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Home Design Ideas - Recommend me some sites and accounts?

UmmLila (Lisa)

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I couldn't gaze into the recesses of my soul long enough to do an annual fashion and style check-in on myself. I got about as far as deciding that I need more patterned items and that I shop online too much. So I decided to watch Spanish movies and crochet, and gave myself a rotator cuff injury from excessive work on a very large ombre pink and purple afghan.

I went through a 50 percent downsize into a rental about 7 months ago. Now I bought a place that's 2000 s.f. and I am determined to make it into a jewel box of a home. I am going to carry over most of the vibrant color scheme I implemented in the rental, with some adjustments for matching a nice kitchen that I don't want to renovate.

Right now I'm thinking about the built in ceiling fixtures in the house, and I need some ideas. I hate what I have learned are called "nipple" light fixtures. I also hate ceiling fans. I've been looking at various lighting stores (e.g. Lumens) on the web, but there are so many choices and it's difficult to assess quality. The stuff from China especially seems to have a high likelihood of being made out of plastic and aluminum foil.

I also want to do a closet and master bathroom renovation.

Anyway, do any of you have recommendations not for shopping per se but of home design and decor sites, bloggers, pinterest or instagram accounts?

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22 replies

Latest reply was from CarolS

Janet

(website)

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Do you use Houzz? I do find inspiration and sources there. My taste runs much toward clean and contemporary so I’m partial to sites and resources that focus on that. I like that you can search Houzz with specific keywords.

Anonymous

I second Houzz. Spent *hours* on it when we built our home and when we finished our basement this summer.

Helena

Veteran

Sarah Richardson is a Canadian designer that uses lots of fresh, pretty colours like you are showing ... Her Instagram is: https://instagram.com/sarahric.....=copy_link

kkards

Veteran

I love Houzz, but sometimes it’s just got to much
if you like traditional, with a lot of old world feelings, I find this blog very inspirational.

https://habituallychic.luxury

CarolS

Veteran

I second Sarah Richardson -- she's an incredible talent. You might also want to check out Maria Killam and Laurel Bern. Maria espouses formulas for timeless interiors. Laurel, who is based in Boston, is a wealth of design knowledge and very fun to read!

Anonymous

I love browsing UK design mags because they use colour and texture in a way that North American designers don't. It's slightly OTT, but so glamorous and jewel-boxy. Livingetc is one of my favourites. Like come on, who wouldn't want this living room ?? (just for example) . The UK House Beautiful is good too, as is Vogue Living.

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SW Ann

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For color as well as some design ideas, I like Maria Killam--her expertise is on tone and color, but shows great photos for design, as well....

rachylou

Veteran

I love the magazines Elle Decor for inspiration (often colourful) and Milieu for more subdued and tasteful ideas.

I also love Sarah Richardson. I’d call her contemporary classic, which isn’t very me, but she tells you what to think about and knows how to put things together.

Laurie

Veteran

Maria Killam's site is where I found Angie 10 yrs ago! We were doing home renovation and a friend recommended Colour Me Happy. It happened to be the day Maria posted on her recent shopping outing with Angie, and the rest is history!

NancyW

Veteran

I found Angie through Maria Killam too! I used one of her e-design packages for wall colors in my somewhat open design home. Also books and Instagram by Jeffrey Bilhuber. Lots of color and texture, yet also inviting. Reminds me of the photo LisaP posted.

CarolS

Veteran

LOL -- I discovered Angie through Maria, too!

SarahD8

Veteran

Instagrammers with a similar aesthetic to the pic Lisa posted are @emeraldterrace and @prettylittleterrace - both UK based. They’re both pretty popular I think so if you follow them the algorithm will lead you down the jewel box rabbit hole.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We are currently planning a big loft remodel too. We are very taken with Leicht - if you like clean Euro and Scandi design that can be the base look for whatever you want. We have been to the showroom in Seattle and have seen our neighbours use them VERY successfully. I follow all their sites on Instagram! Very inspired

Ginger

Veteran

I second CarolS's recommendation of Laurel Bern. I've been reading her blog for years, and there's a ton of good information when using the search function. Good lighting is one of her passions, and she has written many posts on it. Here's a very recent one:

https://laurelberninteriors.co.....olks-make/

nemosmom

Veteran

I find designers with a style I like, and look for their social media or websites (or even google old interviews with them). It’s tedious at times, but I find it really helpful.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

how exciting!

lol Early on we removed a "boob light" from our dining room and replaced it with a more period appropriate vintage Louise Poulsen PH5 lamp (our house is mid-century1955) ...so much better!

