A must-have resource for any colour enthusiast or design professional! Below is the cover for Oval Room Blue. Learn more here.
Oval Room Blue Colour Review
Colour: light teal blue
Farrow & Ball describe Oval Room Blue as…
the most ‘blackened’ of their blues, giving it a subtly aged feel. Named after the attractively shaped rooms of the late 18th century, it sits perfectly with our popular greys to create depth and balance in either a hall or a darker, cosier family room.
Let’s take a look at some comparisons of similar colours to get a better read of this blue.
Colour Comparisons
Dix Blue No.82 & Stone Blue No.86
Here it seems to look more like a gray blue when sandwiched between Stone Blue and Dix Blue. Oval Room Blue is much less vibrant than those other two colours.
But when you view it in isolation and pair it with specific hues, it seems more bright than you might expect.
Best Whites To Pair With Oval Room Blue
Pointing No.2003 By Farrow & Ball
Cabbage White No.269 By Farrow & Ball
Cornforth White No.228 By Farrow & Ball
Now that we’ve seen each white on its own with Oval Room Blue, let’s take a look at the 3 whites together.
These don’t even look white at all, but believe it or not, they are some of the lightest ‘whites’ from Farrow & Ball.
And while we are on the topic of whites, if they confuse you, you are not alone. But I can help. 🙂
I absolutely love how Vardo stands out and the contrasting Down Pipe in this Farrow & Ball colour combination! Do you love it too?
Vardo No. 288 By Farrow & Ball
Down Pipe No.26 By Farrow & Ball
Cromarty No.285 By Farrow & Ball
The chairs in this room image from Farrow & Ball resemble Vardo and Cromarty.
Convenience At Your Fingertips
All of the colour combinations I share here, plus more options to inspire your next decorating project, are included in my Perfect Colour Palette Oval Room Blue.
Who doesn’t love a fresh white and blue colour palette for a living space?
This popular colour combination never goes out of style.
Check out the BIG reveal for this Coastal Living Room!
If you want to better understand the process of interior design and how we overcome various challenges when working on client projects, that’s exactly what I’m sharing with you today.
Let’s look at the details of this beautiful Great Room transformation, including before images, 3D drawings and our professional ‘after’ photos.
Project Location:
This was an older home in a beautiful mature neighbourhood known as Aldershot in my home town of Burlington, Ontario.
Client Wishlist
While they had an idea of what they desired to update and drastically improve this previously unused space, my clients sought professional guidance from us to make their dreams a reality.
Behind this wall was a very dated bathroom which was never used
To do this successfully, it was necessary to tear down a wall and remove an unused bathroom that would then allow enough room for everything on my client’s wish list, including an open floor plan between the kitchen and the new Great Room.
This rendering really helped the client see the potential of their space
In discussing the needs (and wants!) of our clients, we thoughtfully designed an entertaining area that the entire family could enjoy, a beautiful, coastal living room.
It was important for us to accentuate the great architectural features in this room, such as the tall slanted ceilings and abundant windows that provided a glorious view to the lush gardens in their backyard.
Custom entertainment centre built in – Cloud White by Benjamin Moore
Key Focal Points-Coastal Living Room
The main focus was the addition of a custom media wall unit and new fireplace that we designed using soft white shiplap and a small marble herringbone tile.
This rendering shows a sneak peak of the big reveal for this coastal living room.
We were also really excited about the addition of a crafting area for the kids in the back corner by the windows!
Clients can easily see their homes transform with 3D renderings
The area rug and bench seat with pillows help to tie in the coastal blue colour scheme
This space used to house an old hot tub that the clients never used.
Check out the before image below.
Why keep what you aren’t using?
Wowzas! It’s incredible when you consider the possibilities of what you can do.
In my opinion, that’s one of the best parts of being an interior design professional. And making dreams come true too, of course. 🙂
With the additional sunlight that pours into this room from the skylights above, it was the perfect spot to create a cosy little nook.
The kids benefit from this renovation as well, with this gorgeous craft area.
The custom bench seat that sits perfectly within this bay window area not only looks great, but the drawers underneath for storage of colouring books, pencils, games and puzzles means that it’s super functional as well.
Colour Inspiration-Coastal Living Room
The client wanted a coastal design style, so we sourced fabrics in these great shades of blue.
For the colour palette I am often inspired by fabrics first.
Typically we use one or two swatches that become the ‘jumping-off point‘ for the entire design.
Blue and white is a great, ‘no fail’ colour combination.
From there we look at other decorative elements to support the design palette, mixing in some warm tones as well. You can see that reflected in the coffee table, walnut shelf on the media unit and console behind the sofa.
Wood console placed perfectly behind the sofa
Then we add in more layers such as the area rugs and accent cushions.
There was an emphasis on creating a Coastal colour palette with nautical hints to complement the new shiplap fireplace.
