Today at The Shiny Pebble we are welcoming Charlotta Ward, an inspiring blogger who writes Space for Inspiration, a talented artist who produces fantastic children’s murals and posters found in homes around the world (see the blog Charlotta Ward), and also a sweet friend who helped me develop the ideas for the Designer Challenge. I know you are all looking forward to seeing what this very creative woman has to show us, so without further ado…
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Contrary to many of the other 'designer challenge girls', I am not a practicing interior designer - in fact it is many years since I worked in the field. Instead I am a 'brand creator' and marketing specialist gone artist. Since I had kids a few years ago I swapped a hectic career for a much slower life where I spend most of my days creating bespoke original art for children of all ages and from all corners of the world. I originally stem from Sweden however have moved around for the last 20 years, and currently call Sydney home. My blog reflects my nomadic and culturally eclectic background and I enjoy sharing a wide variety of posts that in one or another way reflect who I am and what I like. I am highly creative, visual and thrive on arty projects where I can let my brain loose in the wonderful meadows of design and decor.
To be here today to serve up a visual smorgasbord for Catherine's lovely dining room is fun and I hope you enjoy what I have to share.
- How do you define your style?
An organic element is also important to me, and I need to surround myself with grounding materials like wood, rock and natural fibers but like to contrast these with crystal, metal, fur and glass. I also find it impossible to live without flowers, twigs, candles and all those little extra touches that makes a house a home. I am big on cozy and soothing comfort.
Ambiance, balance and harmony are also important be that in the basic lines of a decor, the structure of a room, the colours used or the light/lighting. The latter plays a huge part in my home environment and I tend to feel very unsettled in rooms that deprives me of flow of light and air.
I also like it when the soul and personality of a person come through in a home, and like a dash of humour and quirk. Design also has to have a deeper level of relevance and thought for me to fall head over heels. I like things that are genuine and have heart.
- What inspires you?
- Which designer or life experience has influenced your design aesthetics?
At the moment I have young children and our home has evolved to cater for their needs and our priorities as a family. This means more focus on practicality over pure aesthetics, and I find myself far more relaxed and spontaneous in my general approach to design these days.
My aesthetic preferences are also very much depending on where in the world I live and on the kind of dwelling. Having moved around a lot over the past 20 years has definitely also changed my approach to decor however I can safely say that my Swedish DNA is still fairly intact and I gravitate towards the simple, light and white design aesthetics of my home country.
- What is your go to source?
The internet (including all amazing blogs!) is an invaluable source for me, as are trade shows, magazines, art exhibitions, libraries, real-life environments and personal contacts.
- What were your thoughts on designing my room?
Seeing your beautiful dining room in context of your initial request of updating it, my initial thought was to simplify and de-clutter it. In my mind, less is usually more when wanting to make a more current impression. This approach also harmonizes well with my Nordic origin where simple structure and scaled back harmony rule.
The very first concept I visualized was spurred by your innate love for the ocean (beach), however this does not mean I wanted to create a nautical or typical maritime theme. Instead I dreamed up a room that was inspired by the deeper blues of the ocean, the golden reflection of the surface and the soft browns and whites of the shoreline.
I imagined walls be painted a deep husky storm blue with white detail in the woodwork and ceiling to form a classic timeless base.
As I know you enjoy a dash of glamour, I thought we could add a cluster of Tom Dixon copper ball pendant lamps, a nicely arranged group of vintage sunburst mirrors or a fabulous panel of antique smoky mirrors.
I also imagined the floor to be a varnished a darker and less rich brown colour, and layered with nude or gold laminated cow hides. To draw on your heritage, I thought it could be fun to find a fabulous Brazilian tribal or feathered (carnival) head-piece to work as key feature on one of the walls.
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My second concept is based on a more monochromatic decor. The base palette would consist of light greys, browns, cognac, with accents of white, black and gold. Again, the floor would be varnished a deeper brown and dressed with cow hides or alternatively a nicely worn & faded Persian rug. I think the stronger and deeper accents are important as I know you are not a huge fan of decor that is too quiet, plain or too neutral styles (what you refer to as 'Belgian Style').
I would hang a few large pendant lamps or a dramatic chandelier above the table. Again, I quite like Tom Dixon's designs and think a group of the hammered gold/black 'Beat' pendants could look quite cool.
The windows would be fitted with stacked Roman blinds in raw coarse linen. Alternatively vintage Parisian floor-to-ceiling shutters would look stunning, however I am not sure there is actually enough room on far sides of the room?. Either way, I know light is important to you and I would strive to avoid lengths of draped fabric. Further, I like the idea of cognac coloured worn leather in combination with this palette, and can also see a few edgier industrial details being mixed in with antique objects to create an individual & quirky impression.
Just generally (for either base concept), I think it would be fun to include some texture and dimension to the walls. Scale is of importance to create a dramatic focal point, and I personally like the idea of over-sized art & objects on the walls. To mix your current collection up, I would suggest you hunt for a some large blown up black & white photographs, big frame-less pieces of abstract modern art or unusual sculptural objects that can be hung on the wall or propped up against it for an unusual twist.
I generally think that fewer & bigger pieces gives a more modern appeal, and I would encourage you to think 'less is more' when rearranging the walls. Any smaller pieces of existing art could be arranged in little clusters to minimize the clutter and give a more contemporary look.
As for the rest, it will be up to the dressing of the table, bouquets of cut flowers and/or twigs, as well as candles and the general touch of fabulousness.
I know for a fact that you are very good at this and that you have a very special way with flowers and plants! x
That's all my dears. I had fun putting this together. I hope you enjoyed it too.
xx Charlotta
The images and inspiration for this post have been collated via a various blogs and websites: Space For Inspiration, Holding Court, Elements of Style, B&B Italia, Splendid Willow, Appartment #34, Conversation Pieces, A Perfect Gray, Elle Decor, Living Etc, The Shiny Pebble, Design Crisis, Emmas Designblogg, Apartment Therapy, Lonny, Sydney Dance Cafe, Ticklish from a Distance, From the Right Bank, Ralph Lauren Interiors, The Weekend Host, Frank Features, Sarah Claasen, 100 Layer Cake, Mochatini, Ada & Darcy, Brabourne Farm, Aubrey Road and many more.
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Some of these pictures just took my breath away! I love how deeply her review of me as a person has affected the ideas behind the concepts. That is a true testament of Charlotta’s sweet, caring and nurturing nature. She has even added a couple of my own pictures to the bunch. I adore the soothing palette taken one level up by the luxurious touches. Ebonized floors have always been a dream of mine…
Now, hop on over to Splenderosa's Blog to see what loveliness she has put together for me this week. I enjoy these posts as much as the makeovers.
If you all enjoyed this makeover as much as I did and would love to see more entries and related posts, please check out the links below:
Amanda Burdge's Creating a Hip Space from a Traditional Place
Raina Cox's (If The Lampshade Fits) Boho Contempo Style
Christina Fluegge’s (Greige) Transitional Eclectic Mix
Beth Connolly’s (Chinoiserie Chic) British Colonial Style
Amy Forshew’s (Pemberley Style) Soft Tones Traditional
Once again, thank you The Daily Basics for helping us spread the word of the challenge.
Hugs and Kisses!
Catherine
Linking to: Woo Hoo Wednesday, Make it Yours Day, Tablescape Thursday, Friday Remodelaholic, Fabulous Nest Friday, Metamorphosis Monday
