Celebrate Spring With Some Amazing Art Nouveau Decor Tips

10 Ways To Bring This Style Into Your Home

Art Nouveau looks at the natural world and makes it something magical. It's the sweeping curves of a river or a branch bending in the breeze. It's the way light shines through the wings of a dragonfly or softly diffuses through flower petals.

This is all well and good, but the question comes in how do you bring that concept into your home? Fortunately, we're looking to do just that.

If you're looking to start by learning about art nouveau and you're still trying to decide if you're interested, look to the classics. These four artists worked in several fields and are prominent names in art nouveau. So they're a good starting point to learn more about what you like and what you don't.

Louis Majorelle 

Emile Galle

Hector Guimard 

Alphonse Mucha 

Use Asymmetrical Shapes

Although symmetry is often found in the natural world, asymmetry is also. Asymmetrical shapes reflect the motion in the natural world.

When we say asymmetrical shapes, we're talking about things that aren't balanced perfectly. That might be a couch that's higher on one side than the other, that might be having something that follows the shape of a leaf or a river. 

Arches and Curves

If you want a more delicate touch when bringing art nouveau into your home, consider where you can bring in curves and arches. Unlike some of the other options on this list, they don't have to be the central focus of your home. You can bring them in as quietly as you want. Whether that is having arches in your furniture or having them in the architectural details of a room, they are very subtle. 

You can bring in curves in the shapes of your rugs, headboards, mirrors, chairs, and even couches. Or you can get in touch with the DIY side and fake and arched doorway or ceiling.

Japanese Motifs

Japanese motifs were very much in style when art nouveau was being created. As the trade partnership with Japan first began to prosper in the early 1900s, people in Europe and America were fascinated. So art nouveau draws heavily on Japanese motifs. Whether you look at their fabrics, architecture, or art, Japan has historically been moved by details in the natural world. You should consider bringing in anything from artwork to fabrics to furniture to include as part of your home.

Stained Glass

Courtesy ofPatrice Soudier

Stained glass can be incorporated almost anywhere in the home today. You're no longer restricted by having to pay for giant pieces or even having them be just for windows. You can use them as decor around your home; you can use them as panels, they're even different ways that you can create faux stained glass yourself. Look to artists like Ernesto Basile and Alphonse Mucha for ideas and color palettes.

Ornamentation

Courtesy of Steve R

In many ways, art nouveau is a style devoted to excess. Art nouveau is not an austere style, unlike some of the others we've covered in the past. Furniture, decor and even just the walls within your home were all up for ornamentation. They can all be detailed with exotic woods, semi-precious stones, silver, and iridescent glass. When it comes to adding flair and your personality, there is no limit.

Parquet 

Parquet has long been seen as a mark of wealth and luxury. It's a type of wooden flooring that was made by arranging small slots of wood into distinct and repeated patterns. You used to have to lay down one piece at a time, very carefully fitting one to another. Modern parquet can come in tile form, where the wood slots are bonded to a backing. While some patterns were drawn from nature and done as repeating patterns similar to what you might find in textiles or tiles, others were more focused on shape and the natural flow of movement.

Wallpapers

Coming out of the Victorian age, wallpaper was still very popular in art nouveau design. Fortunately, modern wallpaper is much easier to create and apply and far less poisonous to your health. As we've mentioned in other posts late last year and early this year, peel-and-stick wallpaper is available in a wide variety of options, including the highly stylized flowers that are so prevalent in art nouveau. You can get them in a wide range of colors, from bold purples to soft sages. You don't even have to do the wall-to-wall look. Instead, you could make a feature wall or use wallpaper as the matting behind artwork in a gallery. You could even get creative and use it as a chair rail.

Carved Wood

Courtesy of Wolfgang Eckert

Using real wood in the home was seen differently than it is today. Instead, it was a way of bringing in the natural world as surely as using stone or clay. It was something to be carved and sculpted, and it blurred the line between what was a necessary part of the architecture of a home and what was decoration. Everything was fit to be carved, shaped, ornamented, or detailed, and very often, pieces would flow between the two distinctions of decor and architecture. You might find the mantle for a fireplace that would sweep down and be shaped into an alcove or nook for seating.

Metalwork

Courtesy of Alexandria

The undulating and organic forms of nature found love as part of the home and as decor ornamentation or furniture within the garden. You can bring the same to your home by looking for pieces that mimic your favorite aspects of nature or by finding an artist willing to create them for you. 

Tiles

Courtesy of Mabel Amber

Much like every other aspect of art nouveau, using tiles in the home was not seen as purely an architectural choice. Pieces would blend into decor and ornamentation and back again. You can achieve this look by using tiles as panels or ornamenting different furniture pieces.

