Are you a design rebel?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfox7fiOfh4fYbSZbOIsq3YAcpeKDvxI9kDLahyphenhypheneF23L_wm6vAH5Ubt76YA1JtdW5G4UQcE6B-DgFQ2XW0V4Ry1mMcrG_uyqYhONDlZ4aESOX-C-kjSugPDlKnq7POjMD_RKaVLjlSSa9S/s1600/antique+with+modern+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>What's your first instinct if someone tells says you shouldn't do something?<br /><br />Do you automatically want to do it?  I do!  <br /><br /> Most people would agree that there are rules/guidelines in interior design. They impact decisions about all sorts of things,  e.g.,  hanging lights, choosing the right scale furniture, selecting colour schemes, etc.   I guess following them is a little like following a recipe - you get a predictable result. Someone else has done all the thinking for you which makes it easy but, you also get a very generic looking space where everything looks controlled.<br /><br /> I always think about those generic spaces  as the "Pinterest look" . You know  the rooms, all  beautifully organized, cutely accessorized with whatever is trendy at the time, and perfectly matched.   Does that make them wrong?  Definitely not.  I firmly believe we should all live in spaces that make us happy and comfortable.   What I am saying is that there are options in design that produce interesting, one of a kind spaces that are  usually achieved by playing around with design elements and principles. They are not for everyone.<br /><br /> Take the room below.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, scale, " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuvZWghZksjB255e-BP8djjG_ZiGIuU3G81h59YvY8ZlufAFTmxSvQNYfyDL0_PYgDPRMh-CRI5nmDysE2Rz7qiICV4xS3NLCFwN5-vqLXSfpriqAAPNk9DsgnhimK84lhHl1nZh4e4E_/s1600/breaking+design+rules.jpg" title="Designing Home: Are you a design rebel?" width="303" /></div><a href="http://www.greigedesignblog.com/2014/09/modern-wine-country.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a><br /><br />  Have a close look at this space  and decide what you like or don't like about it.  Check out my thoughts  at the end of this post. There are no right or wrong answers.<br /><br /> How closely you adhere to rules is dependent on what results you want to achieve, how well you understand the elements/ principles  of design,  and how creative you are at applying them.  You can do anything in decorating, you just need to act bravely, and figure out how to pull it off.  But, before you can break the rules you have to know them. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Can you spot which  rules/guidelines were  thrown to the four winds in these rooms? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, mixing styles, modern and traditional," border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfox7fiOfh4fYbSZbOIsq3YAcpeKDvxI9kDLahyphenhypheneF23L_wm6vAH5Ubt76YA1JtdW5G4UQcE6B-DgFQ2XW0V4Ry1mMcrG_uyqYhONDlZ4aESOX-C-kjSugPDlKnq7POjMD_RKaVLjlSSa9S/s1600/antique+with+modern+art.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="302" /></div><a href="http://www.southshoredecoratingblog.com/2014/03/weekend-roomspiration-9.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> source</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, mixing styles, modern, traditional" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrIQ9tqGJBCzUmtN6S6lFV1P6ldORVm4Vdth9uI9Jx6sCzNcqWpMxDG9iyCBWuelnk-Eewv70DHUQLpjNyovotW3SQbozKnJJXPrn5srxDju4TtIB6QVx1r4cauggDx-L_y3378DseA3E/s1600/modern+kitchen+antique+furniture.