our reader's question:

"I love the eclectic/nothing matches look. Can you give some tips on how to achieve the look without it looking too busy and confusing?"

What a great question! The eclectic look is really popular right now. Let's explore a couple of ways to create some thread of consistency and cohesiveness to an eclectic space. We will focus on a few elements that seem to speak the loudest.

ART, pattern, COLOR AND METALS

Let's begin with Art. Just like any design style art is super important for setting the mood and the stage for the space. Eclectic spaces need eclectic art. Whether it's the way the art is framed or the way it's arranged it speaks volumes to the cohesiveness of the space. Keeping the art "authentic" feeling and not too trendy makes the space leaps and bounds ahead of the smattering of chevrons we are seeing all over. Authentic art feels like it's been collected a few bits and pieces at a time and tells your story more than it does the current trend. For example, the art shown above has similar visual weight and the art on the upper right has similar tonal qualities with the entire space.

Next up, pattern and color. It seems appropriate to sandwich the two together. Notice how the amount of pattern and texture seem to vary little from the standard set from the overall feel of each space shown in this post. The same goes for color. For example the lower image on the left has a deep color palette with pattern on pattern. This sets the stage for what the space will feel like. The image to the right is a little vintage-eclectic, but the same principle applies. The color saturation is much lighter, yet most of the items have a similar depth of color, this creates consistency and grounds the space.

Lastly, metals. This can be the metal on the desk, sconce, chair or lamp. In the images at the top the metals seem to be the grounding influence of the space. Whether it's chrome, brass or bronze using the same metal more than once is appropriate to create a conversation, however, blanketing every metal surface with chrome, for example, will change the feel to be more crisp and modern.

The most important thing for an eclectic space to feel cohesive is finding the common thread that links it together. Is it a rich color palette with international references and brass accents? Or a clean -vintage palette with smaller scale pattern and lots of white? Good luck on your eclectic adventure!

1. coral & mint

It seems like Coral and Mint are everywhere! Would you dare pull off a coral dining chair? We love the pops of color in a traditional space. Of course there is the popular Caitlyn Wilson textile craze with coral and mint done in perfection.

2. brass hardware

Brass is Back! True classists will say it never went out. Has this trend caught your eye yet? Check out the source of the great visual above.

3. play on pattern

It's all about the "Play on Pattern", we are seeing pattern everywhere and lots of it! Although, we love this trend, will it be the identifying "That is so 2013", like mauve and forest green was to the 90s?

We hope you all have a great Mother's Day weekend. We will be spending time with the influential women in our lives. We loved these sweet cards from Lily & Val on Etsy.

This Spring we had the opportunity to work on a commercial office space, Advent Creative. It is a small office with a reception area, conference room, and about 8 work desks. With a mix of different textures we brought sleek and contemporary together with earthy and rustic.

The high gloss white desks are a nice contrast to the rugged brick walls and are a great statement for a creative agency. We also love the upholstered bench that divides the work space and the conference room. The upholstery helps to keep the conference room sound proof.

We really enjoyed working on this project and love the way the space turned out! Thanks Advent Creative!

Is spring in the middle of bloom where you live? Isn't spring one of the happiest and most beautiful seasons? It does warm the heart to see all the blossoms, green creeping strands and tulips coming alive.

Here are a few incredible blossoming trees in Oregon! How beautiful! Do you have a flowering tree or secret garden of blooms? We would love to see! Please do share.

Here's to enjoying spring!