Upholstered Headboards

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Upholstered headboards say luxury. If you want your bedroom to be sumptuous, comfortable and plush an upholstered headboard is the answer. Nestling into bed and leaning against one of these beauties is a real treat at the end of a busy day. Headboards are the natural focal point of a bedroom and these upholstered options are definite eye catchers!

Interior design by Elizabeth Kimberly Design

Recently I was introduced to the gorgeous work of Elizabeth Kimberly Design by the blog Elements of Style and I was blown away by their beautiful portfolio. This oversized headboard caught my eye. This kind of color palette is frequently requested by our clients and is very popular in Calgary. Isn’t this just the most serene, elegant bedroom?

Interior design by Amanda Nisbet Design

Headboards are very dramatic if done in a bright color like this lovely violet. Against a chocolate brown wall this color is fantastic. There is no reason not to choose a vibrant shade or a pretty patterned fabric for your headboard.

Interior design by Amanda Nisbet Design

This is a sharp look for a teenage boy’s room. The upholstery tacks and contrasting edge detail are striking. A side note – check out the wallpapered ceiling, a trend I wrote about in a past post. It looks terrific in this room.

Interior design by Amanda Nisbet Design

Scalloped edges, contrast piping and buttons on these twin headboards make this kids room magical! The green and yellow combination is wonderful too.

Interior design by Tobi Fairley

This handsome headboard is reminiscent of a wing back chair. I think it would be the perfect thing to snuggle up against while reading a book on a cold winter’s night.

Interior design by Sarah Richardson

Canadian design maven Sarah Richardson designed this wingback headboard. She has created a line of upholstered furniture including headboards that are available at shops across Canada like Maria Tomas one of my favorite haunts in Calgary.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Headboards are most often custom made. They may have an upholstered base which the mattress sits inside or they may have no base and sit on the floor or attach to the wall. If they are not made with an attached base a bed skirt is required. The bed skirt may be made of the same material of the headboard or a fabric which complements the bedding. The headboard in this room that we designed has no base and sits on the floor behind the bed.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

This tiny master bedroom was a challenge for our design team and a custom headboard was the answer! We designed the headboard to fit precisely underneath the angled ceiling and stained its frame to match our custom designed nightstands.

Photo via Things That Inspire

This image was taken from a wonderful article brimming with very elegant photographs of bedrooms from the blog Things That Inspire. I highly recommend that you check out this article which features so many lovely upholstered headboards.

Interior design by Noel Jeffery photo via Things That Inspire

An entire wall has been upholstered and then the luxury has been doubled by placing an upholstered headboard in front of it! I’ll bet that this bedroom is whisper quiet because of all the fabric which helps to deaden noise.

Interior design by Tobi Fairley Design

I love this coral damask fabric used for this headboard. It is pretty and fresh on this very simple headboard style. It is making me think of spring!

Interior design by Palmer Weiss photo via Anh-Minh.com

This headboard has a traditional shape, but has been upholstered in a mod patterned fabric. I love the contrast between the two which creates a very unique focal point. Here the bed skirt has been manufactured out of the same fabric as the headboard.

Photo via Canadian House and Home

If you are planning on making your own simple headboard, Canadian House and Home featured a handy DIY Upholstered Headboard article which outlines the steps and materials required.

Since your bed is the most important feature of your bedroom, why not make a statement with an upholstered headboard? Choose an interesting shape, upholstery tacks, tufting, a patterned fabric or an exciting color to highlight your focal point. Add some luxury in your life with an upholstered headboard.

Cheers!

Freestanding Bathtubs

Bathroom design by Brian Gluckstein Design

A freestanding bathtub is like a sculpture. There is nothing that commands more attention in a bathroom more then a gorgeously placed tub. A freestanding bathtub makes the room seem larger, opening up the floor space behind the tub. It gives you an opportunity to create a beautiful feature beckoning you to take a moment to refresh your spirit. Here are a few tips and products to consider if you are thinking about a freestanding tub in your bathroom.

Bathroom design by Steve Gianetti photo via Velvet and Linen

Freestanding tubs may come in jetted or soaker options. More and more I am finding that our clients prefer the soaker tub variety because the noise of the air jet does not create the tranquil atmosphere they crave. Keep in mind that if you want a freestanding tub with air jets that you need to have a compressor hidden nearby in a closet for instance.