You can also mix molded tiles, iridescent pieces, and metal tiles to create unique pieces around your home. 

Art Nouveau can be summed up by saying take the natural world and have your home reflect it without bringing the natural world into your home. 

What do you think? Is art nouveau for you? Whether you're looking to redo the whole of your home or bring in one or two pieces, let us know over on our Facebook.

If you wound up here not because you're looking to represent the elements in your home but instead because you want the elements of your stove to function, that's where our technicians come in. And Appliance rescue service, we're here for you. When you call us, we will work with you to find a time and date that works within your schedule to send out one of our technicians. Our dedication is to get your home running smoothly again. You can reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). 

Top Tips to Achieve Scandinavian Design In Your Home

 How To Make Your Home Look Like A Hygge Getaway

With winter coming in fast, many people are looking at the neat designs of places that have winters far more brutal than here in Texas. With that sort of idea in mind, we would like to bring your attention to the warmer and more cozy cousin of modern minimalism: Scandinavian design! Whether you’ve never heard of it, or you’re looking for tips to get started, this is the article for you. 

What is Scandinavian Design

Many people's first question is what is Scandinavian design and “where does it come from?” 

Scandinavia is made up of three European countries located far to the north: Norway, Denmark and Sweden. 

Scandinavian design comes from the fact that houses are usually on the smaller side, and people are stuck in their houses for long periods of time in winter. From these two facts it makes sense that the style consists of clean lines, and a lack of clutter  Functionality without sacrificing beauty is a key concept, because you're going to be staring at it quite a bit and there just isn't room for things if they don't serve a purpose. Scandinavian style also favors bright, airy spaces and a focus on nature, unlike it's stylistic cousin, minimalism, which is drawn more by darker colors and the division of spaces. A final important factor is texture. If something is soft, warm and fuzzy? It's probably a good fit for Scandinavian design. Think of things like faux fur carpets, thick plush blankets, and soft pillows. All things to keep you warm and cuddle up in after a long cold day. 

Courtesy of Teryn Elliott

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How To Achieve Scandinavian Design In Your Home 

Play with Natural Light

Because light is so limited that far north during the winter, it's especially important to find ways to make the most of it. So, play up the windows, bring in lamps that imitate natural light and make the most of the light you do have. It also means keeping your surroundings bright and possibly playing with mirrors to maximize light as it comes in. 

courtesy of Decorilla

Use Warm Wood

Warm woods like oak, and spruce, pine and birch  are great for this design style. All of them are light colored woods that add to the feel of both merging with nature and also keeping your space light and airy. 

courtesy of Decorilla

Light, Muted Colors Overall with Small Pops 

We keep talking about how long and dark the winters are and we're not done. In order to keep your home bright during the winter, Scandinavian style would have you paint your walls white and use mostly muted or soft colors to keep everything feeling cohesive. You can however make choices of natural brighter colors and incorporate those throughout, so long as they’re in small doses. 

Clean Lines

When it comes to furniture, light fixtures etc, go for things that are clean and natural lines. Overly complicated designs are not something that meshes with Scandinavian design . 

Think Cozy

As we mentioned up top, winter is long and miserable in Scandinavia. Even if winters are mild here in Texas, you can fudge this one a little and still get the look. Get accent carpets of faux fur. Get pillows and blankets that are wonderful to curl up with even on stormy days. Think of what cozy means to you and bring that in. 

Mix Textures

Building on the last one, use multiple textures in your decor. Bring in soft and silky, chunky knits and plush throws. Layering textures like this helps to add to the cozy atmosphere you're building.

Courtesy of Decorilla

Clutter Free Spaces

Although newer houses are being built larger, houses were typically built on the smaller side as it was easier to heat during the winter. A side effect of that meant that they didn't allow for excessive amounts of stuff. So you won't see much in the way of clutter in most Scandinavian homes. 

Greenery

To help bring life into the home, quite literally, plants are found in many Scandinavian homes, even in the depths of winter. 

And that’s a wrap! What do you think? Are you interested in bringing Scandinavian design into your home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

And as usual, if you didn’t wind up here because you’re looking for decor ideas, but because your appliances are malfunctioning, let us know! At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is getting your home running smoothly again, whether it’s your dryer or your oven that’s malfunctioning or your ice maker has decided to just stop working. You can reach out to us on our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). Wherever you are in the Dallas Metro Area, we’re here for you.

10 Tips For French Country Decor

How To Bring This Calming And Simple Decor Style To Your Home

Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "I wish I could travel to France?" Well, we can't help with the travel part, but we can help redecorate your home to look like it. Whether you are planning out changes for next year or looking to do some redecorating before the holidays, join us in taking a look at French country decor. 

Use Natural Light Wherever You Have It.

