One of my favorite things about my job is getting to see all sorts of homes, with every type of floor plan and decorating style. It's fun to observe what works and doesn't work. There are the obvious no-no's that we all could point out - like don't paint rooms in hideous colors or have so much furniture in a room, that you practically have to walk through it sideways. However, focusing on positive ideas to freshen up your home are fun thoughts indeed!
Caught in the center of attention lately are three things: eccentric lighting features, barn doors and the mix of combining earthy materials like wood, metal and stone. All you have to do is go to this year's Street of Dreams in Tumwater at Pete's Mountain and you will see these themes all over each of the five spectacular homes. I was in awe at all the unique lighting features throughout the five mansions. It was almost like they couldn't stand the thought of having a simple ceiling light.
Each of the homes used track style barn doors in various innovative ways. We've seen these becoming more popular and often used as closet or pantry doors, but now they are edging into every room of the home. They are the primary doors of bedrooms, or right at the top of a grand staircase separating off the den, looking both stunning and functional. If you've been thinking about changing out a bedroom door, why not think about a barn door?
Last, but not least, I've always been a fan of mixing different types of styles or materials. There's something about having stone and wood together, making each one better than they would have been by themselves. Anytime you can bring the warmth of wood and combine it with the crisp lines of metal or take the jagged edges of stone and tie them in with big strong beams, the result is lovely!
If you want more ideas, head on out to the
Street of Dreams. The name very much implies where your mind will go. You'll be dreaming of all the unique ways to dress up your home!
