One of my favorite ways to style a home is to take the current design and add its polar opposite counterpart, kind of like how you are taught with a color wheel. Modern tech to nature retreat is definitely something that is taking on quite the trend this season. A big mistake a lot of people make when designing their home is to take on way to many colors or none what so ever, hey I'm all about an all white look but if you don't have anything to tie your design together it's going to look like paper mates white out factory exploded in your home. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like paint on your walls or clutter simple things like fresh flowers, plants or small accent pieces can prevent a white out disaster. Now the "nature look" doesn't necessarily mean you need to compact a forest into your design space. Pieces like the honeycomb in the picture above are great examples nature has more to offer your home then just a tree filling an empty space.
Kitchens are a really easy space to create this design concept in. Think sleek metallic appliances in combination with fresh plants hanging by a window or if your like my mom who grows her own herbs for cooking Click & Grow products take up minimal space while still making a great statement on a countertop. Abstract bowls filled with fruit are also a quick and inexpensive ways to liven up countertops. Kitchens are the heart of a home so the last thing you want to do with is make it feel cold and unused. I am always cooking or hanging out in my kitchen when I have company over so there is a huge tip I'd like to offer to those of you who do the same. Never-ever overcrowd your countertops or shelving. Not only is it a fire hazard but your kitchen will never appear clean either. Which in turn can make you look like you don't care how you present yourself or personal living space :). So back to the topic, this nature look first started appearing in the last holiday trend. The wanting for a more cozy warm home feel and less whimsical has crossed over into spring. Even the always eccentric easter decorations have followed this particular trend. Technological advancements like the Nest or the Hue have shifted the way people design their homes. One thing to never forget, which most people do when they attempt to redesign the home is just that! The home. Which is why I believe this nature trend is so popular right now, easy way to dress your home up and have it still feel homey.
Up until this point in my life every living space I've had followed a simplistic format. Im very OCD when it comes to my person living space. I have always been able to create eccentric spaces for clients, friends and family but never for myself because of this very reason. My sister being an interior designer as well and an amazing one at that may I add, has taught me new ways in creating detailed spaces without having to go over the top to create an atmosphere. For her it's all in the details. It's all about balance and focal points within the design space. It made perfect sense to me, being a photographer we create images in somewhat of the same manor you create a design layout. Ive picked these two images, the one to the left and below to show you an example of what "all in the details" means to us. The bedroom to the left has a solid natural / neutral color scheme nothing glamorous or insane but what makes the room so cozy and inviting is how all the soft white details feed off of the overwhelming color, breaking it up into different focal points. The bed, the floor and the accent table. It's using color as the back bone to create this beautiful contrast that allows the room to work. The image to the right is as well using its details to break the room apart. In reverse to what the image above has done. Whats different about these two spaces is one is using color while the other is using texture.Wood and wicker are always great texturizing features that make the space more modern. Like jeans they just match everything haha. There is just something about natural that draws us all together. No matter how cold of an environment is created you can always relay on nature to warm it. Make it feel like a real home and not just come cookie cutter layout you saw in a magazine.