Rustic + Traditional + Modern = Fun Eclectic Combo, or a Mess?
3 years ago
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Eclectic or Jumbled
Comments (124)I haven't read any of the replies because I did not want to be influenced :-) That said, I would call the kitchen an eclectic jumble. Each element taken separately Is wonderful-- an outstanding example of whatever it is, be it flooring, vintage style appliances, seating, etc. I think the colors of gray and light yellow (floor) do not really "go" with the wood tones, and the navy chairs do not go with anything. I appreciate that you want to leave the wood in its original state and love the table you have chosen rather than some overdone RH version of an old farmhouse table. If there is one thing to change it would be the flooring, as a little gray paint on some of the unfitted elements does not define the room as the floor will. In the interest of time I would have the floor painted a blue and white checkerboard or plaid, sealed well, and use your wallpaper and all the other elements planned. If you paint you can control the colors rather than be at the mercy of a flooring mfg and you can always floor over it when you find something you like better. I'd use Blue and white mattress ticking for the sink skirt (which was my first choice when you were looking for fabric). It's not a bad thing for a few of your choices to be ordinary enough to give some space around the more distinctive bits. This post was edited by kswl on Thu, May 22, 14 at 8:56...See MoreEclectic vs. Consistent
Comments (9)Combining things can result either in a charming, lively, personal and beautiful house; or in a confusing, jumbled, schizoid mess. The challenge for someone like you, who is delighted by so many things, is either to inherit a hundred million dollars and go buy four or five houses, OR, if that's not likely, to put yourself through an exercise. Gather a whole bunch of pictures of the disparate things you love...ancient dairy buildings in Provence, hillside villas on Italian lakes, sleek penthouses in Manhattan, adobes in Santa Fe, Nantucket cottages by the sea...whatever attracts you. Then lay them all out all over your dining room table, pour yourself a stiff drink, and look for all the things those images have in common. After a while, you'll begin to notice how each of them makes you feel. If you love openess, airiness, and clean lines around you, but can't resist a great shell-encrusted rococo mirror, then you want modern architectural backgrounds with one or two big ornate statements. If, on the other hand, you love heavy classical or Victorian moldings and trims, and flowered prints or paisleys, and you also love sleek Italian furniture and glass tables, then you want a traditional envelope with cool modern art, wool sisal or graphic patterned rugs, white linen slipcovers on simple comfortable furniture, and very contemporary angular floor lamps. One of the most beautiful apartments I was ever in was a big, open, modern white box with huge windows and dark, polished floors with tribal rugs flung around everywhere. There was a big, long modern robin's egg blue linen sofa with Fortuny pillows, a pair of Eames rosewood lounge chairs, and a really enormous ornate French gold-leafed mirror on one wall. Across the room was a gallery of Italian landscape and Dutch still life paintings and a large Chippendale slant-top desk. Way way above my pay grade...but an example of how effective careful mixing can be....See MoreDesigners, what are the eclectic design rules?
Comments (17)Honestly, I've always perceived of eclectic style as someone who says, "I don't care what you think" and does what they like regardless of convention. Eclectic style is a buzz word in decorating because people get flustered and can't define or label something that isn't easily categorized. In each of your photos above, I can point to what I like and what I don't like--but I bet the homeowners don't care what I can point to. If you consider the philosophical definition of eclectic, it makes more sense: of, denoting, or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected such doctrines as they wished from various schools....See MoreI'm a design mess...
Comments (9)I love all the suggestions above. I have a friend who (as the majority of people) had very limited funds but a big desire to make her home cozy and beautiful. She had a lot a second hand furniture and other decor old and found, and when talking to me she expressed her concern everything in her home is different, second hand, etc, etc. Next time I met her, I brought her a book as a gift. The book was called "Flea Market Style" Later she told me it was amazing how calling things just a different name can be emboldening, empowering, and freeing. She totally stopped worrying about herself being a design mess)) and instead of worrying things were old and found started enjoying the process of discovering and mixing and putting it all together. Don't call yourself a design mess; there is a beautiful even though overused word "eclectic"..)) Or other words you can describe your unique style with. Maybe several words, not one. Style reflects us; we're multi-faceted beings...it's normal to love many different things. Of course one still should be mindful in what he's doing because the house should be like you: multi-faceted but still recognizable as one unique person..I mean house)) It should also make sense with its architecture, surroundings, have cohesiveness, especially in fixed materials, etc, etc. Not everything is easy to pull off. Eclectic style is especially not always easy to pull of. But it's so much fun. It's like in Andersen's fairy tales: remember how things and toys would have conversations and parties at night when people were sleeping? Imagine things in your house talking to each other. Like guests at a party lol. Guest with different characters and personalities as guests usually are. What will make for a good conversation? It will become much easier to see what works with what. And it will be fun to figure it all out. Looking forward to seeing the pics!...See MoreRelated Professionals
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