Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 19, 2017
One of my favorite trends of the season – Industrial Luxe! Edgy, glam and chic!
Here’s how to nail the look if you don’t want to change up the look of your whole house but still want to embrace the trend in small but sure ways!
Source List (click on item to buy)
Matte black and gold wall lamp
Happy Shopping 🙂
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 15, 2017
Jewel tones are a big trend this season…..deep rich hues like royal blue, amethyst, emerald and ruby are taking over pastels and muted tones!
Here’s how you can bring the look home without making it look overdone! Sheer fabrics, glass, natural texture and fabrics help tone things down while still keeping with the rich colors.
Source List (click on item to buy)
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 12, 2017
Next up on our Weestyled series of styling tips for your home our simple 5 steps to style your sofa. A well styled sofa is not just stylish to look at but should also be comfortable to sit on. Large pillows to lean against and a few smaller pillows for support as well as looks, a soft throw to wrap around while you watch your favorite show, a lamp for some warm light and wall art framing the wall behind your sofa.
Here are 5 simple steps to get the look!
1. Art
Your sofa needs a backdrop. Something that frames the blank wall behind and brings in visual interest! Art can be large prints, a canvas, gallery wall of pictures, a vintage textile, bohemian wall hangings, eclectic baskets or plates…really, the options are endless!
In this case we started with a gallery wall of black and white pictures from our various travels, that acts as a simple yet graphic backdrop for our gray sofa.
2. Side table and Lamp
A small side table with a lamp adds lighting as well as a spot to park your glass or book. Here we have nested tables and a wooden tripod lamp with a plaid black and white shade that plays off the black and white gallery wall beautifully!
3. Soft throw
Dress up your sofa and start by adding a soft throw. Throws can be in vibrant solid colors, geometric patterns or even eclectic prints like an ikat! We have a soft white throw here keeping the palette neutral and clean.
4. Pillows
Start with at least two large pillows on both sides. I recommend keeping them similar to bring in some symmetry or at least within the same color family with same scaled patterns.
Next throw in smaller pillows in a different color to bring in a pop of color as in this case or to create some variety and interest.
5. Object
Add an object like the pearl white vase in our picture, a small plant, a photo frame or anything that speaks your style and brings in some visual appeal to complete the space.
And there you have it – a perfectly styled comfortable sofa 🙂
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 9, 2017
Next up on our series of shop the looks for the top 10 decor trends is maximalism! Its all about bold colors, vibrant patterns, mixed textiles, ornate pieces and layering for a collected look!
Think suzani upholstered chairs and pillows, kantha throws in vibrant colors, ornate mirrors and luxurious furniture 🙂
Source List (click on the item to buy)
Purple cane back upholstered chair
Happy Shopping!
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 8, 2017
I recently wrote about the top 10 decor trends on the Home Canvas Blog (click here for the full article) and thought how it might help take things a step further by creating a ‘shop the look’ for each of these trend.
So over the next 10 days I will be creating a look for each of these trends using curated handpicked products, that you can simply click and buy!
So go on, follow us to find out how you can now shop your favorite trend of the season! Our first curated look is for one of the most standout trends of the season – Green 🙂
Source List (click the item to buy)
Happy Shopping!
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on March 6, 2017
As published on the Home Canvas Blog, here’s my write up on the top 10 decor trends for 2017. Please click here for the full article.
1. Green
We’re seeing green everywhere…forest green velvet couches, hunter green walls and bright emerald kitchen cabinets! Pantone named bright ‘Greenery’ as the color of the year. It signifies reconnecting to nature, outdoors, hopefulness and a fresh start. And juxtaposed with grays, black and white it creates a sophisticated chic look!
Bring in some green to your home – leafy plants, pillows, art prints and small objects are easy ways to incorporate the color! But if you’re ready to go bold we’re loving green couches at the moment….striking and beautiful!
2. Maximalism
The days of clean straight-line minimalism are gone and are getting replaced by bold patterns, ornate edges and layered maximalism. The look is shifting from stark modern minimal to global layered and worldly! We’re seeing a mix of textures and patterns, the use of motifs and murals and rich cultural influences in design.
