge that can be found on Pinterest for PROJECT DÉCOR.

So how is a chaise used in contemporary decors? One thing is for sure, the chaise is not just for the boudoir! Now that’s something I would say most of us don’t have. A chaise lounge is truly designed for comfort. Almost any room and corner of a room reserved for just comfort are ideal: family rooms, library rooms, dining nooks, even dining rooms, media rooms, her space, his space–all great places. Most often you will find chaise lounges parked around swimming pool areas and on patios. Not all of us have such a wonderful luxury. And so I focus on the use of it in indoor rooms.

You can even get one for your beloved pet:

A chaise lounge adds variety to your furniture ensemble. In fact, it takes the ordinariness out of a room. It gives more surface to bring in more colors, patterns and textures into the decor. Have you guessed what I’m about to say next? No? Well, alright, it’s a great place to add decorative pillows! (You do know I make them, don’t you?) The Romans did it. Oh, excuse me, we know what happened to them. But it was not from all that sitting around, dining in reclined positions on piles of pillows on a chaise lounge! So there, it’s okay to have piles of pillows on a chaise lounge.

Are people buying chaise lounges? I believe so. There are so many different styles available in furniture stores. When looking to add an specially interesting seating, the chaise is definitely a good choice. Why not go for being “You-nique”, check out and add a chaise lounge to your decor.

Already have a chase lounge? I’d love to know. Tell me about it!

Spice It Up with a Pouf

Need some extra seating by the coffee table but don’t have space for a bulky chair? How about considering the use of a pouf?

Poufs are becoming quite a trend but some of us don’t really see what the use of a pouf would be. In reality, a pouf, which is really a floor pillow, may also seem uncomfortable for some. But with the right pouf, it can provide additional storage, seating and much more, so don’t miss out on pouf madness!

First, let’s talk about how to find the right pouf. Like a sofa or mattress, it’s always a great idea to try one out first. Certain heights and cushions will make it easy to sit comfortably for a long time. Once you’ve done the comfort test, think about why you’d like to purchase one: is it for adding color or pattern? Adding seating? Adding storage? Or adding another option for comfort?

Poufs come in all shapes, patterns and colors, so have some fun by challenging yourself to pick something different. Let’s say you have a modern setting and would like to add some color. Choosing a pouf could provide just that. If you have furniture that is really square and serious, a good way to lighten up the atmosphere is to pick a soft and fun shape to complement the space. Imagine having friends over and they see an unconventional pouf surrounding a table. The first thing they think about is if they should sit on it; and yes, it will be tempting.

Afraid of pattern? Choosing a pouf with your favorite pattern that goes with the existing scheme will break your pattern fear. Just think about it; poufs are sort of like pillows in a sense that they can accent a space and make it interesting.

Need other reasons to use a pouf? Well, if you have a favorite side chair that is just begging for some kind of ottoman, using a unique poufs instead would be a great alternative. They are also less expensive than a bulky ottoman. Another good thing is that if you have more than one favorite side chair, carry your pouf around worry free. Instead of purchasing a side table, poufs also make great “tables”. Just place a decorative tray on top and arrange on top. It’s about thinking outside the box after all! Free up space if you live in a small home by tucking poufs under a table. They make great space savers since most can be tucked under a console table and pull them out when you have those big parties.

So when it comes down to it, poufs are so versatile that they could be used in any space and it is a unique way to solve a lot of functional decorative issues.

Would you consider getting a pouf and for what reason?

About The Author

Valarie Baser graduated from the Chaminade University of Honolulu and studied at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where her peers included design contemporaries Nina Garcia (Project Runway), Toni Chi (International Restaurant Designer) and Matthew Patrick Smith (Interior Designer). Prior to founding her interior design firm, she worked as a Design Assistant for an interior design firm and on a number of theater set projects in Hawaii.

Valarie is a guest contributor and a fabulous find for Annsliee’s blog. Each month, she will be sharing more of her decorating wisdom with you. Can’t wait? Try her services with a 10% discount. Just enter coupon code “VMDECOR10” at her Etsy shop.

Upholstered Headboard Ideas: Indulge Yourself

I was paging through a decor magazine one afternoon last year and ran across an article about upholstered headboards which is now a hot trend. I thought it interesting at the time but simply turned the page. (Yep . . . my love for reading includes decor magazines and books.) I later began to notice just how true the article was. One decor magazine after another and one decorating book after another all had copious images of upholstered headboards. What struck me was that this is a fabulous way to add color, patterns and even stateliness to the bedroom. It’s practical (for us-read-in-the-bed people) and many of the designs can easily be done on a weekend DIY project. Here are just a few examples of these gorgeous bedroom furnishings.

