luxury living rooms Decorating Ideas 2012 by Candice Olson

Designer Candice Olson mixes comfy furnishings with elegant textiles and color schemes to create family rooms that define the meaning of lived-in luxury.

Contemporary yet Rustic

Rustic elements are combined with streamlined contemporary furnishings to create a couple-friendly living room. The tumbled marble fireplace contrasts well with the dark, luxurious wooden hearth and cabinets. For optimal fireplace and TV viewing, a large sectional sofa in creamy chenille and an ottoman in espresso brown are centered in the room.

Effortless Style

To brighten up this attic living space, Candice installs light-toned wood floors, brings in a cream sectional and adds track lighting. A color palette of greens, blues and tans complement the lighter tones, while paisley fabric and wall decals add a feminine, bohemian quality to the space. A reclaimed wood ceiling with faux beams adds architectural interest.

Eclectic Mix

Modernize a living room with a combination of different design styles. Sleek chairs in a classic paisley print are mixed with a traditional tufted ottoman in butterscotch leather and a contemporary sectional in taupe velvet. Rustic meets elegant in a two-layer treatment of woven blinds and silk draperies on the bay windows.

Multi-Functional Living

To create a more functional space, divide a room into different zones. The bay window is the perfect setting for a home office and features custom built-in shelving, while the area next to the back window is the library lounge, an ideal spot for conversations and reading. The main area of the room is used for TV watching and hanging out. Tie the entire space together by using the same color palette, like the combination of chocolate, caramel and oatmeal in this living room.

Romantic and Feminine

Dark wood paneling is painted antique white to brighten up this living room, which features a color palette of pink, green, cream and chocolate. To mimic the fabric used on the chairs, whimsical vinyl graphics of an agapanthus flower are transferred onto the ceiling, giving it the quality of a hand-painted piece of art.

Cottage Casual

Custom cabinetry plays a key role in this living room, providing plenty of storage and a place to display collectibles. The fireplace flows seamlessly into the cabinetry and features a sandy-tone mosaic tile surround. To give the room a more intimate feel, a fan is hung 36 inches below the ceiling, while a color palette of white, sand, pale blue and green keeps the space light and airy.

Gender Neutral

For most family rooms, creating a space that appeals to both genders is a must, so Candice chose a mostly neutral palette of deep browns, cool creams and inky charcoals for this living room. The corner is turned into an office with an antique desk flanked by mirror-backed bookcases, and the living room is ideal for relaxing with a large sectional and leather club chairs.

Muted Sophistication

Finding the right place for a TV is often problematic; however, in this living room, the 46-inch TV takes center stage since it doubles as a mirror when not in use. Carpet tiles in shades of calming blue, green, taupe and beige reflect the fabric used to cover the bench seat and pillows on the sofa. Stainless steel accents add a contemporary flair to the room. 

Comfy Elegance

A metallic floral-patterned wallpaper provides a luxe backdrop to the cozy living room, which features a silvery linen sectional and a classic writer's desk. Soft, gauzy sheers trimmed in gold satin separate the living and dining rooms, as well as diffuse natural light from the large windows at the end of the rooms.

Bold and Colorful

Two feature walls, one a brilliant fuchsia and the other covered in teal-and-gold paisley wallpaper, create an instant wow factor is this open plan living room. Low-slung furniture in white and peacock blue create a cool, lounge-like vibe, while natural-stained maple flooring and updated shag carpet ground the space.

Urban Functionality

In this urban loft, a color palette of gray, black and white is paired with shimmery steel and rich wood accents for a cool, contemporary vibe. Modern furnishings, smart track lightings and a dramatic ceiling fan combine for a stylish and functional living space.

Rustic Chic

Hand-scraped oak flooring is the perfect contrast to the impressive limestone fireplace, and a wall of cabinetry with custom bookcases and stainless steel dressers provides plenty of storage for the TV and media components. Distressed leather furniture with tufted detail adds vintage elegance to the room with blue linen draperies creating a beautiful backdrop to the space.

2012 Candice Olson's Kitchen Design Ideas From HGTV

Candice Olson, a leading designer in the United States and Canada, began her career in commercial and residential design after graduating from the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. Candice received accolades and media attention for her distinctive and exceptional work before moving her design career to television. In fact, earlier in her career, the New York Times identified her as “one to watch.”
Candace Olson is a genius when it comes to total renovations and overhauls. When it comes to kitchens, she is definitely the queen. If I were to choose any designer to build my dream kitchen, it would Candace Olson hands down.
Her signature trademark for many of her kitchen countertops is quartz which is beautiful and more durable than granite. Granite will stain and so having really light colors for granite counter tops actually takes a lot of work to upkeep.

