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Full House
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment can affect behavior. Before consulting privately, I received my MA in writing and ran a design boutique in Los Angeles.
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment... More »
Becky's interview of Brenda about her Cozy Little House in Texas got me thinking about minimalism verses fuller houses. I think Brenda does an excellent job of incorporating a mass plethora of beautiful objects while still retaining an element of quaint calm. I always admire the homes that add layers upon layers, the kind of dwelling where I feel at home even though I may have only just stepped in for the first time. In recent planning of an upcoming trip to Paris, I've felt more inclined to stay at a quaint 16-arrondissement bed and breakfast over a nice hotel because of this very full house quaintness. Plus the owner, France, apparently leaves around wonderful little goodie baskets. Oh la.
There seems to always be a continual conversation somewhere on houzz about the spectrum of filling a house because we as dwellers, not matter what our style, love order but love real living. I personally think that the balance in minimalism and filling a house (with, yes, what some might call clutter) lies in these principles:
CREATE A 3-COLOR COMBO. As in much of design, three is a great number for considering color. Choose three main colors and use them in varying shades and proportions throughout the room (and throughout the entire home, even). Go for more items with a simpler 2- or 1-color palate, but more can create too much of a chaotic bohemian mania.
GROUP LIKE ITEMS. Items simply scattered about eliminates any semblance of order, and humans by nature look for order and patterns in things. Group plates on a wall, books into piles or shelves, African war masks together. This creates order but also deliberate displays, and allows different objects to pleasantly coexist.
KEEP FLOW IN MIND. A full room becomes a cramped room when flow is disregarded. Objects may fill the room and climb every wall, but leave room for walking and maneuvering. Not only does this create a necessary flow, but allows for some blank space to balance the fuller spaces.
REMEMBER THAT CHANGE IS GOOD. To keep the home fresh and the beloved items alive, don't be afraid to switch things up. Though this can be a major task, every time you change things, you're giving new life to your space, and rethinking balance and flow. Getting rid of things that have outlived themselves, and making room for new.
Happy full living, and here is the link to that fun hotel:
http://www.chambre-ville.com, and a link for non-French speakers about the hotel:
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040602484.html.
There seems to always be a continual conversation somewhere on houzz about the spectrum of filling a house because we as dwellers, not matter what our style, love order but love real living. I personally think that the balance in minimalism and filling a house (with, yes, what some might call clutter) lies in these principles:
CREATE A 3-COLOR COMBO. As in much of design, three is a great number for considering color. Choose three main colors and use them in varying shades and proportions throughout the room (and throughout the entire home, even). Go for more items with a simpler 2- or 1-color palate, but more can create too much of a chaotic bohemian mania.
GROUP LIKE ITEMS. Items simply scattered about eliminates any semblance of order, and humans by nature look for order and patterns in things. Group plates on a wall, books into piles or shelves, African war masks together. This creates order but also deliberate displays, and allows different objects to pleasantly coexist.
KEEP FLOW IN MIND. A full room becomes a cramped room when flow is disregarded. Objects may fill the room and climb every wall, but leave room for walking and maneuvering. Not only does this create a necessary flow, but allows for some blank space to balance the fuller spaces.
REMEMBER THAT CHANGE IS GOOD. To keep the home fresh and the beloved items alive, don't be afraid to switch things up. Though this can be a major task, every time you change things, you're giving new life to your space, and rethinking balance and flow. Getting rid of things that have outlived themselves, and making room for new.
Happy full living, and here is the link to that fun hotel:
http://www.chambre-ville.com, and a link for non-French speakers about the hotel:
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040602484.html.
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| Though varying shades present themselves, the color combo in this room sticks to red, blue, and yellow. |
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This room is definitely full and busy, yet provides space for flow through the room.
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| Clutter kept classy through coordinating frames and art, and keeping the colors to golds and neutrals and pastels. |
by nytimes.com
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This is a favorite houzz photo of mine. Even the hallway receives meticulous attention in this dwelling. The reds popping out from the shades of gray give such energy. If you're going to go bold: go BOLD.
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This room has a lot going on, but doesn't look that way at all. This is due not only to logical separation of items--the seating is grouped, the hundreds of books dutifully fill the shelves, and there is a great balance between dark and light. Note how the books bring in detail, but the color palate sticks to three simple colors.
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| Full and haphazard open shelving that sticks to the confined space, and to two simple colors. |
by flickr.com
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The details and objects in this space get a nice balance in the monochromatic wood finish throughout, and in the couch brilliant matching exactly the wall paint. The pillows keep to the color scheme, but give the space a punch-up in drama.
Fabulously full and busy. Classic old-French sympathies. The large room is divided into sections, kept to a simple palate, and stays true to the period style.
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Here, like objects are grouped, and the color palate keeps to shades of blue and green with red thrown in.
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The magnificent eclectic art display keeps to order and boundaries, and is balanced by tons of white throughout, and simple furniture.
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| The simple yet vibrant color palate and the clean geometrics throughout this room save it from chaos and keep it classy. |
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| A great example of grouping like items, balancing with flow through the room, and keeping to a simple 3-color palate. |
by pierre senechal
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Again, simple color choices. Light colors for the most part, keeping it simple and light. Logically sectioning the room into various spaces.
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| And, of course, a lovely photo from the cozy little Texas house of Brenda herself. See more on Becky's ideabook here:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32526/list/Houzz-Interview--Brenda-s-Cozy-Little-House-in-Texas |
Comments
pwalter I love a room full of interesting items, but somehow mine just tend to look cluttered. www.satisfiedsole.com
3 years ago · Like
sophie777 I could never do minimalism--I love my books too much!
3 years ago · Like
frecklefrog Ilove full looking rooms. They look cozy and inviting and interesting. I just wouldnt want to clean them!!!!
3 years ago · Like
Sienna San_Gil_So Beautiful, but it's palette, not palate
5 months ago · Like
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