So you want to hire a decorator

Many people think that working with a decorator is out of their reach financially  or that the results of the pairing would create a space that wasn't personal.  Neither of these beliefs are true if  homeowners  matche their  needs with the right decorator's skill set. 
 
Professional decorators usually hold a set of  basic beliefs about designing spaces that support  their interactions with clients.   For example I believe: 

everyone deserves a beautiful space ....

 
 Margaret Ryall
 
interesting and inviting interiors can exist without a high price tag;
 
 
Photography: Brian Ricks
 
a space should reflect the needs and interests of the owner;

 

 Margaret Ryall 

furniture arrangement makes or breaks a space;

Margaret Ryall

personal items are the best accessories;

Margaret Ryall

editing a space can transform it;


  

  Margaret Ryall
 
layering objects, colours and textures create interesting spaces;

Photography:  Brian Ricks

art completes an interior design;

 

Margaret Ryall

harmonizing is more interesting than over matching;

designing a room is the same as designing a painting; 

and most important of all .... 

listening is key to designing.

 As you can see these are broad beliefs that can be applied to most spaces. They do not dovetail into any particular look.   Everyone is different and their spaces should reflect  this individuality.  

My approach: 
I  compose spaces  in various ways, problem solve situations, use colour to harmonize or contrast; understand the various principles and elements of design and put them together to produce  interesting spaces.   I like to meet clients, find out about them as people, look at their spaces and what they own,  and then create a space  that is personal to them. The key to this process is listening and questioning.

 Do clients  have to love what I love?  NO! Are there projects that are easy for me?  Yes!  I love mid century modern styling and like to mix it with more contemporary pieces for a  clean edged  look with lots of neutrals, texture, splashes of colour and interesting lines to create quiet spaces.

 Can I create  traditional designs?  Yes!   How about eclectic?  Yes!  It's all about understanding the characteristics of these styles and working with the likes/dislikes of the homeowner.    

Is there a decorator in your future? 

How do you like your blue?

source

I spend part of every year living on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in a small community in Newfoundland.  Being in such close proximity to the sea influences my colour interests.  It is no surprise that I like watery blue greens. These combinations show up in both of my homes and even in my art work.   

  Margaret Ryall, Slow Drift (2012)  6x8 in.  encaustic monotype on board

 Lisa Sherry

When you mix spring greens and  watery blues the result is always  fresh and lively. There are lots of patterns and textures in this room and the use of an old map as wall art references  land and sea.  Are you beginning to see how both of my careers dovetail?  Interior design and visual art feed each other on a daily basis in my life. Lots of times looking at a room will give me an idea of an art series!

source

This is lovely combination  inspired by the spectacular art work over the sofa.  The room is fresh and inviting and the plant adds to that vibrancy.  White, cream and the softest yellows  are the perfect foils for blue green combinations. If you would like to see more of this room check the link above.

 source

Yellow brings out the best in aqua because there's yellow in its composition . The magenta area rug grounds the design, but for me it has to much energy for a bedroom.  I like my floors muted and just there. Do you like this combination?

 House of Turquoise

A vibrant, casual  sun room in blues and greens.   Just the place to sit and have a cool drink with friends. The colour scheme helps to draw together the variety in furniture pieces. Don't be afraid to use what you have in a room and then  use colour to link the design together.  Matching furniture  is highly over rated!

Waverly Solar Flair Lime/Indigo

Look to fabrics for colour scheme inspiration.  Deeper blues can serve as a good grounding colour in a blue green scheme.  If you like painted furniture choose this colour for high impact . Deep blues are trending for 2013.  

Good Housekeeping

 Christopher Farr

 

Or reverse your combination and use a striking aqua colour and support it with deep blue. Not everyone can live with this much pattern, but you don't have to.  Imagine this piece against  soft creams, charcoal or even purple!

  

How do you like your blue and what's your favourite combination? 

As you can see I like mine with lots of yellow and leaning into green.  Check this fascinating survey to see how people feel about blue depending on sex and age.

Is coral an 80's colour?

 Colour is the least expensive change you can make to your space and still have huge impact.   Certain colours often get a bad reputation because they were overly popular at a certain period.  No colours get more ridicule than the salmons, corals  and peaches because they were everywhere is the mid 80's.  But don't let that stop you from using them. It's all in the pairings.  These designs are timely and inviting.   What do you think?

Salmony orange  with charcoal gray can be extremely elegant and contemporary.  Many Turkish rugs use salmon as one of the main colours which makes this a timeless colour.

 

 You can put any colour with black and white and it looks stunning.

 

 And with white and soft gray this version of orange  is positively fresh.

 If  you like something a little more restful consider muted oranges with  earth tones ...

 
like in this lovely living room...

or mix in blue with earth tones like the bedroom below. 

 I would mix  these colours with an cream walls but the blue works well too.  Colour is such a personal thing; I never want to see too many colours in  a room where I want a  restful look.  

   A crisp look with a salmon /tangerine combination.

 

And for a girl's bedroom mix it with a pale aqua.

or  with true blue and white  in a living room...
  

or even with a muted purple in a bedroom or nursery. 

But I'm trying to warm up to mixing it with greens.  Too many memories there ....

especially this particular green

source

 I'm perfectly fine with it in a kid's room.... and a few hints of magenta would liven it up and make it more current.

 source

But I just don't like the combination when it is mixed with toned olive greens. 

This green is a fresh spring green  mixed with lots of lights and the salmon is deeper  so it gets my nod.

Would you use coral/salmon/peach in your home?

All links to images can be found on my Pinterest board for Colour scheme inspiration.