Happy Monday!  Did everyone have a fabulous 4th of July and a good weekend?  I hope so.  Our 4th was rained out and with all the rain we had over the last 4 days, the hubby and I felt like we were back in Seattle.  I’m glad the sun in shining today and that I got a good nights sleep last night.

I’ve got a super busy week ahead working on pulling together the details for a non-profit fund-raiser I’m heading up, going to the Atlanta Gift and Furniture  Market on Wednesday, attending an event with designer Bunny Williams on Thursday, making the trek to Scott’s Antique Market and the United Methodist Children’s Home Flea Market on Friday and celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary and the hubs birthday on Saturday and Sunday! Oh, and there’s work to be done in between all of that.  You can rest assured I’m going to be eating my Wheaties this week.

One of the design projects I’ve worked on recently had me going back to design basics.  I found myself working with a client that likes traditional décor and wants a classic and timeless interior.  With so many of the design trends today leaning toward creative paint treatments, bold colors, artistic elements and eclectic looks, it can be challenging to  develop a look that is really timeless.

To give us all a little refresher in classic design, I’ve pulled together a little summary of 12 Timeless Design elements I always rely on!

#1  Curtains Hung High—Every room can benefit from hanging curtains as close to the molding/ceiling as possible. No only does this make a room feel taller but it also enhances the scale of the furniture in the room.

#2  Built-in Bookcases–Whether bookcase are used for books or decorative elements (a combination of both is my formula) , built-in bookcases add architectural detail,  storage and visual impact in any room of the house.   {to get the look on a dime, check out all the Ikea Billy Bookcase DIY projects on my Ikea Inspiration Pinterest Board}!

#3  Woven Shades–If anything can replace wood blinds in a home it’s the woven shade.  This window treatment offers just the right amount of texture, color and privacy while adding to the style of a room.  Alone or paired with curtain panels, woven shades are here to stay.

#4  Window Seats–Who doesn’t dream about having a window seat in their home?  Window seats are the perfect design element for that often neglected space in front of a window, not taking away from the view but making a room feel cozier and more intimate.

#5  Seagrass, Sisal and Jute Rugs–I know there are those of you that don’t like these natural textured rugs because of the feel or a fear of keeping it clean but for me a sisal and seagrass rug is the best way to add visual texture under foot while keeping a room feeling open and airy.   My go to source for seagrass rugs here in Atlanta is Myers Carpet.

Emily A. Clark

#6  Ceramic Lamps–Lamp styles evolve but a classic round ceramic lamp will never go out of style.  Ceramic lamps provide a visual contrast in rooms with lots of wood furniture and are a great balance against metal and iron.  And the color options are endless (especially with a can of spray paint)!

#7 Sofa Tables (or console tables in general) are one of my go to pieces of furniture.  This is one piece of furniture that will work in just about every room of a home and a piece that is just as functional as it is stylish.  I love placing a console table next to bed and using it as a unique nightstand/writing-table option.

#8  Baskets–Baskets can hide a multitude of design sins (paperback books on a bookshelf, DVD’s) and are a great way to fill the space under tables, in corners or above cabinets or armoires.  One can never have too many baskets in my book.  My go to source of chunky woven baskets is HomeGoods, World MarketandIkea!

#9  Medium Tone Wood Floors–While I personally like the trend of darker espresso wood floors, mid-tone wood flooring will never go out of style.  The color is versatile and works with just about every color of textile or paint you surround it with.

#10  Oversized Mirrors–Just like a sofa table, an oversized mirror is one of your best design investments.  Opt for a black, gold or silver frame to keep the look classic and be creative about where you place it in your home.  Oversized mirrors work great in a dining room, foyer, over a sofa, above a fireplace, at the top of a stair landing and in a bedroom.

#11  A Neutral Sofa–A neutral sofa will not only stand the test of time but it gives you the perfect backdrop to make seasonal color and accessory changes. Timeless design gives you options and the look never goes out of style.

#12  An Upholstered Coffee Table–Since wood furniture is the foundation of so many rooms, an upholstered coffee table/ottoman is a great way to add softness without giving up a functional surface area in the room.  Plus, additional seating is ready when you need it.

So there you have it, my take on Timeless Design!  When you look around your home is your design style timeless or are you on the trendy side of design?