You can see how we did that by using beautiful dark blue fabrics in the conversational seating area, as well as in the other blue tones incorporated into the children’s new crafting area by the windows.
The fireplace is a stunning addition to the big reveal of this coastal living room
More beautiful blue colour combinations can be found here.
Since it was important for the clients to open up this new space from the kitchen, in order to keep the eye moving you’ll see we used see-through acrylic panels by the stairs. Traditional railings can often distract the eye and look busy.
This is a clever design tip that makes for a seamless design that the client’s especially loved.
See-through acrylic panels give a more open look to the space
Fluffy seems to approve of the renovation updates too. LOL
We enjoyed working with these Burlington clients to redesign an area of their home that had previously not been used since they moved in.
Our job is most meaningful when clients trust us to create stunning and functioning spaces for gathering and making memories.
Plus, the return on investment for selling a property that has been thoughtfully designed and beautifully decorated is huge!
Have you ever been to Napa in California? It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth with continuous rolling hills, endless exquisite vineyards and greenery as far as the eye can see.
I arrived a couple of days early to meet some of my closest design friends. We decided to treat ourselves and booked a trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train for Mother’s Day.
If you ever find yourself in Napa, I highly recommend you sign up for this one of a kind experience. It was fun, relaxing, and a magical memory I will never forget.
Me and my girl, fellow interior designer Jana Donohoe.
SKS Kitchen Appliances
Fun train trips and beautiful landscapes aside, the actual purpose of my business trip was to learn more about Signature Kitchen Suite appliances and take part in their one of a kind ‘True to Food’ experience.
The kitchen is referred to as the ‘Heart of the Home’ for a reason.
It’s where you spend the most time, preparing food, gathering with family and friends and making memories along the way.
Deciding on selections for your kitchen appliances is a major decision and one not to be taken lightly.
If making the most of your kitchen is important to you, (which it absolutely should be!) then how the appliances you choose will look and function is a major consideration.
Your kitchen appliances are also a big investment, so you want to be sure to choose wisely.
Extra Large Capacity Columns
Let’s start with refrigeration. In this image above, taken at the SKS 24,000 square foot Experience Design Centre, you can see a full wall of panelled wall fridges/ freezers with glass wine columns on each end.
The extra-large capacity fridge columns preserve the integrity of your fresh food. There has been so much innovation and engineering put into the integrated 30-inch refrigerator and 18-inch freezer columns-both with one of the largest capacities in their class.
While it’s imperative to have ample storage, just as important is the ability to ensure the freshness of the food you purchase – especially with the increased prices for produce and all of our groceries these days.
Wine Cave Technology
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect partner for good food than wine. Am I right?! 🙂
That’s why the wine column refrigerators – shown on each end of the panelled fridge wall below – were developed with exclusive Wine Cave Technology. It actually mimics the ideal environment of historic Old World wine caves.
This protects wine against its four biggest enemies: vibration, light, and variations in temperature and humidity. And when you open the glass door, the light inside automatically comes on so you can easily select the best pairing of wine to go with your meal.
Panelled fridge/freezer wall with wine columns at each end from Signature Kitchen Suite.
Undercounter Convertible Fridge/Freezer Drawers
These are becoming increasingly popular because of their versatility and they look fabulous as well!
This is the only built-in under-counter refrigeration unit in its class with dual drawers and Multi-Temp Settings.
Both kitchen drawers offer a selection of six temperature zones:
Pantry
Fridge
Bar
Seafood
Meat
Freezer
Yes, you read that right! If you require extra freezer space, you can drop the temperature all the way down to make either (or both drawers) a freezer.
How cool is that? And yes, that pun was intended.
A look at both drawers open
And a birds-eye view from above
On a side note, the base shaker cabinets in this kitchen look like the colour Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore. Blue is always in style in interior design.
Craft Ice Balls
Am I the only person who has never heard of these before?
Apparently, they are super sophisticated, maybe that’s why I never knew about them before…HAHA!
LG is connected to Signature Kitchen Suite and they have ‘Craft Ice’ refrigerators. These refrigerators deliver slow-melting ice for the best-tasting beverages.
While I’m not an avid cook, I can still appreciate the need for speed when preparing meals.
My interior design friend Jana and I had the opportunity to try out the Signature Kitchen Suite Steam-Combi convection oven.
This combines steam and convection cooking for gourmet results. The convection system cooks food quickly and evenly while steam helps to preserve texture, appearance and taste.
We made the cute mini ‘jacket potatoes’ that you see below on the plate of deliciousness.
All food prepared with Signature Kitchen Suite luxury appliances!
You can see more of that fun cooking experience here in one of my first Instagram Reels published from this event.
As well, I created a highlight here on my Instagram profile that captures all of the beautiful views, hands-on learning experiences and shenanigans that I got up to with my fellow Designhounds on this unforgettable adventure.
Which appliance from SKS excites you the most?