Bathroom design by Sarah Richardson Design

Freestanding tubs may be made of a variety of materials. Cast iron and acrylic is most common. If you go with a cast iron version, run the water to fill your tub hotter then you normally would. The cast iron needs to be heated up before it will retain the temperature of your water. Acrylic tubs tend to cool down faster, but there is a larger variety of styles and sizes to choose from.

Kohler manufactures this lovely bathtub called Vintage. It is designed to accommodate bathing for two people and has a simple but graceful line. Keep in mind that you will need a beautiful tub filler to go along with your freestanding tub. Handheld shower sprays are always practical for cleaning the tub. They are also handy for washing the hair of your little ones!

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

We installed this tub which is very similar to the Kohler model above in a recent renovation we completed. This bathroom is in the same house that was featured in an earlier post called French Country Kitchen.

The unique furniture legs of this tub make it an interesting choice. The Iron Works tub is also by Kohler.

Bain Ultra specializes in bubble jet tubs, but their models are also available as soakers only. The simple clean lines of this tub, the Sanos make it a lovely choice.

Photo via Everything Bathtubs

This ultra modern tub from Duravit was designed by French designer extraordinaire Phillip Stark. It features a water channel that runs around its base that is covered in either a wood deck (shown) or a stone base. I love the Zen feel of this tub.

Bathtub by Flaminia

A shelf has been incorporated into the design of this tub. It’s very interesting, but I wonder if it would be too gimmicky after a while. One of the negatives about a free standing tub is that there is not a convenient spot to put items you may need while bathing. The great thing about this tub is that problem has been solved!

Bathroom design by Sarah Richardson Design

Another way of handling storage near a freestanding tub is to have a small table next to the tub. Sarah Richardson has done this beautifully in this bathroom.

Photo via Kitchen and Bath Ideas

The classic footed tub is always a winner! This version has the classic high back and gorgeous silver feet. Not all footed tubs are cast iron. Some are available in acrylic.

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

For this project in the Calgary neighborhood of Lake MacKenzie a claw footed tub was a natural choice to complement the traditional taste of our client. Originally, this bathroom had a very large deck mounted tub under the window. Removing the enormous platform and making way for this pretty freestanding tub opened up this room and made it feel much larger then it is.

How about a little bit of nature in your bathroom? This tub carved from stone by Stone Forest is dramatic! I would imagine that the stone would behave in much the same way that cast iron would by retaining the water temperature.

Photo courtesy of Treasures D’ Old Mexico

Copper tubs are also another choice. This one has an old world feel. It would be smashing paired with a natural stone floor. This one looks like it has fairly steep sides, and it might not be the most comfortable for soaking. When shopping for a tub at a bathroom showroom don’t be afraid to get into the tub to see if it is comfortable. I know this sounds a little crazy, but if you are planning on taking long hot baths then you’ve got to be comfortable! You won’t know unless you try it out!

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

We designed this freestanding copper Japanese soaker tub for one of our clients living in the Calgary neighborhood of Mount Royal. The styling works perfectly in their Arts and Crafts inspired home. It is not very common that we design bathtubs, so this was an exciting and rewarding part of this project!

Freestanding bathtubs are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles and materials. There is truly something out there for every project, from ultra modern to traditional bathrooms. I hope that this post has encouraged you to think of a freestanding tub in your bathrooms.

Cheers!

Design Inspiration from Kelly Wearstler

For Valentine’s Day my darling husband bought me a copy of the much coveted design book Hue by style setter Kelly Wearstler.  He must have been paying attention and reading my previous post about design books!  Well, he definitely gets tops marks because this book is not easy to find. It flies off the shelves and rightly so – it is a feast for the eyes.

Photo courtesy of Vogue via Apartment Therapy

For those of you that are not familiar with Kelly Wearstler, I thought that I would share some of her work with you. Her company, KWID (Kelly Wearstler Interior Design) is based in Los Angeles. She is not faint of heart when it comes to the interiors she produces. Anything dramatic, gilded, colorful, textural, patterned, and unusual she combines easily creating her signature style known as Hollywood Regency. Recently, her work has been seventies inspired, but it is the Hollywood Regency style that really gets me excited. KWID’s work inspires designers like us at Corea Sotropa Interior Design to make environments an adventure to be explored.  Here are some of her amazing projects.