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="300" /></div><a href="http://www.remodelista.com/posts/10-stellar-scandinavian-kitchens"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>2. </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jiRElRDWkm0JIws6lU6HGKchD7Es7wMW7TPeQnKS9N_PR3thW_hQszM621J4US_30hAmUB3Us6cPqSwHvSQ5LVaAMlJamaQ-KwHK1eFsoXw2pOleSSgnnvpPTSBi2NGXxNugwZIEqsr1/s1600/breaking-design-rules-mixed-metals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" mixing metals, breaking design rules" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jiRElRDWkm0JIws6lU6HGKchD7Es7wMW7TPeQnKS9N_PR3thW_hQszM621J4US_30hAmUB3Us6cPqSwHvSQ5LVaAMlJamaQ-KwHK1eFsoXw2pOleSSgnnvpPTSBi2NGXxNugwZIEqsr1/s1600/breaking-design-rules-mixed-metals.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="300" /></a></div><a href="http://dwellerswithoutdecorators.blogspot.ca/2010_03_01_archive.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="mixing metals, breaking design rules" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0kB70aTI9rYkUwme_l8w15R-FRvGXKTaaxB-JpyoB7DkFZCC9t2vUI4pualgkcx1nSA78WUfnZxsedH0jbn3SJqbG7MT3vZcqlNc67FZPjPo2ian39z1JkT-X2aw_JKI7fvYRrvnH8Co/s1600/mixing+metals.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="300" /></div><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/home-makeovers/silverleaf-sideboard#slide-2"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a><br /><br /><b> 3.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj923oDL5gAfqPwMJ1K-_qlUfK0uRY5bAXB1rmuQt6XeIGEqwFTokfL0o8snEBg0QO8j6cinQUc26ahNAZu_smXNi5E23ibQwITrWHpFbdqmOIL3AJ2n33h7osDVLl5U-U5X60nOLVPnAlP/s1600/design-+rules-+scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, scale, accessories" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj923oDL5gAfqPwMJ1K-_qlUfK0uRY5bAXB1rmuQt6XeIGEqwFTokfL0o8snEBg0QO8j6cinQUc26ahNAZu_smXNi5E23ibQwITrWHpFbdqmOIL3AJ2n33h7osDVLl5U-U5X60nOLVPnAlP/s1600/design-+rules-+scale.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="265" /></a></div><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/be-a-design-rebel-4-design-rules-you-should-totally-break-206974?crlt.pid=camp.ICL83fv4o1R0"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> source</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, scale" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrEWnqgZXuMW2paGSfBSF5Wv8V4Z7KbpBaFHRsGFkbswPufohPP-tdEJIrIEWDANs0Dm_MrK6uQyP065ghxSILO5M9zF8rFGH4j2OGKWqrgjjdomkbSVRNQ66jCvnXwTa2sWgIO7-pBb7/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="296" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrIQ9tqGJBCzUmtN6S6lFV1P6ldORVm4Vdth9uI9Jx6sCzNcqWpMxDG9iyCBWuelnk-Eewv70DHUQLpjNyovotW3SQbozKnJJXPrn5srxDju4TtIB6QVx1r4cauggDx-L_y3378DseA3E/s1600/modern+kitchen+antique+furniture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.homeadore.com/2012/12/07/circolo-dellostrica-claudia-pelizzari/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><br /><b>4. </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrcnO9a75mhBfslZcjLX7JOLN8MlJJWFOt_iO2wVHUfnbYn9ksuV1d6kYGyugXTl2eblVr8CPkAQa5Zi1HFa7Uh9q3NDIkx7wp4HPZpvq3vABPvdXOaBd2xtqGXGrd6Tpkjklw_txlDbT/s1600/design+rules+pop+of+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, monochromatic schemes, neutral schemes" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrcnO9a75mhBfslZcjLX7JOLN8MlJJWFOt_iO2wVHUfnbYn9ksuV1d6kYGyugXTl2eblVr8CPkAQa5Zi1HFa7Uh9q3NDIkx7wp4HPZpvq3vABPvdXOaBd2xtqGXGrd6Tpkjklw_txlDbT/s1600/design+rules+pop+of+colour.