A Neutral State

A neutral room can be bold, modern, dramatic, sophisticated and just plain outstanding!  When you are no longer playing with color the focus becomes shape, scale, texture and contrast to create excitement.  This neutral, monochromatic scheme, when done right, truly merges serenity with drama, and I’ll show you how!

                                                                              Elle Decor

                                                                         Architectual Digest

Atlanta Home Magazine

                                                                          Country Living

                                                                  Country Living

Architectual Digest

House Beautiful

Country Living

                                                                      Traditional Home

Chicago Interiors

Country Living

Domino

Dwell

Chicago Interiors

Southern Accents

Home and Garden

Elle Decor

Chicago Interiors

Country Living

Marty Boyle, Interior Designer

Chicago Interiors

DIY Do's

The Do-It-Yourself craze has hit an all-time high!  We now have hundreds of new TV shows and thousands of Internet sites (Pinterest being a personal favorite!) encouraging the average person to take on design challenges.   Though I am all about saving money and customizing design, two HUGE benefits of DIY design, some things just look CHEAP!  Here are some DIY Do’s that won’t cheapen the look of your home from an expert (yes, I’m an expert!).  

Turn an Armoire into a Bar!

Change up Dated Furniture (cool hardware works wonders!)

After

  

Revive that Chair - anyone can do this with a little paint, fun fabric and a staple gun!  Also, a great idea for desk or vanity chair since you can usually find a single, interesting shaped chair at re-sale shops!

Paint Tricks! - you will need a stencil for some of these

 

  

 

Picture Wall - Tips first!!!  All of the frames should lay inside an imaginary rectangle or square.  Unless you know what you're doing, make all frames similar (with different colored pictures) OR all the pictures black and white or sepia toned (frames can vary greatly); this will create continuity.  For a modern look keep everything black and white!  The most IMPORTANT thing is that the collage fits the scale of the wall; DON'T make it too small!

To Be Continued. . .

Marty Boyle,  Interior Designer

Chicago Interiors

Fashion Forward

In an age where notable singers are selling perfume, movie stars are selling fashion and famed socialites are selling everything in between; it makes sense that renowned fashion designers would sell interior designs.  From wallpaper to furniture, these famous fashion designers have taken their knowledge of scale, proportion and color and created some brilliant designs for your home, IF you can afford them!

                                                                        Lilly Pulitzer

                                                                      Michael Kors

                                                                  Oscar de la Renta

Jean Paul Gaultier pour Roche Bobois

                                                      Louis Vuitton and Jason Phillips

Giorgio Armani

Dolce & Gabbana's interpretation of Philippe Starck’s Mademoiselle Chair

Marty Boyle, Interior Designer

Chicago Interiors

Alternate Headboard Ideas

A headboard doesn't have to be traditional, or even necessarily a piece of furniture.  A multitude of alternate headboards have popped up and can be used anywhere from a child's room to an elegant master bedroom retreat.  With very few limitations for these creations, it is all based on imagination and ingenuity.  Enjoy!

 

Law Stallsmith-Jahn, Interior Designer

Elegant mantle headboard.  Make from existing mantle or a bought piece from an antique or vintage store.

Natural Branch Headboard

Painted "faux" headboard

Pillow Headboard

Antique Mantle/ Molding

Cornice with Draperies

Slipcover

Same Fabric as bedding applied like wallpaper

Fabric covered wood rectangles

Vintage Shutters

Contrasting Wallpaper

Wood Boards, excellent for a cottage

Corona in velvet or mohair

Wallpaper Applique

Wood boxes covered in polycarbonate sheets, twinkle lights inside.  Great "night light"

Headboard with Storage

Stencil, great for a tight space!