Don’t you just love the coral in this bedroom and the queen-like designed headboard, tufted and detailed with a contrasting trim on the border.

Feminine and fun in red but not so much red as to disturb sleeping. The fabric pattern and colors is just stunning. What a lucky cat!

This is such a simple, clean color scheme in blue and white where the tufted semi-wrap around headboard adds texture. A touch more texture is added with the wall accent. Beautiful.

Here’s another semi-wrap around headboard detailed in a buttoned tuft and nail head finish. The seriousness of the gray is juxtaposed with the happy yellow and neutral white pillows.

Orange and turquoise . . . what a lovely color combination. If you feel threatened by the more elaborate headboards above as a DIY project, the one below is a prefect candidate for a week end project. You’ll spend more time having fun just picking out the fabric!

The shape on this headboard, and of course the lovely pattern and colors, is simplistic and handsome. Oh, those decorative pillows really add a lot of fun to the composition!

Exquisite comes to my mind when I look at the this headboard. The shape is simple but the fabric is stunning and detailed with a self welt. The idea here is that you can translate this simple rectangle shaped headboard to an easy DIY project and just add a drop-dead gorgeous ikat or some other fabric that you love. Complement this with decorative pillows (see me of course for this project) and whoa! You’ve got drama extraordinaire.

Discovered on Pinterest (Luce ikat fabric from Madeline Weinrib to the trade.)

Am I winning you over with these wonderful upholstered headboards yet or am I just preaching to the choir? Blue and yellow and white are always a great color scheme but here the yellow and white floral fabric on the headboard says I’m just sooooo happy to be alive. I really love how the rounded shape of the flowers couples with the rounded crown of the headboard and together the shapes counter the squares in the coverlet and the stripes in the rug.

When I saw this headboard, I thought “just take me there”: rich cocoa fabric accented with contrasting button tufts and trim on a crown and curling headboard frame.

Can a teen really resist loving this gold heart-shaped headboard?

Yes, even young boys can join in and experience the fun and comfort of an upholstered headboard, given the right manly height.

Getting it done

There are so many more design shapes and fabric for an upholstered headboard and the possibilities are seemingly endless. You can also just mount them on the wall.

Are you a DIY type? Here’s a great Youtube video by PinkSoFoxy on making a tufted headboard. The how to info is nicely detailed and the finished headboard is really plush.

Remember: Be Bold! (And do feel free to come back and talk to me about complimentary decorative pillows for your upholstered headboard.) Not a DIY type? You can of course find a carpenter to make the frame and an upholsterer to cover the frame. Or you go to a good home decor and fabric store where you can pick out the fabric and the store would have a third party vendor make it for you. These are custom ordered projects. I had one made at Calico Corner many years ago and it was very nicely done.

Already have a wood headboard that you’re lamenting was upholstered? Not to worry, I’ll address that in a later post because I too have a wood headboard with wonderfully turned posts. I also like the idea of adding color, pattern the comfort of the padding and the lovely detailing that makes the whole setting more stately. For the time being, I’ll just have fun looking for just the right drop-dead-can’t-live-without fabric.

So what do you think? Time to consider an upholstered headboard to plush up the bedroom?

Selecting Art to Match Your Existing Decor

By Guest Contributor: Valarie Mitchelle, VmDecor

You’ve selected your furniture and have everything in place but still…something is missing. If you feel that your home feels a bit drab, it could because there are no statement pieces placed throughout your home. Statement pieces are items or subjects that make you contemplate the story or feeling behind it. Sometimes its clear what the message is and sometimes it’s not. What are statement pieces? They can be accessories, sculptural art and also painted art. Selecting painted art as a statement piece is the most popular option because it’s easier. Each painting tells a unique story, can be purchased in different sizes and is much safer for shipping. This post will help you learn how to select art to Match Your Existing Decor by determining your style.

For The Love Of Spring, Water Color On Paper by Janet B. Sessoms, Wilmington, NC

Are You Traditional?

Traditional home decor will have a lot of ornate furniture pieces. For example, furniture legs will be curved and will have a lot of detailed carvings. Most wood materials will have intricate symmetrical designs displaying impeccable craftsmanship. Usual color schemes for traditional home decor settings are earth toned warm colors such as red, brown and green. Accessories such as a mirror or table lamps will often have bronze accents.

