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Emily A. Clark

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Details to Notice: Traditional Perfection

May 7, 2020

I’ve shared the portfolio of designer Caroline Gidiere before and her recent home tour (featured in Veranda) is a lesson in traditional perfection worth studying. While we might not all live in grand homes with amazing architectural elements, there’s always some good decorating takeaways we can apply to our own spaces, even if it’s just how to hang art in a new way or how to mix pattern. Keep reading for the details to notice and some of the best accessories I found to create a similar feel.Traditional_Perfection_Home_Tour_ExteriorTraditional_Perfection_home_tour-entryway

  • Okay, first of all–that moulding!
  • Love the mix of blue and white with the black and white. An instantly classic look.
  • A lesson in the power of grouping collections together. Sometimes, it’s better to pack a punch by literally packing all of your blue and white, for example, together in the same spot rather than trying to dribble it throughout several rooms.
  • A large basket gives visual weight to a console table and is a great “tuck away” spot. (In my house, it’s filled with jackets and the occasional basketball.)

Traditional_perfection_home-tour_living_room

Traditional_perfection_home-tour=living-room-horizontal

  • If you look at all of the sides of this room, you’ll notice that she uses multiple mirrors in one space. She adds symmetry to the doorway by hanging a pair of matching mirrors and tables on each side. Then, on the opposite wall, she used another large gold mirror over the antique chest. Another trick I love and have used: a convex mirror over a stack of framed art between the windows.
  • You’re not limited to one style of art in a room. She mixes a large abstract with framed botanicals, landscapes and portrait art.
  • Love her trick of adding height by hanging the pair of frames above the gold mirror/antique chest. A great “fix” if your mirror isn’t quite as big as you’d like.
  • Floral + ikat + animal print all work in harmony, especially when whole space is tied together by a neutral rug.

Traditional_perfection_home-tour=living-room-fireplace

  • A pair of floating settees in front of the fireplace probably wouldn’t be most people’s first thought, but I like the way this spreads out the seating without using multiple sofas. She doubles the settees and doubles the accent chairs, using smaller scaled coffee tables for each seating area.
  • Notice that the symmetry continues with the small consoles on each side of the fireplace where she also places lamps.

traditional-dining-room

  • Can I please have some wallpapered secret doors in my dining room for more storage??
  • Another option for layered window treatments: a rattan shade for filtering light topped with a fabric shade.
  • A floor length table cloth is such a pretty look, especially when paired with a wood buffet.
  • While this wallpaper is the star of the show, a scaled-down, less expensive look could be achieved by framing two (or more) wallpaper panels or even a chinoiserie fabric.

traditional-perfection-home-tour-kitchen

traditional-home-tour-den

  • I love how this kitchen (look, dark cabinets!) leads into this open and very comfy seating space. Notice how the rug helps to define this spot.
  • The burnt orange and lavender color combo is surprisingly fresh.
  • Framing colorful kids’ art is the easiest way to tone down the formality of any space. Love the placement.
  • I always like tiny, thoughtful touches like the small plug-in sconces in the window nook.
  • A bookshelf full of cookbooks (or any kind) in the kitchen = instant coziness.

gidiere-stairway-alabama-veranda-1

traditional-home-tour-porch

  • Note to self: paint side table on my porch. I like how this little bistro set and serving table all coordinate.

traditional-home-tour-exterior

traditional home tour backyard dining

Read more about this home here.

And see past “Details to Notice” posts here.

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Filed Under: designers, Details to Notice, home tours Tagged With: decorating, designers, details to notice

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Teri says

    May 7, 2020 at 10:47 am

    I appreciate all your design observations- I would have missed some. Beautiful rooms and lovely decorating ideas. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Tiffany says

    May 7, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    As you said, there is something to take away from every room, even if it’s not your style. I really loved her entryway and kitchen. And baskets are great anywhere – to hide stuff and to add texture. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  3. K simel says

    May 7, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    When I look at this space all I think about is how am I going to vacuum that area. Beautiful but I am going to need a little more space between my furniture. I guess I am more function over form.

    Reply
  4. Tricia says

    May 7, 2020 at 10:27 pm

    This house is perfection. I swoon. The exterior, the mouldings, the chippendale everything, and the curated perfection of the interior. Thank you for sharing this. I love it. I wish more people appreciated houses like this.

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    May 7, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    fantastic post – Thank you!
    you nailed it on “get the look”

    Reply
  6. Sharon says

    May 8, 2020 at 9:23 am

    I love these posts and all of your observations. I always look at those beautiful spaces and think, as another commenter, how will I vacuum that space? With two big, shedding dogs, it’s always in my mind. However, I always take an idea or two from these. That porch and foyer are my favorites! Of course, I love blue and white with green. Thanks again!

    Reply
  7. Susie says

    May 13, 2020 at 7:30 am

    Thank you for pointing out the great decorating tricks. I would have missed all of them! When there is too much pattern and just too much everything (for me at least) I lose focus and cannot see the details.

    Reply
  8. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    May 13, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    It’s all just gorgeous. Also, those pleated lamp shades, swoon. So hard to make and an absolute fortune to have made!

    Reply

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