From the Floors Up

How to Add Character While Using Neutrals 

By Leave a Comment

Neutral color themes in homes are always a great choice. They are traditional and timeless designs that work in any environment. However, neutral colors are not typically found on a color wheel. They agree with almost any color without giving influence to a warm- or cool-tone atmosphere. That being said, colors are wonderful for adding character to a room. So without adding color, is it possible to achieve a full-of-character space? Of course, it is! Neutral colors can still have powerful impacts. Understanding other elements in your design theme can allow you to indulge in the neutral color palette and still create a very versatile and lively atmosphere.

Texture

While color can add a dramatic effect to your space, texture is another great tool to consider. Think of a room that was completely white from the floors and walls to the furniture and décor. What makes this room “pop” is the textures. A marble countertop has an entirely different texture than stucco walls or a plush carpet. Putting together different elements of texture like smooth, rough, fine, or coarse can make a room have more appeal. It does so by allowing each texture to stand out against one another.

Hard Contrast

When you are designing with all neutral colors, you are using colors like beiges, browns, blacks, whites, and grays. To create more depth to your design, allow for hard contrast. Black and white are very opposing colors. Having a white marble countertop with black cabinets can create a very hard contrast. These hard contrasts help create depth in your design. This depth is a great way to allow neutral colors to have an even more powerful influence in your home.

Metals and Woods

Neutral colors are commonly called “earthy tones.” Without incorporating warm- or cool-tones, you can still mix in woods and metals to your design. These materials will also add more character to your room since wood is full of character with its grainy texture and design and metal can also add a sheen or shine to your design.

These subtle but powerful tools will create your neutral-themed design and make it truly awe-inspiring. Neutral themed designs are perfect for any home, especially a home going into the real estate market. While not everyone may want a room with painted pink or lime green walls, generally speaking, neutral colors are accepted by everyone. A home can always feel the move-in ready with these tips and tricks.

Six Different Types of Kitchen Layouts

By Leave a Comment

There are typically six different kitchen layouts used in homes today. Each one of these kitchen layouts can offer a different set of aesthetic appeal and functionality to your home. If you are preparing for a kitchen remodel, knowing these layouts can best help you create your optimal design.

Single or One Wall

The simplest layout would be a single or one wall design. These kitchens have one countertop directly on one wall, and this countertop can be the home to your range, dishwasher, and kitchen sink. It is a simple layout but works great in open layout homes.

Galley

A traditional style you can see in older homes is a galley kitchen. These kitchens can have a hallway feel by being enclosed with countertops on both walls running perpendicular with one another. This option is great for prepping food and has two separate areas of countertop space. You will see these in kitchens with long length dimensions, great for setting up buffet-style serving.

G-Shape

The G-Shape kitchen can also be referred to as a peninsula kitchen layout. This design is a large kitchen layout with plenty of countertop space. It has countertops on all four sides with an opening at one point to enter. This option can offer some of the most countertop space an allow you to access all countertops directly from the middle.

L-Shape

An L-Shape kitchen has two countertops running off each other at 90 degrees. This two-countertop layout is simple but offers more countertop space than the single or one-wall layout. It also has the countertops touching, unlike the galley layout, which may be preferable depending on your needs and wants.

U-Shape

The U-Shape is a wide access kitchen. With three of your four walls having countertop space, this design works great in open layout homes while offering plenty of countertop space.

Island

The last style is island kitchens. These kitchens can be the shape of a U or L and offer a disconnected island of countertop space. These islands provide countertop space that doe not impede the rest of the kitchen. Set out food for your guests to grab and hang out while you can freely maneuver the kitchen.

These six kitchen layouts are all very common. They do not all work in every home, but several can. Decide which is best for your home. They can all add different levels of aesthetic appeal and countertop space. For more insight on kitchens and countertops, make sure to subscribe.

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Five

By Leave a Comment

As this series comes to a close, we can see how diverse the world of interior design and trends are. Exploring all the countries and their trends can help you find the right style for your own home. Today, we are going to take a look at the final five countries. Let’s get started!

Ukraine – Dark Contemporary

Located in eastern Europe, much of Ukraine’s influences come from surrounding areas like Russia and Romania. Many homes have taken a liking to the darker, more deep-toned contemporary style. This look can help give a sophisticated and mature look to a home’s design.

Venezuela – Stripes

Stripes are trending significantly in most of the current design trends. In fact, Venezuela’s homes and businesses will incorporate stripe patterns in very unique places, including walls, ceilings, and décor. These stripes can help uniform the design theme and make the designs look and feel more balanced.

