Chinoiserie Wallpaper: Fromental

A small feature in the Discoveries section of this month's Architectural Digest managed to catch my eye and spark my imagination. I stumbled upon Fromental, an AMAZING fabric and wallpaper source out of the United Kingdom. I would love to have just one wall covered in any one of these gorgeous chinoiserie papers. The Paradiso pattern (pictured above) has inspired me to start planning a lavender scheme for the master bedroom in the new condo.

All images via www.Fromental.co.uk

Natural Inspiration

Considering a new colour scheme? Can't decide whether or not it works? Here's a hint: Chances are if a colour combination is found in nature, it will also look good in your home. Next time you need some design inspiration, just take a look outside for some fabulous ideas!!

Taking a cue from the tulips and lemons, the combination of yellow and green create a pleasant colour palette. I found this rug at Brooks & Co. in Bobcaygeon this past weekend. It will eventually be the jumping off point for the guest bedroom in my next home:


It would look great with this Matine Toile bedding from Pottery Barn:


For a modern touch, I would hang a painting like this one by artist Vanessa Drew:


Put your trust in Mother Nature and let nature be your inspiration - you can't go wrong.

Jumping Off Point

For those who are thinking about redecorating a space and don't know where to start, my advice is to find one truly special item and draw inspiration from that piece. I know that sounds a bit pretentious, but it works. One object can be the jumping off point for a theme or for a colour scheme.

Imagine a colourful room designed around this vase:


The walls would be painted Benjamin Moore White Opulence and the floor would be a dark, dark hardwood with a cream rug to anchor the seating area in front of the fireplace. These neutral elements allow for pops of colour in the furniture.

The vase would rest at the center of the mantle above the fireplace, reflected from behind by a simple mirror:



A settee like this one would be stained the same colour as the floor and reupholstered in a burnt orange velvet:



Across from that would sit two of these faux bamboo Hollywood regency chairs painted out Benjamin Moore Green With Envy:

I would sew toss cushions for the chairs using these Indian Silk Sari fabrics:



A modern glass table like this one would float in the center of the seating area:


This pair of gold cherub lamps, finished off with modern drum shades, would sit atop a sofa table behind the settee:


The sofa table legs would be sprayed creamy white to match the travertine marble top:


Two windows along the rear wall would be draped in these champagne silk panels from Invu Drapery:


Here's how the layout would look:

Each element in the room either remains Neutral or Relates directly to the vase, our Jumping Off Point.

Neutral Items:
Walls, Drapery, Floors, Rug, Glass Coffee Table, White Marble Sofa Table

Related Items:
Metal: Gold Oval Mirror, Gold Cherub Lamps
Colour: Burnt Orange Settee, Green Hollywood Regency Chairs, Indian Silk Cushions in Orange and Green

Helpful Hints:

• Be consistent when using metal elements, it should be gold or silver, not both.

• Use colour, but don't go overboard. Two strong colours in one room is enough.

• Don't be afraid to mix Antique with Modern or Italian with Asian - that's what makes a room interesting.