Global Glamour at Home

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Photos: Century Furniture Ltd.

 Whether you love to travel or just dream about exotic, far away places, bringing global touches to your home can let you live the adventure without ever packing a suitcase or having to buy a plane ticket

International glamour is easy - you can create an exotic mood with colour, textiles, furniture, art and accessories from around the world by incorporating a few global pieces into your existing decor.

Global glamour begins with an exotic colour palette. Use colour to recreate the mood of a favorite region, perhaps Mexico, Greece, the Mediterranean or Asia. From the vibrant palette of India to the muted hues of Mexico, colour can stimulate a memory while it carries cultural significance.

Around the world, colour is used to embrace religious beliefs. For example, in many Asian cultures red is the colour of good luck, power and wealth while, in Africa, white is used to signify a close relationship to the supernatural. Allow vibrant fabrics and patterns to inspire your palette - don't hold anything back.

Every region has its own unique palette. Mexico has the terracotta of its clay pots, Cuba has salmon pink, India has its vibrant oranges and hot pinks, Greece has its Mediterranean blue and white and China has its rich red and lacquered black (Paint tip: add 2-3 tablespoons of brown paint to every gallon of colour. The brown will tone down the colour and create a softer, more livable hue).

Sensational, handmade fabrics from around the world add sensuality to a room. Drape pieces of exquisite hand woven cloth across a dining room table or upholster a favorite pair of armchairs in Kilim rugs brought back from your travels. Kilim and Dhurries rugs also make wonderful floor pillows.

Chinese silks can be used to make bedding or drapery panels (hang them from lacquered rods or bamboo poles), and beaded and embroidered fabrics from Morocco can be made into throw cushions. Indian saris make wonderful drapery panels, while Batik sarongs and hand loomed rugs can be hung from decorative rods and displayed as wall art.

With respect to furniture, we must often look at a piece not from its traditional use but simply from a design perspective. Use global pieces within your rooms in ways that celebrate their beauty and cultural integrity.

Perhaps, try a hand carved African stool in the powder room, or use a pair of stools as bedside tables. Incorporate a Tahitian drum as an end table, an inlaid Syrian chest at the end of a bed, or a Chinese armoire as an entertainment centre in the living room. If your rooms are pretty basic, a unique piece of culture may be the spice you are looking for. A basic contemporary room comes alive with the addition of a piece of African tribal artwork. Add an Asian Buddha to the middle of the traditional Chippendale dining room buffet to stimulate an appetite for exotic flavours. Global dreams can be inspired by using a Chinese screen or an intricately carved piece of teak as a headboard, or by draping exotic fabrics over your night stands.

Candlelit lanterns, global incense and perfumes will provide exotic fragrances that will help you create an exotic ambience and complete the global experience in your own room.

The secret to designing fabulous rooms is to add an element of the unexpected and to appeal to all six senses. There are many places to find global pieces right here at home. Scour yard sales for discarded travel treasures. Check out auction houses, flea markets, local sari and fabric shops, China Town and the Internet (beware of shipping prices before you purchase an item through the Internet)

Give your rooms a global perspective by combining traditional western pieces with a subtle, but exotic touch of global glamour.