Getting Decorating Ideas from Stately Mansion Interiors

I love the TalkFaux.Com website. I peruse it every chance I get just for ideas and information of my own. Recently, a discussion was formed on getting ideas from mansion interiors. This is nothing new to me since it's been those fabulous interiors that have been my inspiration since I was a little girl.
Visit the VictoriaLarsen.Com website for inspiration, techniques, and unique Raised Plaster Stencils, Ornamental Walls molds.

It started with my mother and the books on ancient art and architecture that kept me engrossed as a child. Sitting under the kitchen table (the only place I could find peace and privacy with 5 brothers and sisters), studying the pictures with great intensity.

As I got older, I dreamed of having a stately home as those pictured in some of the decorating magazines that featured mansions.

My first visit to Los Angeles, California further excelled the desire for such surroundings and my hunt began for ideas to incorporate in to my own decorating to mimic those luscious interiors.

So what if your home is small, in a normal suburb, and you have little money to invest in a high end decorator who could help you achieve such beauty? You copy the ideas in the photos you find. Yes... it's that simple because most of what you see, you can achieve yourself.

It's not the actual furnishings I gravitate to when focusing in on a particular interior that I love... it's the detail, the color, the lay out, the architectural elements in the room.

In this photo of the Pabst Mansion, notice the cast plaster ornamentation on the ceiling and walls. You can do this by casting ornamental wall molds with plaster of paris, spreading joint compound on the back and holding them to the ceiling. They will bond in just moments and then you simply paint them the same color as the ceiling. These room photos show you lay outs of plaster that you can use as a guide to lay out your own wall and ceiling designs. Yes, it takes awhile to cast enough pieces to create such an elaborate design, but wouldn't it be worth it if it's that easy to do? Heck yes and would it ever add to the value of your home. But even very simple designs over doorways or windows (as in this photo) accomplish a similar feel with much less work.

The soft color of the walls are offset by the dramatic red used in the room. The chandelier lends to the feeling of elegance as does the contrast of the paintings and area rug.

The Hornbrook Mansion dining room is one of my favorites. The walls have been painted a neutral brown then a stencil has been used with soft metallic paints (probably diluted with transparent wall glaze) to create a damask pattern. This patterned look coordinates with the pattern on the chair fabric (which could also easily be done with a stencil!).
Architectural wall frames are applied to the walls to create detail. These can easily be achieved with our Cast Plaster Wall Frame Set Mold and plaster of paris. Plaster of paris is VERY inexpensive which results in each complete frame costing under $4.00 to create.

The "Executive Mansion" dining room features muted dark blue walls and again, ornamental plaster ceiling and walls for architectural detail. No matter what furnishings you use in a room like this, or details you might add, everything suddenly looks elegant and expensive.

The "Executive Mansion" living area features a  cream colored background (walls, ceiling and carpeting) with tones of gold and brown to create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. Again, architectural wall frames are used to create detail and interest with curves being used in the furnishings and window treatments to offset the straight lines of the walls.

I will always be drawn to mansions (and you see a lot about them in my posts) and that is because no matter how little money I may have, or how small my home might be, I can develop a decorating style that gives my home that same "stately" beauty that mansions have. So can you.