Tag: Glen Peloso
By Glen Peloso
If you have the chance to speak to or carefully observe anyone who travels extensively, they likely have a style that reflects elements of their travels. This is certainly prevalent in the fashion world, where the “skinny” jeans that are now so popular in North America were all the rage in Europe a few years ago, and the loose, drawstring-waist linen pants that many men favour have a definite East Indian influence.
The same is true in the world of interior design, and it is certainly prevalent when you look at the variety of colours and patterns available. For example, the Moroccan influence in footstool shapes and fabrics, India’s influence on colour palette and pattern and China’s on accessory shapes and style.
We recently saw this trend clearly when we were accessorizing a client’s space. You will see it yourself as you look at the newest home accessories from Indigo where the international influences are evident. This kind of cross-influence isn’t a new experience; in fact, there is evidence of it throughout history. From mid-17th century through to the mid-18th century, France saw the rise of “Chinoiserie,” which was a result of trading between France and China. Traders returning with indigenous home décor items influenced society at large. The same is true when you look at English interior design – since the Royals married cross-culturally, British design was initially influenced by Italian and French designs. And later, there were influences from India, the Caribbean and every other country that the English occupied. Consequently, English design influences were also made popular in the occupied countries.
Today, the international influences are pervasive for a variety of reasons. With so many of the elements of interior design originating in China and India, and with buyers and importers spending so much time in other countries and with access to the Internet, evidence of these influences are increasingly seen in just about every corner of the world.
Start with the colour trends that are popular now, and look to the Indian sari fabrics and colours. The strong oranges, azure blues and golds derive from the spices used in the local food. Traditionally, they also were the basis of dyes to create these colours.
Next, look at the intricate details and complex fabrics that are found in throw pillows and bedding. The silk weaves that comprise the bed spreads and draperies show a strong Indian influence. Using items such as African masks and pottery, wooden sculptures and native wooden figures in décor, particularly when designing a bathroom, is on trend.
In the living room, a Moroccan side table (simple wooden base with a removable copper tray top) coupled with a modern sofa and an Indonesian sideboard, would not be considered a faux pas. Nor should you be afraid to mix and match traditional Chinese or Japanese patterns with influences of a traditional Turkish rug design – such as in a room divider with arches that mimic Indian buildings and Moroccan-inspired, heavily woven fabrics on stools.
In bedrooms, it is not unusual to see carved headboards with linens and a bench at the end of the bed, reminiscent of a traditional seat of the Chinese empire. Feel free to use a bed with a canopy and side draperies in soft, sheer fabrics, perhaps most popular in climates closer to the equator but elegant in any environment. There may be throw cushions in a toile that depict a scene from a country other than in North America.
Also, look at wallpaper patterns that may mimic the complex patterns associated with a Bindi artist’s work. These days we also see a fair amount of animal prints, more evocative of Africa than Toronto. Major Canadian cities reflect these international influences, and such design multiculturalism will continue to have a profound impact on the décor in our homes.
Glen Peloso
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for almost two decades. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com
June 22, 2012
By Glen Peloso
As you move around the city it is clear that both summer and construction season have started– it’s not just public projects around town it seems at every turn but also private residences that are engaged in the renovation process. We work with various clients and I’m often struck by how often people say, “I wish we had called you sooner.” Some people are very accustomed to working with a design company and others have more trepidation.
Clarifying the process from the start is helpful so that everyone is on the same page. It doesn’t matter which company you work with, what is important is that you feel comfortable with the person or people you are working with so that you can share your hopes and desires for the room, your budget and have a frank conversation about what is possible.
Before you get in touch with a design professional, have some ideas about why you want to go through with the renovation. Sometimes the process of speaking about what is wrong with the space will help give your designer some direction. It could be that the room doesn’t make sense for your family or it could be that you simply find the finishes outdated and want to reinvent the space to your liking. Once you start the process you want to be able to be an active voice in the process. The designer should be trying to make your ideas come to fruition while offering some ideas and products that you may not have considered.
I think it is helpful if you gather together a few magazines about home design and flip though them to select some of the images that appeal most to you. Put a sticky note on the page and indicate what it is about the room that appeals to you. It could be the wall colour, the flooring, the window treatments or just, “I love the way this room looks.” These will be good guidelines for the designer to understand what you are hoping to achieve so that they can get to work and assist you without trying to guess what you would like. It is important to listen to your designer when they point out some of the challenges involved in achieving what you want versus the actual space that you have to achieve it in.
Sometimes what looks great in a magazine just won’t work based on the architecture of your home, or the space the room has to offer. The designer is meant to act as a consultant on your project helping you with not only the decision of the design direction but also managing your budget. Knowing how to allot the funds you have so that you will get the most enjoyment out of the room is something you can look to your designer to help you with as well. Obviously something you use every day, or how to select multi-functional pieces to work with a smaller space is more important than an accessory on a shelf. They will also advise you on which renovations require an engineer’s or architect’s stamp for the building permits office and can often recommend someone they know and trust with this part of the process. Knowing what issues will arise from the renovation at the beginning as opposed to the in the middle of the project is a great way designers can better assist you during the renovation.