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/easy-decorating/room-design-ideas"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> source</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, neutral spaces, monochromatic schemes" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5QPDtwL4iYZOJBgCqnpO06VUZLGcC9cP2k8r-GQsvb-Y3BIRKxsfOZjkmshNz-5XEG4O8FWYD8hBfGLyAfw_dIa5lollKFkpU0Z16gXmbdKjnDtVb4SFt9WZorM54AC07yjL7oRt7M3c/s1600/kelly-hoppen-+colour.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="400" /></div><br /><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kellyhoppen/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a><br /><br /><b>5.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTN_hgjq1D4V6AYr1N6RpNikaJ-Z3uDlx0moZd4KWOe2s0hdK-xcx9TsM0-gB3m0nZSWzVvYBBu8KdAFWHYS9LCgxSwxHCGomTjb2htogq7d2L0FtxJqeRrJD8_3F0kRc90DYujKZDU22/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, mixing wood tones," border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTN_hgjq1D4V6AYr1N6RpNikaJ-Z3uDlx0moZd4KWOe2s0hdK-xcx9TsM0-gB3m0nZSWzVvYBBu8KdAFWHYS9LCgxSwxHCGomTjb2htogq7d2L0FtxJqeRrJD8_3F0kRc90DYujKZDU22/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones-2.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="308" /></a></div><a href="http://danawolterinteriors.com/"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5QPDtwL4iYZOJBgCqnpO06VUZLGcC9cP2k8r-GQsvb-Y3BIRKxsfOZjkmshNz-5XEG4O8FWYD8hBfGLyAfw_dIa5lollKFkpU0Z16gXmbdKjnDtVb4SFt9WZorM54AC07yjL7oRt7M3c/s1600/kelly-hoppen-+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="breaking design rules, mixing wood tones" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn3PddjlRIdFPSsWIbYfydzO1cv4quoY6JAy3GoXEe1DzSXQ7fAEIDPuCJ0ggt69KD4qCKeFo3fuMhIjne3BGvMRYLY06HS3MRCqTunyfs3mzUYHMePX4BBZfPJe5eTYlLGtsZe2Hv8xb/s1600/mixing+wood+tones+kitchen.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="298" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNonDqDOGiqYf-kcqh3ePO9hCW3SqSkYx5oCZ8hho725xb1CEyTHxgdl5r9JpiyMRrBnmSrE6iHV2xoakITvcmTeBbcUW82kttmZcr3mZKHC9MqjESyvEsHc3uatfx8jSx-h84iRwZLJc/s1600/design-rules-small-spaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, dark walls, small spaces" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNonDqDOGiqYf-kcqh3ePO9hCW3SqSkYx5oCZ8hho725xb1CEyTHxgdl5r9JpiyMRrBnmSrE6iHV2xoakITvcmTeBbcUW82kttmZcr3mZKHC9MqjESyvEsHc3uatfx8jSx-h84iRwZLJc/s1600/design-rules-small-spaces.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="312" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.paperblog.com/dark-colors-in-small-spaces-346878/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn3PddjlRIdFPSsWIbYfydzO1cv4quoY6JAy3GoXEe1DzSXQ7fAEIDPuCJ0ggt69KD4qCKeFo3fuMhIjne3BGvMRYLY06HS3MRCqTunyfs3mzUYHMePX4BBZfPJe5eTYlLGtsZe2Hv8xb/s1600/mixing+wood+tones+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha98rvW6RyRya9FfdUrbcr6gwl49CvwHGNfL3uC-UxUgkSbpZ7eoowN6uDhVaIMRtuwnl1gXxYsyv_qBGa4pxvh657zBAL_4o0bDUn3_9FVU0z6Tk-_Q76UMJ3_0S1_XHTV5zO-9sSkbEu/s1600/small-space-bright-palette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, small spaces, bright colours" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha98rvW6RyRya9FfdUrbcr6gwl49CvwHGNfL3uC-UxUgkSbpZ7eoowN6uDhVaIMRtuwnl1gXxYsyv_qBGa4pxvh657zBAL_4o0bDUn3_9FVU0z6Tk-_Q76UMJ3_0S1_XHTV5zO-9sSkbEu/s1600/small-space-bright-palette.