If you are drawn to a modern look with simple lines and straightforward color choices, this approach can work very well.

The room itself showcases a black and white look, and the flooring continues the neutral approach with a light large tile in a cool neutral. The dark table with its ebony wood that matches the chair frames adds a rich contrast to the light floor and white walls. Six of the chairs carry the white theme.

It’s the red elements that take this room outside the ordinary. With just two red chairs, the artwork and the three red bowls – all in exactly the same shade – the room really pops. It might have been tempting to add more red, but there’s no need. This room draws the eye without losing its calm modern approach.

Remember that other colors will come in with serving items and food when entertaining. Simple white plates and red placemats – maybe with a red-on-red design – will finish the table for guests. The food itself will add color, and all food looks better on white dishes. When your dining room is simple and uses only a few colors, you can be more daring with additions such as table linens and serving pieces. Consider how lovely silver or pewter would look against the dark table.

Actually this room is fairly child-friendly. The tile floor and leather chairs make clean-up easy. No fears about serving red wine with this dining room. Altogether, this room demonstrates the best of modern design while still doing well functionally.

This contemporary modern living room has stunning architecture. From the double height ceiling to the rows of windows, this is an open, airy space.  The simple materials of wood, glass, stone, wood and steel are the stars of the room. The sculptural floating staircase is the focal point of the space and adds amazing interest to the open floor plan.  It also creates a division between the living and dining room and the kitchen and casual eating area without closing off either spaces.

The lower ceiling in the kitchen however does make it feel like a kitchen rather than a corner of the living space. We like the classic pieces of mid-century modern furniture, including the Saarinen table and chairs in the kitchen eating area.  We love the clean lines, interesting form and solid color of the furniture combined with the overall palette of earth tones with splashes of color. The red bar stools and green accent pillows stand out, but in a good way. The pair of George Nelson bubble pendant lamps are modern masterpieces of design.  The furniture adds interest to the spaces but doesn’t compete with the star, the architecture.

The open living space combines stellar architecture with masterpieces of mid-century design.  But which one of the things in the room is not like the others? The area rug under the dining table feels too traditional for such a contemporary design. We would switch it out for something more graphic and modern feeling to fit with the rest of the décor.

Who wouldn’t want to have a sleek and luxurious looking room?  Usually, we encounter these types of rooms when we go for an overnight stay in a 5-star hotel suite. Yes, this can be quite heavy on the pocketbook; but the good news is we do not have to spend so much just to experience the luxury of sleeping in a lavish and grand bedroom. You can achieve this look just by simply changing your flooring.

One of the trends in luxury flooring right now is the use of bamboo. Well, bamboo is actually a hollow and thin type of wood. In order to create planks, bamboo strips are engineered and laminated to form it into the desired size of flooring. Surprisingly, it is harder and more durable than you think it is. It is also very eco-friendly since it grows back fast after it is harvested. You will be amazed on how bamboo floorings can dramatically change the look of your room.

Commonly used in countertops and backsplashes, granite has also started to become a current trend in luxury flooring today. Well, talk about luxury. Granite is actually living up to the name of luxury because it is, as a matter of fact, quite expensive; but it can definitely help you get the air of richness that you are looking for in your room.

Marble floors are also a current trend in luxurious flooring.  The name itself exudes grandness. You can count on it for its durability and strength. Aside from giving off and air of richness, it can also provide a welcoming feeling to anyone who enters your home.

Start living the dream and come home like the rich and famous with these luxury floorings.

Are you familiar with lyptus floors? What are they? Lyptus is actually a kind of wood that is a hybrid to two types of Eucalyptus trees namely Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus grandis.  Lyptus is generally grown in Brazil in plantations that are operated by the merger of Votorantim Celulose e Papel and Aracruz Celulose S.A. or commonly known as the company, Fibria. They have a total of 1.3 million hectares of forests and 461,000 hectares of it are located in six Brazilian states. Lyptus is distributed to the areas in North America by Weyerhaeuser.

Lyptus is a hard, closed-grain wood which makes it a very popular material for cabinets, millworks and floorings. It can take on the forces of machining and milling very well. Its colors can vary from light salmon to deeper red. The pigments in lyptus get darker when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is occasionally likened to other hardwoods when it comes to some mechanical properties; but it is more often than not compared to maple and is harder than oak. It can be harvested immediately and is usually marketed as an eco-friendly substitute to cherry, oak, and mahogany.

Choosing lyptus is highly beneficial to the environment. Since it is bred and grown in plantations, it does not affect the growth of old forests which are known to be highly essential to biodiversity. Since lyptus grows very fast, the supply will always be enough and the costs will be low. It is a very feasible substitute to mahogany.

This screened dining room is perfect for summer and warm days any time of year. This room may have been created from a simple balcony but now feels like a room. It’s got an indoor/outdoor feel to the space. The French doors, all three of them, open the interior of the home to the outdoors.  The screen walls make the room feel like it is floating in the tree tops, like a modern tree house! The screen protects against wayward insects and menacing mosquitoes.

The  light painted floors open up the space. The sleek table and benches in warm wood feel modern but not cold. The tree in the corner really brings the outdoors in, as does the plant in the simple terra cotta planter on the table.  A ceiling fan is a wise choice to keep the air moving and provide relief from the heat if there isn’t a breeze.  This is a simple space that manages to have a lot of style.

A few things we might add to the space would be seasonal accessories.  A roll down natural reed or bamboo shade to cut the heat and bright sunlight during the day would be a smart addition to the long screen wall. We also might add long, loose cushions to the benches to make them more inviting to linger over a meal or drinks.  While we love the idea of a ceiling fan in this space, this one feels a little small. Perhaps a slightly larger fan with a light source would be better. Although, we do like the idea of candlelight suppers in this space.