Comment below to share.
I am definitely partial to the convertible drawer fridge/freezer combination!
Find your perfect colour palette!
Have you done my colour quiz yet? You can take it here to find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next kitchen design, interior design or decorating project.
Perfect Colour Palettes
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Convenience at your fingertips
I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.
Our Perfect Colour Palettes help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.
Boho Casual is featured as the fourth and final interior look in this initial Design Style series.
Bohemian, as it’s also known, is the least structured of all the Interior Design Styles we’ve covered – Farmhouse, Coastal and Mid Century Modern, being the other three.
There are no hard and fast rules for this freer style that uses layers of colour, texture and pattern to create an eclectic and highly individualized look.
Boho Casual Colours
Boho Casual design style has a range of distinct colours that assist in curating this look.
Let me share three inspiring Bohemian colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this interior design style for your own home.
Farrow & Ball – Green Smoke No.47
Green Smoke by Sherwin Williams
A gorgeous green, Green Smoke lends itself so well to the Boho look.
As you’ll see and read later, botanicals are a big feature of Bohemian design style. Green Smoke is the perfect colour to convey this look in a paint colour.
Green Smoke living area and fireplace wall – image by Farrow & Ball
This is a favourite green of mine, one that I even used in my own recent basement renovation.
Below are my custom shaker style laundry cabinets painted in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.
This green works so beautifully with the nature-inspired bird and branch wallpaper, which has subtle dark blues, similar toned green and warm beiges in it.
You know that my family and I are bird-nerds, right? 😉
Green Smoke cabinetry in my basement laundry room
If you love green too, I have created a Green Smoke Perfect Colour Palette that offers 10 colours to pair with Green Smoke, a fabulous decorating resource to inspire your next interior design project.
Benjamin Moore – Wild Flower 2290-40
Benjamin Moore’s Wild Flower
Not quite a terracotta, Wild Flower is a slightly brighter tone, a beautiful combination of pink, orange and red. It’s the perfect colour to pull off a casual Bohemian look.
Wild Flower dining room wall – image by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore – Mascarpone AF-20
Mascarpone by Benjamin Moore
Most styles do well with a neutral colour to anchor the look and Mascarpone is a great choice for this Boho palette. It’s soft and creamy and let’s the richer colours really shine.
If you’re hesitant about the colours in this combination for the Boho Design Style, check out my Mascarpone Perfect Colour Palette which gives you 10 colours to mix and match with this pretty, light neutral.
Green Smoke, Wild Flower and Mascarpone
Boho Casual Design Style Colour Palette
A bold colour palette speaks to the Boho look completely.
Design Details
What are some of the signature details of the Boho Casual design style?
There are so many, let me touch on some of them here.
Natural / Light Wood Tones
Light wood tones and woods that are closer to their natural state in appearance work amazingly with the Boho Design Style.
The light pine flooring below has a very natural look, as does the bed frame and side table, even though they are a bit darker in tone.
Light toned, natural wood flooring in this Boho inspired bedroom
An even lighter flooring as seen in the image below allows the other elements in this Boho styled bedroom to stand out more. But still in a very calm and casual way.
Boho Casual bedroom with light flooring and other natural and light-toned elements.
Organic Forms / Shapes
Softer shaped and less rigid forms are indicative of a Boho Casual design style. This style tends to incorporate more smooth, curved and rounded shapes into its look.
And look how gorgeous this room image is below with the contrasting, dark navy wall as a backdrop that really makes the natural woods stand out.
Orangic feel to this Boho inspired bedroom with furniture with no hard lines or corners
The image below exhibits brilliantly the less structured shapes and lines that you will often see in Boho Casual design style.
Curved and flowing elements contribute to the overall unstructured and freer Boho feel.
Plus, do you notice the colour palette? Yup, it’s displaying similar tones to my recommended 3 Boho colours!
Soft / Flowing Drapery
Beautiful layered drapery fabrics on windows and bed canopy
Fabrics & Textures
Rattan/Cane/Wicker
These natural and manmade materials are so versatile they are a common feature in many design styles.
In the Boho Casual look, they are often curved and have a very gentle appeal about them.
Rattan chair and table, wicker baskets
Large cane/wicker storage trunks, black and natural wicker basket
Macramé
Macrame is huge when creating an interior design with that relaxed Bohemian look and feel.
It’s everywhere, from wall art, and plant holders and is even being incorporated into some alternative furniture designs.
Macramé wall art
Bedroom with macramé over the bed, from a Design trip in LA I attended in 2018
Macramé wind catchers and wall art
Macramé hanging light fixture and plant holder
Tassels & Fringes
Tassel and fringed natural fabrics are perfect to get the Boho Casual look
Area rug with large tassels, along with floor cushion and pillows on sofa
Large and small tassels on decorative pillows in this boho-casual bedroom
No place tassels can’t go in Boho Design Style – plant pots embellished with tassels
Boho Casual Decor
Hats
Hanging hats on the wall, a simple way to get a bit of that Boho feel
A vignette from Fall Highpoint Furniture Market with hats over the bed
Grasses and Dried Flowers
Woven grasses wall art
Dried flower arrangement including palm fronds
Botanicals
Adding living plants, and plenty of them is probably one of the easiest ways to achieve a more boho-inspired aesthetic.
