The countdown is on. Less than 24 hours until the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. So many of us will be glued to the television at unholy hours just to get a glimpse of this fairytale and wondering how we might capture a bit of it in our own lives. Royalty do certainly set many fashion and interior trends and it’s easy to see how shabby European chic and bohemian chic styles seek to emulate the royal design sense.
One of the homes that William and Kate will have access to is called Clarence House. Here are some images from its interior. You can read more about the home at Decor to Adore.
Most of us will never be able to afford this lavish style, but we can still participate with these fun tributes to British royalty.
Will you be watching the Royal Wedding?
images sources: 2 & 3 Decor to Adore, 4 & 5 The World According to Isa, 6 Style at Home, 7 Graham Brown, 8 Stamp Rugs, 9 Bliss Living Home
Soft. Distressed. Faded. Antique. Elegant. White. These words are used so often to describe the classic chic style and do capture the overall feel of this decor. We envision certain and specific images when we hear these words and that’s what makes shabby chic recognizable and familiar. But there are other important elements that make lassicc chic so interesting. Individuality. Juxtaposition. Creativity.
It might seem odd to pair classic chic design with modern art, but sometimes the most unlikely pairings create the most stunning design. Look at the following image from Topsy Turvy Style. Here a bold, hard-lined modern painting by Ellsworth Kelly contrasts the soft, delicate design work of an antique table.
One modern art piece like the image above makes a statement of creativity and individuality. It’s a juxtaposition of hard versus soft lines and bold versus muted colors and it’s easier to incorporate than you might think. And you can even make it yourself (yes you can!)
Here’s another image from Ellsworth Kelly that we’ll use for inspiration. And yes, he is one of my favorite artists! Look at the design and composition, not necessarily the colors. Your modern art piece can have any colors you choose.
By using (free) paint chips from your local store you can create something very similar. This piece below was created by Mark Montano and he shows you exactly how to make it on his blog. Neat, huh?
So what do you think about mixing modern art with classic chic? Is it something you would consider?
The settee, what we might call sofa or perhaps couch here in the U.S., functions as visual and style anchor for a living or family room. In an otherwise light and bright atmosphere, a black settee adds depth, mystery, and even a bit of sensuality. Here are some vintage and vintage reproduction settees that caught my eye:
This one is definitely a throne fit for a queen! I could handle this. Image from emmas designblogg.
Fancy sette above from Style Estate Blog and casual settee below from Treehugger.
Here, more chocolate brown than black, is an image from Kaboodle. And below is a very similar one from Apartment Therapy used in the bedroom.
I’m liking the the Victorian and French styles with the high backs and scrolling wood detail. But as you’ll see in the photo below from Vintage Chic Furniture, this more modern black sectional sofa looks very comfy and inviting.
