Thursday, August 20, 2009

Stylish Storage & Display Solutions

I'm always looking for new ways to store things in the one-bedroom apartment my husband and I share. Instead of stuffing things away into a closet or behind closed doors, there are endless ways to creatively display your things with open storage. Here are some inspirational ideas and tips I found via Home & Gardens...

Interesting objects grouped together create an eclectic display. The bold blue creates a striking backdrop and the mirror creates a sense of space.

"Use shelves displaying a carefully balanced collection of treasures to create symmetry. Wallpaper, Josette in Charcoal/Duck Egg, Laura Ashley. Paint on shelves, Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball."

"Botanical-style painted china looks beautiful displayed against this sketchy wallpaper design and creates a vintage look with a subtle contemporary edge. Wallpaper from the Cecil Beaton fabric collection at Beaudesert, plates from a selection at Vessel and Laura Ashley."

"Use an eye-catching wallpaper behind shelving to instantly update a cupboard and add a decorative flourish. Calligraphy wallpaper from Lewis & Wood."

"In the corner of the room, stack up rattan baskets to keep odds and ends in one place. Displaying accessories in luminous shades will add contrast and texture, and create an eye-catching area. The baskets are from Mikkelsen."

"A large painted dining table, with intimate, low-level lighting overhead and casual bistro-style chairs, forms the focal point of the kitchen. Vintage dining table, Castle Gibson, chairs, The French House."

"White china is often difficult to display. Here, the green wall offsets the pieces beautifully, while the rusted metal shelving adds a contemporary look. Etno shelving unit, The Conran Shop."

"Sheets of mirrored glass can be placed behind shelving to add depth a interest to a room. For alcove shelving the wall must be totally flat. Glass inserts from Preedy Glass, bookshelf from IKEA."

"Applying a strip of colour to a single wall, a section of wall or the whole room will help with the choice of bedlinen and other soft furnishings."

"Antique china stacked in a distressed cupboard along with seashore finds creates a relaxed, maritime feel. An over-sized floral pint wallpaper keeps the look modern and feminine."

"A minimalist kitchen needs plenty of storage space to keep surfaces clean and streamlined. Integrated cupboards with sliding doors offer floor-to-ceiling storage and makes the most of awkward spaces."

PHOTO & SOME OF TEXT CREDITS: HOMES & GARDENS

8 comments:

  1. love the wallpaper behind the shelf, as well as the white china against the green wall. all great ideas!

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  2. thank you for sharing!
    I love the wallpaper pieces and also the green wall with black shelves.
    My favorite is the armoire. i wish i had room in my bedroom for a piece like that!

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  3. wonderful pictures and great ideas julie! love the colours in the five first photos; esp. the first. and how i wish i could have a kitchen like the one in the sixth photo...
    trudi (formerly the deco detective!)

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  4. Lovely! The green and white room is perfection!

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  5. So many beautiful and clever ideas here! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Love your inspiration. I twittered a link to your blog - a great new find for me! I'll enjoy reading your insights.

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  7. I am glad that my wife loves arts and crafts, and DIY makeover. This is because she has recently bought some storage cabinets for the kids’ rooms, but these were not in good condition. But because of her penchant for DIY, she was able to do a makeover of these, and my kids love their new storage cabinets.

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