Include different sized, shaped and textured plants in a variety of containers made of wicker, macrame and wood and you’ll be on your way to getting that Boho style.
Beautiful Peacock chair and vibrant greenery
Robust array of plants of different sizes and textures and containers and Papasan chair
Boho Casual Design Style
If you prefer a design style that does not require you to adhere to specific rules, Boho Casual might be a great one for you to try out.
It can still be purposeful but it is not so obvious in its execution.
Layering is key but how you mix and match colour, patterns, and textures is what gives the Boho Casual look its unique and personalized aesthetic.
Boho Casual Perfect Colour Palettes
Loving the look of the Boho Casual design style?
Let me help you achieve this sophisticated yet relaxed feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes which provide 10 fabulous colour combinations in order to pull off a gorgeous Bohemian inspired interior.
Mid-Century Modern style has been revived over the last 5 years in a BIG WAY!
Personally, I love this style. Our 3 bedroom bungalow was built in 1967 and the architecture of the home with the angled roofline definitely has a look reminiscent of designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Mid-Century Modern, aka MCM, design style had its beginnings in the middle of the 20th century. Post-WWII, people were looking for a more uncomplicated design style.
Focus had changed from the ornate to a less frilly, less embellished look in architecture and furniture.
Mid-Century Modern Colours
Mid-Century Modern design style has a range of distinct colours that assist in curating this look.
Let me share three inspiring MCM colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.
Sherwin Williams – Earthen Jug 7703
Earthen Jug by Sherwin Williams
After seeing the latest images on social media from showrooms at High Point Spring Market in North Carolina, the warm Terracotta tones are still trending in a big way.
A rich mustard yellow, India Yellow is a colour indicative of this period of design. Paired with the right colour combinations it can deliver the MCM look down to a tee.
Learn more about this gorgeous deep yellow by Farrow and Ball here in my colour review.
One of Benjamin Moore’s most popular blues, Hale Navy works so well in a Mid Century Modern colour palette.
It also looks amazing in other styles of interiors, like this gorgeous dining room we designed for clients in Toronto.
Hale Navy dining room nook and ceiling, White Dove walls.
Get more colour inspiration and what you need to know about using this popular Navy in my Perfect Colour Palette.
Earthen Jug, India Yellow and Hale Navy
Mid-Century Modern Design Style Colour Palette
What a vibrant and contrasting palette that highlights the look and feel of the Mid-Century Modern design style.
Design Details
What are some of the signature details of the Mid-Century Modern design style? Let’s take a look!
Dark Wood Tones
Teak is probably the best known of the dark woods prominent in Mid-Century Modern furniture.
Teak double shelved coffee table
There are many others that were used in furniture making during this dynamic period including Rosewood and Walnut.
Walnut is one of my personal favourites and I believe it is a warm wood that never goes out of style.
Dark toned wood shelving units, desk and chair
Tufting
Tufted blue velvet sofa with tapered wood legs
Tapered Legs
Coffee table, chair and floor lamp all with tapered legs. And notice the tufting on this gorgeous sofa!
Tapered legs are everywhere in Mid-Century Modern furniture design!!
Fabrics & Textures
Velvet
Colourful velvet accent pillows on a blue (tufted!) velvet sofa
Rich green velvet love seat and yellow armchair
Rattan/Cane/Wicker
Cane panelled sideboard
These design elements can be used in a variety of design styles, including Farmhouse and Coastal.
Leather
Simple MCM leather chair with tapered legs
Dark brown leather traditionally styled mcm walnut armchair
This sofa has it all: Leather in an earthy tone, tufting details and tapered legs.
Mid-Century Decor
Geometrics
Geometric area rug
Simple and bright, mid-century modern artwork brings a space to life
Hexagon shaped tiles and shelf boxes
Ceramics & Glass
Glass and ceramic smooth curved vases and vessels
Ceramic vases – popular decor elements in any MCM interior space
MCM Ceramic lamp with diamond pattern
Star Burst
Coloured ball clock
Starburst wall decor
Starburst mirror
And although the basement with pool table shown below is not Mid-Century Style, you can see that we used a colourful clock similar to the starburst style in this games room area.
The colourful clock is reminiscent of the ‘starburst’ seen in MCM design style
Remember, just because you may not be decorating an entire room in one specific design style, doesn’t mean you can’t mix in various elements of style.
In fact, I encourage it to achieve a layered and interesting room design!
