10 ways to live in style

6 Breathe new life into old furniture
"I like to blend antique and contemporary," says Sylvie. To do that, she uses a sense of humour and a laissez-faire approach. Her style is to mix unexpected fabrics and splashes of colour with formal design.

7 Play with colour
Colour unifies a house. When choosing a colour scheme, stay within colour families, says Sylvie. "Think orange, red and fuchsia, or blue, turquoise and green." By keeping within those guidelines, you have the freedom to choose between playing with patterns (as is the case with Sylvie's home, where plaids, florals and stripes are mixed and matched) or working with solid colours. Sylvie suggests using different textured fabrics, such as linen and velvet, to bring depth and dimension to a room.

8 Work with white
Whether you're colour-phobic or a fan of intense shades, Sylvie's recipe for picking a palette is sure to work for you. "Keep the background basic," she says. Sticking to one neutral shade, like white or grey, for walls, window coverings and upholstered furnishings lets you play with colourful accessories. It also lends a sense of calm to a space, creates continuity and a harmonious look, and allows you to change accent colours easily and economically.

9 Stick with the traditional
Decorating has as much to do with imagination as it does with consideration. Respecting your home's original character is key. When you do so, not only do you ensure a sense of continuity, but you also create a timeless aesthetic. As Sylvie says of her bathroom, "This look doesn't age, which means I don't have to redecorate for another 50 years."

10 Design restful spaces
When designing a soothing space, Sylvie advises creating a room as "a backdrop." Keep distractions such as patterned fabric, paintings, furnishings and colour to an absolute minimum. Simply put, stick to the basics.
 

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