Posts Tagged "Interior Design"

How to Decorate a Small Space

Posted by Rachel Ashley on May 21, 2013 in Fashionably Interior Design | 1 comment

Hi lovelies!  I am excited to welcome Rebecca to Fashionably Living today!  Rebecca is guest posting today and has some fabulous tips on decorating a small space!  I hope you enjoy today’s post!

XO,
Rachel Ashley

Although small living spaces are often dubbed as the bane of any homeowner’s existence, there are actually lots of positives to having these ‘cozy’ rooms – see glass half full without even trying!  Small living spaces not only force you to declutter your life, brutally discarding any pointless possessions, but also to be more creative when it comes to interior design ideas.

With these inspiring and helpful tips, make the best out of your small living spaces.

Get Storage Savvy

When you are short on space, you have to be savy with your storage solutions.  Celebrated furniture designer, George Nelson created a number of inspiring storage pieces during his career.  These include his Vertical and Horizontal Sideboards.  If you are particularly pushed for space, the Vertical Sideboard is an excellent choice as it won’t take up too much space as

George Nelson’s iconic sideboard units are perfect storage solutions for small spaces.  During his career, Nelson created the Vertical and Horizontal Sideboards.  If you are particularly pushed for space, the Vertical Sideboard is a great option.  In terms of the space it takes up compared to the amount of storage you get, it’s a win win situation.  With a real wood walnut veneer finish, this stunning piece would be a welcomed addition to any small interior.

In particular, hallways are often cramped spaces, used solely for passing through.  If you are short on storage, invest in a neat storage like George Nelson’s Vertical Sideboard from SwivelUK, in order to stylishly hide any clutter, papers etc.

Sliding Doors

Doors can take up unnecessary space so in order to get back some of this room but still retain some privacy, invest in sliding doors.  They are not only a great space-saver but will also make a place feel less cluttered.

With so many materials and designs to choose from including durable, long-lasting, recyclable and eco-friendly, there are sliding doors to suit all interior decor schemes.  These space saver solutions will also make your interior look streamlined; perfect for fresh, minimalist, modern spaces.

Go for Cube

Cube-style pieces such as this stunning Ottoman by Le Corbusier doubles up as a footstool, as well as a coffee table to put magazines on etc.  Made from individually stitched pieces of leather, this piece would be great in any living area or could even be used as a modern and luxurious bedside table. Pieces with this harmonious shape are easily moved and can fit into awkward spaces or corners so are perfect for small interiors.

Floor Lamps

If you are short on space and don’t want stark, overhead lighting then a floor lamp can be a great way to create adequate, ambient lighting.

With so many designs to choose from, there are pieces to suit all interior.  This Loft style small floor lamp by Jean-Louis Domecq was first created in the 1950s.  It has been repeatedly reproduced since it’s creation due to it’s unique blend of functionality and style.

This stunning lamp consists of 6 arms but there is another extension which can be attached.  This design allows this piece to be manipulated in any shape or form whilst all moving parts rotate up to a 180 degree angle.  This piece is robust, stylish and allows you to create atmosphere lighting without taking up too much space in the process.  A great choice for small home offices or cozy living rooms.

All images in this article are copyright and courtesy of SwivelUK.

Author Bio: Rebecca is an interior design aficionado who frequently writes about her musings and findings.

Design Elements: Adding Color

Posted by Rachel Ashley on Mar 22, 2013 in Fashionably Interior Design | 4 comments

Hi lovelies!  Happy Friday!  I know I have been telling you my life is crazy busy, and I haven’t been posting as often the past couple weeks, but my blog is super important to me and I want to thank all my followers for your support and sweet comments!  It really means a lot to me and I think its important to tell you often, how grateful I am for all of you, I digress!

Today I am excited to talk to you about color!  Now that spring is here, a lot of people change out their pillows add flowers to vases, etc. to bring color and life into their home.  I wanted to give you 5 helpful and fun tips on how to add color to your home this spring and summer!  These tips are inexpensive and super easy!

Enjoy!

Xo,

Rachel Ashley

1. Painting a drab, old dinning room table, your favorite color! Paint is a quick and easy way to add color to furniture.

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2. Add pops of color in unexpected places like the inside of bookcases or cabinets.  

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3. Add colored vases and flowers to a kitchen or any room in your home!

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4. Painting curtain rods a bright color is an adorable way to add color to your window!

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5. Paint a wall an accent color.  If your not brave enough to paint an entire wall, you could paint a small wall like shown below.

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Dressed in Yellow

Posted by Rachel Ashley on Mar 5, 2013 in Fashionably Fashionable | 12 comments

Hello lovelies!  Sorry my posting has been a little sporadic!  Ever since we got home from the cruise, life has been pretty busy!  This last weekend was so much fun!  I was blessed to attend two fabulous gala events!  On Sunday, I wore this fabulous yellow Maggy London dress to a Children’s Cancer Fashion show!  Attire, was spring dresses and check out my Prada shoes, I purchased these after my very first “real” interior design job!  Anyways, those kids and families were so awesome and they are so strong!  Dillard’s sponsored the Fashion show and allowed the children to choose outfits based on their fashion sense.  They all looked so cute!  It truly makes you count your blessings and thank God for your health!  My mom and I took a few photos around the hotel’s property, the flowers were simply gorgeous!!!  Enjoy!