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.countryliving.com/homes/house-tours/cotton-blankets#slide-7">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the results:  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="breaking design rules, mixing styles, modern and traditional," border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfox7fiOfh4fYbSZbOIsq3YAcpeKDvxI9kDLahyphenhypheneF23L_wm6vAH5Ubt76YA1JtdW5G4UQcE6B-DgFQ2XW0V4Ry1mMcrG_uyqYhONDlZ4aESOX-C-kjSugPDlKnq7POjMD_RKaVLjlSSa9S/s1600/antique+with+modern+art.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="151" />  <img alt="breaking design rules, mixing styles, modern, traditional" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrIQ9tqGJBCzUmtN6S6lFV1P6ldORVm4Vdth9uI9Jx6sCzNcqWpMxDG9iyCBWuelnk-Eewv70DHUQLpjNyovotW3SQbozKnJJXPrn5srxDju4TtIB6QVx1r4cauggDx-L_y3378DseA3E/s1600/modern+kitchen+antique+furniture.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="150" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1. Stick to one style </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These spaces show that when you mix traditional and modern the juxtaposition draws attention to both.  If only one style was used the various elements would be lost in their sameness. I particularly like the richness of wood and lots of curves with modern furnishings.  Of course art of any style works in any space.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="mixing metals, breaking design rules" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0kB70aTI9rYkUwme_l8w15R-FRvGXKTaaxB-JpyoB7DkFZCC9t2vUI4pualgkcx1nSA78WUfnZxsedH0jbn3SJqbG7MT3vZcqlNc67FZPjPo2ian39z1JkT-X2aw_JKI7fvYRrvnH8Co/s1600/mixing+metals.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="150" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jiRElRDWkm0JIws6lU6HGKchD7Es7wMW7TPeQnKS9N_PR3thW_hQszM621J4US_30hAmUB3Us6cPqSwHvSQ5LVaAMlJamaQ-KwHK1eFsoXw2pOleSSgnnvpPTSBi2NGXxNugwZIEqsr1/s1600/breaking-design-rules-mixed-metals.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" mixing metals, breaking design rules" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jiRElRDWkm0JIws6lU6HGKchD7Es7wMW7TPeQnKS9N_PR3thW_hQszM621J4US_30hAmUB3Us6cPqSwHvSQ5LVaAMlJamaQ-KwHK1eFsoXw2pOleSSgnnvpPTSBi2NGXxNugwZIEqsr1/s1600/breaking-design-rules-mixed-metals.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2. Use consistent finishes (don't mix metals)</b></div>This is definitely a good place to start your little rebellion.  You certainly can mix metals. Just make sure you have some of each one in the space.  Think about a piece of jewellery that uses white gold, pink gold and yellow gold. It works. Check out this <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/can-you-mix-metal-finishes.html">post</a> on the topic.<br /><br /><b> </b><img alt="breaking design rules, scale" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrEWnqgZXuMW2paGSfBSF5Wv8V4Z7KbpBaFHRsGFkbswPufohPP-tdEJIrIEWDANs0Dm_MrK6uQyP065ghxSILO5M9zF8rFGH4j2OGKWqrgjjdomkbSVRNQ66jCvnXwTa2sWgIO7-pBb7/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="148" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj923oDL5gAfqPwMJ1K-_qlUfK0uRY5bAXB1rmuQt6XeIGEqwFTokfL0o8snEBg0QO8j6cinQUc26ahNAZu_smXNi5E23ibQwITrWHpFbdqmOIL3AJ2n33h7osDVLl5U-U5X60nOLVPnAlP/s1600/design-+rules-+scale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, scale, accessories" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj923oDL5gAfqPwMJ1K-_qlUfK0uRY5bAXB1rmuQt6XeIGEqwFTokfL0o8snEBg0QO8j6cinQUc26ahNAZu_smXNi5E23ibQwITrWHpFbdqmOIL3AJ2n33h7osDVLl5U-U5X60nOLVPnAlP/s1600/design-+rules-+scale.