One thing that will inevitably stand out if you get the chance to visit Turkey is the gorgeous architecture. With ancient structures, domed ceilings, gorgeous tile work, use of colour and lets not forget loads of Kilim Textiles. It is no wonder we look to Turkey for some decor inspiration.  

Ceiling of the Hague Sophia

Ceiling of the Blue Mosque

Photo Credit: Nazmiyal Collection

Adding a touch of Turkish style these days does not necessarily mean a trip to Istanbul, although I do highly recommend it! As the popularity of Kilim in the world of home decor has increased so has it’s accessibility. I am sure many of you have noticed it popping up at big box stores and if you haven’t yet, you will after you read this. These hearty textiles, some of Turkish origin, are typically made of wool and cotton in a flat-weave technique to create a pileless finish. Traditionally all natural materials with a durability to last the years.

Photo Credit: Marcelle Guibeau

Colours and patterns are endless and as a result compliment a multitude of styles.

Photo Credit: Jodie Cooper Designs

Photo Credit: N-Project

Photo Credit: Design Sponge

So durable, that they are a perfect choice for high use areas like kitchens, hallways or dining rooms.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Because they are low pile, with pattern and colour abound, Kilim textiles are great for any room and especially for those that love the layered look.

And if you’re an eclectic nut like me that loves odd little treasures collected from around the world then something Kilim could be just what the designer ordered.

Photo Credit: kilimpension.com

If you would like to read more on Istanbul, see my post Turkish Delight

The things that stayed

1. The cedar hedge which offered oodles of privacy.

2. The boxwood hedge that lined the driveway, added greenery and softened the concrete edges.

3. The front flowerbed that followed the curve of the road and again softened the edges.

The things we changed…well now the list gets much longer.

1. We replaced the vinyl siding on a natural focal point of the house with cedar shingles. This added color and texture to the front of the house. To carry the cedar over we did a cedar trim over the door and encased an existing post with cedar boards.

2. We also replaced the vinyl siding on the lower half of the house with stone adding again texture and color.

3. On top of this, we decked out the garage door with a new paint color and replaced the upper panels with windows.

One of the big challenges with the front of this house was drawing the eye to the front door which was set off to the side and under cover.

I made several changes to help bring the eye naturally to the front door.

1. I painted the front door blue so it would visually stand out, but yet coordinate with the stone on the house.

2. I took out a couple of boxwood’s in front of the door and added a flagstone path through the garden area and front lawn to lead foot traffic and the eye directly to the door.

3. The brass hardware and light fixtures were replaced with black. I added a hand forged wrought iron door knocker and a black kick plate. The brass mailbox and an old doorbell were painted black.

4. An old weathered wood and iron garden bench was placed by the front door with a couple of throw pillows to accent the door color. I also added a blue mosaic tile planter.

Extremely happy with the end result and my husband would say “I better be”as we did invest a bit of money in the curb appeal of our home.