I like Houzz, Dwell, Elle Decor and Vogue. Lots of interesting links on the IG posts. So many lighting options available, Once you set a budget and style it will help narrow down a lot. We have some lights from Rejuvenation and the quality is super. We also ordered from Lightology with sucess.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m a magazine person, and like LisaP go for the UK editions I also like a Canadian magazine called Canadian House and Home. FWIW something called ‘British Revival’ is listed #1 of 5 top trends for 2022 (followed by 2. Gallery, 3. Mid-century reboot, 4. American Craft, and 5. Soulfully Minimal.)

Congratulations on the new house! Have fun making it into your home.

gryffin

Veteran

Hi Ummlila - we did, well basically a whole house renovation, about 15 yr ago. Although we worked with a contractor and designer, we did a ton of planning ourselves. I read all of the Sarah Susanka books prior. Although she has a completely different aesthetic the actual principles were excellent. Particularly, closed and built in storage. She has a lot of info on lighting (more on this in a bit). I recommend all of them but her first is, IMHO, a must! She references Chris Alexanders book, A Pattern Language. Although I did not know if this was going to be helpful, I personally found the information invaluable. Especially on creating a sequence of spaces from public to private. Lauri Ward, best books on furniture placement, room balance and design ever. I have a long narrow family room with fireplace and framed archways on 2 sides and she helped me figure out how to floor plan. Same a sitting room on my second floor which has two entrances a wall of closets and one of windows - difficult but it worked brilliantly. On lighting and see LW and SS, you need ceiling lighting! I personally have a combination of chandaliers (vintage shops have incredible and interesting buys. Wall sconces - I have a ton. Never forget mirrors to reflect natural lighting and you put a sconce on either side, You've got a lot of light. We ripped out ceilings and put in high hats, we like over lit rooms on dimmers. Lots of lamps but I personally have more antique sconces than lamps. Torchere's give very little lighting, although uplighting plants can be pretty and give ambient lighting. I even have small chandaliers in closets, so pretty. The Domain Book of home design (did anyone shop their, they were glorious, I cry that they are no more) the most beautiful design book. On their quiz, I'm a visionary, I create shrines. Layered bookcases, breakfronts filled with china and serving pieces, antiques, gilt, ormolu, bronze doree, Louis XV and Louis XVI repros - you get the drift. But they work in all styles and I found these most helpful. GL!! So exciting! Congrats!!!

The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live

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The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design: How to Decorate Using Your Personality Type

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A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

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Use What You Have Decorating

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Downsizing Your Home with Style: Living Well In a Smaller Space

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Trade Secrets From Use What You Have Decorating

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Home Therapy: Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers

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cat2

Veteran

For a more transitional look, I like House Beautiful and Veranda. I also loathe boob lights, and found dependable quality pieces at Restoration Hardware- their “Apartment” size pieces fit in our normal suburban home.

CarolS

Veteran

Gryffin - how exciting to find someone else who loves A Pattern Language! Light on two sides was a revelation to me, and the concepts about protected outdoor spaces and side yards. It all resonated with me so strongly, and goes so counter to how many do today's homes are designed.

gryffin

Veteran

Carol - Yes!! I have framed archways and get light from 3 directions. A skylight in the second floor ceiling. When we added a sunroom I made sure I have the sightlines and light from as many angles as positive. Positive space, we did our backyard renovation and retaining walls and decks on that principle to excellent effect and it worked brilliants. Also SS shelter away from activity, changing ceiling heights (for us over window seats). Just the sequence of spaces section - I varied furnishings from Louis VXI angular to Louis VX curvaceous with more throw cushions dropped down to rattan, curvaceous rustic and formal elements in the sunroom. I found this so illuminating in teaching me the principles I needed to get the effect that I so wanted. Yes, it's amazing how these elements are not discussed by designers or architects. A crying shame but thank god this info is available and we can learn and advocate for what we want!!

CarolS

Veteran

YES!!!