Have you ever taken a ‘shelfie’?  You heard me right. Not a selfie—but a ‘shelfie’: that is, a snapshot of what lies within your bookshelves. In an article for CNN, David G. Allan claims that a ’shelfie,’ rather than a selfie, is a better representation of who you are, and our staff at ACD could not agree more. Often, the most dynamic part of a home is enclosed within its bookshelves: what books we have, what photos we display, and how we arrange them within these rectangular boxes defines who we are. Bookshelves display memories, they exhibit our values, and flaunt what we love to all who visit our home. Sometimes, however, designing the perfect bookshelves can be a tedious challenge: displaying the right collectibles and treasures, maintaining a color scheme, and orienting books, all while embodying your personal style is daunting.  Check out the beautiful bookshelves below to learn how to perfect your ‘shelfie.’

Like our unique personalities, not every bookshelf should look the same—confide in your artistic license and stray from the traditional concept of a bookshelf, like these light wooden shelves that seemingly float within the space, or this revolving Murphy door that opens to a hidden reading room.

You can still create a sleek and polished shelving space while incorporating flairs of your personality.  Bookshelves should be filled out with your favorite books, photos, collectibles and ‘chachkies,’ and even decorative plants.  Get creative! The key is to create a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing composition within your shelves.  Change the orientation of your books to create dynamic layering and intersperse personal objects among the shelves, but avoid overcrowding them.  Keep it clean.  White bookshelves are a classic, modern look, but integrating pops of color or even, if you’re feeling brave, brightly painted shelves, like these turquoise ones, radiate energy and personality.

Bringing a room’s color scheme into your bookshelves and their contents is an exceptional way to unify a space. As seen in the photos below, the placement of neutral accent pieces within the shelving structures complements the tones in the living space.  The planks of light wood used to separate the shelving structure perfectly accentuate the hardwood floors and wooden beam that stretches across the ceiling.  Vertical, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, an increasingly popular trend, expands a space and draws the eye upwards.  As seen in in the wooden built-ins below, ‘bookshelves’ do not need to necessarily house books. What may appear to be the skeleton of a traditional bookshelf can be used to maximize storage space or display artwork.

People often call eyes the windows to the soul.  In your home, those eyes are your bookshelves. They are one of the only spaces in interior design that have no barriers or limits to creativity. They are a skeleton for you to build upon with pieces to display the story of your life and what is important to you—your ‘shelfie.’

Film director and writer, Aaron Rose, once said that “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”  This could not be more true than in interior design.  Lighting design is one of the most strategic features when designing a home, and it begs to draw out the creative visionary in all of us.  Every space in a home, whether it be the kitchen, dining room, living room, or outdoor space, boasts its own character and style. Similarly, each facet of lighting, from its structure, material, and color scheme can interact with and accentuate these diverse spaces.  Through playing with the distinct ways that lighting casts shapes and shadows, you can create dynamic, illuminated spaces that are exclusive to your own home design. 

Landscape lighting is just as essential as the lighting within your walls.  The right light, in the right place, can beautifully highlight the architecture of your home and the plant-scape around it. Trees, shrubs, patios, and even walls, as seen below, can be transformed in to an eye-catching display. These contemporary, outdoor wall sconces are not only functional in guiding the eyes alongside the outside of the home, but also vertically extend the walls and cast powerful, unique shapes of light.  

This illuminated sphere, know as the Raimond, seemingly floats in this foyer.  With triangular shapes, LED lights, and transparent lenses, this futuristic lighting makes it possible to bring a starry sky of constellations into the ambiance of your own home. While the architectural appearance of the Raimond is striking, its powerful presence is balanced with LED lights that radiate a warm, inviting glow on the dark walls.  Large, suspended pendant lighting in a space like an entryway or foyer not only draws the eye upward, but leaves a breathtaking first impression. 