Mid-Century Modern Perfect Colour Palettes
Loving the look of the Mid-Century Modern design style?
Let me help you achieve this sophisticated yet relaxed feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes which provide 10 fabulous colour combinations in order to pull off a gorgeous MCM interior.
When I think of Coastal design style, an abundance of natural light and an airy relaxed look is what comes to mind.
You do not have to live by the coast or even near it to enjoy a beautiful Coastal design style.
The coastal aesthetic is common for properties in close proximity to the water, whether it be the ocean, lakeside house or cottage on a river.
But it can also be in an urban environment with a backyard oasis that exudes a similar feeling. That’s kind of the best of both worlds!
Coastal Colours
As with any design style, Coastal has a range of distinct colours that help create this look.
Let me share three inspiring Coastal colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.
Sherwin Williams – Sea Salt 6204
This is a lovely and subtle green with a slight blue undertone. The colour it appears can change depending on lighting and other elements, just like the sea itself.
This is one of the most popular colours from Sherwin Williams and I did a colour review of Sea Salt that you can read here.
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams
If this colour speaks to you, I have created an entire colour palette for it that you can check out.
My Sea Salt Perfect Colour Palette provides decorating inspiration and colour combinations if you are considering this calming colour for an upcoming home project.
Benjamin Moore – Van Deusen Blue HC-156
No colour says coastal more than blue and Van Deusen Blue is a great choice. This deep blue is clean, crisp and rich! It looks amazing as part of a coastal palette.
Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore
Get more helpful and inspiring information from my Van Deusen Blue colour review here.
Look how great Van Deusen Blue looks on the vanity in this bathroom makeover!
We kept the original quartz counter, the flooring, mirror and sconces for this ‘refresh’ design.
Van Deusen blue bathroom vanity. Photo by Stephani Buchman
The vessel sink also stayed and that was where the inspiration came for the vanity colour and overall palette.
We then repeated the blues in the artwork and Roman blind which add a bit of that coastal feel to this urban home.
The paint colour, Natural Linen CC -90 by Benjamin Moore was thoughtfully selected after looking at the tones in the countertop.
See this entire Burlington client project here which also includes a stunning new home office as well as a casual, yet classy, living room.
No coastal palette is complete without a great white – not shark, but paint colour that is! Sherwin Williams has a perfect one, Extra White.
Extra White
Being a true white it pairs wonderfully with Sea Salt and Van Deusen Blue to bring a cohesive coastal colour palette into your home.
Get more information on this trending white by Sherwin Williams from my colour review here.
See below for how fresh this colour combination looks when they are all put together.
Coastal Design Style Colour Palette
Such a stunning combination, you can almost smell the sun and hear the waves gently lapping against the shoreline.
Aaahh, can you tell it’s been way too long since I’ve been on a beach holiday?!
Design Details
What are some of the signature details of the Coastal aesthetic? Let’s take a look.
White Oak Flooring
Such a durable wood, white oak is also more resistant to water and rot than most other species.
It must be as it was used for shipbuilding and whiskey barrel making. And now it’s being used to create beautiful spaces in homes looking for an airy and natural coastal look.
White Oak Flooring By Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring
White Oak can come in so many colours. A more natural, organic colour as seen above or the popular whitewashed which will help reflect light and keep your interior nice and bright.
Hakwood White Oak flooring
Shiplap
Shiplap can be used in both Coastal décor as well as Farmhouse design.
Both interior design styles can be achieved, depending on the other decorative elements you combine with the shiplap within a space.
Shiplap wall in a mudroom that leans a little more to the ‘Farmhouse’ look
Another image from our Gray Owl and Coastal Cozy project is seen below with the shiplap fireplace to accentuate the high ceilings of this Great Room.
Another Coastal inspired project featuring shiplap
Another Burlington client project of an entire home we have redesigned is currently underway.
My client is a sailing enthusiast so it wasn’t a surprise she was drawn to a coastal vibe.
She owns a beautiful piece of custom artwork that we used as the jumping-off point for the living room design!
You can see below in the design of the asymmetrical custom built-in media unit, we are using a vertical shiplap on the fireplace. The entire unit is Cloud White by Benjamin Moore.
Rendering of client’s new living room space with vertical shiplap on fireplace design
White or cream are the ‘traditional’ tones we are used to seeing shiplap done in, but it doesn’t have to be this way all the time.
Another outstanding example of using colour on your shiplap can be seen here in a coastal-inspired kitchen island in River Blue 2057-10 by Benjamin Moore.
I also love how In Detail Interiors repeated this rich teal tone in the light pendants above. Exquisite design!
Kitchen island with shiplap in River Blue by Benjamin Moore, Design by In Detail Interiors
There shouldn’t be anything pretentious in coastal design. The goal is to be super relaxed and comfortable. The furniture you select should only add to the chill, clean vibe of the Coastal design.
