Office – Larson Interior Designs

A magic carpet ride

Lean — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:21:58 +0000

“Carpets are the shoes of a room, if the shoes don’t work the outfit is ruined”

Carpets can make a very bold statement or blend into a room unnoticed – it all depends on what story you want to tell with your carpet. An all-white room can, all of a sudden, have an extreme personality with an in-your-face contemporary geometrical carpet, whereas a classic room can be made to feel more inviting with a toned-down, faded Persian carpet.

There is such an amazing variety of carpets out there. You can literally go crazy with carpets. Here are some guidelines to work around when looking for a specific carpet.

When looking for a carpet for a bedroom, it is very important to look at texture, it is absolutely dreamy to take off your shoes and step onto a carpet that feels like you’re walking on clouds. For bedrooms, look at soft, luscious carpets as these will make the room more inviting.

When searching for a carpet for living areas you should always consider wear and tear, carpets aren’t cheap and having to replace a beautiful carpet after a year can really break the bank. Ask the retailer about easily washable carpets and carpets suitable for high traffic areas.

The carpet supplier I regularly use for my clients has most of their carpet designs in different qualities, this not only works for people on tight budgets but also works for the purpose of having a carpet that is easily cleanable.

When looking from a design point of view, get a feel for the room you want to buy the carpet for, decide whether you want the carpet to disappear and just add a soft touch, or whether you want the carpet to be a focal point. Also keep in mind that classical architecture does not necessarily mean that all the rooms should be decorated to be classical. The same goes for modern or contemporary homes. You can also go for the opposite, a classic room can be very interesting with a contemporary carpet and a modern room can be very interesting with a soft toned-down Chobi.

These are guidelines to follow. Play around with carpets – most retailers let carpets go on appro, so you can really get a feel for a carpet over a weekend, and see what it does to your room.

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Conversations through collections

Lean — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:18:59 +0000

“If you are a collector, let other people share your pride and joy. Don’t sprinkle your collections out of sight in a meaningless jumble. Notice how groups of small objects, when they are well arranged, become important and effective. Remember that repetition is a form of emphasis. Collect what you will, but see to it that you arrange your hobby to its best advantage” – Dorothy Draper, Good Housekeeping

Many collectors have stunning collections, but they generally have them hidden. Displaying your collections (whatever they may be) creates focal points and conversations. They will ultimately make you smile and feel proud of what you have accomplished.

There is no point in having these magnificent collections that are so dear to you, without being able to appreciate them every day.

There are a myriad of ways to display valuable collections, whether monetary or sentimental, but many people are afraid that their collections might get damaged. Stamp collections, for example, can be beautifully displayed in a simple yet elegant Perspex box.

If you have a vast amount of sports memorabilia and would like to display it on or close to your bar area, why not have a unit custom-made to fit with the theme of your bar or surrounding area?

Special works of art can be hung over a fireplace, or you could create a feature wall by either painting the wall a darker shade of the existing colour on your walls, or simply wallpapering that one wall. When looking at wallpaper, make sure to choose something simple, like a stripe, as this will not divert attention from the artwork, but will still enhance the effect of the wall.

There are many ways to display and appreciate your collections, and as I mentioned in my previous blog about accessories, Personality through accessories, they make your home your own and gives a personal touch to any room in which you choose to display them.

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Embrace your darker side

Lean — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:06:55 +0000

“Always make a dark room darker. You can paint a dark room white, but it will still be dark…give it atmosphere with deep intense colour that works well in artificial light.” – Roger Banks-Pye

People always try to make dark rooms lighter, for some odd reason. Don’t. With a dark room it is so easy to create a luxurious atmosphere. Add dark, textured fabrics like velvets and the room will still be dark, but the velvet plays with light, which gives a magnificent ambience to the room.

Dark rooms can and should be welcoming, especially when velvets are involved. I have never had a client that could resist touching a velvet when I show it to them. For curtains, you can choose a deep-coloured silk, which also plays with light.

Colour is also very easy to use in dark rooms, as the darkness gives it a different richness than it would have in a room with plenty of natural light.

It is, however, very important to have the right amount of table and standing lamps in a dark room. Always bear in mind the atmosphere of the specific room, so don’t use an offensive amount of light in a dark room, try and create mood lighting with a standing lamp that can be dimmed, or a table lamp with only one globe.

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Quick Office Tips

Lean — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:23:54 +0000

Quick tips to improve your office experience:

Hang or display on a stand, a painting you really like. It helps to make you feel calm and think clearly.

Display a plant in a beautiful pot, it brings the outside in and green creates a tranquil atmosphere for optimising the mental functions of focus, concentration and clarity.

Have warm colours in your office: shades and tones, or splashes of red, burgundy, bright orange, burnt orange, bright yellow and yellow ochre. All these colours improve focus, attention, clear thinking and effective action, which in turn improves productivity.

Place a beautiful vase on your desk with fresh cut sunflowers, this will not only improve your focus, but will look beautiful and make you feel optimistic as well!

All these tips are easy to apply and will make a major difference to your office experience.

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