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12 Rooms That Revel in Bohemian Opulence
Swathed in rich textiles and colors perfect for fall, rooms with boho flair show a freewheeling spirit and an eye for irreverent design
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
That glamorous, well-traveled bohemian look that featured mightily in the fall 2012 runway shows is perfectly suited for translation to interiors. A bit more aristocratic than the boho vintage or boho modern look, bohemian opulence requires an irreverent attitude. Take serious art and prop it against the wall, pile books under the table instead of arranging them neatly on a shelf, layer rich colors, mix patterns and add embellishments with abandon.
Check out these 12 examples of wildly glamorous bohemian interiors, along with ideas for what to look for while shopping and ways to apply what you see in your own home. Then shop flea markets and estate sales for vintage gilded treasures; the more worn, chipped and crumbled the better. Get ready to be inspired!
Check out these 12 examples of wildly glamorous bohemian interiors, along with ideas for what to look for while shopping and ways to apply what you see in your own home. Then shop flea markets and estate sales for vintage gilded treasures; the more worn, chipped and crumbled the better. Get ready to be inspired!
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Design finds: Vintage gold picture frames, one-off sculptures and objects (wild animal motifs would work especially well here).
Try this at home: Put your art in gilded frames — but hang it asymmetrically or just off center for a less stuffy feel.
Try this at home: Put your art in gilded frames — but hang it asymmetrically or just off center for a less stuffy feel.
Design finds: Bentwood chairs and stools, vintage portraits, threadbare rugs with interesting patterns and solid dark-colored bed linens for layering.
Try this at home: Paint your walls a really rich, deep blue; lean a painting against a wall; pile books and magazines on the floor; let a stool or chair stand in as a side table.
Try this at home: Paint your walls a really rich, deep blue; lean a painting against a wall; pile books and magazines on the floor; let a stool or chair stand in as a side table.
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Design finds: Ornate gilded mirrors (the bigger the better), intricate wallpaper, tufted leather chairs and colorful vintage dresses and robes to display.
Try this at home: Leaning a full-length mirror against a wall is an easy way to create an artsy vibe in a living room or bedroom; keep your favorite patterned dresses, tunics or robes on hooks or simply draped over a chair or bed.
Try this at home: Leaning a full-length mirror against a wall is an easy way to create an artsy vibe in a living room or bedroom; keep your favorite patterned dresses, tunics or robes on hooks or simply draped over a chair or bed.
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Design finds: Carved wood screens, unique vintage or antique chairs, chandeliers and natural-fiber rugs.
Try this at home: Use a wooden screen as a room divider or a statement-making headboard.
Try this at home: Use a wooden screen as a room divider or a statement-making headboard.
Design find: Fun trimmings and embellishments, like pom-poms, fringe, tassels, braids and rickrack.
Try this at home: Dig out that hot-glue gun (or sewing machine) and attach your trim of choice to Roman blinds, drapes, lampshades, throw pillows or even the skirting of your sofa or bed.
Try this at home: Dig out that hot-glue gun (or sewing machine) and attach your trim of choice to Roman blinds, drapes, lampshades, throw pillows or even the skirting of your sofa or bed.
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Design finds: Crystal chandeliers, vintage silver, an enormous wood table (the largest size that can fit in your space), nubby linen upholstery and chevron or herringbone floors.
Try this at home: A single decadent touch — a fancy crystal chandelier, a beautiful silver candelabra, a wash of luxurious color — is enough to uplift your entire space.
Try this at home: A single decadent touch — a fancy crystal chandelier, a beautiful silver candelabra, a wash of luxurious color — is enough to uplift your entire space.
Design finds: Suzanis and other interesting textiles, and books galore.
Try this at home: Have an ottoman re-covered in vintage fabric (you could even use an old rug); use a textile you love as a wall hanging; have blinds or curtains made with a special fabric. A good rule of thumb when mixing prints is to include one large-scale and one small-scale print, and be sure there is something (a color, a motif) tying the two together.