These are  some of our staff’s favorite modern lighting pieces, because they show how light can transform any home into an art museum!  Made of bronze, glass, and LED lights, these beautiful bangle-like accent lights prove how unique, inventive lighting can dominate a space.  Playful accent lighting like the sculptures below are not only versatile, but they are the perfect fixture to elevate and enhance a room through infusing a polished, elegant finish.

Who wouldn’t want to turn their kitchen into this rustic retreat with exposed wooden beams, white-washed brick, and weathered surfaces?  What makes this kitchen remodel so stunning is the industrial, copper chandelier suspended over the reclaimed, wooden dining table.  Selecting a lighting piece that accentuates the materials, textures, and colors around it, can create harmony within any space. Try an exposed bulb chandelier or a rustic copper lantern, like the ones seen below, to bring an industrial, yet intimate vibe to your home. 

Layered lighting is crucial in any space.  With a simple, yet sleek design, this brass floor lamp is a perfect example of task lighting that can be layered with ambient and accent lighting. This eye-catching floor lamp is adjustable, functional, light-weight, and ideal for curling up with a good book in the living or family room.  

These oversized dome pendant lighting fixtures are gorgeous. With their enormous size, they immediately draw the eye. The gleaming copper complements the Chevron hardwood floors and adds a powerful splash of color to the white-washed space. The exposed wire and chains in both setups give off a playful, yet sophisticated ambiance.  In home design you should experiment with size. Enlarged chandliers like the ones below not only give off great task lighting for over a desk or countertop, but also provide a natural centerpiece for any room. 

 

Temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer, and the Fourth of July is right around the corner.  On the most sweltering summer days, we all deserve an escape; a place to sit back, breathe, and enjoy the beauty of a summer night with family and friends, or simply have some ‘you time’.  We all need a summer oasis built into our home decor.  Although a dip in the pool amongst the Los Angeles hills is rejuvenating, not every outdoor oasis needs water. Through combining varied textures, integrating natural spaces, landscaping, and a splash of color, you can use some of our top design trends to create an airy and serene summertime oasis in the comfort of your own home.

Communal spaces are essential to any outdoor living space.  The outdoor patios below emulate the perfect combination between a contemporary, yet casual and comfortable entertainment space. Through combining textures like wood, cotton, and wrought iron in furniture, pebbles, polished concrete, and an exposed wood in outdoor materials, you can accomplish anything from a natural and organic vibe to a sleek and modern space. We love how all of these setups center around a fire pit or fire place, which bring a warm and inviting atmosphere to any outdoor get-together, while teak furniture provides an elegant, reclaimed finish. 

What would a sumner oasis be if it didn’t incorporate the nature around it?  Any outdoor entertainment space should integrate raw colors, textures, and structures to create a harmonious space.  The tradition of using trees in interior design dates back to Roman times, and their size, color, and structure can enhance a home.  As seen below, trees can be used to frame an outdoor space and can be complemented with other warm brown tones in furniture. In the photo below, a picture-perfect scene for a magical dinner under the starts, the wooden dining table is connected to the tree with elegant lanterns, which hang from picturesque branches, radiating a rustic, yet chic ambiance for outdoor entertaining.   Textured landscaping is also aesthetically pleasing in any outdoor getaway. Like the integration of wood, metal, white-washed organic seat cushions, and etched light pieces, below, the range in color and texture among landscaping complements the furniture and unifies this outdoor dining space.

It is in fact possible to be both indoors and outdoors at the same time with these beautiful indoor/outdoor spaces….and we love incorporating them in our home design!  This wall of steel windows and enormous sliding glass door lets you enjoy the fresh summer air while inside your home. The exterior vertical cladding coupled with the black framing creates a rustic, yet contemporary structure, reminiscent of a refurbished barn.  The incorporation of light pink flowers give off a softened, natural look.  Who wouldn’t want to bring this sizzling summer courtyard inside their own home?               

This white-washed summer breezeway is perfect for relaxing with your favorite novel and a glass of wine.  The hanging daybed suspended by braided rope tassels welcomes easy living. The exposed, white-washed brick patio contrasts with the vibrant foliage of summer completes this tropical open air cabana.  

