Curate My Life Posts

Design Inspiration: New York Fashion Week

Sep 27, 2019 No Comments

By: The Balance Design Team

The runways are an inspiration to many in terms of fashion, but to us they are so much more. The stunning looks at the recent New York Fashion Week have motivated us to step up our point of view when when it comes to interior design in so many ways. Let’s dive in!

Stephanie’s Pick

Photo Courtesy of Vogue-Michael Kors Collection

Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie

Delicious.  Michael Kors drapes these fabrics to show off the model’s curves with effortless style.  The rich spicy hues are eye catching yet subtle.  This Anthropologie tête-à-tête has a similar vibe – rich, spicy, and curvy.  The entire design harks back to a Parisian salon, yet still feels up to date and fresh.

Jen’s Pick

Photo Courtesy of Vogue- Redemption Collection

Photo Courtesy of Romo

Muted color tones and nuanced florals were seen all over the runways this year. Redemption’s new ready to wear collection for Spring 2020 was no exception! Soft pink florals and paisleys were layered with crisp creams and metallics to create a look that embraces modern femininity in a fresh way. On the interiors front, Romo’s newest collection of wallcoverings and fabrics, Japura, showcases a similar trend for the modern home. Soft colorful shades are becoming the new neutrals when paired with intricately detailed floral motifs. These reimagined botanical prints are nothing short of dreamy, and we can’t wait to spec from this collection for our clients!

Melody’s Pick

Photo Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar- Lela Rose Collection

Photo Courtesy of Instagram – bambetleblog

Playing with color can be more than mixing and matching pieces with different tones. Lela Rose uses color blocking to make a pant suit evoke a light and playful vibe, while still being fierce. The same can be applied to interiors! Have fun with color-blocking of unconventional areas by using contrasting shapes with bold hues and turn your space into a work of art!

Margo’s Pick

Photo Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar- Prabal Gurung

Photo Courtesy of Made Goods

I’m really attracted to artsy and unique styles in design and also in fashion. I think these earrings are awesome examples of expression and creating ‘outside of the box’. This dresser is just like the gorgeous earrings of Prabal Gurung- the jewelry to complete a beautifully designed space!

When designing your own space and need inspiration, turn to the runway for unique color and silhouette combinations!

The High End Ikea Life

Aug 23, 2019 No Comments

By: The Balance Design Team

We love to mix things up in pretty much every way — patterns, styles, colors, and even price range. There’s room for every level of budget in our designs, and we’re here to show you how to mix your finally-got-that-raise purchase with your I’m-not-spending-more-than-$100-on-that staples. We thought it would be fun to show you how our designers pair a cool Ikea piece with some medium and high end items and create a complete designer look.

Shelby’s pick:

You have to admire the classic clean look of IKEA’s Hilver table — perfect for a desk. Pairing this piece with a mustard desk chair from Chairish and matching art print by Eva Magill Oliver creates a mid century vibe for an office space in a small ranch home. I love the teal/rose/white color combination on the wall in the above photo (courtesy of The Old Piggery) and a simple woven teal rug to balance out the pops of yellow. And how about that stunning silhouette on the CB2 brass desk lamp? A hanging Hoya plant finishes off the space and gives it the playful touch it deserves!

 

Melody’s pick:

Don’t let the style of one piece dictate the aesthetic of the whole room — mix things up to get a real global feel! I saw this modern woven pendant light from IKEA and instantly thought to pair it with a comfy shaggy rug. Of course you also need equally comfortable seating, and the rich rust cushion of this Anthropologie carved daybed brings out the pop of color in the CB2 rug. Deep teals and bright blues are perfect accents to such a warm tone, and the combination of a bold pouf from Etsy and intensely saturated grasscloth are just the thing this room needs. The cherry on top of this easy-going, worldly look is a fringed hanging planter from World Market. Get cozy!

 

Danielle’s pick:

What’s in a name? Sometimes nothing! Let the quality of materials speak for themselves rather than the brand name of the item. Here I’ve paired stunning sterling silver flatware from Tiffany & Co. and engraved Saks Fifth Avenue stoneware canape plate with a classic 100% linen tea towel from (ready for this?) IKEA. I love the combination of these vintage bentwood chairs with caned seats and an affordable-yet-durable French garden inspired rug. A brutalist end table made of charred, 100-year-old reclaimed wood from collapsed barns in Transylvania and inkblot-style wallpaper from Schumacher add the right amount of grit and edge to ground this delicate room. Plus, the table provides the perfect perch for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Delightful!

The moral of this story is: look for the hidden gems. Whether it’s a simple desk, a funky pendant, or a classic textile, you never know when a super special piece might jump out at you from the least expected places, even at Ikea.

