Think Pink

I am so pleased that my high school days with shades of pink and gray are back again, The new color of the year for both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are new shades of pink. Pink is soft and  feminine and not for everyone but it is fresh and warm,

Seasonal Plantings

This last week in June in the northeast seems to be the best time to get your seasonal planting done for the upcoming summer season. It is probably my favorite time of year because it is the beginning of the Summer season. I love late May and early June. The air is sweet and there is some much beautiful color around. Each year , as most people do, my garden gets better because I learn what works and what doesn't. Also they are constantly coming up with new varieties of plants and new colors so it is a new deal each May. This year I love a few things in particular. One  plant I adore is Ageratum, Ageratum start of small and unassuming but quickly grow and bring gorgeous purple flowers to you beds and pots. They are deer resistant and last until you have to pull them out in the fall. Tuberous Begonia is another favorite. They have an intense rubbery rode like flower that comes in may colors. They are striking and give intense color in a shade environment. Coleus is another shade loving plant. Although they do produce flowers it is intense leaves of purple, burgundy and citrus green that shine. Take a ride to a local garden center this week and get inspired while there is still plenty of stock,

Flooring solutions

Today there are more choices for flooring than ever.  There is hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, cork, bamboo, tile that looks like wood, tile that looks like tile and of course carpet.  It is important that you choose the solution that is the most practical for your needs. I tend to always go for hardwood and engineered hardwood throughout the home with the exception of bathrooms. The big thing today is consistency of surfaces. Don't have too many different types of flooring in one space. Also flooring is often fashion driven. Today we are seeing a lot of grays. Keep in mind that flooring is an investment so I suggest picking something in the middle and not too trendy. It will stand the test of time and help in resale.

All About Lighting

It seems to me with the trend towards more of an industrial look that lighting is becoming increasingly more important in your home. Things like pendants over an island, large drum fixtures and open lanterns with no glass are all the rage. The modern farmhouse look is still white hot and things like Edison bulbs and  chandeliers with wood on them have never been more popular. Here are some recent purchases for my clients homes:

Caribbean Style

A recent vacation has brought me some new design inspiration. I love beautiful color and with the change to a more industrial look we are seeing much more gray and significantly less color. This is not true in the Caribbean. The blues of the water are inspiring. The pretty buildings in pastels of pinks, greens and yelllows are tranquil and the neutral of pure whites with tans are just beautiful. No wonder so many people choose this area to find comfort and relaxation.  One of the things I most enjoyed was being deep in the ocean and watching the motion of the ship cut through the water and create a palate of beautiful shades of blues and gray.

Spring has Sprung !!!

Nothing says the seasons have changed than adding new annuals to your planters, window boxes and flower beds for signify spring. I am obsessed with gorgeous flowers and plants and am always on a quest to find what is new and what is trending each new season. This year I am seeing a lot of unususal bulbs coming up. There are lots of white snow drops and plenty of crocus mostly in purple this season. I also saw an unusual green flower I never saw before. For more ideas on this topic watch Modern Design on Hunterdon Chamber Radio on Facebook Wednesday's 2-3pm.

Master Bedrooms need to be Restful

Studies tell us as much as 40% of the population will have an issue with sleep at one point in their life. I very much keep that in mind when I design or update a master bedroom. Here are some things I try to do. First I pick a soothing paint color with a low LRV (light reflection value). Shades of blues, green, grays and soft browns seem to work the best. Stay away from reds, oranges and yellows. these colors are not restful. Secondly I love couples to invest in a really good Mattress. Third I never use foot boards. If you are tall these are very uncomfortable. forth I put all light on dimmers and have adequate light for reading at the night table area. Fifth I usually  remove wall to wall carpet with a good area rug to give you warmth when you get out of bed but not cover the whole room. Finally I use black out lining in all window treatments to keep light out. Your master bedroom should be a sanctuary.

Wallpaper is all new again!!!

I am so surprised how the millennials embrace wallpaper and the older clients don't.
  I think it's because in the 1970's and 80's people were wallpapering every surface. When those homes were sold the next generation had a very hard time getting all that wallpaper off the walls. It was often because the original installation did not prep and prime the walls for wallpaper.
 Today wallpaper is so sophisticated and prettier than even. It should be used in small areas like a powder room. a master bedroom headboard wall or a fireplace focal wall.
The next time you are looking for a change don't be afraid. Try some wallpaper.

Gray-day-ation

Are you starting to get sick of the color gray? I know I am. When gray first began to get popular it was new and fresh. You saw it paired wit black and it was a sharp look. Then over time everything became gray and monochromatic. I began to miss color. Now we still have gray all the time but at least there are little pops of color. The most popular pop colors now are corals and pinks, teals and spa blues, lime green and bright shades of yellow. I am ready for more color all around. Gray can be nice for a time, but don't forget it is the color of depression.

Beautiful Dishes

I love all types of dishes. I love how special it makes a table look and feel. It may be English transfer ware with pheasants on them paired with amber glass on Thanksgiving or a gorgeous set of Spode Christmas china. Dishes still have a place in our homes and in our hearts.
 These days dishes are most often plain white in round or square. I so like that look, but there are so many other looks for your table. Also mixing and matching are really nice to do.
 Pair that new set of white dishes with a cobalt blue glass salad plate or use a different plate at each chair paired the  same charger plate underneath.