Photo via DeSmitten

This neutral space is luxurious and rich. The scale of the two sculptures flanking the bar of this hotel lobby is just perfect. Kelly Wearstler has designed many hotels and restaurants as well as residences.

Photo via Canadian House and Home

I adore the orange color she chose for this room. The antique mirrors in the paneling add texture and the fireplace screen is so unique. Check out how she has mastered the art of layering by placing a lamp in front of a framed drawing that is hung on top of the mirror. Layering makes a space feel rich and collected over time.

Photo via Canadian House and Home

The scale of this cocktail table is perfect for this long luxurious sofa. Grey is replacing brown as the go to neutral and Kelly Wearstler has used it here beautifully. Combing grey with yellow creates a fresh, modern palette. The rug in this room is also to die for. I am seeing that Moorish pattern everywhere!

Photo via Canadian House and Home

This library gets a coat of high gloss red paint. Here, Ms. Wearstler shows us that cabinets need not be kept a neutral color. The dark interior of these cabinets help to accentuate the items inside. This glossy red reminds me of nail polish!

Photo courtesy of Matters of Style

All the upholstery in this gorgeous reading room is done in canary yellow. The key to pulling off a monochromatic room without making it boring is texture. Notice the different textures – shag rug, linen upholstery, leather wing backs and shiny ceramic lamp bases. They are all the same shade of yellow, but it is the variety of textures that make this room warm and inviting.

Photo courtesy of Maters of Style

KWID gets preppy in in this bathroom by using kelly green. The contrast with the black and white is fabulous. The tile pattern and mirror location is completely unique too.

Photo via Miss Gracious Living

Turquoise is the color of the year. This metallic teal leather chair is so beautiful. Kelly has kept the rest of this bedroom simple using high contrast black and white.

Photo via Belle Maison

Mixing gold and silver accents is glamorous and luxe and that is KWID’s specialty. The touch of orange on the headboard really catches your attention. I also think these screens in the foreground are an amazing way to break up a large room.

Kelly Wearstler has been called a design genius and an innovator in interior design. She is best known for the “Hollywood Regency” style illustrated in the photographs above. Her projects always push the envelope of what is expected in interiors and she continues to shape current trends. I hope you enjoyed seeing the work of someone who inspires me!

Cheers!

Floral Print Fabrics

Floral Print Fabrics

Floral printed fabrics are all the rage for 2010 and the perfect thing to inject some spring into your interiors. Today’s florals are large scale and the patterns are cleaner and less complicated then they have been in the past. You won’t find any old fashioned prints here! My Calgary interior design company, Corea Sotropa Interior Design often uses prints like these in our projects. Frequently, I begin a design scheme by looking through fabric books to get inspired and to create a concept for my projects. Recently, these fabrics have caught my eye. Perhaps they will be used to create something wonderful for one of my clients!

Windemere in Crimson by Kravet

I adore the large scale embroidery on this fabric. It would be perfect on an accent chair for a bedroom.

Glance by Kravet

This fabric is so colorful and fun. I would use this fabric for pillows in a family room. It would look so smart on a neutral sectional combined with more accent pillows in a black and white stripe.

Seraphine in Mineral by Romo Fabrics

Romo fabrics have the most beautiful modern floral prints. This particular fabric would be stunning as drapery.

Rubani in Dijon by Romo Fabrics

Here is another pattern from Romo that I would love to use as drapery. When fabric has very large scale use it on a piece that shows off the complete pattern like a chair or as drapery.

Samsara in Vintage Mauve by Romo Fabrics

The lanterns on this pattern makes this floral print unusual and interesting. Again, this large scale floral would make brilliant drapery!

La Sandra A from Liberty fabric

This unique floral reminds me of fractured glass. It has a vintage feel to it which adds to its appeal.

Calder in Aqua/Blue from Jane Churchill Fabric

Jane Churchill is an English fabric company and they are known for their lovely patterns and distinctive color combinations. This pretty fabric would be ideal as an accent pillow in a bedroom.

Cloisonne in Noir by Designers Guild

Who says that floral fabric can’t be drop dead gorgeous in a neutral palette? Not me! This black and white is very chic. The butterflies are a whimsical touch.

Samarkand in Moss by Designers Guild

This fabric has a lot going on but I think that is what makes it so extraordinary! The process to make this must have been very complex. I’d love to see it on the back of some dining room chairs.

