nice & nicer - design and lifestyle inspirations

Maj 20, 2013

Color trends for spring and summer 2013: Grayed Jade

Hello! Do you remember a series of posts about colors, which had been chosen by Pantone for spring and summer 2013? (Emerald, Lemon Zest, Monaco Blue, Red Poppy, African Violet, Tender Shoots, Dusk Blue).

Today I want to continue this column by presenting you Grayed Jade, a color that belongs to the said palette of top 10 colors by Pantone.

Grayed Jade reminds me of the very popular mint color, with the difference that it has some gray undertone (hence the name!). Just like in case of Emerald, the name derives from a gemstone, which is widely used for making jewelry. This is a very calming color, which combines nicely with beige, white, gold and other pastel hues, like pink or yellow. When I look at the interiors in this color, I instantly think about beach and sea. These spaces are full of lightness, air and freshness, don’t you agree? And the dresses in Grayed Jade are a perfect choice for hot summer days and look just amazing on lightly tanned skin!

Are you a fan of Grayed Jade?

//fashion: style; home: couch, poster by Sara Wood, bedroom, dining room, fabric, letter a, kitchen//

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Maj 14, 2013

From nice to nicer: eight styling tips for creating ‚wow’ vignettes

Hello! Not too long ago I had an opportunity to participate in a very well run interior styling e-course with Justina Blakeney, a very talented stylist, blogger and book author. I had a lot of fun applying Justina’s advice in my home and would like to share with you the results of my three styling: coffee table, shelf in a kitchen and console.

You might be wondering if there are any magic rules for styling nice vignettes. And the answer is yes, there are indeed some basic rules of design that help to achieve nice styling results. In fact, you can design a whole room or just one small corner according to these principles. So what should you pay attention to if you want to style like a pro? Let’s see!

1. Texture – include smooth and rough textured objects for variety. Think: glass, wood, stone, wicker, wool.

2. Color – the use consistent color scheme that goes well with the rest of your space. Pull some colors from your general color scheme for cohesive look.

3. Pattern – use geometric or floral pattern to introduce some more visual interest. Patterns can bring more fun into your styling.

4. Shape – your pretty vignette should include objects of different shapes. Therefore, make sure that you have elements with rectangular, triangular and circular qualities. Variety is again the key word!

5. Size – just like with shapes, vary the size of the objects, as this helps to created balanced vignette. A big lamp on a table may be counterbalanced by a set of 3 smaller vases.

6. Shine -shiny elements draw attention and give this „extra something”. Glass, metal and shiny ceramic surfaces will do the trick.

7. Botanicals – including „live” elements like flowers, plants, fruits or vegetables (!) breathes life into your design. In addition, botanicals are great for varying textures.

8. Power of 3s – have you ever heard of this rule? Well, in styling, it means that three objects placed next to each other make huge visual impact. Just to remember, these objects do not have to be the same!

Additionally, you should not forget about functionality of the space/part of the space and the need it is meant to fulfill (storage or display? relaxing or working? etc).

The function of the coffee table is display/store small things. Finally, it is not cluttered with too many books and I like the color scheme, too!

My console/credenza had no styling prior to this exercise . I learned a lot trying to achieve satisfying result! I think I rearranged everything about 20 times.

The shelf above the stove is just for displaying things. Before, it was cluttered with different items, and I was putting there small items that were in a way. I like the final look!

I will be happy to hear what you think about my vignettes!

//photos: Magda for nice&nicer //

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Maj 6, 2013

Pretty patterns love: Greek key

Hello my dear readers! Over the last few weeks, or even months, I’ve grown to literally love pattern. Inspired by a series of my favorite Sarah Richardson shows, I started to appreciate the importance of prints and patterns in interior design. Skilled application of patterns can have such an enormous impact on the design! Sarah Richardson is a real master when it comes to choosing and combining fabrics with different motives. I used to think of patterns as an addition, the final touch, whereas Sarah very often uses prints as a jumping off point for her styling. My fascination with the whole world of pretty patterns has brought me to a decision to start a separate column called Pretty patterns.

For today’s post I’ve chosen Greek key, a very geometric pattern with long tradition. The use of Greek key brings elegance and sophistication into any room. I used to know this pattern in combination with a lot of golden elements, in interiors that were too traditional and too overdone and definitely not my taste. It turns out, however, that Greek key can be used in a modern way, without loosing its elegance.

Look at the many possible ways to use Greek key pattern in an interior. I think that Greek key is most widely used on pillows and bed duvet covers. I like how it combines with other patterns, including floral motives. As you can see from the pictures I have chosen for this post, Greek key can be applied in interiors which are successfully styled in so many different ways!

The pink headboard in the 2nd picture looks very interesting thanks to this geometric pattern. Dark blue ribbon sewn or glued on the fabric makes a big difference in the overall look of the room. See how this Greek key patterns contrast with the Ikat print on the pillow and abstract art on the wall. The pattern is then repeated on the carpet to make a visual connection and unify the design. I love Greek key patterned carpets! The design is simple, yet very impressive. It really helps to ground the room and provides balance for more abstract decorative elements. Greek key adornments on the furniture make the pieces look more sophisticated. Used in moderation, however, keep the design from looking too overdone. Look at the desk with a pink DIY Greek key pattern. What a lovely (and simple) idea to give some color and pattern punch to otherwise white surface. You can find instructions on how to do this project on Dwellings by Devore blog. //photo credits: Greek key pattern on pillows and covers 1, 2, 3, 4; Greek key pattern on carpets 1, 2, 3, 4; Greek key pattern on upholstery 1, 2, 3, 4; Greek key pattern on furniture 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Kwiecień 12, 2013

Nice design – let’s go to…New York!

Hello! How have you been? If you are as big fan of New York City as I am, this post is definitely something you can’t miss! Well, recently I have discovered UncommonGoods, an online shop with headquarters in New York, which offers various unique products, including a wide selection of art and posters. When I was searching through the portfolios of Uncommon Goods artist, I came across many pieces inspired by New York City. It is incredibly interesting to see, how people express their creativity in totally different ways! Look at my favorites that I picked and maybe you will also get inspired to bring a little bit of the Big Apple into your home!

Denise Fiedler: Buildings