Turquoise seems to be a hot color for interiors right now. We’re seeing it used in bedrooms, living rooms and as an accent color throughout the home.  We think this living room is a great example of using turquoise to make a room feel fresh and stylish.

We like the main color palette of turquoise, black and white.  The bright pink of the gilded French upholstered arm chairs looks great and adds a nice pop of color.  We love the feminine, curvy lines of the eclectic mix of furniture.  Love the bold black and white stripes on a traditional style sofa. The striking black fireplace surround is nicely balanced by the built-in white shelves flanking it.  Light, sheer white curtains frame the window but don’t block the natural light.  The black mirror above the fireplace looks great against the turquoise wall and nicely related to the fireplace, sofa and table lamps.  A white area rug below a glass table helps the room feel lighter.

If this was our room, we might change a few things. We love the button tufted long bench for its shape and elegant details.  As the only brown piece of furniture in the room it stands out, but not in the best way.  Might be fun to upholster it in a turquoise or even a gold to pick up the gold accents around the room. We love the pink chairs, but it seems like all the color in the room is on one side.  Maybe adding a pink or turquoise accent pillow to the sofa would create more balance of color in the space.

Marmoleum is a type of floor covering that is manufactured for both residential and commercial use. It has been around for centuries but it has never been as popular as it is today because of the immediate call for saving our environment. Marmoleum is an organic combination of jute, rosin, wood flour and linseed oil. They are mixed and pressed together then dried in order to produce tiles or sheets.

In general, marmoleum floors are durable even though they are fairly soft and comfortable to the feet. It is not hard to maintain because it is very easy to clean and does not absorb spills, and stains. It is also anti-static therefore it does not attract dust making it the best floor material for people who have allergies and asthma.  Because of its linseed oil component, it oxidizes and kills germs giving it its anti-bacterial characteristic.

Marmoleum is actually a very versatile material. It is primarily used as a floor covering and is usually a substitute for the traditional linoleum used in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. Hospitals and schools usually choose this material due to its low maintenance and anti-bacterial properties. Marmoleum can also be used for countertops since it does not harbor germs and bacteria and is very easy to clean.

Most importantly, marmoleum is an eco-friendly material. Since it is made from all-natural products that grow back very fast, it is highly biodegradable and recyclable and does not have so much impact on ecology.

Beautify your home. Save your health. Save the earth.

Spanish Renaissance furniture is influenced by the Moors of North Africa, Italy and England.  This unique combination of North African and European influences sets Spanish Renaissance furniture apart from other Renaissance styles.  While influenced by Italian Renaissance furniture, Spanish Renaissance furniture is more bold and colorful.  The Northern African influences can be seen in the use of bright colors and patterns.

Rustic elements and less refined carving are typical of Spanish furniture. Popular woods include walnut, mahogany, chestnut, cedar and ebony. Polychrome and giltwood are common surface decorations, as is inlay.  Wrought iron is used for table bases, hinges, and decorative elements. Leather, tapestry fabric and nail head trim are common design elements.   Spanish furniture is substantial and imposing. Spanish Renaissance furniture and décor can be incorporated with Italian Renaissance pieces as they are formal.

Here is a glossary of useful terms for Spanish Renaissance furniture:

Armario:  A moveable cabinet similar to a small armoire.

Giltwood: Wood finished with layers of real gold.

Inlay: Pattern or design cut into wood. Inlay materials can be exotic woods, bone, ivory, or tortoiseshell.

Papalera: A wood cabinet with small drawers flanking a pair of doors. Provides a lot of storage, typically used for silver storage or correspondence. Often inlaid, giltwood or polychrome decorated.

Chest: Similar to the Italian cassone, carved and sometimes topped with a leather cushion for additional seating.

Polychrome: A multi-colored painted surface.

Vargueno: A wood lap desk with slanted, hinged top.  The interior has compartments for storage. Can also be displayed on a base.

Be sure to ask your Chateau Interiors designer to share more about Spanish styles.

Italian Renaissance furniture is a classic furniture style that is popular today for Tuscan inspired home décor.  Influenced by both Greek and Roman design, Italian Renaissance furniture is inspired by classic architecture as well as Islamic art.  Look for heavily carved and decorated pieces.  Antique Italian Renaissance pieces are typically made of oak, walnut and chestnut and decorated with acanthus leaves, scrolls, columns, urns, garlands, fruits and geometric designs.  Roman stone, marble, mosaics, and pietra dura can also be found on Italian Renaissance style furniture. Other design elements include marquetry and inlay.  Italian Renaissance furniture is substantial and adds drama to any room.

Acanthus: A leaf motif common to Renaissance and Classic furniture.

Cassone: A lidded, wood chest, similar to a blanket chest. Usually carved or decorated.

Credenza:  A low, wood cabinet featuring two doors enclosing shelves, can have a solid base or carved legs. Similar to a buffet or sideboard.

Inlay: Pattern or design cut into wood. Inlay materials can be exotic woods, bone, ivory, tortoiseshell or metal.

Marquetry: Decorative wood veneers applied to furniture in complex designs often featuring pastoral scenes or flowers.

Parquetry:  Decorative wood veneer applied to furniture in simple geometric pattern.

Pietra Dura: Marble or another type of stone inlaid with other stone, often precious stones or various types of marble.  Can be a geometric pattern or scenic.

Savonarola Chair: A wood arm chair with curved x-form base.  The arms form the top part of the X. Named for the Fifteenth Century Florentine Dominican Friar.

Be sure to ask your Chateau Interiors designer to share more about Italian styles.