Consuelos in Sprout by Robert Allen

Imagine this vibrant lemongrass colored print in a neutral living room! It would make a great accent cushion on a taupe sofa. What a wonderful way to add a punch of color into a neutral space.

Thomas Paul Prints by Duralee

Grey and yellow is such a popular color combination right now. This dandelion print is inexpensive and sweet.

Thomas Paul Prints by Duralee

I can picture this fresh print from Duralee in a bedroom. I’d love to use it on a headboard, or as a bench at the end of the bed.

Archangel in Aloe by Beacon Hill

This chartreuse floral is colorful but still elegant. The perfect choice for an accent chair in a living room paired beautifully with chocolate brown or beige.

The newly interpreted floral prints are large and bold. They range from casual to ultra elegant and can be incorporated into any room of your home. Be daring with a large scale print for your drapery or just add a punch of vibrantly hued floral to a pillow in your neutral room. Bring some springtime into your rooms with floral prints!

Cheers!

Practical and Pretty Tips for Powder Rooms

Bathroom design by David Powel photograph via Canadian House and Home

Powder rooms are diminutive spaces that need to have big impact while still balancing  practicality. These tiny rooms offer the perfect opportunity to create a precious jewel box showcasing your home’s personality and wowing your guests. However, the powder room is frequently the only bathroom on the main floor of your home, and therefore needs to be functional if you have a young family. It can be tricky balancing the required durability with an elegant style. Key areas where you may want to add some pizzazz are the walls, lighting, mirror, sink, and the cabinetry.

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Wallpaper or a bold wall color is the easiest way of making your powder room a statement piece. In this bathroom, we used washable wallpaper from Crown Wallpaper. So many gorgeous wallpapers are made to be washed or made of vinyl which makes them an obvious choice for a bathroom if you have children. Also, there are many commercial grade wallpapers that can stand up to a real beating and still look stylish.

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Tile wainscoting is durable but also looks smart. This powder room was directly connected to a mud room and needed to be very family friendly. This particular oversized subway tile from Stone Tile West in Calgary has a few accent tiles embossed with words like “soap”, “flush”, and “towel” subtly sprinkled amongst the other tiles. It’s a cheeky and whimsical choice but fitting for a family powder room!

Photograph via Kitchen and Bath Ideas

Another way to add interest to your walls is to tile the entire wall behind the sink in an incredible accent tile like this stunning glass mosaic. It’s easy to clean and a smashing focal point to your bathroom!

Bathroom design by Jessica Helgerson photo via Design Sponge

Painted or wood wainscoting is also a great choice for a powder room. It adds architectural interest and a durable surface to the walls. Here’s another tip about wainscoting – if you have ceilings over 8’ high in your powder room wainscoting helps to bring the proportion of the room to a more comfortable scale. Powder rooms that feel like elevator shafts are not comfortable spaces to be in! Wainscoting is the perfect remedy for small, tall spaces.

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Beautiful light fixtures are a must in powder rooms. Sconces on either side of the mirror are a very elegant alternative to one vanity light above the sink if there is enough room to accommodate them. These particular light fixtures are from Fine Art Lamps and have a beautiful silver and gold patina finish. In Calgary, you can find light fixtures from Fine Art Lamps at Robinson’s Lighting. In addition to great lighting, this bathroom features a lovely countertop detail. Typically powder room countertops are not as abused as other bathroom countertops so don’t be too worried about a delicate material like marble, wood or glass options.

Bathroom design by Brown Design Inc

Now back to lighting. If there is not enough room for sconces on either side, try hanging a pretty pendant over the sink. Powder rooms do not need to be as brightly lit as other rooms in your house. Your light fixtures should help create a mood and flatter those gazing on their image in the mirror, not terrify them! This bathroom was designed by Ryan Brown the designer on the Bravo channel show “Flipping Out”. This chandelier makes this bathroom sparkle!

Bathroom design by John Saladino photo via Velvet and Linen

Mirrors in powder rooms are most charming when they unique. This bathroom is so unusual and charming.

Bathroom design by Kristen Buckingham photograph via Point Click Home

Antiques or mirrors with beautiful frames look stunning in powder rooms. Think outside of the box and choose something unexpected for your mirror.