Casual furniture helps with the laid back coastal vibe
While I’m not loving the backdrop of the gray paint colour on the walls in this image below, if you swapped it out with a fresh paint colour like Sea Salt and added some blue pillows, it would definitely come to life and be more indicative of Coastal design.
The accessories on the bookshelves, the rattan furniture and sisal rug are all fitting for a coastal feel.
Super comfy sofa and lots of natural wood tones
Fabrics & Textures
Linen
Always a classic material and often seen used in coastal design, linen is the perfect fabric for drapery and accents like tea towels in the kitchen.
Its natural look and lightweight makes linen the ideal fabric to use, making a home inviting as well as relaxed.
Lightweight and natural – linen is a perfect fabric for Coastal interiors
Jute
Organic in feel and colour, Jute is frequently used in coastal designs for accessories and rugs.
Indigo striped jute rug – LD Shoppe
Jute and cotton rope baskets
Loose Looped Pile Rugs
Berber style rugs are soft to the touch and often seen with a subtle variation of other colours mixed in.
But I will say, after having had wall to wall looped rugs such as this in my basement for over 10 years, they do go flat after a while. Something to consider if you are thinking of purchasing this style of rug.
Loose looped pile
Loose Looped pile rug
Coastal Decor
There are many fantastic décor items that really lend themselves to the Coastal design style, too many to mention all of them here.
But let’s discuss a couple.
Artwork depicting water scenery
Vertical framed art with waves in a dining room design by Claire Jefford Inc.
A client’s beautiful sailboat painting was the inspiration for this living room design (3D rendering)
Clocks and Stripes
Coastal inspired kitchen design by Claire Jefford Inc
Striped Roman blinds add coastal appeal to this kitchen design
In addition to the striped roman blinds shown in the kitchen design mentioned above, striped pillows are also a sure hit for coastal-inspired homes.
Coastal Perfect Colour Palettes
Loving the look of the Coastal design style?
Let me help you achieve this relaxing feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes to give you all the colours you need to pull off a gorgeous Coastal interior.
Welcome to the first post in my new Design Styles Series!
Having run my own interior decorating business for over 11 years I’ve learned that for many homeowners, identifying specific interior design styles can be tricky.
Heck, I’ve even seen in Facebook groups exclusively for interior designers where someone will post an image of a room and there will be various interpretations of what the specific design style is called.
If we interior design professionals have different names for the same design style, then it’s no wonder homeowners struggle with this as well.
Let me do my best to make it easy for you.
Through this Design Style series, I want to help you to identify specific décor and interior design elements that are indicative of certain interior design styles.
Psst!! Even if you took my quiz before, it’s been totally revamped now with different Design Styles and NEW colour palettes. I just know you are going to love it.
Design Style Perfect Palettes
And because I am obsessed with simplifying your life when it comes to choosing the right paint colours for your home and have an addiction to creating fabulous paint colour combinations, I’m also excited to announce the release of my new Design Style Perfect Colour Palettes.
There are three different paint suppliers to choose from, depending on your preference: Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.
Design Styles included (so far!) are Farmhouse, Coastal, Mid Century Modern and Boho Casual.
They all tie in with my new quiz and as Farmhouse seems to be the most loved design style currently, that’s our focus of today’s post.
Design Style – FARMHOUSE
Farmhouse design style is synonymous with relaxed and casual living with a touch of that rustic country feel.
You certainly do not have to live rural to enjoy a beautiful farmhouse style interior.
Modern farmhouse is hugely popular and is a common look you see in suburban and urban homes as well as in the rolling hills of the countryside.
Farmhouse Colours
As with any design style, Farmhouse has a range of distinct colours that help create this look.
Let me share three inspiring Farmhouse colours that will certainly give you a starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.
It evokes nature and open fields and looks amazing with the next two colours.
Sherwin Williams – Moroccan Spice SW 6060
Terracotta is a super trendy colour this year and Moroccan Spice is a perfect example of this earthy colour.
Moroccan Spice
Benjamin Moore – Pale Oak OC-20
Such a versatile colour, Pale Oak is the perfect neutral backdrop for a Farmhouse Design Style.
Pale Oak
It also works great in other interior styles. I’ve used it for a recent Burlington client project in a more modern and vibrant renovation.
An always popular neutral, Pale Oak, complements October Mist and Moroccan Spice to create a perfect Farmhouse Palette.
Farmhouse Colour Palette
Design Styles – Farmhouse
Design Details
What are some of the signature details of the Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse look?
Character grade hardwood is a staple of the farmhouse aesthetic.
Natural character and whitewashed hardwood flooring.
Species such as maple and oak are great for whitewashing which adds lovely rustic appeal.
These woods also offer lots of natural characteristics such as visible grain, knots and other imperfections that add to the charm of the farmhouse expression.
Shiplap is a common design detail that is often seen in farmhouse interiors. This refers to the off white wood panelling you see behind the vignette below.
