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Mix and Match Styles to Own “Your Look”
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When it comes to design, you don’t have to get trapped in just one style: Mixing and matching can result in an eclectic — and cohesive — look.
Antique rugs, chandeliers, and sacred statues — all considered more traditional when it comes to interior design — can lend a very sophisticated look to an already modern home when paired well.
For instance, the reds and golds of an antique rug or runner can add warmth to a sliding, reclaimed wooden bar door leading into a bedroom or living room. And just as wood — reclaimed or otherwise — mirrors nature outdoors, so, too, can fountains or enlarged photography of nature. It’s a refreshing way to usher the outdoor lifestyle into your home.
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Ornate rugs can also bring richness into a sacred space, yoga studio, or sitting area adorned with a Buddha statue and/or a Tibetan Thangka. Sacred spaces like these in a foyer or in an entryway to a bedroom create a peaceful vessel, which offers respite from busy days, reminding us to pause, take a breath and express gratitude for all the beauty that surrounds us.
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One of our clients transported their beloved Murano glass chandelier from each home they moved to. In their East Vail home, we installed a transparent, illuminated Cristallo quartzite countertop, which complemented the chandelier that could have otherwise been a sore point; instead, it became a focal point.
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One way to mix and match successfully involves using splashes of color. Thin, red cushions on metal stools at a breakfast bar highlight bright red apples and flowers on the countertop. Yellow, blue, or even red chairs with sleek lines and a contrasting pillow color can also add a pop of colorful fun, blending modern with, say, a more traditional stone fireplace in a great room.
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One bedroom we designed blended a blue upholstered headboard and footboard with a blue duvet, orange and brown toned pillows, and a rust-colored curtain.
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Colorful, abstract art displayed with contemporary light fixtures ushers in an up-to-date aesthetic to mountain architecture characterized by wooden beams or ceilings. And, don’t be afraid to bring in plenty of art — whether it hangs on the wall or stands out in sculpture form. When arranged properly on shelves and nooks, sculptures of all shapes and colors can create a refined, chic, and even playful feel that inspires the eye — and the spirit.
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Kids’ rooms are always a fun place to add colors that complement and contrast each other. Wooden bunk beds lend a natural, mountainy feel, while bedding depicting cartoon characters, colorful bean bags, and stuffed animals create a whimsical feel.
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If bright colors don’t suit your style, consider incorporating warm hues of browns and maroons to complement darker kitchen cabinetry or darker beams and wooden ceilings.
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You might also want to opt for white, placing white cushions on brown barstools to complement white and gray marble kitchen countertops and backsplashes.
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Of course, texture is always wonderful to play with when mixing and matching. A shiny sequin pillow on one chair — or the end of a sofa — and a fur pillow on the other contrast one another nicely. You might even want to turn an heirloom fur into a few pillows. Blankets are also a cozy way to add texture and offer comfort on cooler summer nights leading into the fall and winter.
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Likewise, patterns always enhance the design. Patterned pillows on beds or sofas, along with textured or patterned abstract artwork, can really pull a room together. Upholstering modern-shaped chairs with paisley, or other traditional fabric, is a great way to mix and match and soften clean lines, as is making a pillow out of grandma’s needlepoint and placing it on a special chair.
When it comes to designing your home, don’t be afraid to mix and match: When it’s done right, it only enhances your living space.