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="132" /></a><br /><br /><b>3. Pay attention to scale when selecting furniture/objects</b><br />I have to admit this is the one I have the most difficult time ignoring because  I am so attuned to scale considerations in drawing and painting.  I think I also have a  thing about objects too large bearing down on me. They make me uncomfortable. Large scale objects make riveting focal points. You can also have objects that are too small in scale, and end up looking insignificant and/or cluttered. Scale is usually the issue when a client tells me there is something wrong with a space, but he/she can't name it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrcnO9a75mhBfslZcjLX7JOLN8MlJJWFOt_iO2wVHUfnbYn9ksuV1d6kYGyugXTl2eblVr8CPkAQa5Zi1HFa7Uh9q3NDIkx7wp4HPZpvq3vABPvdXOaBd2xtqGXGrd6Tpkjklw_txlDbT/s1600/design+rules+pop+of+colour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, monochromatic schemes, neutral schemes" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrcnO9a75mhBfslZcjLX7JOLN8MlJJWFOt_iO2wVHUfnbYn9ksuV1d6kYGyugXTl2eblVr8CPkAQa5Zi1HFa7Uh9q3NDIkx7wp4HPZpvq3vABPvdXOaBd2xtqGXGrd6Tpkjklw_txlDbT/s1600/design+rules+pop+of+colour.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="200" />   <img alt="breaking design rules, neutral spaces, monochromatic schemes" border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5QPDtwL4iYZOJBgCqnpO06VUZLGcC9cP2k8r-GQsvb-Y3BIRKxsfOZjkmshNz-5XEG4O8FWYD8hBfGLyAfw_dIa5lollKFkpU0Z16gXmbdKjnDtVb4SFt9WZorM54AC07yjL7oRt7M3c/s1600/kelly-hoppen-+colour.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><b>  </b><br /><b>4. Every room needs an accent colour</b><br />Definitely not! Monochromatic rooms are so relaxing and depend on value changes and texture to wow.  If you want a quiet room, forget the pops of colour.<br /><br /><b> </b><img alt="breaking design rules, mixing wood tones" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn3PddjlRIdFPSsWIbYfydzO1cv4quoY6JAy3GoXEe1DzSXQ7fAEIDPuCJ0ggt69KD4qCKeFo3fuMhIjne3BGvMRYLY06HS3MRCqTunyfs3mzUYHMePX4BBZfPJe5eTYlLGtsZe2Hv8xb/s1600/mixing+wood+tones+kitchen.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="149" />  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTN_hgjq1D4V6AYr1N6RpNikaJ-Z3uDlx0moZd4KWOe2s0hdK-xcx9TsM0-gB3m0nZSWzVvYBBu8KdAFWHYS9LCgxSwxHCGomTjb2htogq7d2L0FtxJqeRrJD8_3F0kRc90DYujKZDU22/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, mixing wood tones," border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTN_hgjq1D4V6AYr1N6RpNikaJ-Z3uDlx0moZd4KWOe2s0hdK-xcx9TsM0-gB3m0nZSWzVvYBBu8KdAFWHYS9LCgxSwxHCGomTjb2htogq7d2L0FtxJqeRrJD8_3F0kRc90DYujKZDU22/s1600/design-rules-mixing-wood-tones-2.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="154" /></a><br /><br /><b>5. Keep wood tones consistent</b><br />When you slavishly adhere to this dictate you end up with a very boring space.  Check out this <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2012/03/thoughts-on-mixing-wood-tones.html">post </a>for ways to mix wood tones effectively.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNonDqDOGiqYf-kcqh3ePO9hCW3SqSkYx5oCZ8hho725xb1CEyTHxgdl5r9JpiyMRrBnmSrE6iHV2xoakITvcmTeBbcUW82kttmZcr3mZKHC9MqjESyvEsHc3uatfx8jSx-h84iRwZLJc/s1600/design-rules-small-spaces.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, dark walls, small spaces" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNonDqDOGiqYf-kcqh3ePO9hCW3SqSkYx5oCZ8hho725xb1CEyTHxgdl5r9JpiyMRrBnmSrE6iHV2xoakITvcmTeBbcUW82kttmZcr3mZKHC9MqjESyvEsHc3uatfx8jSx-h84iRwZLJc/s1600/design-rules-small-spaces.