Vessel sinks are a popular choice for bathrooms and there are a multitude of styles and materials to choose from. One word of warning though – this type of sink can splash water around more then a basin. If you have children and don’t want to be constantly cleaning up, think twice about the vessel sink! This unique sink carved from stone is a statement! The Art of Hardware in Calgary carries this line of sinks from Stone Forest.

Photograph via Kitchen and Bath Ideas

Cabinets in powder rooms need to hold a minimal amount of supplies. This creates an opportunity to create a centerpiece for the room. Often a vanity is created to look like furniture or a piece of furniture is converted to contain the sink. Some plumbing companies like Kohler also manufacture bathroom furniture as well as pedestal sinks and vessels.

Bathroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

The vanity in this bathroom is a piece of furniture that our client found and fell in love with. We had it repurposed to accommodate the sink and a piece of marble cut to fit on to the top. The mirror is an antique that the client had hanging in another area of the home which we snagged to finish off this exquisite powder room!

Powder rooms are the smallest room of your home but need not be bland and boring! Try these tips to keep the room practical and pretty at the same time!

Cheers!

Pink Rooms for Valentine’s Day

Pink Rooms for Valentine’s Day

Photo courtesy of Sarah Richardson Design

Perhaps pink is not the first color to spring to mind when you are decorating your home. It has a girly stigma, and therefore it is not a color that my interior design firm in Calgary, Corea Sotropa Interior Design works with very often. However, used correctly, pink can be gorgeous in living rooms, dining rooms and master bedrooms. So in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some gorgeous rooms done in shades of pink from blush to fuchsia.  Think of pink for more then just your daughter’s bedroom!

Photo courtesy of Lulu Painting

This pink hued living room is delightful and reminds me of a chocolate dipped strawberry. Delicious! The use of neutral white on the trim, ceiling and table mixed with the chocolate brown accents ground the bright wall color and fabrics. The brown and pink chinoisery fabric on the chairs and accent pillow is fabulous and a very unusual combination for a traditional pattern.

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

This California living room by designer Stephen Shubel sports a soft pink paint and an eclectic mix of furniture. The dark upholstery adds a slightly masculine element to this pretty room. It’s a great contrast.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Richardson Design

Baby pink upholstery on the sofa mixed with darker peony pink accents like the pillows and glass lamps are elegant in this lovely sitting area. That glass lamp is a stunner! Sarah Richardson did this suite for one of her television episodes and it still stands out in my mind as an absolutely charming room.

Photo courtesy of  Alkemie

The designer here has carefully mixed different shades of pink so the room is not to matchy-matchy. There is a baby pink cabinet, a rose colored damask throw, a shell pink cushion and drapery fabric and a fuchsia candlestick on the mantle. The dark lamp base, picture frame, urn and drapery hardware keep this room from feeling like it is floating away.

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

Gold accents work wonderfully with pink as illustrated in this photograph. The gold light fixtures, upholstery tacks and furniture details lend warmth and patina. Very lovely and very French, non?

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

The pop of pink provided by the glass chandelier and fabric on the chair backs is unexpected. The interesting white frame surrounds a pin board. What a great idea for an eating nook! This NYC brownstone was designed by Johnathan Berger.

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

White dining chairs outfitted with gorgeous shell pink upholstery add punch to this dining room by designer Ashley Whittaker. The chandelier is drop dead gorgeous in this room!

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

This pink settee greets guests in a foyer designed by Ned Marshall in New Orleans. What a happy welcome!

Wow! An incredible shade of fuchsia graces this entryway also designed by Johnathan Berger

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

The berger chair in pink leopard print fabric is fabulous in this teenagers bedroom. This room is feminine, but has a modern edge to it.

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

The great thing about this master bedroom is that if you tire of the pink, all you need to do is replace the duvet cover and accent cushions. Everything else in the room is dove grey or white. This bedroom was designed by Omniarte Design.

Bedroom design by Larry Laslo,  photo via Desire to Inspire

This stunning bedroom goes all the way with pink everywhere! When using this much pink in a room the artwork must be kept neutral. Mirrors and photographs are a perfect choice.

Photo courtesy of Domino Magazine via DomestiKatedLife

A shot of shocking hot pink in this white and black bedroom is very dramatic, but easy to change if you tire of the color.

Photographs courtesy of JuBella

Designer Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates is the King of Color! He fearlessly mixes fuchsia, lavender and plum together for this bedroom suite in the Kips Bay Designer Showcase. His signature look is vibrant luxury and he has mastered that in this suite.

