I came across an article the other day that I though might be of interest to anyone in the midst of pursuing a flooring project.
When someone visits our flooring showroom in Basingstoke, they often have looked through the catalogues on line and have some idea of what they are looking for, but choosing a colour, now that’s personal..
So have a read of this article and it might just give you some different ideas..It comes from the Karndean flooring Blog. From Jenne and Lisbeth, two of Karndean’s stylists….
Interior Styling with Lisbeth and Jenne: Looking for inspiration? Open your spice cabinet!
So, you’ve decided to begin a new home improvement project and don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, you’re not alone – sometimes inspiration can seem difficult to find, but don’t be too hard on yourself, inspiration can be found in the most unlikely of places.
Of course, there are always practical considerations, such as the size of your space and its function, but follow the lead from your heart. What do you really like and what would make you feel most comfortable when you’re done?
Take a walk through your home and determine what you like most. What truly reflects your personal style? What would you never want to give up? It may be a special object, a lamp, a piece of art or collectable item from your travels. Personally, when I’m looking for colour and texture ideas, I look no further than my kitchen.
Start with your spice cabinet – you probably have marvellous spices in shades of mahogany, cayenne, crimson, and copper, mixed in with lighter shades of cream and white, and of course, black pepper. Paprika is a great shade to work with – its combination of red and brown not only adds the perfect finishing touch to your favorite dishes, but can also ‘spice up’ your living spaces.
Moving away from your spice cabinet, have a look in your refrigerator. When I open the door to my fridge, the colors are overwhelming – summer squash sitting next to dark-green cucumbers and violet grapes – vibrant colors that instantly lift my mood! The other day I stopped at our local fruit farm to pick some berries – the raspberries and blackberries almost seemed to highlight each other in the sunlight. Soft furnishings are a perfect way of allowing you to capture these sumptuous tones and experiment with colours you wouldn’t necessarily consider for fear of overpowering a room.
‘Inspiration can also be found outdoors,’ adds Jenne. ‘A big part of my job role is to look at the colors and tones in nature – it seems to have an incredible way of putting complementary colors together so they look just right. Venture outside, walk around and consider how you could bring the splendor of the outdoors into your own home.’
It’s important to note your own personal style – as I think about my clothing, I’m partial to various shades of reds, blues, and yellows with a splash of cooler tones. It’s likely you’ll be able to instantly pick out a favorable and prominent color – a color you feel confident wearing could also be a color you’d feel confident placing in your interiors scheme. If you look carefully, you’ll find inspiration in the most unusual places.
So remember, don’t panic – inspiration for your next project is everywhere.
Jenne’s take: I love Pinterest. It is my go-to place for cataloging things that inspire me. I can quickly save ideas, even if I don’t have a plan for them in mind at the moment. When the time comes to work on a project, Pinterest is a great place to reflect on my collection of inspirational ideas. It’s like digital brainstorming for home design.