If you have a Traditional home decor, then the best art would be floral pictures or still life paintings in oil. If you want to go a bit bold, select modern still life photography instead.

Are You Contemporary?

A contemporary home decor will have furnishings that are simple and sleek when it comes to shape. There is not much detail and carvings in wood, in fact, hardly any. Instead of detail, contemporary design is more focused on materials like reclaimed wood, marble or stainless steel. Basic colors schemes for this type of design are either neutral hues that are light or different shades of one color leading to a more monochromatic color scheme. Geometric patterns are also used to add more variation.

Nothing To Against, Black White Traditional Ink Painting by Manjuzaka, Hong Kong Island

If you have a contemporary home decor setting, then the best art is abstract, still life photography or any art that experiments with various materials. If you want to go bold, select a graphic giclee art poster with written statement to show off your sense of typography.

Are You For Shabby Chic?

If you have a shabby chic home decor, then the best art for this type of setting are floral prints that have a neat and tidy look. Also botanical and bug pressing will add more of a natural feel. These types of art will bring out more femininity in this type of setting, while staying soft on the eyes. For the framing, select a frame that has glitz and glamour. If you want to go bold, select a colorful fantasy type painting.

Found on Foxy Lounge, Art by Angela Staehling

Are You Eclectic?

An eclectic home decor will have a careful blend of different pieces from various time periods. Furniture, as an example, may include an asian influenced cabinet with a Scandinavian side chair topped on a Turkish area rug. A complete look for this type of decor is pulled together by color, pattern or specific textile. This decor tends to have a, “collected over the years,” look where accessories usually have sentimental value and carries meaning to its owners.

Selecting art to fit your current home decor will depend on your style. Any art selected should of course reflect you. So have fun, explore your tastes, likes and dislikes while trying something new.

What’s your favorite kind of art that you have in your home?

About the Author

Located in New York, NY, Valarie is an interior designer and owner of Valarie Michelle Decor LLC (www.vmdecor.com), a drafting and rendering service that illustrates a client’s vision. A guest contributor and a fabulous find for Annsliee’s blog. Each month, she will be sharing more of her decorating wisdom with you. Can’t wait? Try her services with a 10% discount. Just enter coupon code “VMDECOR10” at her Etsy shop.

7 Inspirational Designs For The Man Cave

Would a man have a decorative pillow in his man cave? Of course, why wouldn’t he? After all, he’ll need a pillow when he naps, and he has to have something to throw near his 52” screen television when his favorite ball team looses a game.

I once made a tailored steel gray pillow. While installing the insert, that ridiculous notion came to my mind. Why I often think steel gray is a “masculine” color, I don’t know but I do. Anyway, I was plumping up the pillow for a photo shoot when my curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself goggling “man cave.” I discovered that indeed men have decorative throw pillows in their “man caves” but that ain’t all!

On their blog, “The Art of Manliness,” Brett and Kate McKay write,

In reading about the lives of history’s great men, one thing I’ve noticed is that many of them had a place they could go to be alone with their thoughts. Some of these men had a study where they would retreat to think, read, and write. Others had a garage or workshop where they would tinker and experiment. But what all these rooms had in common was their sheer manliness. They were man spaces, places a man could call his own.

The McKay’s include descriptions and photos of 14 great men. I list just a few of their photos here:

Frederic Douglas's Office — Frederic Douglas’s Office

Mark Twain's Man Space (Perhaps jotting down thoughts for one of his famous biting satirical novels.) — Mark Twain’s Man Space (Perhaps jotting down thoughts for one of his famous biting satirical novels.)

Thomas Jefferson's Man Space. What a lovely room. He didn't even have to leave it to take a nap. — Thomas Jefferson’s Man Space. What a lovely room. He didn’t even have to leave it to take a nap.

Andrew Carnegie's Study with a tufted sofa and, yes, a lovely throw pillow on which to rest his head. — Andrew Carnegie’s Study with a tufted sofa and, yes, a lovely throw pillow on which to rest his head.

Even Winston Churchill made time to paint alone in his painting room.

7 Inspiring Contemporary Designs For The Man Cave:

For the modern man with expanded interests, the Man Space becomes more poignantly the Man Cave, such as those found on Styleture:

Do men share their man caves with women?

One very interesting comment about the examples listed on the website Styleture was “It’s not a man cave without a bar”! (Note the throw pillow on the leather sofa, hint, hint:):)

Themed man caves are especially interesting and fun, such as these that I discovered on theme Man Caves My Bad Pad . I hope these men don’t have a “men only” sign on the door.