Try this at home: Have an ottoman re-covered in vintage fabric (you could even use an old rug); use a textile you love as a wall hanging; have blinds or curtains made with a special fabric. A good rule of thumb when mixing prints is to include one large-scale and one small-scale print, and be sure there is something (a color, a motif) tying the two together.
Design finds: Oversize mirrors and artwork, chippy chairs and case goods, capiz shells and vintage musical instruments.
Try this at home: Add a sense of history by allowing the rough edges and chipping paint of your vintage finds to show through. Have fun treasure hunting at antiques fairs and junk shops alike, and once you get home, challenge yourself to put your finds to work in an unexpected way.
Try this at home: Add a sense of history by allowing the rough edges and chipping paint of your vintage finds to show through. Have fun treasure hunting at antiques fairs and junk shops alike, and once you get home, challenge yourself to put your finds to work in an unexpected way.
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Design finds: Vintage iron outdoor furniture and tile-top tables.
Try this at home: Pair outdoor chairs and a tile-top table with an indoor wooden bench and loads of patterned pillows.
Try this at home: Pair outdoor chairs and a tile-top table with an indoor wooden bench and loads of patterned pillows.
by Vanillawood
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Design finds: Fabulous wallpaper, artwork and photography that speaks to you, and mirrors with interesting shapes.
Try this at home: Use a wallpaper pattern you love to cover the ceiling and walls in a small, unexpected space like the powder room shown here.
Try this at home: Use a wallpaper pattern you love to cover the ceiling and walls in a small, unexpected space like the powder room shown here.
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Design finds: Glossy black paint, sculptures and 3-D wall decor.
Try this at home: Pitch-black paint looks stunning on walls, but beware: This is a high-drama look. A less-often-used room can usually handle bolder decorating choices, so unless you are feeling really bold, stick with the dining room or bathroom for this look and consider testing it out first by painting an accent wall (or even a few accessories).
Try this at home: Pitch-black paint looks stunning on walls, but beware: This is a high-drama look. A less-often-used room can usually handle bolder decorating choices, so unless you are feeling really bold, stick with the dining room or bathroom for this look and consider testing it out first by painting an accent wall (or even a few accessories).
Design finds: Moroccan tray tables, floor cushions, poufs and paper lanterns.
Try this at home: If your living room is feeling a little stuffy, try adding a touch of the souk — low furniture paired with floor cushions creates a more relaxed vibe.
More:
8 Bohemian Bedrooms Trek Effortlessly Into Style
Try this at home: If your living room is feeling a little stuffy, try adding a touch of the souk — low furniture paired with floor cushions creates a more relaxed vibe.
More:
8 Bohemian Bedrooms Trek Effortlessly Into Style
Ideabook published on Sept. 29, 2012.
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Kinda funny that "opulence" is now used to describe this. I never thought of it as a style, just getting by when you had no money for what you would really want to decorate with.
Also, that bathroom reminds me of a "before" shot in a make-over show.
Oh well, different strokes for different folks....
xo
www.vintagerenewal.com
Anyway. I like some of these ideas and rooms more than others, but I have found that the bit about "a single decadent touch" making a big difference is spot on. The thought of draping patterned clothing over furniture (including the bed - ?!) as a design concept seems incredibly silly, though.
I think the problem with the first photo is that the room is under-decorated. I am going to go out on a limb and use Ivana and Ivanka Trump as examples, and say that one should not be afraid of decorating every inch of a room when using pattern. See:
http://tinyurl.com/8sxcns2
and
http://tinyurl.com/http-www-glamour-com-magazin
That wall needs about 10 more gold-framed pieces of art, a leopard print divan and an ormolu escritoire to be fabulous.
vee22 once commented on a prior Houzz feature - "Who cares about what the so called "trends" are and what some self appointed "designer" says...I do what I want and what pleases me, not because other people dictate what I should like." To discount others for their preferences suggests duplicity. Do you suppose others make their personal choices on where to live & how to live in their homes based on what pleases them & hopefully will continue to live in their spaces as pleases them - just as you do?
Laurel, your assuming "correctness" continues to puzzle - it's truly a matter of preference.