Create your own divine kitchen with Candice Olson's top 10 kitchen design and decorating tips.

Creative Backsplashes

Backsplashes add character to the kitchen. This tin-tile backsplash was painted cream for an antique effect.

The Necessary Island

If your kitchen is all about family, invest in an island. This long island features a stunning white quartz countertop, white and chrome bar chairs, and a dark wood base to match the mahogany floor.

Unique Flooring

Make a statement with your kitchen flooring. Stripes of light and dark concrete-like material add an unexpected touch to this contemporary kitchen.

Find Inspiration in Your Favorites

Bring the charm of your favorite place to the kitchen. Displaced after Hurricane Katrina, this couple now live in a Big Easy kitchen with French-style accessories.

Use a Similar Color

Integrate family rooms into the kitchen through color. Dark, espresso-toned cabinets coordinate well with this space's black sofa and warm khaki walls.

Love Your Kitchen

Design your kitchen to cater to what you love. This baker's dream kitchen includes a peninsula for entertaining, a lounge area and comfortable flooring.

Update Cabinets

On a budget? Refinish existing cabinetry. These former maple cabinets look custom with their new finish and same-color painted bulkhead.

Open Up Your Space

Knock out a wall to add space to your kitchen. This kitchen seamlessly integrates with the dining area, using a buffet island to separate the two.

Durable Solutions

Design your dream kitchen for durability. Three kinds of porcelain tile and carefully planned cabinet storage make this kitchen a stylish workhorse.

Mix It Up

Two-toned kitchens are more interesting than one-toned. A marble island, different cabinet finishes and Art Deco tile make this Candice's favorite Divine Design kitchen makeover.

Modern living room design ideas by Andreas Charalambous

Andreas Charalambous 

Mr. Charalambous is the founding Principal of FORMA Design. He combines over twenty five years of experience in Architecture and Interior Architecture with his deep interest in all aspects of design (Furniture, Lighting, Graphics) and a … read morecareer in Painting and Photography-with group and individual shows throughout North America and Europe. A Fulbright scholar during his studies at Cornell University, he has practiced architecture in Washington, New York and London, while working for a series of distinguished architectural firms. He has received numerous awards, including awards from the DC Chapter, the Northern VA Chapter, the Potomac Valley, MD Chapter and the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for Outstanding Achievement in Interior Architecture on various FORMA projects, as well as awards from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for excellence in Residential, Healthcare and Hospitality Interiors. He also has been published extensively. FORMA Design was selected to be part of an exhibit sponsored by the American Institute of Architects called 21:4:21, that included 21 architects building for the 21st Century. 

Traditional kitchen decorating design ideas 2012 by Gail Drury

Two of Gail Drury's kitchen design showroom displays are national winners. Drury's English pub display recently took second place in the National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) 2008 Design Competition. A certified master kitchen and bath designer (CMKBD) and president of Drury Design Kitchen & Studio in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Drury founded her company in 1987 and won her first NKBA kitchen design showroom award in 1998. In all, the studio's portfolio encompasses over 20 NKBA award-winning projects. Download Design Guide and view Drury Design's custom kitchen design projects.

Drury's English pub display mixes antique, modern and commercial influences. Ovation's mahogany cabinetry sets the tone in an "aged bark" stain accented with custom designed mullions and featuring a mix of inset and overlay doors. English pub touches get carried out in heavily paneled soffit, a tin ceiling and antique light fixtures. Variable surface heights add to functionality with a 30" ice bin; 36" work area and 42" bar serving area. Refrigeration is concealed behind built-in antiqued mirror doors with wood mullion accents. A built-in stainless ice chest adds a commercial element.

Modern Decorating Design By Joshua Foss

Josh Foss appears as a contestant in season two of the HGTV reality series Design Star. A 25-year-old native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Principia College, and says that he works as a green designer. He also says that he should win the competition because he’s progressive, fun, and has a “green” perspective towards life and design. He believes that a designer’s imagination is his best friend, and describes his design style as boiling down to warm and clean modern lines, with a retro twist. Among his favorite design styles are eclectic, contemporary, and modern.

He states that designers should always focus on quality rather than quantity, and that it’s better to have one thing that you love instead of four things that you don’t. On the other hand, he disagrees with decorating and furnishing a home from a single source alone. His favorite designers are Charles and Ray Eames, whom his father worked for during the early 60s. Foss also says that if he wasn’t working as a designer, he’d be a whale-watching tour guide instead. His favorite room to design is the living room, and his dream design project would be to work on the interior of a hip deli or organic restaurant.