This trend makes way for using your travel treasures, your grandma’s antique trunk or that kantha coverlet on a modern sofa!
3. Jewel Tones
Pastels and lighter shades are making way for deep rich jewel tones. Purples, ruby, peacock blue, teal and emerald matched with metallics, mirrors and semi precious stones create a look that is luxurious and glam!
To get the look think sheer fabrics, accessories, rich velvet pillows mixed with metallics and shiny surfaces to create a subtle yet lux look!
4. Upholstered headboards
In keeping with the resurgence of a more luxurious richer look, upholstered headboards are showing up in a big way! In bold colors, rich textures and patterns they make for a bolder look compared to the sleek light wood and metal headboards that we’ve been seeing.
Embrace the look with a headboard in a bright bold color like fuschia or for a subtle but textural look pick a gray linen fabric!
5. Industrial Lux
Concrete countertops with brass hardware, marble with copper accents and terracotta tiles with gold faucets! The industrial glam look is here to stay! Combining hard and cold materials with glamorous metals and shine makes for a lux but chic updated space.
Think marble trays, cement lighting and mixed materials paired with gold, silver and brass accents!
6. Botanicals
Leafy prints, palm trees and tropical patterns are cropping up everywhere from wallpapers to lampshades to pillows! A nod to nature, these patterns help bring the outdoors in and make for a chic breezy look that’s playful yet updated.
Throw in some tropical print pillows or for a ‘jungalow’ inspired look do up an accent wall in leafy print wallpaper!
7. Innovative Lighting
Lighting this year is innovative, unique, funky and downright striking! We’re seeing filament bulbs, cement, exposed wiring and geometric shapes of varying kinds. A one of a kind statement piece that can instantly uplift your dining space from blah to aah or a sculptural chandelier occupying center stage in your living room!
Make way for some fabulous ceiling lights for a dramatic makeover or bring in some lamps in mixed materials for a quick refresh to your space!
8. Terracotta
Terracotta is the warm that’s offsetting the cold minimal modern look of the past. Terracotta planters, terracotta tiles, flooring and homeware add texture, color and warmth to interiors.
Terracotta is a popular trend in kitchens…terracotta floors with kilims and dhurries, earthy matte finish tiles for a rustic warm feel and warm earthy tones that add depth!
9. Texture
Raw and natural materials like cork, clay, wood, concrete and terracotta inspired by nature are all making a comeback! Mixed with metals like gold, brass and copper they create an edgy updated look.
Cork walls, cork in furniture, matte terracotta tiles, concrete countertops, exposed brick walls and rustic wood are all a nod to this look.
10. Shades of gray
With all the deep rich colors, textures and patterns, gray offers a chic muted backdrop to let all the maximalism to shine through! Soft gray walls and upholstered pieces are the perfect canvas for the interplay of pattern, color and texture.
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on February 18, 2017
On the other end of the spectrum of our tours our home tour this time is of a beautiful home that showcases contemporary Indian style! With victorian influences and a nod to Calcutta’s british colonial past there’s plenty to feast your eye on 🙂
Bhavna and Uddhav the homeowners have a keen eye for décor and art. Not surprising given that Bhavna is an erstwhile interior designer who now owns ‘Giftistree’ India’s first online gift registry service and Uddhav’s keen sense of aesthetic and love for a well curated home!
Bright colors, victorian inspired chandeliers that bring in old world charm, artefacts from around the world and Art and more Art 🙂
From a gallery wall of modern black and whites to a Paresh Maity in bold colors to a wall covered in traditional Tanjore paintings, this home has beautiful art!
The library is anchored by a rug in varying shades of earthy reds and an antique Egyptian desk. A tufted leather chair in deep burgundy completes the look!
This home is vibrant, collected and full of character! I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I did 🙂
Here’s more about Bhavna and Uddhav’s decorating style and their influences….