Photo courtesy of Brides via Stylish Events Blog

If a pink room is too much for you to handle, try adding pink flowers to your interiors for a burst of color. This arrangement pairs all shades of pink roses and peonies.

When you are ready to redecorate, don’t forget about pink! It can be a very sophisticated color palette and suitable for many rooms of your home. A bright shot of pink injects happiness. Pink paint or wallpaper provides an allover glow that is flattering to the complexion. Pink pairs gloriously with taupe, brown, ivory and grey. Try using blush or shell pink in your neutral rooms for a splash of color. I hope you all have a very pink and happy Valentine’s Day!

Cheers!

How to Hang a Picture Gallery

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Hanging your artwork or photographs gallery style is a daunting task for most home owners. Our clients frequently request that we arrange and hang family photo galleries or collections of framed art work for them because they are terrified of doing it themselves! It is difficult for most people to create these compositions and they are not even sure where to start. Here are a few tips to give you confidence to create a gallery wall.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

The first thing that you need to tackle is rounding up all of the photographs, mementos, and artwork that you would like to group together. A gallery may contain only photographs, art or a combination of both. Collections that contain both photos and art are more intriguing then just one or the other and draw the viewer in. Including personal mementos or unusual objects makes the arrangement more casual and individual. Comic strips, children’s art, love notes, four leaf clovers, funny want ads, postcards, and concert tickets are examples of items that our Calgary interior design firm, Corea Sotropa Interior Design, has included in amongst the galleries of our clients. This creates a really personalized, quirky and fun gallery that has special meaning to our clients.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart via Under a Paper Moon

Your next step is to decide how all of your items should be framed. Using the same frame for each piece can be dramatic, but usually only works if you are solely planning to display photographs. If you are planning to display both photography and other items then frame all the photographs identically and select frames for the other items that complement the object. Pottery Barn and Ikea have a great selection of basic frames for photographs. A framing shop can help you to select the color of matte and frame that highlights the art or memento. Selecting an ornate frame is a whimsical way of drawing attention to items that are special or very different from the rest of the collection.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Galleries may be displayed in a random fashion or in a very ordered layout. When all of your framed pieces are identical in size a grid pattern layout is extremely dramatic. It can be tricky getting all of your pieces lined up straight, but the result is a simple, unified arrangement. If your collection has a variety of different objects, frame sizes and frame styles then an asymmetrical arrangement is your best option. These layouts are more difficult to organize on the wall, but result in a very personal display that is charming and more casual.

Photo courtesy of West Elm via Apartment therapy

Before hammering into your wall, arrange all of your pieces on the floor and create a layout that is balanced. Then start in the center of the composition and hang that piece first. The center should hang at around 5’ off the ground at eye level. Then, piece by piece hang the other pieces moving from the center outwards. Sometimes it is very useful to draw a plan of the arrangement which measures the spaces between each item so that you have a reference point. Be prepared that you may need to make more then one nail hole to get it just right!

Photo courtesy of  Steven Gambrel via Coco + Kelly

The trick to laying out an asymmetrical arrangement is to have a common axis which the pieces are lined up on. Lining up the frames along the bottom is a great way of keeping some order to the chaos. When displaying a collection on a staircase, the composition of frames should mimic the steps of the stairs. The above sketches featured on the blog Design Formula detail how this can be achieved.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart via Under a Paper Moon

Keep your frames close to one another. Depending on the arrangement, somewhere between the width of the frame and 5” is more then enough. The arrangement should read as one unit and limiting the spaces between the frames keeps the composition pulled together instead of looking scattered.

Photo courtesy Beth Webb via Desire to Inspire

If you are including family photographs keep in mind that you may want to add new photos to the grouping as your family grows up. Including frames that enable you to replace the photograph is a good way to accommodate for this. Another idea is to add more photos to the edges of the compositions at a later date.

Photo courtesy of  Domino Magazine via Under a Paper Moon

Gallery walls are interesting and showcase the personality of the homeowner. They can be delightful and quirky collections of photographs and beloved treasures or a dramatic grid creating repetition and rhythm. Have fun gathering your items together and creating your composition of favorite things!

Cheers!

