Christmas Time is Here

There is no better time to be creative than the Holidays.  There are so many ways to decorate for Christmas. There are so many design trends that fuel Christmas. This year we see a lot of Birch Branches and Mercury Glass. We also see a lot of metallic this year. Christmas is personal however and you should do what is personal to you. Make sure you put personal things on your tree. make your Christmas reflect your own tastes and style.  The best thing is to visit during the holidays and everyone does something unique and different.  Everyone have a happy and safe holiday and a happy New Year

Christmas Roses

This weeks blog installment and radio show is all about floral accents at Christmas.  There are so many things that make Christmas beautiful.  Things like bunched red roses, boxwood garlands, scented pine cones, wild dogwood branches, holly, paper whites and many others. Take the extra few minutes to add these elements for the season. The beauty and scents you create now will be memories for your holiday

 guests for many years to come.

Woodland Christmas

I ran across a new design resource this week when I was Decorating Moes Bistro in New Providence for Christmas.  It is called Sheppe Garden Center . I was bowled over by their use of woodland or natural decorating for Christmas.  For more info tune into my radio show this Wednesday 12/7/16 @ 10am where I will have them on live www.hunterdonchamberradio.com/moderndesign.

And So This is Christmas

Well here it is again folks. It is another Christmas season. Each year I try to spot trends of the season. This year I see 2 trends. The first trend I see is metallic. I see a great deal of silver and gold and mercury glass in decorations. I also see a lot of Woodland decorations which is very on trend with natural decorating in general. please don't get rid of what you have collected through the years. Just freshen things up by adding some of these ideas to what you already have.

Setting a Thanksgiving Table

This week is Thanksgiving already. Boy did it sneak up on us or what. Here are some great ideas and last minute tips. 1. use what you already have and just add some live elements like small gourds or fall flowers. 2. keep your vases low. You want it to be beautiful, but you don't want to restrict conversation.3. Use bittersweet. It is a vine that is all around it has yellow and orange berries and looks great in flower arrangements or on a side. 4. no product containers on the holiday table. Put everything in bowls, plates or pitchers. nothing ruins your holiday pictures more than the T

uscan milk carton for the coffee. 5. Press your tablecloth and your napkins. It takes a little time but it is worth it. for more tip go to www.mavinhilldesigns.com

Decorating a Restaurant

In my Interior Design business about 30% of my work is commercial.  One of my favorite types of commercial projects are restaurants.  It is great creating a brand identity with what we do. Here is some pictures of a restaurant I am working on. For more info go to www.mavinhilldesigns.com.

Woodland Decorating

I have noticed a trend towards using wood and natural materials in decorating recently. I see a great deal of reclaimed wood in furniture and on walls. I am seeing distressed and white or grey washed wood on cabinets and floors. I see a return of greens and browns as new natural colors in addition to greiges, for the  home . For more information listen to www.hunterdonchamberradio/design

each week for the most up to date tips.  you can listen live or any of the over 200 podcasts.

Green and Brown are new to me

I find that when I shop for accessories I am constantly in a sea of gray. I like gray, but am  looking for the next wave for color.  For me, I have discovered the combination of  green and chocolate brown.  I really like to combination.  It is fresh and very organic.  See if you like some of these combinations.

The Gold Rush

I am in a business that I am shopping for clients all the time. I could not help but notice that I see a new trend brewing.  The trend is the return of gold as a finish is back again!!! That's right, gold is back.  I am seeing it in cabinet hardware.  I am seeing it in accessories.  I am seeing it ever where.  The gold is different

The New Neutrals

It has become quite obvious this season that the neutrals of tans and gray have become all the rage in decorating.  The combination of gray and beige (grage) is all the rage.  I am starting to see are return toward browns and earth tones, but this time it is paired with grays.   For any questions on my design ideas go to www.mavinhilldesigns.com or contact me @ mavinhilldesigns@gmail.

Garage Door Makeovers

Don't ignore your garage doors.  They are often the first thing you see in the morning when you leave and the last thing you see at night when you come home.  Also don't be afraid to paint garage doors a color. In a white or light colored house the garage doors are trim and add contrast. For more great ideas go to www.mavinhilldesigns.com

Take on Fall

Now is the time to transition your house, both inside and out, to fall.  Buy some great mums at a farm stand and use different variations of them in the same color.  Use ornamental gourds and squashes in urns to dress up your front entrance.  Display a great bowl on your dining room table and fill it with mini gourds or acorns.  There are so many inexpensive things you can do to make your house look

 great in this new season

Go Bold

Go big and bold with your design statements.  Instead of doing a lot of little accessories, go bold and large.  Use fewer but bigger pieces in your designs.

White and Black Kitchens Rock

I have been doing white and black kitchens for a while now.  This trend is definitely not going away any time soon.  They can be classic or traditional.  A shaker style frameless white cabinet is your best bet to stand the test of time.  It will also appeal to the most buyer when and if you sell.

Coral is the next hot color trend

Every once in a while a new color comes in and shakes things up a bit.  I am predicting that coral will be the next new hot color.  It pairs well with all the neutral grays that are out there.  It is a great color for spring and summer. It can be bright or subtle and it can be a good paint color especially in dining rooms and master bedrooms.

Navy Blue bedding is popping up everywhere

As part of my ongoing quest for what is trending in home design, I take to the streets.  I love to do my power walks in the malls and downtown store fronts to see what seems to be trending.  This week I noticed everywhere I went I say navy blue bedding.  I love the rich tone!!! It is both traditional and contemporary at the same time.  Even if your bedding in neutral (tan, taupe of gray) you can add some navy and update the look in you bedroom.  Here is what I have been seeing.

Orange is the new black

When you are decorating with a lot of gray, orange is another great pop of color.  It is warm and works well in both contemporary and traditional designs.

The New look in Fresh Flowers and Plants

I am noticing that succulents are becoming very popular.  I see them in shallow dishes.  I see them in decorative pots.  I see them in glass vessels.  They seem to be more popular than even.  I am also seeing white birch logs being used in everything from fresh arrangements to candle holders and planters.  Here are some examples

I am in love with Citrus Green

I love citrus green.  It is a perfect pop of color with all the gray out there.  I went shopping with clients the other day and saw this trend everywhere. I am also seeing it in live flowers and plants.  Lots of white and citrus green together.  Here are some examples