Style – Traditional but quirky.
Inspiration – Traditional, local elements we find on our travels tend to inspire our decor.
Favorite piece/element/item – The pista green cabinet in the living room! I saw it at a closing sale and fell in love with it. It wasn’t that expensive but was one of the first furniture pieces on which I made a solo decision to buy!
First big purchase/biggest splurge – Our Egyptian desk in the library that we saw in an antique store in Cairo and just had to buy. The whole library was then conceptualized around it!
Influence of your family on your style -Our home has always been a blend of traditional and modern, and a lot more about comfort than pure aesthetic. That is what drives most of our design decisions, along with a keen sense of incorporating elements from all over the world, and from various eras.
Dream buys – A Raja Ravi Verma painting
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on February 4, 2017
Weestyled is our series of style tips on the many little things in your home that come together to create a stylish functional and unique space. What better spot to start with than the entryway!
The entryway is your home’s first impression! And its the first spot you set foot in! So its only logical that it needs to be both stylish and functional!
Stylish enough to create that first impression and functional enough to hold all the important things that you need when you rush out the door or dump when you get in 🙂
Here are our 5 simple steps to create an entryway thats functions as well as it looks…..
1. Statement Art/ Mirror
A large piece of art or a beautiful mirror can be a key piece in anchoring the look of your entryway! This is what is going to create that ‘wow’ first impression…..so go bold or go home! Pick art that reflects you, pulls in the colors of your home and speaks to you. If you choose to go with a mirror think unique….a brass framed simple striking mirror, a tiled mirror with bold color on the frame or a sunburst mirror!
2. Shoe Storage
The next step is storage. Storage for your shoes as well as other small items like keys, bags, hats etc. Here we have a wooden shoe rack that doubles up as a surface to hold a catchall for the little things!
3. Seating
A small spot to sit where you can put on your shoes, a place for your visitors to wait or a spot to dump your jacket when you walk in! However you use it seating is an important element in the entryway if you have the space for it. Here we have used a wooden bench with iron carving in the back which in itself makes for an interesting look. However a stool, chair, open bench etc will all work just fine depending on your space!
4. Rug
Throw in a rug for visual interest and to define the area. Being a high traffic area, you want to pick something that can stand the wear and tear like jute/cotton rugs, dhurries and such.
5. Add finishing touches
Lastly add the little finishing touches that bring it all together. A catchall for your keys, a set of hooks for hats and bags or a standing rack and a few knick knacks for visual interest!
And Voila…you have a stylish and functional entryway ready 🙂
Hope these style tips will help you create your own stylish entryway!
Stay tuned for more xx
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on January 27, 2017
Next up in our home tour series, a tour of a bright, modern Scandinavian inspired home! Susanne and Peter are from Denmark and you can see the apparent Danish influences in all the lovely pieces around the home from the modern classic Stingray rocker to the iconic Wegner round chair!
The home itself is a treat to the eye in its modern minimalist design! But what stands out and makes it unique are all the personal touches and vignettes that the couple have added from their many travels from the elephant print and other paintings to the small objets de art sprinkled through the home!
Modern, Classic, Scandinavian…this home is striking and reflects the bright generous and welcoming personalities of its owners!
Here’s more about Susanne’s decorating style and her influences…
Style & Inspiration
Our style is typical Scandinavian, with a mix of danish design and IKEA. We like white and bright colors, mainly because we see very little sunlight during autumn/winter (6 months a year).
The use of blue between all of the white, symbolizes the ocean. Denmark is surrounded by sea and it is one of the few things that we miss very much.
Most of the pictures/art on the walls are memories from our trips around the world. We have masks from Brazil, dancers from Cuba, elephant from Sri Lanka, cycling ladies from Vietnam etc.
Favorite piece/element/item
My favorite piece of furniture is the Stingray, my rocking chair, not particularly comfortable to sit in, but I love the design. Peter’s favorite piece is the Wegner chair, which he inherited from his grandmother. It is a very old classic design chair and it is still produced and sold all over the world.
