Blending families means mixing decor
Open-minded compromise is key when deciding what to keep and what to discard
Q: Dear Leanne, I am struggling with a design dilemma. In the next few months I will be part of a blended family. That also means shared furnishings — and our tastes are not quite the same. I prefer the contemporary, sleek look and he likes the traditional, overstuffed look. Do you have any guidelines to help us combine two homes into one?
A: A successful blending of two homes hinges on being open-minded. Unless your new home is twice the size of either of your existing homes, you simply won’t have the practical space to keep everything. This serves as the launching pad for deciding what stays and what goes.
You have many options available, ranging from getting rid of everything and starting fresh as a new family, to keeping and combining parts of your respective and existing decor. Generally, families opt for the middle ground, keeping the things that are most precious and removing the rest of the baggage to make way for new items.
To make this transition easier, make a list of existing items that may be keepers. This will require compromise. Although I am a fan of eclectic design, I have yet to see a sleek leather sofa and an overstuffed floral sofa work together in the same room. You can, however, combine modern and traditional elements in the same space as long as they have different functions. For instance, two modern occasional chairs can balance a traditional sofa as long as the fabrics complement each other. If you are at odds on a decision, I suggest you start anew.
Now you can focus on acquiring new items. First you must understand why each of you prefer the particular style you do. If he likes cosy but you like simple, you can still compromise. Fabric and colour can bridge the chasm. Rather than a leather sofa, consider a modern frame with fabric. The tactility of fabric injects warmth to a room and may be the perfect solution to your problem. Another option is to use subtle solid or tone-on-tone textiles such as velour or velvet. The style can remain streamlined and uncluttered, yet the fabric adds warmth.
This can also work with table and chairs. If you have an ornate dining suite, shuffle it up a bit. Keep the table, purchase modern dining chairs and repurpose the original chairs in various places in the house. Changing the upholstery on these chairs can make them statement pieces in a front entrance, at a desk or flanking a modern fireplace.
Rather than seeing it as an obstacle, consider this project as if you were a curator in a museum. Some things stay, some things move to storage and other items are permanently loaned out (read as “got rid of”).
Q: Dear Leanne, I was wondering if decorative throw pillows are still in style. I am ordering new bedding and have the option of creating pillows as an accessory. What is the new look in bedding?
A: This is a bit like asking if earrings are still in style. Yes, accent pillows are definitely still in style. The right accent makes the look complete. In order for your pillow details to be effective, look at the style of your overall room. If it is a sleek New York City decor you are going for, consider sumptuous satins, faux fur and jewel-encrusted detailing. If you are creating a tranquil and peaceful ambience, a simple approach with a few stacked pillows on top of each other will finish your bed serenely. If you are going for a rustic cabin effect, then a few oversized pillows in flannel or denim will complete the look.
Keep the look compatible with function. If you’d rather not spend a lot of time primping your bedding, opt for fewer pillows. Place a basket or other container close by to store these accent pieces safely and neatly when you finally retire to sleep — tossing on the floor is not the best option.
Since these are custom pillows, ensure that they are created with contrasting fabrics. Pillows made from just more of the same fabric will simply look cluttered. You can use the same fabric for some of the pillows or a portion of a pillow, but other fabrics need to be introduced to provide a starting and stopping point for your bedding.