How To Get The Global Look: Selecting Furniture

I’m super excited to kick off a 4 week adventure into how you can get the global look for your home!  As you know, I have showcased several aspects of creating global style for your home under my Get The Global Look series.  There has been DIYs, Decorating How Tos, Home Tours, and now I’ve invited two talented home designers to provide all the goods to create a global style home.  Global style is just as multifaceted as any other style.  Some global style homes mix in a bohemian decor while some incorporate vintage style.  Some, like me, have a tropical colonial style mixed with global elements.  So, I’m thrilled to have Corinna of A Designer At Home and Katie Gavigan of Katie Gavigan Interiors to help showcase more decorating options featuring global style.  Be sure to head on over today for more decor tips on global style.

 

How to get the global look in 4 weeks

 

Today, we are all sharing the best advice about global style furniture.  I hesitate a bit talking about furniture.  I have a complete sense of what I’d like to have in my home, which doesn’t necessarily mean I have the funds to do it.  I work with what I have been blessed with and, as Tim Gunn would say, make it work!  So, let’s talk about both aspects.  Making your furniture work for your global style home AND what furniture pieces you may want to start saving for.

 

Global Style Furniture for Tropical/Colonial Homes

My style of global home incorporates several elements including tropical British Colonial home style (very prominent in Caribbean homes),  some mediterranean accents, chinoiserie pieces, and even some African style decor.  I do not limit myself to those 4 styles, but utilize them to inspire other looks.  Generally speaking, my home utilizes predominantly ornate wood pieces seen in the tropical homes with british colonial style.  However, I do incorporate rattan furniture as well.  I was super lucky to find a complete vintage rattan table set on Craig’s list last year!

I use comfy leather seating since my hubs is adamant about having his leather.  I use textiles to bypass the furniture choices he has already made prior to our marriage. Next week we will talk more about textiles.

 

Summer refresh with global eclectic style

Simple table decor for summer

Simplify table decor when using ornate tables

Global Eclectic spring living room from Casa Watkins Living

 

Other Inspirational Global Style Rooms

Though not completely the style I envision, I still appreciate the following inspiring rooms for their furniture pieces and overall global appeal.

 

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exotic-living-room-juan-montoya-design-dominican-republic-200508_1000-watermarked

 

Shopping Global Style Furniture

I like to amp up the color of my rooms, but the furniture pieces from above are generally the look.  Think architecture, ornate lines, or piece filled with character to decorate your home.   Here are a few great pieces to inspire your shopping and are also clickable links to shop.  Note that these links are provided for your convenience.  Should you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you. 

 

 

Creating Global Style Furniture

When you can’t purchase, try creating the look yourself.  I love the look of bone inlay and at the time could not dish out the money for an inlay chair.  Who am I kidding, I still don’t!  It didn’t stop me from transforming a plain chair into a bone inlay accent!  You can see that post here.  I’m currently working on another furniture transformation, which I hope to complete really soon.  I’m going to love that one for sure!

 

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You’d be surprise at how well you can create a globally inspired piece of furniture.  Stencils, paint, and wood appliques can do wonders to transform furniture.  The best thing about global style furniture is that it doesn’t necessarily have to come from the originating country.  Globally inspired looks based on the region or country can also transform your home into a global style beauty!


Homework Time!!!


Try your hand at transforming a piece of furniture this week!  Check out my Get The Global Look Pinterest board for project inspiration.  Whether it’s a simple paint job or just applying an applique, give revamping a piece of furniture a try!

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