First big purchase/biggest splurge
Our first biggest purchase was the dining table and the chairs. The table is designed by Piet Hein and is called “the Ellipse” and the chairs are called “7`eren” designed by Arne Jacobsen. I love the design! It’s a simple streamlined design. The steel legs and the white surface are very practical. You can stack the chairs and wash them when they get dirty and the table has very few scratches, though is has gone through a lot!
Influence of your family on your style
Most of our furniture is practical and meant to be used and we have had that in mind, whenever we have purchased something for our home.
Dream Buys
Though I do like classic danish design, I will probably go for something more modern and less expensive next time.
HAY is a fairly new Danish design company (founded 2002). They are inspired by the classic designers but work with new technologies and new materials and cater to the changing lifestyle. I love their designs, both in furniture and accessories and will probably go for that next time I need something for my home.
Created by Vinithra Amarnathan on December 9, 2016
I have always looked at beautiful home tours in some of my favorite blogs and been inspired! One of my goals when I started the weespaces blog was to be able to provide similar inspiration to our readers and followers.
I’m so excited to kick off our home tours series on the blog! We will focus on homes that reflect a unique and different design aesthetic and give readers ideas and inspiration on how to achieve a similar style as well as the design process behind it!
Our home tours will also focus on the impact of culture, personal lifestyle and family on your design aesthetic. I have always found it fascinating how where we come from and where we have lived influence our design sensibilities so much!
I can see influences of Indian colors, patterns and architecture in my design as much as I can see the easy relaxed California style and modern midcentury elements.
At weespaces we pride in creating not only family friendly but family focused spaces and that’s another influence that I am inspired by…to see how style evolves when you decorate around a family!
HOME TOUR – Katie & Hamish Forsman
Our first home tour covers the home of my dear friends Katie & Hamish and their two adorable girls Mia & Eva! New Zealanders living in Bangalore, India with an eye for all things good 🙂
Modern, minimal, happy and chic….this home reflects the personality of its owners so beautifully!
Here is more about the home and Katie’s decorating style! A graphic designer by profession I can see Katie’s touches throughout the home from the eye grabbing Enzo Mari print to the beautiful oriental influenced silk pillows on the couch! The furniture is clean and simple in tones of gray and white allowing these design elements to stand out!
Style
I think my style could be described as comfortable contemporary, family friendly, practical.
Inspiration
I look to my family and friends for inspiration, home magazines, plus lots of online blogs and instagram feeds.
Favorite piece/element/item
My black and white stripe hall runner! It was one of my first purchases in India for my bungalow back in New Zealand, coincidentally it was also the perfect fit for our apartment here in Bangalore. We got it custom made in New Zealand wool at 1/3 of the price I was quoted back in NZ, boom!
First big purchase/biggest splurge
Whilst living in London we splurged on a piece of art by a kiwi artist living in New York at the time. I was desperate to put something up on our wall of our newly refurbished apartment and I rushed the purchased after seeing it online. Won’t make that mistake again!
Influence of your family on your style
I am surrounded by family and friends who are both very clever and talented! Both my mother and mother-in-law have incredible taste so I’m always inspired by their design styles. My Mum has a knack for upcycling old pieces giving them a new lease of life whether it is with a new lick of paint, new fabric or new tabletops on old legs, without having to break the bank. We recently re-upholstered our couch and sanded back our dining table and it has completely transformed our living space. We have 2 small children so think it would be a waste of money at this point in our lives to spend thousands on designer furniture when it would just get trashed, hence we stick to pretty affordable bigger pieces and perhaps splurge a little more on soft furnishings.
Dream buys
Gosh there are so many, but if I have to pick one then I would love to deck out our garden in New Zealand with the Amalfi Teak Outdoor Collection from Design Warehouse. https://designwarehouse.co.nz/seating-collections/teak-deep-seating/amalfi-teak-outdoor-furniture-collection.html
I hope you enjoyed this home tour as much I did! Stay tuned for another beautiful home with a story:)