Another added benefit, aside from their experience, is a vast knowledge of products that are available, what is new in the marketplace and where to get it. Inevitably there are places that we use on a regular basis and understand. Places like BoConcept and Julian Armand for furniture, Prime Walls for wall coverings, Carpet One for floor coverings are all places I know well and can expeditiously find the product that is appropriate for your project. We also have knowledge of people to execute the project or can send you to websites like CasaGuru to find tradespeople who are qualified to do the work you need done.
All in all you can expect that the design fee will be approximately 10 per cent of your overall budget which I think is very reasonable. As I have said in the past, hiring a professional is much cheaper than paying to repair the mistakes of an amateur! Now that the renovations in the city have begun, the only real difficulty will be driving around during our construction, I mean summer season!
GLEN PELOSO
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for almost two decades. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com
May 28, 2012
By Glen Peloso
How fantastic that spring has arrived and we are on the precipice of summer and all of its delights. It is without a doubt that we all are longing to get outside and enjoy the weather. I can remember when every backyard had a picnic table and perhaps an umbrella if the household was a little more well off. We just put the picnic table under a tree and were shaded that way.
Now it seems that the backyard isn’t complete unless it has a full complement of furniture that essentially mirrors the rooms and furnishings of our homes. I have said in the past that it makes good sense to have the eating area closest to the house to facilitate the movement of food to the table, to have a family room halfway down the garden which may have a couple of outdoor love seats, or a sectional sofa and a coffee table and perhaps in the back of the garden, a single chair or perhaps two so that one can sit on their own with a book or paper and a glass of wine. That is likely the best way to make use of the outdoor space unless you have a pool in which case you will also have some space for loungers to soak in the sun. Back in the era of picnic tables, there was no discussion of sun screen which seems to permeate the outdoor experience now, and there was little to change except for perhaps :give the old’ picnic table a coat of paint or stain.
Now that we are enjoying the yard in a whole new way, we also have the need to be able to change up the look and feel year by year. It doesn’t mean that you need to rush out and buy a whole new set of furnishings, which could cost you from several hundreds of dollars to many thousands. You have the option of being able to augment what you already have. On a practical level, you may want to consider adding heating. There are many firepits available that may look as though they are a small campfire even though they are gas driven, but there are also many outdoor fireplaces that can be hung on the fence or much more modern glass cylinders that may have an architectural twisted flame. If you don’t want to have an open flame, there are many people who purchase overhead heat sources so that they are able to extend the season in the great outdoors. There are propane-fuelled units as well as infrared heaters and both can work well in terms of keeping the space warm enough to enjoy for a month on both ends of the summer. In our climate, those additional months can really make a difference.
“This year’s interesting trend colours are found in pinks, yellow golds, navy to azure blues and most certainly orange.”
The next thing you may want to adjust year by year is the colours that are used to accent the area. This year’s interesting trend colours are found in pinks, yellow golds, navy to azure blues and most certainly orange. If you are going to add some throw pillows to the space and may want to change them again next year, then consider getting some outdoor pillow inserts and covering them with an outdoor fabric. Check with your fabric store to select the right kinds of fabrics, resistant to moisture and mildew and mould. You can choose to change the fabrics on the sofa and chair cushions, however that can be slightly more complex and expensive. If you do choose to make a change in that area, then I would consider staying with a neutral palette like grey or cream and look for fabrics that also have a strong pattern. If you are looking to be more fashion-forward then you may want to consider complex fabrics that have an international appeal. Often with this look, one is perfectly certain that the fabrics were purchased on a vacation to destinations like Europe, or a variety of African countries. The “folk” feel makes the fabrics on trend. The safest choice may be a tone-on-tone patterned grey or a black and white combination that would allow those fabrics to work for presumably a number of years to come.
One of the elements that I have always loved in terms of the feeling and elegance it offers the yard, is white or off-white soft drapers. These can work to reduce the amount of bugs that may be present for an outdoor meal; they can soften the amount of light and perhaps reduce your exposure to the sun. I really love the idea of draperies that surround decks or covered areas, even if the draperies are hung around the posts and tied back. The feeling of being in an exotic island, looking over the sea as the breeze billows the drapes is appealing even if you are in the backyard on a warm evening.
If you are hoping to leave things essentially as they are but still want to inject some colour and detail, then I would consider colourful elements like candles, placemats and napkins or even colourful acrylic stemware to add a pop of excitement to the table. We certainly are no longer thinking about faux finishes and dad’s old chair–and it’s always nice to get outside in style.
Glen Peloso
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for more than 15 years. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com
April 23, 2012
Glen Peloso