Wales – Modern Farmhouse

Wales is closely linked to the United Kingdom. While Rustic design has been common for some time, we see a change in the significance of this design. Now, the most common style being put in homes is Modern Farmhouse. With slight Modern edges, we see the small change from the normal Farmhouse and Rustic layouts to a more Modern Farmhouse design.

Yemen – Middle Eastern

Yemen is a strongly influenced Middle Eastern country. Their homes are inspired by Arabic design. While not everyone can invest in designing their homes, the wealthy will add gold accents and deep, rich, colorful patterns to establish wealth in their design. The less fortunate enjoy filling their homes will colorful, handmade textiles to brighten the color palette of their concrete-constructed homes.

Zimbabwe – Sophisticated with a Splash of Color

Zimbabwe is the second poorest country in the world, currently. The few people that have the privilege to dabble in designing their homes love to add color. It is not unusual to see the wealthy households flourished with colors and windows.

Were you surprised by some of the common design styles in the world today? Which design trends are your favorites? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and make sure to subscribe.

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Three

By Leave a Comment

We commonly look at the trends in interior design happening around us; however, the world has a considerable influence on where design is heading. Here is a look at some of the biggest trends happening around the world today in other countries:

Kyrgyzstan – Simple Yet Cozy

Kyrgyzstan is a small country in East Asia. Many global trends have little to no effect on Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan puts comfortability, functionality, and coziness at the forefront of its design. You will notice much of the designs are simple. They prefer to put light and airy colors into the design.

Luxembourg – Scandinavian

Luxembourg is a very wealthy country. Being European, you can see a lot of Scandinavian roots coming to fruition in their design. It incorporates modern, sleek lines with a contribution to natural elements that makes a dapper and elegant interior.

Mexico – Patterned Textiles

Mexican culture takes pride in its many elaborate and cultural patterns. You still see patterns being very influential today in Mexico. Even with a modernized influence, patterns continue to flood their designs. You can see patterns in all sorts of textiles from pillows, curtains, blankets, rugs, and more. They also handmake and manufacture many of their own textiles for their designs, making them feel even more authentic to their culture.

Netherlands – Art Deco

The Netherlands is currently exploring a path similar to Art Deco. With many geometrical patterns and strong, unique features, the Netherlands’ design is very unique! It is not uncommon to see their design explore new and contemporary approaches to Art Deco. From Contemporary art to unusually-shaped light fixtures, this design theme takes a whimsical approach in a very unique fashion. Yet they still keep it grounded with a neutral color palette.

Oman – Lavished and Extravagant

Oman design is very intricate and highly lavished. With extravagant detail and tile work, these homes keep beauty at the forefront. These designs will put exaggerated detail in the ceilings, lightings, walls, and everything in between there. One step into an Oman home and you will quickly recognize the beauty they have to offer.

Did some of these countries’ current design trends surprise you? There are still many other countries to explore! Make sure to check out the rest of the series to see some more of the trending designs around the world.

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Two

By Leave a Comment

Looking at the trends happening in other countries can give us an idea of where styles are going in our country. Today, we are going to exam a few of the trends happening throughout the world to get a better glimpse of cultural influence in interior design. Let’s take a look!

France – Patterns

Layering unusual patterns is very trendy right now in France. Since patterns demand attention through repetition, it is not uncommon to see several unique and diverse patterns in one room. Where it may be standard practices elsewhere to keep patterns uniform, stripes, floral patterns, polka dots, and many other unique patterns are added to the same space to give the room its own individuality and flow.

Greece – Minimalism and Marble

Greece has currently been incorporating minimalism into their interior design. The clean and unobtrusive nature of minimalism can create a very elegant and open environment. We are also noticing much more use of marble in their designs. From floors, countertops, and even décor, marble has slowly become a staple in current Greek design.

Hungary – Rooted in Culture and Moving Forward

Hungary is a European country rooted in a strong culture. After World War I, Hungary lost 71% of its territory, but this did not stop the country from keeping strong to its roots. We see a strong traditional European design moving forward with touches of modernism.

Italy – Fine Craftsmanship

Italy is all about appreciation of fine craftsmanship. In fact, many popular design themes found throughout modern Italian design are no exception. You will see a keen eye for detail through rugs, woodworks, furniture, and textiles in every home today.

Japan – Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese way of living that appreciates the beauty within imperfections. This concept has been being influenced by interior design. Not every element of a home must be finished or complete. The beauty of the flaws can help with the acceptance of peace in each home. Today, we see more Wabi-Sabi influence in modern Japanese interior design.

These are just a handful of the design themes that are growing popularity throughout the world. With the United States being such a melting pot of cultures, it is not unusual for us to experience many of these trends as well. What designs surprised you? Let us know below in the comment section.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

Recent Comments

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new post notifications via email.