Style like a pro -Texture

 Colour is the most obvious element in interior design because of its boldness or starkenss. Homeowners constantly update their rooms with colour changes, but what about all the other design elements?  For example, have you given your room a texture update lately? Texture is simply using a variety of  finishes in a room and it is easily improved by varying the composition of products in a room, e.g., glass,  woods, metal, plastic, cotton, velvet, lacquer, leather, ceramic. etc. Stop and look around you. How many different materials have you used in your room? What's your room's texture quotient? 

  Texture is the element that gets constantly overlooked  because its effects are subtle. It's one of those things that you take for granted when it is done well, but it's difficult to identify if it isn't , You just know the room looks boring, but you're not sure why. Layering textures gives a room interest and depth.

Jessica Helgerson  a Portland, Oregon  designer, is a master of texture. Many of her designs, typically clean and uncluttered,  rely on the richness of textures for visual interest. 

This mid-century modern split level ranch house takes on a new life under her skillful direction. The overall feeling is restful and outdoorsy. Furniture choices reflect the style of the home. The vintage finds were reupholstered  in light fabrics of varying textures. The coffee table made from salvaged maple is the center piece of the room. Its irregular edges and smooth surface plays well with  the Portuguese eel traps hanging over the fireplace mantel . Glass is prominent in the French demijohn bottles and ceramic Chinese garden stools are tucked into the room.  The woven area rug stands out against the smooth ebony floors.

At the end of the living room, the dining area continues the themes already established. You get a clearer view of the ceramic Chinese stool and the raised texture on the pillows.  The leather chairs work well against the high gloss wood table.  Plants, vegetables and wicker all work to enhance the  this welcoming room.  Metal chair legs show up well against the ebony floors. Glass and ceramic are evident in this room too. One of the musts in texture usage is to play matte and gloss surfaces off each other with one being more dominant -usually matte. The textures and colours of the outside also play an important role in this room's success.

Continuing with the white and green theme, this high contrast  bathroom has a lot of texture punch for a small space, Wood, metal, marble, ceramic, glass,  paper, and fabric are blended seamlessly to produce a room that wows.

And now a little quiz... how many textures are combined to produce this stunning master suite?