This is one of the staff favorites: a Fire Island style boardwalk with a splash of deep ocean blue throw pillows on blue and white cabana-style seat cushions! This summertime version of the Barcelona Chair, originally designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929, completes this casual, yet sophisticated oasis. Why not do some fun things with your home design.

 

The days are getting longer and hotter, which can only mean one thing: Summer is here! I can’t wait to add colorful accessories and beach-y accents to my house and to my closet. Here are some of my summer essentials to keep you on trend for the season.

 

1. Walter.G, Rabari Denim Linen Cushions. https://walter-g.com/collections/cushions/products/rabari-denim-linen-cushion-35x55cm
2. Malibu Market & Design, Bali Teak Sofa. http://www.malibumarketdesign.com/store/sofas-outdoor/bali-l-shape-teak-sofa/
3. See By Chloe, Glyn Wedge Espadrilles.  https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524447048452&R=8051404266297&P_name=See+by+Chlo%26%23233%3B&Ntt=glyn+leather+%26+frayed+canvas+espadrille+wedge+platform+sandals&N=0&bmUID=mf.k.4u
4. Malibu Market & Design, Zero Fire Pit.  http://www.malibumarketdesign.com/store/firepits/zero-fireplace/
5. Amazon, Flamingo Pool Float.  https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Flamingo-Pool-Float-Raft/dp/B06XCJQL53/ref=sr_1_71?ie=UTF8&qid=1529102683&sr=8-71&keywords=flamingo+pool+float
6. The Beach People, Round Beach Towel.  https://www.neimanmarcus.com/The-Beach-People-Mirage-Roundie-Beach-Towel/
7. Clare V, Alice Maison Tote Bag. https://www.shopbop.com/alice-maison-tote-clare-v/vp/v=1/1584333204.htm?currencyCode=USD&extid=SE_froogle_SC_usa&cvosrc=cse.google.CLARE20577&cvo_campaign=SB_Google_USD&ef_id=WyREfwAABLg140Vw:20180615225807:s
8. Ingrid Beddoes, I love the Sea, Art Print.  https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/ingrid-beddoes-i-love-the-sea-art-print?category=wall-art&color=095&quantity=1&size=30X40&type=REGULAR

I know there are a thousand blogs on what the best mother’s day gift is ….or what to get the mom who………..fill in the blank……the new mom, the exercise freak mom, the spa-lover, the avid-reader mom, the mom who is pulling her hair out, or the mom who just wants to see her children…

But what about the Mom that loves her home….

We have come up with a few things that she can look at everyday as she walks through her house and remember who her favorite child is.

 

1. Mimicking exterior features

Well you knew it had to transcend the exterior of the house. We just love steel framed doors so why not have them in a room where you spend a lot of time. The shower.

 

2. Wallpaper

Wallpaper is everywhere… Especially in places that your guests will see. i.e. Powder bathrooms.

 

3. Traditional

Is traditional coming back? Black and white tile is ever present. In mosaics and especially graphic tiles. 

 

4. Combining looks from different periods

The mixture of materials. Here you see elegant marble which has existed  since the Renaissance, and a wall of mid-century modern tile, which comes together seamlessly.

 

5. Rustic

We love how the wood framed mirrors and other wooden accents give this bathroom warmth and an overall rustic feel. 

 

6. Minimalism

A minimalist vanity with wall mounted faucets are showing up everywhere. No drawers and no clutter. We love the built in shelves. 

 

7. Moody Colors

Bathrooms don’t have to be all white. Deep, rich colors with unusual marbles or stone are going to become more and more popular this spring. 

 

8. Pendants over Sconces

One of our most popular photos on IG. The bathroom that uses many materials and styles. This bathroom features marble, concrete, and lots of reclaimed wood (which is showing up all over the house), and uses ceiling pendants rather than sconces.