Welcome to 2015! It’s time to start off the year with another gorgeous mansion find – this Palm Beach Florida home decorated in a Mediterranean style that makes you feel like you’re in Tuscany! Forget cold muted hues and warm up to this beauty with our quick sneak peak tour. Lets get started:

This Florida home was re-decorated by David Easton and given a complete makeover which restored it to its former glory. The home was looking to be in bad shape and needed some urgent TLC. The rolling green lawn is enough to draw us right up to it’s doors!

To keep things interesting, a chess set was designed in a patch of grass.

The entrance into the circa 1920’s mansion is super inviting and full of light. Tall windows, high ceilings and an open-to-below from the second floor provides lots of airflow especially in such a hot sticky climate. The moldings give off a medieval style vibe, making the 16th century Flemish tapestry the perfect centrepiece to this stunning foyer.

Near the entrance of the home, a game room, office, and library in one is conveniently located. The furniture was selectively chosen with some pieces being Italian Rococo to stick to the home’s decorating theme.

I LOVE this sunny room! A great trick to bring in loads of light into a room is to use a light buttercream yellow color on the walls – it works miracles! The soft yellow checkered curtains are also a nice touch as well as the Louis XVI bergeres chairs from the 1880’s.

The family room is nice and cozy with a country style color scheme – brown and green was the perfect choice.

Surprisingly, the kitchen is not THAT big as you would expect it to be in such a large home. It still, serves the purpose and features a convenient breakfast bar with woven caffe-style bar stools.

Walls wallpapered in green chinoisere print make the dining room look even more formal and classy. The rich cherry table makes a serious piece of furniture that looks not only rich, but super impressive. The dining room is usually a high-traffic area especially during the holidays or special events, so the designers opted for engineered oak flooring. This makes a great choice to ward off scratches and water damage.

The bedrooms are just as pretty as the rest of the home – focusing on light floral prints and delicate wall colors. The blue ceiling reminds me of my own bedroom only this one is a super light shade which makes it so much more airy and refreshing. The dark lacquered engineered flooring is a nice contrast to the light walls. Also, check out that killer gold gilded sunburst mirror!

A pretty stone fountain makes a nice focal point in the tennis pavilion’s terrace. The landscaper added a nice touch with grass tiles making it the perfect way to break up the surrounding cement.

This isn’t the back terrace, this is actually a private loggia for the library! It makes the perfect place for kicking back with a cold lemonade, and a good book. Cheers!

Don’t let the winter blues bring you down, decorating with tropical-style rattan furniture is the perfect way to bring back the waves of sunshine and heat, even when your stuck in the middle of a snow storm!

Typically associated with the tropics or outdoor patios, rattan or wicker furniture can actually fit in just about any room setting or decorating style. Even though it’s a big favorite for sunrooms, it also brings the perfect hit of tiki-style to a family room, bedroom, or den. What I LOVE about rattan furniture is that is instantly gives a room an outdoors-y, summer-y feel. Definitely something I like to be feeling all year round!

Rattan furniture is without a doubt comfortable, and gives off an informal, relaxed style. This does not have to me cheap or second rate when it comes to tropical furniture. A high end, expertly made rattan furniture with a natural finish and accented with rich, dense, cushions can give a room a warm and inviting European type setting.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that true rattan is a natural wood, similar to bamboo, but with a solid, rather than hollow stem. It’s tightly woven or braided into furniture, which makes it lightweight, sturdy, and can last for generations!

As a natural wood, it can be stained, varnished or a coat of polyurethane applied for a natural look. It can also be painted to match any décor. In fact, rattan wood is one of the oldest forms of furniture wood. The color schemes and styles in seat cushions and backing is endless.

Since it’s so lightweight, the furniture can be easily moved and rearranged in minutes to give your home a whole new look!

The bedroom is not left out of rattan décor, as headboards, chests, trunks and nightstands can be constructed with rattan shoots. Though it does not have the heaviness of oak or maple, it can provide sturdy, functional bedroom furniture that will last for years with proper treatment.

If you take a trip to a quality wicker or rattan furniture shop carrying hand crafted furniture – DON’T only consider it for your sunroom or patio. The wicker trend is gaining steam for bedrooms and living rooms, and there are entire rooms sets created to get this unique look. You can also consider purchasing just an accent piece for a new look, and a hint of summer style.

Image Source: Heather Robbins, Molly Quinn, Jules Duffy, Kate Jackson Design

If you’ve recently moved into a new home or are planning to spruce up your current decor with some new furniture, it’s important to know how to choose high quality items. There are tons of fabulous choices in store and online, so picking out the right pieces may seem like a daunting task.

Items like beds, dining room tables, chairs and dressers are pieces that will get a great deal of regular use, and if they are properly cared for, can last years and even be passed down through generations. With some basic knowledge and these easy tips from designers, you can ensure to select the best quality piece every time!

Douglas Vanderhorn

Choose the Right Wood Type

The source and type of the wood really matters if you’re looking for a long-lasting item that will look good even after years of wear. There are three types of wood on the market that are used to make furniture; hard, soft and engineered. Generally, hard wood is the best choice for those who want a guarantee of quality. Hard wood comes from deciduous trees like teak, cherry, walnut, birch, mahogany and oak. It is usually air dried then kiln dried to remove all traces of moisture, as this can warp and damage wood over time.

Hard woods tend to be significantly more expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, engineered wood may be a better solution, as it has a similar strength to hard wood and can be sturdy and long-lasting. Soft wood comes from coniferous trees like pine, cedar and fir, but items made from this wood may scratch or dent more easily and require more care.

DTM Interiors

Keep an Eye Out on Construction

It doesn’t matter how lovely the wood your item is crafted from if the piece is poorly constructed. Good construction will make the difference between a hard-wearing item and one that will need to be replaced in a couple of years.

Look for dovetail and mortise and tenon joints, as these are the oldest, strongest and most aesthetically pleasing joining methods. Dowel or screw joints are also acceptable, but never buy an item that has been stapled together. It’s also a good idea to check whether any glue is showing outside the joint, as this is a mark of poor craftsmanship. Test your new wooden bed frame or dining bench for sturdiness before you buy by rocking or jostling the piece slightly.

West Fall Design Studio

Check the Wood’s Finish

In order to ensure that your furniture is of the highest quality, it’s essential that you pay attention to the way a particular piece is finished. Look at how it is sanded and stained, and run your hand over the item to detect any rough patches. The stain should enhance the natural beauty of the wood grain, and certain retailers including the Trade Furniture Company pay special attention to bringing out the unique colour and pattern of each piece of wood.

Dream Star Custom Homes

Be wary of any item that has splintered edges, dull spots, ‘teardrop’ spots of varnish, scratches, dents and dust specks. A high quality item will not show signs of imperfection from the sanding or finishing process.

Gordana Car Interiors