Shiplap wall – great design detail for Farmhouse look.
Apron sinks and farmhouse sinks are obvious choices for creating a rustic or modern farmhouse interior.
We incorporated a white apron sink in this Burlington project, which actually had more of a coastal vibe with the blue backsplash.
This is a good example of how the same interior design elements can be utilized within different design styles.
Gorgeous apron sink, an ideal farmhouse design feature
The final design detail we’ll touch on is skirted sofas. Casual and comfortable!
These comfy and practical pieces are an ideal addition to any interior where you are aiming for a farmhouse look and feel.
If you have an older sofa or loveseat but you no longer like the colour of its fabric, consider getting a cream or white slipcover if you want to tie it in with a new Farmhouse feel for your home.
Skirted sofa – adds rustic and cosy farmhouse appeal
Design Styles – Farmhouse
Fabrics & Textures
Let’s take a look at some of the best-known fabrics for achieving the farmhouse look.
Linen
Simple linen drapery, white and light is always in style
Jute
Organic and natural
Plaid and Striped Patterns
Cosy plaid pillows are a staple of farmhouse decor
Contrasting plaid pillows with gray plaid ottoman
And pillows that have an organic feel in neutral tones.
Slipcovers
In addition to the skirted sofa mentioned above in the Design Details section, don’t forget that you can also add slipcovers to chairs.
Slipcovered chair with plaid throw – two popular farmhouse featuresSlipcovered Loveseat with natural wood flooring and other nature-inspired accents
Design Styles – Farmhouse
Decor
Wall Art Ideas
There are many fantastic décor items that really lend themselves to the farmhouse design style.
I can’t lie. Some of the wall art that is indicative of the farmhouse style has been overdone. The clock below is a prime example of this.
But, I can’t talk about farmhouse design and not mention the clocks!
Clocks in a wood and metal finish – farmhouse interior
A great example of a farmhouse living room
As you can see from these images below, some of the wall art ideas can lean towards being either more rustic, vintage or modern.
Rustic Farmhouse
Vintage farmhouse gallery wall
This weathered barn wall art is a perfect piece for a Modern farmhouse design
Other decorative elements such as vintage jugs and vases with fresh or dried flowers are also great accessories to style your home in if you want the farmhouse look.
Fresh flowers in vintage milk can
Rustic decor with milk jug and lavender
Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes
Look no further than my Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes to give you all the colours you need to pull off a gorgeous Farmhouse interior.
Interior design questionnaire: Get the answers you need from clients.
Why is an interior design client questionnaire important?
What questions should you ask to better understand your interior design clients’ needs & their wish list for their project?
Here in my latest video, you’ll learn my reasons for sending out a client questionnaire & what types of questions I ask to ensure I get the answers I need.
If you have been thinking about using a client questionnaire, or you already use one in your client on-boarding process but your clients don’t always complete it, then by the end of the video you’ll know how to effectively get the answers you need before your initial consultation appointment.
I can confidently say this because I have successfully been using my client questionnaire since the very beginning of my career and 95% of clients complete it before we meet at the initial consultation meeting.
#1 The Client Questionnaire is an Important Part of Your On-boarding Process
One of your first points of contacts with a new interior design client is on the discovery call.
It’s here where you will ask specific questions in order to get a feel for what your potential clients’ needs are. Then once they book an initial consultation meeting with you, you’ll need to find out more about your new clients before you meet.
Plus, it’s important for them to consider different aspects of a project that they may not have thought about already, but that your questionnaire prompts them to think about ahead of time.
The client questionnaire allows you to get to know more about your new clients and to dig deeper into their reasons for wanting a change.
Although they may have been dreaming about renovating or decorating their home for some time, they probably haven’t considered some key questions. This is where I find the client questionnaire to be extremely helpful.
#2 The Types of Questions You Should Ask
Now let’s look at what type of questions you should ask in your client questionnaire. Here’s one question that I like to ask first:
I start by requesting each family member’s name and their age. I want to know how many people live in the home and how old they are.
This is important to keep in mind not only as you are creating their design and selecting finishes and furnishings, but I also like to know this for when I first walk in the door.
Maybe I’ll be greeted by the entire family and if so I can say to the kids “Hey, you must be Toby and Angela.” This shows clients that you are detail-oriented and cared enough to take the time to review their responses.
Getting personal and showing you care is important.
#3 Getting Clients to Complete and Return the Questionnaire
Lastly, how do you get clients to complete and return your questionnaire before you meet?
This is what I say on the discovery call:
“In order to be best prepared for our meeting, we send you a questionnaire ahead of time and ask that you complete it and send it back to us 48 hours prior to the date of our appointment.
Two hours may seem like a long time together, but it goes by pretty quick and I want to be as efficient as I can be with the time that we have, making sure we address your biggest pain points and top priorities.”
Who doesn’t love hearing that we want to make the most efficient use of our time together?