XO,

Rachel Ashley

What I Wore:

Dress: Maggy London (get the look)/ Shoes: Prada/ Necklace: Lemonpie Auctions/

Bracelets: Forever 21/ Ring: Francesca’s/ Earrings: Vintage (my mom’s when she was young) 

Design Element: Mirrors

Posted by Rachel Ashley on Feb 22, 2013 in Fashionably Interior Design | 11 comments

Fashionably Living is excited to have Arcadian Home guest post today!  Arcadian Home is contributing to the Design Element Series!  Since it has been a while, lets recap the first three Design Elements in the Series.  The first in the series was lighting.  Lighting can make all the difference in a space.   The use of light in interior spaces greatly affects the environment and mood.  The second Design Element in the series was Space Evaluation.  When it comes to evaluating your space you have to see the space for exactly how it is.  Slow down and take a good look at your space and how you use it.  The third Design Element in the series is all about details!  I once heard, “A room with real flair most likely comes from the heart of a risk taker.”  Isn’t that the truth?!?   

Now, Mari from Arcadian Home will be sharing with all of you lovely readers the fourth Design Element in the series!

Hello, lovely blog readers!  It’s Mari here from Arcadian Home, a beautiful place to find lots of interior design inspirations, including amazing lighting fixtures, table decor ideas and lovely wall art.  I’m so excited to be visiting Fashionably Living today to share a guest post about one of my favorite decorative and functional design elements–mirrors.

From foyer to bath, I hope these rooms will inspire you to bring the beautiful reflective qualities of these beauties into your interior (and exterior) spaces.   Please enjoy!

A collection of gently aged mirrors in a wonderful mix of sizes and shapes creates the backdrop for this lovely vintage vignette.

Tall and narrow in a wide black frame, this mirror is perfect for the beautifully paneled space it occupies.  All in all this is a chic and stylish look with a gorgeous raspberry silk upholstered bench and lovely contemporary foyer lighting.

Mirrors are often used as focal points over fireplaces.  A massive sunburst mirror definitely draws the eye and creates excitement above this white-painted brick fireplace in an eclectic living room.

Another fireplace, this one with a classic look, gets the reflective treatment with a complicated gold-brushed framed rectangular mirror.  It leans casually against the wall rather than being hung—an interesting choice for such a formal space.

Oval wall mirrors have their own special look.  Here, a fancy feminine frame contrasts nicely with the rustic wood of the vanity.

Interior designer Tobi Fairley created this whimsical lilac and black bedroom for her daughter.  A massive black-framed floor mirror mounted on the wall reflects filtered sunlight and the stunning canopied daybed across the space.

A light-filled living room has an appealing global vibe.  Twin Moroccan mirrors add an exotic look to the space.

Mirrors can look magnificent in outdoor rooms.  Here’s one gorgeous example created with round mirrors set in intricately crafted frames. How beautiful they look against the golden-hued wall.

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these mirrors, and where would you put them in your home?  Leave us your comments and be sure to visit us for more home decor, lighting, and interior inspirations!

Design Elements: Its All In The Details

Posted by Rachel Ashley on Jan 8, 2013 in Fashionably Interior Design | 6 comments

Happy New Year!   I realized this is my first post in 2013!  Sorry its been a while since I posted last;  with the holidays coming to an end and finishing my Christmas vacation, I spent a lot of time relaxing!   I’m back in full swing and I am ready to have an amazing 2013!   I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you again for supporting me and Fashionably Living!   Your comments mean the world to me and I have so much fun meeting new people and creating new friendships in the blog world!  Cheers to a fabulous and blessed 2013!

In 2013, I want to continue to share with all of you one of my passions and that is Interior Design.  Since it has been a while, lets recap the first two.  The first in the series was lighting.  Lighting can make all the difference in a space.   The use of light in interior spaces greatly affects the environment and mood.  There are four basic types of lighting: accent, ambient,task and natural light.  Each type of lighting plays a specific role and it is important to know how to use each of them.  The second Design Element in the series was Space Evaluation.  When it comes to evaluating your space you have to see the space for exactly how it is.  Slow down and take a good look at your space and how you use it.   Decorating is fairly easy; only worry about two things: what items to put in your space and where to place each item.   Functional and emotional needs tell us what items to use and where to place them.  Both of these Design Elements are very important, but there is more.  “Its All In The Details”  is the third post in the Design Elements Series!  The word DETAILS can take on many meanings in the design world, anything from the architecture of a building to the to the styling of a coffee table.  I think for the majority of us Fashion lovers the details are the most exciting part!  I once heard, “A room with real flair most likely comes from the heart of a risk taker.”  Isn’t that the truth?!?  Details are the added touches a designer uses to make a space stand out.    My favorite part of design, comes from the details.  Details can be large or small.    The best part is they don’t have to be showy, sometimes its the smallest details that make the greatest impact.

I mentioned back in December via Twitter and Instagram that I was working on a very special project and I was so excited to share it with you!  I also Instagrammed or Instagram (not sure which is correct) a picture trying to see if anyone could guess the big Interior Design project I was working on.  I am ready for the big reveal, and I thought this would be a great way to show you how details can truly make an impact!  I painted this all by hand and it took about three days to finish, I was so pleased with the outcome!  I hope you love it as much as I do, and it inspires you to add DETAILS to your space!

 XO,

Rachel Ashley