5 Surprising Book Storage Solutions

Jul 19, 2019 No Comments

By: The Balance Design Team

Summer reading materials getting a little out of control? Yearning for a way to celebrate your impressive collection of classic literature AND Marvel comics? Well why go the normal route when a storage solution can be part of the presentation? Observe:

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

We wouldn’t ordinarily tell you to keep your books on a staircase, but there’s no danger of tripping over them in this design that uses the protruding edges as shelves. This staircase/bookshelf is clean, modern, space saving, and honestly pretty genius.

Photo courtesy of Did Ya See?

This one reads right out of a Disney movie (pun intended). A ceiling bookcase is whimsical and orderly all at once, keeping the daily workspace free of clutter while creating a magnificent focal point.

Photo courtesy of Behance.

Minimalists, do you struggle to find a way to store your books that doesn’t make your head want to explode? These floating shelves are symmetrical and geometric, and don’t involve stacks and stacks of visual clutter.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Then again, maybe you like a little non-linear fun! This mandala bookcase is part storage solution, part full wall art, and all awesome.

Photo courtesy of HGTV.

It’s a lounge chair, it’s a bookcase, it’s the perfect all-inclusive reading nook! Don’t let the small footprint fool ya — this guy packs 27 square feet of storage space (plus a hidden compartment).

Whether you’ve got enough space to build your own custom library, or need something a little more compact, your bookshelves don’t have to be boring. What are some other non-traditional storage solutions for your reading collection?

5 Magnificent Modern Rugs

Jun 28, 2019 No Comments

By: Danielle Clockel

In design, the word “modern” refers to a wide range of attributes. And for rugs, these qualities tend to be pretty bold, distinctly separating themselves from other styles. So what makes a rug modern?

Photo courtesy of Loloi Rugs.

Monochrome grid. Paired with similarly angular pieces or contrasting curved furnishings, this is a minimalist combination that’s always on the cutting edge of style.

Photo courtesy of 1st Dibs.

Bright, saturated color. Coincidentally, such hues are often found in vintage rugs — isn’t it interesting when something old still feels super modern?

Photo courtesy of Kyle Bunting.

Textural optical illusion. Combining different materials (or alternating shades of the same iridescent material) and arranging them in just the right way can play the most delightful trick on the eyes. Look closer…

Photo courtesy of The Rug Company.

Geometric shapes. The bigger and more askew, the better for a totally abstract, totally modern look.

Photo courtesy of Elsebeth Studio.

Irregular shape. Don’t be a square (or rectangle) — an unconventionally shaped rug is a surefire way to bring your space into the future, where there’s plenty of different shapes to adorn your floors.

While we love our oushaks and flatweaves, a truly unique modern rug is always inspirational. Sometimes you gotta ditch the well-traveled path and go your own way — and if that way includes funky, fearless rugs, we say all the better!

Let Us Illuminate You: 4 Unique Light Fixtures

May 03, 2019 No Comments

By: The Balance Design Team

Often, a great room design starts with finding the perfect light fixture as inspiration. Whether it be modern, traditional, farmhouse, or eclectic in style, a light fixture can set the tone for the entire space. Here are a few unique light fixtures that we’ve been fawning over lately, anxious to use in a new design project.

Photo Courtesy of Allied Maker 

As designers, we can tire of the “popular trends” that you see so much of in the mainstream market. We love this pendant from Allied Maker because it is functional adornment — a visually interesting architectural accent that transcends the trends of the moment. There is a lot to love about it, like the mix of materials (glass/leather/metal) and how the frosted glass shade bathes a room with diffused light. The bulb actually shines light onto the inner wall of the glass to create this soft effect. Simple, classic, enduring.

Photo Courtesy of NextLevelStudio

Etsy is a go-to source for lighting inspiration. Artisans selling their one of a kind designs can be both personal and cost effective. This sculptural chandelier feels like a game of Jenga meets LED lighting meets Hygge. Can you even get more eclectic than that?

Photo Courtesy of Umat Yamac

We have absolutely fallen in love with the abstract lighting designs of London-based designer Umat Yamac. Inspired by nature and the clean lines and geometric forms of origami, all fixtures in the Perch Light Collection are constructed from synthetic paper and are complemented by brass metal accents. A special mechanism within the fixtures allows each bird to sway back and forth, creating an ethereal and immersive experience. Swoon…

Photo Courtesy of MadeByLuum

Oversized, bespoke chandeliers are typically thought of in grand, traditional settings and usually include crystal and sparkle. We’re here to tell you there are more options — and they work with a variety of styles! This chandelier by LUUM Lighting mimics the graceful filtered light of a forest canopy. The cut metal discs cascade down like leaves on a vine. This is certainly a statement piece, as it is as much artwork as it is light source. It’s the perfect marriage of grandiose and natural simplicity.

So whether you’re in the mood to spruce up your own space or looking to get inspired for a professional project, keep in mind that something as seemingly insignificant as a light fixture might actually be that missing link you’ve been searching for. And remember that great design stands the test of time — whether one year from now or twenty.