lessons in design :: the power of contrasts
Thursday, August 25, 2011 by {darlene}

I believe in the power of contrasts.

I think that, if carefully and thoughtfully executed, the use of contrasts add depth and creative beauty to a space. Contrasts have the power to create that intangible element in a room that causes you to say, “There is just something about that space that makes it stunning.”

I suppose that is why I am always going on about the yin and the yang of farmhouse simplicity and high-gloss glamour:
I love the purity and breath of a simple, classic, farmhouse space.
&
I also love the breathtaking, show-stopping drama of a glamorous space.

…but combine the two concepts successfully, and you have a space that defies explanation. You have a raw beauty built on the power of contrasts.

The power of contrasts, a lesson in design from interior designer @fieldstonehill

To get started on the concept of contrasts, and learning how to bring this concept into your own home, lets take a look at two beautiful spaces and note how contrasts are being used in those spaces:

{sara gilbane interiors}

some of the contrasts present:

  1. highs vs. lows {ex. tall lines of the ceiling height and curtains vs. low back furnishings}
  2. bold vs. soft {ex. bold blue sofa vs. soft blue rug and loveseat; bold coral throw vs. soft coral lamp}
  3. horizontal vs. vertical {ex. vertical long curtains vs. horizontal wall stripes}
  4. soft vs. hard {ex. the velvets vs. metal and glass coffee table}
  5. round vs. square {ex. the round coffee table and round discs in the art vs. the squared lines of the furnishings}

{via apartment therapy}

some of the contrasts present:

  1. yellow vs. blue {ex. walls vs. the chairs. Yellow and Blue are opposites on the color wheel, so are contrasts unto themselves!}
  2. pattern vs. plain {ex. rug and walls vs. furnishings and curtains}
  3. texture vs. smooth {ex. the textured pillows, sheep, and flowers vs. the smooth upholstery, glossy art and curtains}
  4. bold vs. soft {ex. the bold turquoise chairs vs. the soft grays}

For one more example, you can hop over to a recent ditto post that I did, on the stunning space below. You can read it by clicking here. It breaks down all of the contrasts that are found in this gorgeous space, and why they are successful in this room.

There are so many more ways that you can create contrasts in your home.
I hope that these spaces and thoughts get you started on dreaming up ways you can add the power of contrasts into your own home.
– {darlene}
To see my Design Boards, click here. To read more about my Design Services, click here
And thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design. Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {this makes me giddy. click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, Following on Twitter, Following on Pinterest, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!

Labeled: contrast, lessons in design | 6 Comments
a room I love :: the dreamiest of all dream nooks
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by {darlene}

It’s Wednesday, so it must be “A room I love” time….just a simple hello, from me to you, featuring a Room that I Love, and a quick list of why I love it.
{It wouldn’t be Fieldstone Hill if I didn’t tell you how to start “dittoing” this space!}


When I first saw this space, it was love at first sight. I love teeny spaces. I love cozy offices. I love when a room defies its limits. And I just about flip over well-done built-ins. And this office is the dream of all dream-nooks.
{design by Scout for the Home}


What I love:

  1. how tiny this room is! I love the coziness of small spaces, but especially when it comes to creative spaces.
  2. greige-green! I am such a sucker for these tones.
  3. a large “L” shaped work surface
  4. beautiful art in a beautiful office; tucked everywhere.
  5. a window to a window. This makes me think that this space was once a closet. What a great way to bring light into a space that would otherwise have none. Light is essential for creative work!
  6. the creative, symmetrical, and lovely nooks…. in stead of a run-of-the-mill bookshelf.
  7. the fantastic light fixture that adds texture to the space.
  8. drawers. drawers. drawers. These particular drawers are gorgeous, but I also love the concept of using drawers instead of cabinets. Every square inch of storage is more reachable this way.
  9. lovely drawer pulls. This little detail matters; and even more so in a snug space.
I really, really love this room.
Do you love it??
– {darlene}

To see my Design Boards, click here. To read more about my Design Services, click here
And thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design. Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {this makes me giddy. click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, Following on Twitter, Following on Pinterest, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!