A Harley-Davidson Man Cave Bar carved into a garage. The next image is another view of the Harley Bar Man Cave. Geez, I love this room and I don't even ride motorcycles:) — A Harley-Davidson Man Cave Bar carved into a garage. The next image is another view of the Harley Bar Man Cave. Geez, I love this room and I don’t even ride motorcycles:)

Hope you didn't miss the other view above of this Harley-Davidson Man Cave Bar. — Hope you didn’t miss the other view above of this Harley-Davidson Man Cave Bar.

This room says just give me the facts, ma'am. — This room says just give me the facts, ma’am.

Also from my bad pad, I particularly love this “bad ass” sofa created from the front end of a Cadillac for Snoop Dog.

I love these man caves and man spaces. They are just soooo cool, practical and functional–and yet, they’re fun and tastefully done. They’re wonderful expressions of the man of the house, a place to retreat to and be himself. I’m a strong proponent for every women having a room of her own–and men too!

(This post is an updated republished post from the archived Annsliee-blogs.net, October 11, 2011.)

So guys, fess up. What is your dream for a man cave?

Create A Fabulous Entrance

Your entrance says hello to your guests and a welcome back to you. Your hello can convey drama, casual comfort or just love lives here–and be fabulous. Believe it or not, the size of your hall or entry way doesn’t really matter. If you live in an apartment or home where walls and floor space for a foyer are absent, you can still create the illusion of an entry with a screen or the placement of furniture. Do read on.

Say hello with drama: use bold colors, statement furnishings such as a tables and chairs and wall accessories:

Remember you don’t have to have a large space to create an inviting color palette, such as the pink and gold in this image. It’s essence can be created with a period chair with a pink patterned cushion and a small (even a lumbar) pillow and a coordinating lamp. Capture the gold in a lamp base and mirror. Add a small table, particularly one with a drawer for keys and mail. The furnishings in this image can easily be purchased at auctions, thrift stores that sell upscale, even garage sales.

The image below is a wonderful examples of just a few choice pieces. The fun wallpaper is called Beware The Moon Ostrich. I absolutely love the accent color scheme of a dramatic black and white chair paired with the leopard animal print pillow and then juxtaposed with the soft red and cream of a beautiful and feminine artwork.

Elegant, classy and bold is found in the example below. The strong black and gold trims and accessories become even more poignant against the light taupe and cream striped wall.

The next one is very definitely one my most favorites! I need more adjectives to say this is indeed my most favorite entryway. I have a very large mirror that once hung on the wall of my last home in Northern Virginia. But now that I have downsized to a lovely coastal apartment, I’ve been toying with the idea of unpacking the mirror and lean it against a wall in the hall. In fact, add more visual interest through layering and add an abstract stencil on the wall; add a small boxy modern table; and a collection of boxes and a small lamp. There is not enough room for bench but I love the idea of over-sized baskets. Well, looks like I’ve got my entryway solved. Okay, let’s try a few more ideas for you.

Chests and credenzas are great for creating a fabulous entrance, be it dramatic or casual. Not only can it make a grand statement but it also provides storage.

Discovered on Nordic Days blog. I'm guessing but this wall storage unit looks like a shoe storage unit doubling as an entry way! How clever. — Discovered on Nordic Days blog. I’m guessing but this wall storage unit looks like a shoe storage unit doubling as an entry way! How clever.

Creating a fabulous entryway is a great place to add a gallery: paintings, family photos or a collection of photos you love. Your guests will always want to stop, admire and talk with you about your beautiful collection–and you will always be greeted with things you love that stop you at the door to make you smile.

Of course, if it’s glamour you prefer to see when your home welcomes you back, here are a couple of lovely decor templates.

My New Orleans Home.com. (Oops, looks like someone forgot to remove the clear wrap from the lampshades.)

Okay, so you live in an apartment or home where you open the door and look directly into your living space. But you like the idea of having a little space that says “stop here first.” As I said above, and I’ve done it myself in an apartment, add a screen. There are hundreds (probably thousands) of them from which to choose, such as solid wood designs, bamboos, framed with fabrics, glass art or just clear glass.

You know the old saying, “Home is where the heart is.” I say it begins when you open the door–smiling faces are the best. Second best is a warm, fabulous “enter here.”

Are you taking another look at your foyer or thinking how to create one?