I've said it before, and I'm a firm believer: Magazines, websites and now Pinterest, only offer 'visual' inspiration - whether you're making over a space or even revamping your wardrobe. My favorite resource for style inspiration is to tour stores. When touring a store, especially a home store, you can get a better sense of scale, proportion, and try out the piece for comfort. You can't do these things flipping through books, magazines or clicking images online. One of the stores I enjoy touring for home ideas is Pottery Barn - especially in the Fall. Recently while scouting local shops & stores for a specifically styled restyle - Tuscan - I popped into my local Pottery Barn. Besides displaying an assortment of true Tuscan colors within their Fall assortment, they also offered a few finds that would easily work to update a Tuscan space. Although I'd like to call them more Mediterranean in architecture, Tuscan style homes are very popular here in Arizona. Pottery Barn's Fall collections offer accents such as lanterns, pottery, ironwork, skins, leather, and stud details which are all indicative of Tuscan - Spanish - Mediterranean style homes...
Just LOVE this mix - perfect to display at the fireplace hearth, or mantel... and easily can shift outdoors to create another look at another time...
Great way to add a little leopard to a space: Loved these leopard stacking boxes - perfect for concealing remotes hiding extra coasters...
If a room has all fabric furnishings, it's good to mix in a leather piece, like a Chesterfield sofa or this tufted back chair to create a more relaxed environment. This also helps to merge both masculine & feminine details in a space...
Over-sized trays, with a pattern, are perfect for a family room setting - especially if you have a tufted leather ottoman as a coffee table... The pattern adds movement + can camouflage drink rings from sweaty glasses and give a stabilized surface for drinks on a tufted ottoman...
When selecting accent chairs, it's also good to consider their back detail, especially of during the holidays they may shift in a space (to fit a tree) and become more noticeable...
Beautiful rustic sofa table - LOVE the pattern of the wood!
Love the mix - Great layering for a family gallery set in a hallway - Lamp is great for a home office...
Lovely vignette idea for a sofa table... Seed glass lamps (or tortoise glass lamps) are perfect for a sofa table set in front of a picture window - the natural light can than shine through the glass...
Even furniture pieces can offer a option for built in cabinet doors: Wire inserts can easily replace custom glass and allow a homeowner to have more display space vs concealed storage. It's accessories that make (or break) a room - and those that are collected over time and displayed tell friends & family your style story...
Layering in some rustic wood painted finishes is a great way to let go of the formality of a space and create a more relaxed environment...
Sometimes Tuscan homes only have more ironwork, or tapestry, or colored scenic paintings of Florence as wall art. Another way to lighten the look of heavy wood or stonework is to let in some natural light by layering in uniquely framed mirrors into niches or hallways. This can help to take away the heaviness of wood & stone by reflecting more light into the space...
Again - Love the look of mixing the glazed & natural pottery with the darn & natural baskets, especially filled with branches, which are easy and free decor to add from your own back yard...
Another example of softening the hard surface overload often found with builder upgrades in AZ Tuscan homes: Layer textiles on hard surfaces, such as area rugs in the dining room plus a table runner. Take away the "Rooms-To-Go Set" look by mixing different style chairs... even if mixing existing chairs or consider simply replacing end chairs with hostess chairs.
Nail head trim details - not only on trend, but a must decor detail in a Tuscan or Euro style home....
Great example of mixing metals (wrought iron fixture + silver accents) along with a few natural touches - great example of how to get away from the formality of silk or taffeta fabrics to create a welcoming home...
Covered books + two tone pottery + cable knit & leather pillows are an excellent examples of creating casual layers for a family room...
Loved the mix: Lighter wood & beefy turned style leg table paired with slip covered & X back chair - plus use of all white stoneware (loved the pitcher as a vase for the kitchen or bath).
Absolutely LOVED basket shapes and the hardware - especially the strap hinges & metal ring handles on these storage baskets. Perfect pieces to layer in some natural texture to spaces overwhelmed with custom & heavy wood built-ins, over-sized fireplaces, heavy mix of stone and a heavy dose of metal scroll work. Perfect for family or game rooms - great for storage of extra throws or even kids toys.
Hope you enjoyed this quick little store tour plus style tips. The next time you're in a store, take a second look at the visual presentation and consider not only 'what is here that I can buy?' But what is here that I can take away with me as inspiration and apply to my own house to make it a home.
Thanks for stopping by,
.JPG)