Labeled: A room I love | 6 Comments
ditto :: a blank slate that breathes
Monday, August 22, 2011 by {darlene}
Happy {ditto} Monday!
After spending a week of doing this:
…I am finding it hard to get back into the swing of this:
I am so glad that the colors of school don’t have to be all primary and hot-wired. …And that the blank slate of a blackboard seems limitless and free.
So, in the spirit of a relaxing school day that feels like a day at the beach:
I take my clues from the old-school blackboard and dream of spaces that are grayscale and peaceful.
This room {via apartment therapy} definitely fits the bill.
ditto :: {what I would steal from this space}:
  1. a room that breathes. Air can move freely through this space without being blocked. Even with large, comfortable upholstered furnishings, the flow in uninhibited due to their delicate legs. All of the tables breathe, with tall, thin legs and topped in glass. The lamps are waif-like or transparent so that natural light can pass by. Even all of the tree art seems to offer more oxygen to this flowing space. 
  2. a same-subject grouping of pictures. By sticking to the subject of pencil-drawn trees, but offering a variation of scale, there is both interest and calm.
  3. repetition, repetition, repetition. The art. The gilded frames. The colors. The pillows. The books. The bold blocks of cream and white. This room utilizes the tools of repetition. I find the concept of using objects “en masse” to be a powerful and dramatic tool in decorating. At the same time, a group of many objects is easy on the eyes. This is a tool I use a lot, and find it to bring a lot of peace into any room, and drama at the same time! Simplicity and drama, together? That is right up my alley.
  4. art that plays with scale. Big trees. Little Trees. {what begins with “T”?} Big Frames. Little Frames. They are alike, yet different. This is a fantastic way to keep a collection interesting, as well as making it easy on the eyes. Plus, with art, using differing sizes offers fantastic flexibility regarding wall placement.
  5. grayscale color scheme. I love this color scheme. Creams, whites, light grays, charcoals, almost-blacks. This scheme creates such a peaceful effect. Kinda like the blank slate of a fresh black board.
  6. a well organized bookshelf. I love how stately this X-braced shelf is. Perfectly tucked, so as not to inhibit the flow of air.
  7. living art: roses and coral. These both add life and breath to this space.
  8. minimizing objects beyond that which are useful, or are being used. When there is no clutter, and nothing is wasted {i.e. everything in your room is useful}, there is much peace in that. I am once again inspired to remove the clutter, but also, to not be afraid to scatter around the things that do bring me joy. 
What do you think of a grayscale room?
What would you ditto?
– {darlene}

**oh! thank you to all of you sweet thangs that indulged me in my giddy-Follower-thing. how fun! you guys really are darling!**
**and no new blog design yet. hopefully soon! final kinks {wink}**
To see my Design Boards, click here. To read more about my Design Services, click here. And for more ditto posts, click here.
This post is linked to the Tips and Tutorials Linky Party at HomeStoriesA2Z

Labeled: ditto | 7 Comments
catching up on some Z’s
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 by {darlene}

I am briefly dropping off of the face of the blog-o-sphere for some much needed R & R and a bitty blog-cation.

Oh, how I will miss you. {I know. I am so dramatic. it is just 5 days.}

But I will be back on Monday with a ditto.

And, maybe, just maybe, a new blog design! …Or at least sometime next week!

In the meantime,
1. Go register for Haven {because I want to meet you :)}
2. Go put your feet up {yes, indeed!}
and…
3. Go read my archived ditto posts, for decorating inspiration!! or enjoy some of our Fieldstone Hill renovation pics. or get your decorating groove on with lessons in design! YAY!

Oh, and Follow my blog! For no other reason than: I get unreasonably giddy when I see new followers. Seriously. There is something so fun about seeing new faces over there. Can you imagine how cool it would be if I logged back on Monday and saw lots of fun faces smiling at me…??!!!

I know. I am not the only one who is so giddy about it. really. let’s be honest. {wink}

Enjoy your week and weekend, and enjoy catching up on oldie-but-goodie posts!
– {darlene}

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labeled: blogland | 4 Comments