Dabbieri Blog

Art Déco: How to Get the Look

If you loved the glamorous, luxury designs of the 1920s and ’30s, then you’ll love art deco. Art deco is a design style expressed by decorative arts, furniture, and architecture. It’s characterized by geometric shapes, monochromes, streamlines, and bold colors. As a stark contrast from the minimalistic, natural trend, art deco’s sleek features will give your home a fashionable, elegant look.

There are so many unique elements that go into an art deco room. However, it’s okay to start with one piece and add to it as you go on.

Bold colors are a huge part of this design. Start by adding a chair or couch in hunter green, fuscia, or royal blue. The velvet green couch below is a great example of an art deco piece that ties in the other parts of the room.

If animal prints are your thing, then you’re in luck. Rugs and pillows are suitable places where you can incorporate zebra, leopard, tiger, or even cow prints.

Framed pictures are also super easy to implement. They usually have little to no color and include old cars, men and women dressed to the nines, and dated movie posters.

A less common but daring addition is fuzzy white furniture. It can be used in rugs, stools, and benches to add a bit of flair to the room.

Glass teardrop chandeliers and lamps will definitely add to the luxurious feel, as will monochrome accents.

A large part of the art deco design is attached to geometric shapes and patterns. They can take on the form of pillows, artwork, wall hangings, wallpaper designs, or kitchen backsplashes.

You will also notice that different styles of furniture are mixed together to create this look. A Spanish back chair along with a wicker side table is not uncommon.

It may seem like a lot, but whether you incorporate one or all of these elements, your space will come to resemble the alluring homes of the Great Gatsby era.

White Decor vs Bright Vibrant Decor

There are two extremes when it comes to color arrangements for your home; white décor and bright, vibrant décor. Both are very popular when it comes to decorating, however, they embody very different characteristics.

White décor is used to portray a clean, crisp, and minimal look. It’s easy on the eyes and therefore easy to decorate your home with. You really can’t go wrong with it.

White is a leading color when it comes to walls, but is also common when it comes to bathroom and kitchen fixtures. As some of the most used and messiest rooms in the house, it’s important that you keep them clean. White is the most susceptible color to dirt, but the most pleasing when it’s nice and polished.

It’s also getting integrated into couches, tables, and dressers. A white couch can give the sensation of sitting on a cloud, provided it’s comfortable. Tables and dressers add to the sleek, modern look.

The best part about a white interior is the flexibility. Like a blank canvas, any color you add to it will pop. It’s very easy to add statement pieces in this setting. On the other hand, it’s just as easy to add white to a colorful interior.

For those who find white to be too bland, a bright, vibrant interior might be the way to go. Colorful décor is undeniably more fun and will bring more character to your home. Vibrant colors will liven up any room, which is a great option for dreary winter months. 

The areas of opportunity for bright décor are endless. You can add vivid wallpaper, refurbished furniture, or a nice throw rug. If nothing else, incorporate colorful pillows, plants, or flowers.

The direction you choose to go is entirely up to you and should fit your personality. If you’re someone who changes their mind easily and gets sick of color, then a fresh white look will suit your home. If you’re someone who gets bored easily, then some vibrant colors will work best.

Hot Right Now: Vertical Tile Backsplashes

In design, the Backsplash can sometimes be overlooked as it can blend in with other facets like cabinets and stovetops. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to choose one that will make a statement. The recent trend of the vertical tile backsplash can help you with that. In both the bathroom and the kitchen, homeowners and designers are, quite literally, turning the subway tile trend on its head.

The most popular, clean-cut layout is subway tile. Subway tile is symmetrical and rectangular to its core. A quick 90-degree flip and vertical tile backsplash is formed.

You can also incorporate vertical tile with other materials and trends. Thin glass strips are very popular in achieving this look. Ceramic, wood, or marble tile are also great options.

When you think of a backsplash, you usually think of the space underneath your kitchen cabinets. However, a backsplash can be used as an accent piece in bathrooms as well. The vertical tile trend is a perfect addition to a transparent shower.

As a deviation from your typical horizontal and square tiles, vertical tile offers some unique features. If you want to make a space appear larger than it is, vertical tile will give an illusion of height. You can also incorporate differing colors into the tiles, or alter the positioning, to create a unique, trendy look.

If you want to get even more creative with it, try mixing both vertical and horizontal together. This will definitely make your backsplash stand out.

Which room in your home would you incorporate this trend into?

How to Mix and Match Patterns in Your Decor

Mixing patterns is on-trend, but it can be quite overwhelming trying to pick and choose which patterns to use, where to use them, and how to use them.  Good news, the clashing pattern look is now on-trend, so no more worrying about matching solids with patterns. You have free reign to use any type of pattern you want in any space you want. Isn’t that refreshing!

There are many great patterns to play with, including stripes, geometric shapes, animal prints, Aztec, ikat, paisley, florals, and so many more. When choosing which ones to use, you want to first figure out what kind of look you want. Aztec prints will give your room a southwestern feel while floral prints will portray a lighter, feminine feel.

The next task is deciding where to use contrasting patterns. In the living room, you could incorporate them in a rug and window shades, or a lampshade and a footrest. When all else fails, using a mix of patterns for your couch pillows and throws will always work.

Although flexible, you’re still going to want to stick to a few guidelines to keep the look cohesive. First of all, you should use colors with the same intensity. For instance, if you use dark brown, black, and red hues, you shouldn’t be using a bright blue.

You should also use three or more patterns of varying size across the space. One should be large-scale, one medium-scale, and the rest of them small-scale. In the picture below, the rug is the main pattern, the ottoman is the secondary pattern, and the pillows act as the supporting patterns.

Lastly, make sure that the patterns are spread out across the whole room. You don’t want them all in one space or else it’ll look more cluttered than anything.

With these thoughts in mind, you can transform your old room into a reenergized, fun space. Implement different patterns for a distinguished, eye-catching look.

Large Windows are Thriving in the Home

Large windows are not a new concept, but one that continues to thrive as home décor is becoming more modern and open. Floor to ceiling windows is a common trend that has the ability to completely transform a house or apartment; one that often plays a big role in home-buying decisions.

Large windows get the most use in homes that come with a view, and rightfully so. A beautiful view is not meant to be covered up. From cities to mountains, valleys to beaches and beyond, large windows work to highlight these works of nature.

Large windows can be implemented in living rooms or kitchens, as that’s where the most natural light is preferred. It wouldn’t hurt if they were put into bedrooms either, as long as you’re truly set on the transparent look and won’t be too bothered by morning sunshine.

Another key factor is the sense of increased spaciousness that large windows provide. They can make any room feel bigger by making the outdoors feel like an extension of it.

With such a significant view of the outdoors, your room will often align with the characteristics of it. If you live in a wooded area, your room will feel natural and rustic. Whereas, if you live in an urban area, your room will feel lively and contemporary. It also means that if it’s a bright, sunny day outside, it will be equally bright and sunny inside.

Although such a positive presence, you need to make sure you’re taking the proper measures to protect your floors from the sun. Sun damage can be caused by UV rays, heat, and humidity. One way to prevent this is by ordering energy-efficient windows with Low-E coated glass. Not only will this stop UV rays from entering your home, but it will lower utility costs as well. Another method is to add a sun-resistant floor treatment to those areas. This will directly aid in preventing damage. Lastly, an easy way is to move your furniture around regularly. Doing this will create more even sun exposure and stop both your furniture and floors from getting sun-bleached.

If you’re prepared to take the necessary steps, then large windows are a great way to open up your space or maximize your view.