Metallics have been a favorite in modern interior design for a few years, and that’s not likely to change in the near future. They have a certain edge that adds attitude and sophistication simultaneously. Metallics come in many forms, and they can be overdone if you don’t know what you’re doing. So we’re here to help!

As with any new interior accent, you should start small if you haven’t done metallics before.

Try changing some of your hardware first – this will be subtle and almost never is overpowering. The kitchen and bathroom are the most likely places that you’ll see metallics in any room, so why not upgrade your cabinet handles and even some kitchen appliances to stunning chrome or silver?

From here, you can branch out if you like the look of the metallics you’ve incorporated thus far.

Candleholders are a favorite here at the Padstyle office. If you add a few metallic candleholders to your dining room table, they’ll stun guests the next time they’re lit. The bouncing flame reflecting off the mirrored metallic surface is a sight to be seen. When choosing the type of metallic candleholder, keep candle color in mind: cool candles like blue and green should be paired with silver or chrome holders, and warm candles like red or orange look best with gold or bronze. White candles look great with anything.

Metallic vases are also another accent piece you could consider. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tabletop vases for a single flower to floor vases.

Successfully decorating with metallics just takes a little creativity and a willingness to experiment.

The kitchen has seen some major changes in style over the past few years. Appliances are getting bigger, stainless steel has become a centerpiece of fashion, and unique materials like granite are making waves. However, concealed appliances don’t get nearly as much attention as they should.

Concealed appliances can make a kitchen feel like any other room of the house. By hiding your refrigerator, oven and other appliances, you can transform a “kitchen” into an all-purpose room that is open and inviting.

Appliances signal a room that’s off-limits to guests. It’s a room that is only used for cooking, and should be kept that way. But you won’t have that walled-off feeling if you conceal your appliances in cabinets and the walls.

It’s quite easy to conceal your appliances, especially if you’re in the process of renovating. They are all already up against a wall, so it’s only a matter of either building a cabinet around them or moving them into a nook or corner. Just be sure that you make them accessible, but invisible.

Concealed appliances can also save space. By encasing your dishwasher in a kitchen counter, for instance, you can use it as a chopping board or surface space when it’s not in use (and even when it is!).

Concealed appliances can make your kitchen appear more inviting, and they even go so far as to equip it as a dining room, if you have a large enough space. You can bring in a table and chairs, and eat right in the kitchen without feeling like it’s the kitchen at all.

Folk and ethnic-inspired decor have been making a comeback in the modern design world lately, and they’re moving from the livingroom (in the form of richly embellished throw pillows, bead curtains and earthy rugs) to the bathroom. Here’s a few tips on how you can capitalize on the richness, depth and intrigue of folk and ethnic bathroom decor.

Think of folk/ethnic as global influences. This, in essence, is a very diverse and nearly “anything goes” approach to interior decorating. You can pick a particular region and culture of the world that you would like to emulate, such as North American Native or maybe Ancient Egyptian, or you can go for a more eclectic look that gets its influences from a variety of places.

If you want to start small, try adding ethnic touches to some of the accents in your bathroom. For instance, you can find plenty of embroidered hand towels that feature detailed trim, or small accessories that you can place around the bathroom. Try a folkloric wooden bird or painted vase on your windowsill.

It’s also possible to bring in some reclaimed wood furniture in place of your bathroom vanity if you want to make some more major changes. Or, you can do a complete renovation – paint the walls a rich golden hue, install bronze-trimmed light fixtures, bring in a matching tub, basin and toilet, and completely transform your bathroom to a folk and ethnic masterpiece.

“BEDROOM- AN ALL IN ONE SPACE
Sometimes we want our bedroom to be more than just a place to sleep. If we are multi task oriented, we desire to complete all our daily tasks before leaving the bedroom, and hence we can even convert it into a multi- purpose room.”

Modern flooring can be exciting, but you really only have a few choices: wood, carpet, tile, and maybe marble if you’re feeling luxurious. So how do you spice up these sometimes limited options? Layered flooring.

Layered flooring will add a richness and warmth to any room. You can go about layering flooring types and flooring levels several different ways, and each will result in a different atmosphere in your home.

You can start small: adding a rug on top of a bare wood floor. This small gesture can make a room feel much more cozy and, if you choose the right rug, you can add some geometric or intricate patterns that will draw the eye towards the center of the room.

If you have wall-to-wall carpets, you can get in on this trend too. Just place a rectangular or circular rug on top of your existing carpeting, and you’ll have yourself a splash of color as well as an eye-catching extra layer.

For the more ambitious, you can add a physically higher or lower layer of flooring when you renovate. This, as pictured above, will add depth to any room. It’s especially good for a large, open space, but you can add a layer almost anywhere to differentiate one room from another.

Layering your flooring is a subtle but effective way to amp up the style in your room, using low-cost and low-effort.

Wallpapers have been getting a bad rap in the modern interior design world lately. Paint seems to be all the rage, while wallpapers are relegated to “older” styles. But that’s not necessarily the case.

Your bedroom could benefit from a fresh layer of wallpaper, if you’re looking for a way to bring some life to your walls.

The patterns of modern wallpaper simply can’t be matched by an understated, simple coat of paint.

For instance, the wallpaper in the image above features tasteful and delicate bare trees with birds interspersed throughout the branches. The rich brown background and gilded gold trees is simply stunning, and adds a lot of depth and detail to the walls, which would otherwise likely be a flat brown.

You can also use wallpaper in a more minimal sense. By using wallpaper on only one wall of your bedroom, you can incorporate a much bolder pattern and draw the focus of the eye towards the accent space. If you do choose a bold pattern, just be sure it isn’t completely overwhelming.

As your bed will likely be the centerpiece of your bedroom, you want to be sure that the wallpaper doesn’t detract from the bed or other furniture, but instead it should compliment the contents of the room.

Wallpaper will likely make a comeback in 2011, so if you want to get ahead of the curve, go ahead and experiment with some bright, bold and beautiful wallpaper today.

Your bathroom is a sanctuary, if you put it into perspective. It is a place where you can take a long, hot shower in preparation of a hard day at work, and return to for a relaxing warm bubble bath after that day at work.

Your bathroom is a refuge from the demands of the day, where your mind can be at peace – so why not dress it up as the place of relaxation that it should be?

Soothing, tranquil bathrooms should speak to what you find relaxing.

To start, why not do a little painting. Calm, cool blue and greens will inspire tranquility. They will make your bathroom feel like a luxurious spa room, rather than just a functional room.

Another way you can remake your bathroom into a refuge is by removing the clutter. Look around your bathroom, and see what could be stowed away – you’ll likely be surprised at how much you can simply tuck away underneath your vanity.

If you want to go all out, try giving your bathroom the whole spa effect. An elongated soaker tub with jets, a streamlined vanity, and mood lighting are great relaxation additions. Or how about doing a complete renovation, and adding a sauna to the corner of your bathroom? This will relax you, improve your skin, reduce your stress and help you unwind after a tough day.

Your bathroom can be a place for you to find an oasis in your day, so bring out its inner spa and let yourself be pampered.