Top Ten Favorite Benches

Benches are versatile pieces of furniture that look great in so many rooms. Foyers, bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms can all benefit from adding a bench. They can provide extra seating and also be just something pretty to look at. Some typical places for benches would be in front of fireplaces, in entries, or at the end of a bed. They may also be used as coffee tables, tucked under console tables for extra seating, or in bathrooms beside a freestanding tub or at a vanity counter. Smaller benches look great in pairs and can be used in the same applications instead of one long bench. My Calgary interior design firm, Corea Sotropa Interior Design selected these benches as our favorite ones to use in our projects.

These fully upholstered stools from Vanguard Furniture would be great tucked under a sofa table. The upholstery tacking in chrome or brass adds sparkle and further accentuates their interesting lines. They would look best in a solid or lightly textured fabric because their shape is interesting on its own. The linen on this one gives it a casual French feel but it would be equally gorgeous in jewel toned velvet. In Calgary, Vanguard furniture is available through Domaine Fine Furniture.

Kravet manufactures these very contemporary benches with metal or wood bases. They have a simple, clean line but the button tufting on the top of the seat adds a luxurious feel. Putting this bench in a more traditional setting would add an interesting tension to a room. It would also be fabulous in an entry or as a coffee table. I’d love to see it in an animal print.

This lovely bench by Hickory Chair is available in Calgary through Maria Tomas. This bench, called the Woodward, looks best upholstered in silk to complement its delicate silhouette. Picture this elegant option at the end of your bed!

The Anastasia bench also by Hickory Chair was designed by Suzanne Kasler and as you know, she is one of my favorite designers. This pretty stool has the most beautiful legs and whimsical style. Hickory Chair provides different finish options enabling you to completely customize your piece resulting in a different look. I have one of these benches in my own bedroom with the black wood finish. This stool makes me happy every time I look at it! Keep the upholstery simple with this bench, the interest is in the legs.

Bedroom design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Here is a photograph of the Anastasia bench in my own bedroom with a simple yellow fabric and the black stained legs.

This little lovely has faux bamboo legs fashioned out of patina metal. Recently, we ordered two of these benches for a client’s living room. Geometric patterned mohair from Kravet was selected for the upholstery. They should be arriving soon, and I can hardly wait to see them! The Bamboo Ottoman by Baker Furniture is available through Eisnenberg’s Fine Furniture in Calgary.

Baker Furniture also carries this elegant bench in their Thomas Pheasant collection. The legs swoop in a graceful curve and the button tufted upholstery is further finished with a short row of upholstery tacks above the leg. This bench would be right at home at the base of an upholstered bed.

This is just so pretty. The Sarah bench is part of an exclusive furniture collection designed by Jan Showers and is available through interior designers. Showers’ signature look is glamour, glamour, glamour, and this stunning bench epitomizes that style! This would be stunning in front of a fireplace.

Well, maybe this is more of an ottoman then a bench but I had to include it anyway because the Humphrey Ottoman is so unique. Shine Furniture specializes in unusual pieces and this is no exception. The pattern on the corner is unexpected and fresh. We are using this piece of furniture in a client’s recreation room around a games table instead of chairs. It could also be moved around the pool table for extra seating or with a tray on top provide extra table space.

Here is the Huphrey ottoman in a bedroom project by interior designer Tobi Fairley. It is so cheeky and youthful in this juicy teal color.

Crate and Barrel offers this simple but well-designed bench called the Colette. Its versatile style and the fact that it is easy on the pocketbook make it a great choice for a bedroom. The row of upholstery tacks gives it a sophisticated, tailored look.

Sarah Richardson has designed a line of furniture that is also sold at Maria Tomas in Calgary. The Genevieve bench sits in my own entry and has been a great piece of furniture. I use it for extra seating at my dining room table and it has also resided in my bedroom. I have already had it reupholstered several times depending on my décor scheme. Currently, it sports a very colorful wide striped silk in fuchsia, orange, magenta and chartreuse. It provides a great burst of color to welcome my guests.

Often times a room doesn’t fee finished without a bench. They are both useful and beautiful to look at. They provide flexible seating or may be used as tables with trays on top. Patterned or brightly colored fabrics are a great choice for a bench to if you are looking to add a wow factor to your room. There are so many gorgeous options available and they are really easy to fit into your space. Benches are one of those pieces of furniture that make your room come together. They are designers’ little secret weapon of gorgeousness!

Cheers!