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Mixing contrasting elements is one of the secrets to “divine” design, says Candice Olson, host of Divine Design. Pair distressed leather with polished chrome or a sleek cream sofa with a patterned Persian carpet. Or, add a surprising element—such as two-toned curtains with dressmaker details—to add whimsy to a traditional dining room (right).
Tune in to Divine Design Thursdays 9 pm/8c
and Saturdays 10:30 pm/9:30c. Visit Designers' Portfolio for more Candice Olson rooms.
“A balance of contrasting materials, colors and textures creates an eclectic room that is captivating, current yet timeless and a reflection of your own personal style,” she says. Successful eclectic rooms are refined and well thought-out, not just an eccentric mishmash of old leftovers, she says. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun. “I recently did a dining room where I mixed in modern clear Lucite reproductions with gold gilt Louis XVI chairs,” Candice says. “If we’d used all Lucite chairs the results would have been space-agey; all gilt would have been too stuffy.”
A rise in eclecticism is also a reaction to the design world’s continued movement toward clean, controlled environments with very geometrical or symmetrical elements. “To balance the machined look of contemporary interiors, I’m seeing a big trend toward natural materials that give warmth to the hard surfaces of the high-tech world,” she says. Think mosaic river stone floors, hand-chiseled wood, woven grass blinds and wallpaper. More on eclectic decorating>> |
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Mirrors |
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Ethnic accents |
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Streamlined entertainment centers |
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“Mirrors are everywhere adding sparkle and depth to stylish interiors,” says Candice. Try a floor mirror, an accent mirror over a fireplace, a mirrored furniture piece or an entire mirrored wall.
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Interesting accents that are tribal, Asian or handcrafted can add color and flavor to any room.
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Thanks to flat-screen TVs and flexible media centers, rooms no longer have to be planned around space-
hogging technology. “It’s completely changed the focus, planning and layout of rooms,” Candice says.
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Pickled pine |
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Sponge painting |
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Matchy-matchy |
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That means floors or cabinets or paneling or…. |
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Many paint effects will come back in, but for now they’re being traded in for more simplicity and sophistication. |
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Time to say goodbye to that five-piece bedroom set that’s all in the same style. The eclectic trend encourages more variety. |
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