Photo courtesy of agata 822

Bringing in natural light is a part of what gives French Country the signature light and airy feeling, which means LOTS of windows and curtains. It’s a great thing if you can open your windows to let in the breeze. If you’re really devoted to the idea of this design, you could go so far as installing new windows that can be cranked open from the inside, giving you safety and a beautiful look. 

Keep Your Brick

Courtesy of Engin Akyurt

If you've got an interior brick wall in your home, keep it. It brings a vintage look to your home that not many modern homes have. This is a part of many French country homes, although it was because it was actually part of necessity at the time.   If you want, you could go so far as whitewashing it to lighten up the space. Whitewashing isn’t a difficult process and only needs to be done once a year. Fortunately, Home Depot has a nifty tutorial. 

Bring In Wood Countertops Where You Can

Courtesy of American Lumbermill

 Bringing in natural materials is a key concept for a French country home, be it cotton, linen, wicker, or wood. And it doesn't have to be just for the countertops in your kitchen or if you have a bar. These can be table tops this can be mantle pieces, or side tables. You can do it for shelving, there are all sorts of ways to work in that warm natural wood into your home. Even better, there's nothing that says you have to go and use just one type of wood. Pick a couple of tones that you like, and you can work them in around the home and throw in some white-washed wood as well to go and get that extra authentic appeal. 

Use All Of The Copper! 

Courtesy of Shon Flaherty

It used to be that copper was one of the cheapest metals you could use in your home. And then industrialization came, and we realized that copper as a whole just makes it look homier. Which is why if you're looking to imitate a French country home, bring in the copper. Door knobs, light fixtures, light plates, and cabinet handles. Don't be afraid to get creative with it, either. If you see somewhere that could use a bright pop of copper, do it! 

Save Your Cabinet Space, Hang Your Pots

Courtesy of David Marck

Let's talk about the kitchen specifically for a minute. Space is at a premium in the kitchen; why not hang your pots and pans? Hanging them above your kitchen island not only opens up your cabinets and makes it easier to find what you want when you want it, but it also adds to the rustic charm that we're going for throughout the house. (Especially if you don't have an induction stove and can use copper bottom ones.) 

Bring In The Green

Courtesy of Freshouz

Going right along with the wood tones and the creamy whites, and the coppers, bring some green into your home. Since the decor is all about the country, soft sage green or a bright spring green works well to tie you into your surroundings. It's also helpful for those days when it's grey and cloudy to keep your mood bright. 

Love The Look Of Arch Ceilings

 If you have a room that is high enough where you can embrace it do it. This can be faked in a multitude of different ways, from clever lighting and panels to paint. Or if you know that this is a design you love and you have the space to do it, bring in a professional. Have them actually redo the ceiling and utilize the roof space to give an arched ceiling. 

Courtesy of Archways and Ceilings

Bring In Your Plants

Courtesy of Pexels

We're not talking about a full greenhouse or replicating a jungle. But scattered here and there throughout the home, a few plants in every room. Not only does it literally and figuratively bring life to the room, but it also adds a certain lightness that is sorely needed. Plus, studies show that having more plants in your life helps with depression, and we are all for mood-boosting ‘plant children.’ 

Use Your Alcoves To Full Effect

Courtesy of real simple

If you have little nooks and crannies and depressions around your home, use them! Make them a focal point instead of something hidden. Use a backsplash, or if you're feeling sneaky, you can use peel-and-stick wallpaper and change it up on a regular basis. Use these nooks to highlight something that's special to you or just to highlight a particular pattern or color that you're enjoying this month or this season. If your home has these spaces, make the best use of them.

Mix Up Your Seating

As much as we adore huge overstuffed sofas and chairs you can curl up in all day, there are other options. Bringing in rattan and wicker chairs pulls more of the natural vibe throughout the home and offers beautifully unique furniture. Rattan and wicker don't have to be just for outdoor settings, either. You can use furniture with rattan back, or mix in wicker chairs throughout the living room, alongside the others you have. 

Courtesy of Fietzfotos

So? What do you think? Are you going to be doing a French country Christmas? Or is this just not for you? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

If you wound up here because you're needing help with your appliances, however, I'm not your decorating, we can still help. Reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). Appliance rescue service we want to get your home running smoothly again. We will work with you wherever you live in the Dallas metro area.

7 New Ways To Use Wallpaper At Home

We Know They’ll Change How You Look At It

You want to bring color and texture, light and pattern to your home, but you're not sure where to start. Well, the easy answer is to check out wallpapers. Thanks to many different new concepts in the field, we've got a ton of different patterns. You want Asian inspired papers? You've got it. You want something art deco? You can find that too. You want it to look like you're living in a jungle? You can get that too. Small prints, large prints, it doesn't matter. What's better is that there are now removeable papers so that if you end up deciding you don't like it, or you're renting, or you just want to redecorate, you can. The most important thing to keep in mind about wallpaper though? You don't just have to use it in large rooms like your grandparents did. Let's take a look at 7 ways you can bring wallpaper into your home. 

