Brace yourself. Your eyes are seconds away from falling on an interior simultaneously wearing composed white walls and a chaotic chromatic rush – radiant pockets of vivid hues embellishing a blank shell. This bold serving of design is the London flat of Liza Giles. Ms. Giles has borrowed brilliant color and feminine details from her profession as a senior designer and stylist for Designers Guild.

Ms. Giles has arranged isolated tufts of seemingly unrelated elements that coalesce for a sense of overwhelming cohesion. Each vignette is a gathering of shiny new objects and flea market charms (which, by the way, has me yearning to locate her blissful flea market resources). Once again, James Merrell‘s photography has flawlessly captured endless design details with his talented lens.

This flat literally sings to me; gushing and admiring comes easily when the space is this perfect. I still remember the first time I set eyes upon this interior. Love at first sight. Every time I devour these images I find a new detail that makes it even more endearing (like the unassuming charcoal lace quietly dangling over the living room window). I would move in immediately, forsaking all personal possessions and arriving with only one suitcase and one husband. I have adored this space on my personal (humble, little) blog more than once. I still love it.

I am smitten with the sense of unintentional variety laced with deliberate eclecticism. The subtle whispers of color (through muted artwork) adjacent to the not-so-subtle shouts of color (reflected through gleaming metallic teal wallpaper) form a palatable, delicious tension. All this contrast is balanced into tranquility by the overwhelming silence of stark white walls, floors, and ceilings.

Still craving more? Gain a little more insight (or at least an additional opinion) with these features on {this is glamorous} and decor8.

(Photography by James Merrell via decor8.)

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Let me paint you a picture: You’re at the paint store. After sorting through thousands of slightly different colors and arduously selecting the perfect tint or shade to embellish your bedroom walls, the indifferent sales clerk asks, “What finish do you want?” Wait, what? You are already emotionally exhausted from sorting through heaps of colors. Dearest reader, let me help.

Choosing the right paint finish is dictated by two things, appearance and function. Finish options range from dull matte to overwhelming sheen.

FLAT paint provides a smooth, matte finish that softens facades and disguises surface imperfections. This finish is difficult to keep clean, so avoid high traffic areas (children and pets will not get along well with flat finish paint). Flat paint is less durable than other options, so keep a reserve of the paint for touch ups. This finish absorbs light and is ideal for hiding bumps, cracks, and flaws.

“¢ Suitable for (adult) bedrooms, dining rooms, formal living rooms, libraries, and ceilings.

EGGSHELL/PEARL/SATIN finishes are similar to flat, but with an added hint of sheen and a large dose of functionality. This cleanable, velvety finish has a charming texture and is ideal for high traffic areas.

“¢ Suitable for hallways, bedrooms (even children’s), family rooms, living rooms, powder rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and woodwork.

SEMIGLOSS paint is lustrous and durable, perfect for areas that are exposed to moisture and get cleaned frequently.

“¢ Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas, laundry rooms, doors, trim, and woodwork.

GLOSS paint is an extremely hard and durable finish that exudes a glossy, shiny luster. Gloss finish reflects light and tends to magnify imperfections, so meticulous sanding and surface preparation is essential.

“¢ Suitable for woodwork, trim, floors, cabinets, doors, and furniture.

ADDITIONAL WISDOM

Because the different finishes absorb and reflect light in different ways, consider the lighting of your space when selecting your sheen. For example, if your dining room has very dim lighting, the space will benefit from a finish with enough gloss to subtly reflect light. In this scenario, an eggshell finish would add a little more sparkle and ambiance than a flat finish.

Add a handful of contrast and dimension to any room by combining several paint finishes. Cover the ceiling with a flat finish to hide surface flaws. Use an eggshell or satin finish on walls for a functional surface with a bit of shine. Select a semigloss finish for doors, trim, and woodwork for a durable, easy to clean surface. Using different sheens within a space is aesthetically pleasing, but ultimately it’s a functional solution, too.

Need a few more tips? The EcoSalon archives offer great painting advice. How about a guide to eco-friendly paints? Or a little color guidance? Grab your paintbrush!

(Photographs by Emma Lee of Pearson Lyle Management.)

The post Shine and Sheen appeared first on EcoSalon.

Spray Paint Eclecticism. Broken Baroque. Auction House Awe. It seems no amount of categorical wit can do this space justice. Spray paint, auction houses, paint brushes, second-hand stores, and graffiti all live in these walls. Owners Jimmie Karlsson and Rick Schultz have turned this two-story flat in London into beautifully contained chaos. Karlsson has laced this interior with contrast, creating luscious tension by muddling together old, new, simple, ornate, antique, and modern. From the texture of the unsanded floors to the juxtaposition of opulence and urbanity, I love it. This flat exceeds and defies convention.

Karlsson, a designer for Jimmie Martin, has infused this space with personality, confessing that spray paint and upcycling are his hobbies, “I find it interesting to have pieces with soul and history that you won’t find elsewhere.” If you think upcycled furniture is anything except unabashedly stunning, click around Jimmie Martin, it won’t take long to change your mind.

The decadent photography by Sisters Agency captures the character of the space perfectly (as seen on Living Etc). I have already voiced my love for Harmoni og Kontrast, this interior is just one more morsel of the bountiful inspiration found there.

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