Tips from Naomi of Design Manifest!
Did you happen to see Naomi’s apartment on Design*Sponge? I don’t know about you, but I was BLOWN AWAY! So much texture, so much color and pattern all in one space, yet so chic and homey! I asked Naomi to come back and tell us specifically how she applied her boho glam formula to her own pad, to teach us a thing or two!
Hey guys, it’s Naomi from Design Manifest, and I’m back to talk about (what else?) modern bohemian glamour. Last time I was here I shared 5 essential elements for creating a boho glam pad. To recap, they are Faux Bamboo, Animal Accents, Gold, Woody/Rustic Elements and a good healthy dose of Black. Today I’m sharing how I used these 5 elements in my own home to create my own eclectic paradise.
You see, you can mix all kinds of eras, styles, colors and patterns and have it look cohesive. You just need to be consistent and repeat your themes for a unified look.
FAUX BAMBOO:
I love faux-bamboo furniture so much that it would have been easy to go overboard with the look. I didn’t want to get too themey, though, so I stuck to only three pieces: my bar cart, my stools and my dining chairs. Each is a different finish — gold, red lacquer and black lacquer — but the similar style unifies them all. Also, I placed each in different section, to make each piece stand out out and help all three sections flow together.
ANIMAL ACCENTS:
When it comes to animal accents I think a little goes a long way so I was quite selective in this department. I love the way my cowhide loosely defines my reading/entry area without adding in any additional color or pattern. When searching for the perfect ”neutral” to complement my peacock wallpaper (another animal, I suppose!) I felt that zebra upholstery was the perfect fit. Zebra goes with anything and in small doses it’s oh-so-sharp.
p.s. Black and white animal photography is a great way to fill walls on a budget. I love Kinkos. I also love my pug, Bailey, too.
GOLD:
Gold was another way I unified all the areas of my loft. My Hollywood Regency coffee table and French Chairs are from different eras but work well together with their similar gold finishes. I have Asian-Style Cabinets with gold hardware in the same area. Not only do my metallic accents add glamour, but when used over and over again, they make the whole space feel connected.
WOODY/RUSTIC ELEMENTS:
I didn’t want my loft to feel too glam or girly, so I just had to add in a few rustic touches. My live-edge wood end table added a nice organic element to the living room. (And an essential piece of wood furniture — every room needs a bit of natural wood.) Same with the wood shelf in my office nook- it did a nice job of breaking up all of that color! I like all of my spaces to have a balance of rustic and glam. It helps them feel layered and rich.
BLACK:
And then there is black. More than any other element, this was the biggest repetitive theme for me. I like that black is strong and bold, but not flashy like gold. You have a limit on how much gold you use before you get gaudy, whereas black has a soothing effect in my mind. It balances out my strong use of color. It glams up the wood. It even adds strength to my whimsical bamboo pieces. Black is the glue in my loft and I love every little bit of it.
You can see it in nearly all of the pictures above, and the ones below.
Ultimately, if you are maximalist, like myself, editing is KEY. There is no easy formula I can give you to create a perfect boho glam space. To me, the essence of boho is that it isn’t matchy; it’s ethnic, eclectic and free spirited. Yet it needs to be in balance or it just looks sloppy. I found the best way to stay balanced was to pick my themes and repeat them, but also not be afraid to break the rules.
I could probably write a whole other post on pattern and color, but that will have to be another time. I hope that was helpful!
Erika, thanks for the kinds words and for inviting me over! Happy Friday
Absolutely gorgeous apartment! And, wonderful tips. I seriously had to take notes on this post. Looking forward to checking out her blog as well. Have a wonderful weekend! xx
Each element of this boho interior look is so fascinating and glam!! Everything looks so cozy and warm, yet very stylish! Thank u for sharing this!!
kisses
Jelena
glamfabchameleon.blogspot.com
This post is perfect timing for us as we are moving into a loft apartment and I have been concerned with how to make it cozy. There are so many great details here to copy. Love the soft rug with the sharp colors and of course the gold accents. Thank you!
I love EVERYTHING about this apartment! My sister and I are obsessed with animal accents but I’m feeling like I need an animal print rug immediately – particularly in zebra! I have a no-paint-rental and am also considering switching out my white drapery for black for a little more pop. Thanks for such great tips
I love all this tips for a boho glam space! I move to my new place next week and can’t wait to decorate with all these inspiring ideas!
Incredibly well styled! Love the gold hardware on that black dresser…instant GLAM! Such an easy peasy addition to an already eclectic mix! Such a gorgeous space!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture.com
Editing is no fun. I’m the worst at it. Good thing I can go back to the photos of your loft again and again, girlfriend. Just too good.
Who was I before I met you girls?? oxox
Oh how that bar cart made me weak in the knees! Gorg. And of course, we all know I appreciate a gold coffee table!
wow – such a detailed post! I bet this apartment is one of your faves, Erika – such a blend of boho, organic, and glam..congrats, Naomi!
xoxox -e (modern24seven)
Her home is one of my favorites!! Thanks, Naomi, for the tips!! xoxo elizabeth
Erika thanks for having Naomi…….I lover her blog! I enjoy this article SO much. My boyfriend and I are getting a place together and we have VERY different tastes. I am VERY Hollywood Regency and but my bf prefers, um, comfy….. Anyway he lived in Europe for 6 years before I met him and he has LOTS of “interesting” items he picked up from his travels. This article is opening my eyes on how I can mix all of my beloved lacquer, brass, black, leopard, busts, etc with his cowhide rug, wooden and natural items. Now what the hell do I do with my tufted and mirrored furniture?
Also loved your previous post that I just saw today.
TGIF!
Fantastic mix of color and styles! That’s what great taste does!
Happy Weekend.
Nancy
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/trend-or-timeless.html
these are amazing tips. i was blown away by naomi’s apartment when i first saw it on design sponge – thank you so much for breaking down your thought process!
hope both of you ladies have a fabulous weekend!
GORGEOUS!!! I can’t wait to put these tips to use in my new house! Thank you so much for sharing Naomi’s place with us Erika
This post is fantastic! Such great tips for how to tie together a look in your home. I’m trying to bring in some gold accents to my apartment to bring in a little more luxury. I’m not a big animal print person- but those chairs with the zebra print are amazing!! So inspiring!
thanks for introducing me to naomi. I love her style and her tips. such a great eye!
Your place is stunning Naomi! My favorite pieces were the colored bamboo furniture, the colors and lacquer really transform the look of the bamboo, love it!
Oh my word. Each and every photo is dripping with rich beauty. Love the colors, textures, and prints. Excellent taste Naomi! Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your space and sharing the tips with us.
Have a fun weekend ahead ladies!
x, Anna
that heavy wood end table has that wow factor … I won’t be able to stop picturing that next to my sofa since I’ve been coveting the leopard needlepoint throw pillows at the antique store down the street … what’s a girl to do!?
I loved Naomi’s home when I first saw it on design sponge; it will be never easy to forget that fabulous bright blue wall! I loved this post on how Naomi pulled it all together – very insightful, thank you! xx
I love anything bamboo. I am looking for a coffee table that has that feel. I love your style.
Stunning home!!! My favorite is the “LOVE” sign in the large gold frame…so cool! XO brynn
Ok Erika, so this week is my turn to ask that I hope you don’t mind I post about this too, I spotted her place on House of Fifty and fell in love, so I made a post last week for this week
Pingback: Pretty Rooms & Cheerful Things | glitter & goat cheese
This whole house is infused with glorious styling!! I love boho/eclectic/glam! This girl knows how to style a space!!
ESPECTACULAR!!! Adored everything! XoXo Maca