Make A Small Space Larger

So you've got a small powder room downstairs that's really just for guests. Maybe it's tucked under the stairs, and has a slanted ceiling. It's hard to bring light and color to a space like that, but wallpaper and a mirror can help. Bring in a bold design on the upper half of the room, or even along one wall and the slanted ceiling, and a mirror. Together the two of them will open up the space making it feel much larger. 

Image from Tempaper

Although we don’t get why this works, you can’t help but admit that it does. This oversized pattern makes the room feel much larger.

Paper The Ceiling

Image from Tempaper

The pattern in this one echoes the shape of the light fixture, but you don’t have to do it that way.

You were probably looking at us like we were crazy in the last one, right? Wallpaper the ceiling? It's actually a great thing for any room, not just smaller ones. If you're looking for something to bring in a pop of color and texture to a room, but you don't want it on one of the walls, the ceiling is a great way to add that in. Whether your room is large or small, you can make use of wallpaper to add some much-needed movement to a room. 

Light It Up! 

Not keen on the ceiling idea? How are you at crafts? You can use wallpaper to make your own origami lamp, to paper the outside of an old lampshade, or as a hidden touch on the inside on a shade. Any one of these would take no more than a day, and all of them add a pop of color to your home in an unexpected and very custom way. 

Use Small Patterns On Large Spaces

What if you've already got an amazing living room? You want to bring in some color but you don't want to take away from the rug or the wall art that you searched all over for. No worries! This is when you grab a coordinating pattern that's small in size. Using something that repeats the shapes in the room means that the paper will highlight those features instead of battling them. By keeping the pattern small, it fades into the background, just subtly reinforcing it, rather being an obvious and in-your-face attention grabber. 

Image from Tempaper

A small pattern of flowers on a green background, fades into the background allowing the curves of the room to be more prominent

DIY Wall Art

None of these working for you? What about some wall art? If you've got some wallpaper that you love, but you can't choose where to put it, one way to use it is as wall art, instead. This works best with a large pattern, but you can do it with anything, depending on how creative you can get. Start by figuring out how the pattern looks best. Is it a single panel that can fit on one long canvas? Would it be better if it was on multiple canvases? What about broken up on several smaller frames?  There's a bunch of different ways you can use wallpaper as art. We love taking one long panel, painting it and framing it. If you want an indepth tutorial, check out this example from Thrifty Decor Chick for a step-by-step guide. (We started to write our own for the examples above and realized that would be an entire post on its own!) 

Image from Tempaper

Framing your wallpaper like this allows you to have the best of both worlds, a gorgeous pattern that doubles as artwork.

Image from Tempaper

Or you could cut apart this panel, and frame the different peonies to look like a gallery wall.

Create Some Custom Trays For Your Home 

What about something entirely unique? You want wallpaper, but you don't want to spend a weekend covering the walls. You don't want to choose just one pattern either.  Alright then, what about making some custom trays? A good tray can be used anywhere in the home, whether it's on the dining table for corralling your napkins and seasonings for the meal, in the entryway for mail, or for when you're making up a quick meal for a day in bed.  So grab (or make) a tray of your own, and then decoupage a bit of wallpaper on the bottom of the tray, both the inside and underside. This way you can be constantly rotating out color in your home, without having to commit to any one pattern for long. We suggest using sample pieces for a project like this. 

Light Up Your Stairs

Images from Tempaper

Look at that amazing pattern! Those colors look amazing and they echo what you see in the pillows to the right.

What about the stairs? You go up and down your stairs so many times per day, why not bring some color in? In one day, or at most a weekend, you can bring in some color to your stairs and give that whole area some new life. Whether you choose a large pattern or a small one, it'll be entirely unique. We do recommend using removable wallpaper here though, both in case you get tired in the future and also so that when you need to inevitably replace a piece, you'll be able to do it much more easily. 

What do you think? Are you excited to dress up your home a bit? Are you going to start looking for sneaky ways to add additional color and design? Let us know over at our Facebook page, we'd love to hear (and see) what you get up to! 

What about those of you who aren't though? You wound up here not for decorating advice, but because you needed help with your appliances. Don't worry, we've got you covered. At Appliance Rescue Service, whether you're in Dallas or McKinney, Plano, or Allen, we've got your best interest at heart. We'll work on any of your major appliances, and work with you to make sure you know what happened to cause the current issue. If that sounds more like what you need, give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or go to our contact page to set up an appointment that works with your schedule. We're here to keep your home running smoothly.