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="156" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha98rvW6RyRya9FfdUrbcr6gwl49CvwHGNfL3uC-UxUgkSbpZ7eoowN6uDhVaIMRtuwnl1gXxYsyv_qBGa4pxvh657zBAL_4o0bDUn3_9FVU0z6Tk-_Q76UMJ3_0S1_XHTV5zO-9sSkbEu/s1600/small-space-bright-palette.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="breaking design rules, small spaces, bright colours" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha98rvW6RyRya9FfdUrbcr6gwl49CvwHGNfL3uC-UxUgkSbpZ7eoowN6uDhVaIMRtuwnl1gXxYsyv_qBGa4pxvh657zBAL_4o0bDUn3_9FVU0z6Tk-_Q76UMJ3_0S1_XHTV5zO-9sSkbEu/s1600/small-space-bright-palette.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel?" width="150" /></a><br /><br /><b>6. Choose light colours for small spaces</b><br />That would be your first instinct, but the two rooms in #6 shows that breaking this rule produces distinctive and very different spaces.  Sorry, but I couldn't live in either of them.  I am a neutral colour gal in my own home. This <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2014/06/5-tips-for-painitng-small-spaces.html">post </a>provides various options for painting small spaces. <br /><br />How did you do? <br /><br />And now back to the reflection pic....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuvZWghZksjB255e-BP8djjG_ZiGIuU3G81h59YvY8ZlufAFTmxSvQNYfyDL0_PYgDPRMh-CRI5nmDysE2Rz7qiICV4xS3NLCFwN5-vqLXSfpriqAAPNk9DsgnhimK84lhHl1nZh4e4E_/s1600/breaking+design+rules.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuvZWghZksjB255e-BP8djjG_ZiGIuU3G81h59YvY8ZlufAFTmxSvQNYfyDL0_PYgDPRMh-CRI5nmDysE2Rz7qiICV4xS3NLCFwN5-vqLXSfpriqAAPNk9DsgnhimK84lhHl1nZh4e4E_/s1600/breaking+design+rules.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's no doubt this space breaks a lot of rules, but it sure is memorable, and no one could call it boring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><ul><li> styles are mixed freely, moving from traditional to modern;</li><li> the colour scheme is monochromatic, no accent colours here;</li><li>scale is manipulated big time in the high back chairs, plant, circular light fixture as well as in the smaller lamp shades in adjoining room;</li><li>wood tones are liberally mixed. </li></ul><br />And here's another take on some of the points above and few new ones. <a href="http://www.modani.com/canada/furniture-stores/" target="_blank">Modani</a> modern furniture specializes in modern furniture and accessories.  Check them out online or at their newly opened <a href="http://www.modani.com/canada/furniture-stores/" target="_blank">modern furniture store</a> in Toronto. Remember you can combine modern elements with any decor.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="breaking design rules, modani, modern furniture" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJhhPu5HP0Z_R8Lip8dYhus46mJVGQVa2TLJC8JPT_-f6AOkBvFKTwqfQYfa1IVFiK0LiyRXGxRFq7ypc2mCFv9AMtNEeqgaN22WjrNM88_ia63tMRUNjzLpP2HMuj9EyRTAIJgRGgfJw/s1600/MOD-Rules.jpg" title="Are you a design rebel? " width="412" /> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">How do you feel about breaking design rules?  </div>

Are you a design rebel?

What's your first instinct if someone tells says you shouldn't do something? Do you automatically want to do it?  I do!   Most peop...

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