Modern Country Living Room

Having recently blogged about modern country kitchens, I thought you may like to join me on a little journey through the home while I share more inspiration with you. So, next up, the living room.

To create a modern country living room you need to try and balance the original features and traditional with clean lines and modern finishes.

Try combining textures and pattern, wood, wicker, leather, cotton...florals, stripes, checks with a muted colour pallet. To keep it modern, don't try to use every pattern and texture, the same with colour, use complementary colours or restrict your pallet and use different tones of the same colour instead of contrasting colours. Keep it simple and elegant.

Ensure you're mixing luxury fabrics with the traditional, silks and suedes with cotton. Use contemporary patterns alongside a ticking stripe. Combine modern finishes against classics. Clean lines against the original brick fireplace and beams, if you're lucky enough to have them.

Here's a little inspiration to help you get the idea... https://lauraadkininteriors.wordpress.com/

Images: Pinterest

If you would like more advice on creating a modern country home, perhaps help with mood boards or sourcing products, you can contact me at laura@lauraadkininteriors.com

Lighting

Happy New Year!

Don't you find your home looking a little sad once Christmas has finished, the tree removed for another year and all the lights packed away?

Well, I'm certainly feeling it! So, I have a plan.

Before Christmas, our living room was coming together but one element that is not complete, is the lighting.

*Tip. Every room should have different layers of lighting. There are three main types: ambient, task and accent lighting and you want a mixture of all these sources within a room, how many light sources within one room will be determined by the size of the room itself.

Not only does our room need additional lighting layers but I need a feature piece. I've been searching for something that ticks all my boxes and thought i'd share some great finds with you all.

Neptune

Porta Romana

Next

Andrew Martin

Next

If you would like to know more about lighting sources, require some helpful hints and tips you can contact me at laura@lauraadkininteriors.com

Lets catch up?

Shall we have a quick catch up before I pick up my paintbrush again? Lets start with the cottage;

 Living room, more finishing touches arrive with flowers, the orange really sets off the Oval Room Blue paint and new door knobs for an old chest of drawers - I love this piece of furniture and mixing old with new, it just gives it something extra doesn't it?

 The office! FINISHED! Last weekend we found 'the' chair, adorned with cosy throws for the winter, completed with a squirrel cushion and Bobby Cat waited no more than five minutes to settle down - not sure I'll ever sit here and read? In fact, he's curled up there this second while I type away and the bookcase, organised with books in order - feeling very satisfied right now.

Downstairs toilet, one pokey little space which initially felt like a public toilet - finished. This one took a 'teeny tiny' bit of convincing with husband but he soon came to his senses. We've gone bold and made a statement with Farrow and Ball Downpipe, it's classy, it feels bigger (you better believe it) and finished off with walnut mirrors and a Jane Churchill wallpaper! Perhaps I'll share some before and afters soon so you can see the transformation.

Swiftly moving on, husbands been working away since last week so I've busied myself with painting (so much painting), hanging mirrors, baking, pruning the garden, flower arranging - that sort of thing.

All Images: Dream Box Interior Design

And, then there was the small matter of the Farrow and Ball *NEW* colour launch, champagne, canapés and colour - what more could an interior designer want? But, I've got a whole post for you so until then..............

Rugs: Inspiration

During my sourcing I came across some great rugs but they weren't suitable for my room; Black and white chevrons and stripes are very on trend at the moment and I love them but I needed something with colour to lift the space, so the hunt continued. But, here are some of my favourites rugs, perhaps you'll find some inspiration..........

1. The Rug Company, Haveli Chevron Blue Rug

2. The Rug Company, Haveli Chevron Black Rug

3. Ikea, Blue & White Stripes Rug

4. The Rug Company, Africa by Suzanne Sharp

5. John Lewis, Trek Rug

6. Urban Outfitters, Bauhaus Rug

How to design a room with a TV

Incorporating a TV into an interior design scheme is not always easy and sometimes we all need a little inspiration. Is it me or has anyone else noticed that a large proportion of magazines and websites do not feature rooms with a TV making inspiration hard to come by. Admittedly, they are not always stylish and can shatter the illusion of a beautifully styled home and throw the balance of a room but I like nothing more than settling down with a good film at the end of a long day/week. So there must be a compromise?

For me it is not realistic to have a room without a TV, on one hand I think that a seperate TV room would be ideal but on the other I love the relaxed atmosphere of watching TV in the living room, I do not want our living/family room to be formal. I am sure plenty of you feel the same. We also do not all have the option to have a dedicated TV room so, with this in mind I wanted to share with you some inspiring images which incorporate a TV and remain stylish whether country, modern, classic, luxury or contemporary is your choice of style.

This is the route I am going to be taking in my own home to remain loyal to my original Victorian features, personally I do not feel it right to hang a TV on the wall here and would like something more sympathetic so will be taking a less bold approach with shelving above the TV so it almost disappears with the books and vignettes.

 For those of you who want to completely conceal the TV, here are some great options; TV hidden behind a mirror, a bespoke storage unit which can be pulled back to reveal/disguise the TV or my favourite, the mirror TV. When switched off, the TV appears as a wall mounted mirror - These can incorporate all the current technology including 3D and many companies offer a number of sizes to suit your requirements - I love these but your bank account may not feel the same!

Alternatively, a solution which works well in the more contemporary home, a Wall hung TV which has been sunk into the wall to create a super sleek and stylish finish.

I hope this has given you some inspiration on how to fit a TV into your home and work with your design rather than the TV stealing the show!

Images: Pinterest, Magic Mirror, House to Home