Times Colonist

Crazy about a sharp-dressed room

Bring a masculine look to your space with these menswear-inspired ideas

- KATIE LAUGHRIDGE Adapted from nellhills.com. Katie Laughridge is the owner of interior design destinatio­n Nell Hill’s. For more informatio­n, contact Katie at info@nellhills.com

Inever thought I would be referencin­g this artist in a blog, but as ZZ Top has told us: Every girl crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man! Who knew those words would carry over into a sharpdress­ed room? I for one am crazy about menswear-inspired decor (as well as garments for myself — hello tweed blazers)! As fall and winter approach, it is the perfect time to add traditiona­lly masculine touches to your spaces for increased comfort and warmth.

As a lover of textiles, when I think menswear I immediatel­y picture fabrics I would find in a refined haberdashe­ry. Inspired by men’s classic suit styles, any material from pinstripes to plaid or herringbon­e to houndstoot­h can be used to bring mannish charm to a space. Tweed, plaid, leather and argyle are another few I can’t seem to get enough of this season, for everything from upholstery to window treatments and accent pillows.

When it comes to rich and elegantly manly colours, I am drawn to dreamy greens, lush navy, luxurious camel, deep grey, tobacco brown and oxblood red. I picture a posh, suave suit with all the trimmings and then bring those hues into my home spaces. Complement­ary materials to add can range from faux bone and horn to tortoisesh­ell, or really anything you could find in a cufflink. Adding touches of impeccably tailored touches such as metal studs, pin-tucks and velvet trimming to your upholstery gives the sharp and polished look of menswear to your furniture and overall spaces.

Before you start thinking adding masculine touches to your home will overpower your decor, you can always find balance. I think soft neutral prints and white linens pair beautifull­y with menswear fabrics, just as a classic white shirt would pair with a bold suit-and-tie combinatio­n.

As much as we love layering plaids and playing with pattern upon pattern, it is always good to have at least one place for the eye to rest.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? > Above, Take inspiratio­n from fabrics used for men’s classic suit styles, from pinstripes to plaid or herringbon­e.
> Right, when it comes to rich and elegantly manly colours, nothing beats dreamy greens, lush navy, luxurious camel, deep grey, tobacco brown and oxblood red.
> Above, Take inspiratio­n from fabrics used for men’s classic suit styles, from pinstripes to plaid or herringbon­e. > Right, when it comes to rich and elegantly manly colours, nothing beats dreamy greens, lush navy, luxurious camel, deep grey, tobacco brown and oxblood red.
 ?? PHOTOS BY KARLYN KUBIN, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE ?? As fall and winter approach, it is the perfect time to add traditiona­lly masculine touches to your spaces for increased comfort and warmth. You can soften the look with soft neutral prints and accessorie­s.
PHOTOS BY KARLYN KUBIN, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE As fall and winter approach, it is the perfect time to add traditiona­lly masculine touches to your spaces for increased comfort and warmth. You can soften the look with soft neutral prints and accessorie­s.
 ??  ?? Adding impeccably tailored touches such as metal studs, pin-tucks and velvet trimming to your upholstery gives the sharp and polished look of menswear to your furniture and overall spaces.
Adding impeccably tailored touches such as metal studs, pin-tucks and velvet trimming to your upholstery gives the sharp and polished look of menswear to your furniture and overall spaces.
 ??  ?? As much as we love layering plaids and playing with pattern upon pattern, it is always good to have at least one place for the eye to rest.
As much as we love layering plaids and playing with pattern upon pattern, it is always good to have at least one place for the eye to rest.

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