To actually see me on a discovery call and in a consultation meeting, check out the incredible offer below!
Need a Questionnaire & 15+ More Template Downloads?
Get my ‘already done for you’ interior design client questionnaire along with many more templates, checklists, and email drafts so you can be super organized and confident with your clients.
To see what other helpful interior design business resources I have for you to succeed in your interior design business, click here.
As an Interior Design Business Coach, my passion is to share what I’ve learned and help you achieve great success as well. I can help you transform your business with bigger projects, better clients, and higher profits.
Do you use a client questionnaire?
Comment below and share your experience with having clients complete your questionnaire.
What a few days it was at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show!
It’s been nearly 2 years since I last travelled for work and KBIS 2022 did not disappoint.
Seeing the exquisite displays on the showroom floor and also getting an invitation to the New American Home, was just what I needed to refuel my inspiration for upcoming interior design projects.
In this post, I share some of the best new products and displays from the show, plus, stick around to the end of the post where I show you THE MOST RIDICULOUS DESIGN DETAIL that I saw.
What was popular at KBIS 2022
Black and White
Black cabinetry, black toilets, black and white wallpaper, as well as bold contrasting patterns in tiles and fabrics were all on show at both KBIS and in the New American Home.
A mod living space in the New American Home.
A funky and functional laundry room in the New American Home.
If you love black and white wallpaper, and lots of pattern, don’t miss the living room we designed for our clients in this exciting interior design project we had photographed last year.
A shiny black toilet by Kohler.
Could you do a black toilet? This was just one of the many Kohler displays.
We have a black sink in our main floor bathroom, but I don’t think that I could do a black toilet!
Kitchen display by Cafe, Distinct by Design
This black and white wallpaper adds a ton of interest to this kitchen. But for this to function properly, you need to have a solid piece of stone or glass on part of the back wall to avoid spilling water down the back of the cabinetry.
Warm Terracottas
You know that warm tones are back right? Well, here in one of the Kohler bathroom vignettes is a backdrop of the popular shiplap in a terracotta tone.
A trending terracotta-coloured bathroom
If you remember in my Colour Trends 2022 post published at the end of last year, my good friend Maria Killam predicted Foxy Brown by Benjamin Moore to be a trending colour in 2022.
Although Foxy Brown is more pink than a terracotta or Cavern Clay by Sherwin Williams, these warmer colours are indeed back!
Thompson Traders sinks are always on trend!
Notice the gorgeous hammered sink in the kitchen display above?
This is an beautiful sink designed by the fabulous Thompson Traders.
You can catch a glimpse of my Thompson Traders copper sink in the 3D drawing of my new kitchen design shown in this post about my new dishwasher.
And, a quick detour here while I’m mentioning Thompson Traders. I wanted to include a photo of their show-stopping, larger than life, tortoise inspired hood and sink in a brass finish.
Thompson Traders: Fab products & a wonderful family-owned company
Perhaps the most breathtaking display at the entire show was this monochromatic green kitchen design in the Monogram booth.
Monogram kitchen display, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2022
Dark green cabinets, green and black backsplash, ombre stone hood in shades of greens and the addition of green plants to add even more life to this display.
Is it too much for you or could you be this bold?
That gas stovetop is impressive and I especially love the copper knobs.
I adore green which is why I painted my basement walls and laundry room cabinets Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball but I think even for me, this kitchen is a bit too much.
Love the drama though and it definitely got people talking!
Purple clawfoot tub by Kholer
Me in the purple clawfoot tub! It’s my favourite colour, how could I not hop in?!
More inspiration from KBIS 2022
Fluted Millwork
This is a nice design detail that we’ve been seeing a lot over the last few years, but a bugger to dust and keep clean. We saw lots of this type of millwork in the 2020 Princess Margaret Lottery Home.
Archways
Archways are super popular at the moment, we see Studio McGee using these often in doorways for their Modern Farmhouse designs.
Statement Lighting
The lighting fixtures and details in the New American Home were indeed out of this world. Here are just a couple of examples that I especially loved.
The Most Ridiculous Design Detail
Lastly, I wanted to share this dishwasher design detail shown in the Monogram booth.
While this type of natural-toned caning is definitely trending, as it is shown here, it is completely impractical.
Could you imagine the drips down the front and trying to get out any bits of food that will inevitably get stuck in there?
Sorry, but at some point, you really have to think about what looks good and what is good design.
Anything surprise you from what I shared here today?
Share your thoughts below, kitchens and baths are always a hot topic.
Speaking of hot topics…have you taken my colour quiz yet?
Take my Quiz and find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next interior design or decorating project.
Perfect Colour Palettes
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Convenience at your fingertips
I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.
Our Perfect Colour Palettes help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.
Perfect for Pinning!
Claire's Guide to Services & Pricing
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Interior Design Services and Rates Guide
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