 Soup bowl, gravy boats, salt and pepper shaker can be really fun or really elegant. I have 5 sets of dishes. One is classic white china, but my favorites are actually the inexpensive casual ones I change with each season.

Is there still a place for antiques in a modern home?

Every time I get a chance to go into an antique show I venture in. I love nostalgia and the past. For me it reminds me of my nana  and her beautiful built in sideboard from the 1920s full of depression glass and her collection of Stangel pottery that  held all the wonderful food she created. In current days design has become so modern it seems difficult to find a place for antiques.
I have to say I have always loves an eclectic mix and now that is how people decorate. Antiques are a piece of history. In a simple and sterile environment of white and gray antiques can warm up a space and tell a story. Decorating is balance so just because we are in a phase of clean lines don't forget to include a little history in your story. It makes it interesting and gives it depth.

Winter White

As we begin to take down the Christmas decorations we often feel that a room which was great in November, now seem dull and boring.
 January is a great time to try adding a simpler new brighter look for the next season, The Winter season. Why not add pops of white. It can be pillow and throws, paper whites that you start now, some white washed picture frame. White is simple, bright and refreshing. Keep a basket full of pinecones and stack some white birch logs. This rustic winter white look is quite fresh and will take you through till spring.

Happy Blue Year !!!

I hope everyone will have a safe and happy new year. I am always excited about a new year. I think we will see more color in home fashions again and I am very happy about that. I don't think gray is going away but I feel the pops of color will be even stronger in 2019. Some of the colors I feel will be trending are coral, bright yellow and most of all blue. I already see in my buying lots of blue this year, especially darker shades like royal and navy. Here are some recent examples I found as I was shopping.

The Best of Fall is Now

As I drove to week this week, I could not help but notice that this week is definitely peak for fall foliage. This year is peak is late because of all the rain, but it is rather beautiful. I see a lot of gold more than any other color right now.
As we approach Thanksgiving, it is important that we refresh our mums, change out pumpkins and gourds that have rotted and refresh with some new things before the Thanksgiving holiday. Anything left in the garden centers for fall are clearance, so it is a great time to buy.

Closets,Closets, Closets

In today's homes people are living in smaller spaces again, but with maximum organization. One of the most important factors in living in smaller square footage is having great storage. Closets have become critical these days. A great closet design could change the world. Closets today have wonderful functionality and offer great storage. These closets are often glamorous with chandeliers and wallpaper. It is definitely worth it to get a professional involved today before you take on a downsizing challenge.

Transitional is the New Traditional

Isn't amazing that even well done traditional rooms become dated over time??? They are not supposed to, but eventually everything goes out of style. Interior design seems to change through the decades. In the 1950's American furniture was early American. It was very traditional. In the 1960's we were in the space age so things became sleek and modern. In The 1970's there was a new found interest in ecology and wood was prominent in design. In the 1980's there was a new modernism and a return to contemporary. The 1990's brought new wealth with the inception of the internet and a return to traditional design. Today we have returned to am more modern esthetic. You see the world is ever changing and so goes design.    2018 is a year of great turmoil. We are in a modern phase, yet people are longing for the better times of the past. This is why all the old television shows are rebooting. As such interior design right now is transitional. A blend of modern for technology and traditional representing memories of better times.

Blue and Green just make me happy

If you have followed me on this blog and on social media, you know I love blues and greens. I think they are also timely as they go very well as pop colors for an all gray back drop. I will talk about this look and the best ways to achieve it on my radio show this week. You can go to www.hunterdonchamberradio.com and then click on our show Modern Design. You can also watch us on Facebook Live. Go to my page called Modern Design on Hunterdon Chamber Radio. We are live every Wednesday from 2-3 pm e.s.t and you can even call into our live show @ 908-237-0410.

Switch to Fall

I know it is still warm and muggy outside, but fall is upon us. I think it is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Wonderful wreaths and beautiful pots of mums and fall planting make the yard look new after the heat of the summer. Pumpkins and colorful gourds really help to set the theme. Don't forget  to bring these elements inside as well. Tied up bundled wheat looks great on a sideboard and bittersweet draped across an iron chandelier can really say Autumn.
 For more info on this topic tune in to Modern Design on Hunterdon Chamber Radio. Go to www.hunterdonchamberradio.com and then click on Modern Design. You can also watch us

live on Modern Design on Hunterdon Chamber Radio (our Facebook page). You can even call into our show every Wednesday from 2-3pm e.s.t @ 908-237-0410.

Paint Means Change

Now that we have celebrated the Labor Day holiday and school has started, it is time to get our homes ready for the fall season.  One of the best and least expensive ways to update your home for the holidays is to paint with the latest colors. This year in my own home I have replaced most of my colors with gray or gray like tones. It seems that we are on the cool end of the paint spectrum. I paint mostly grays, graiges, blues, greens, and pure white. When you add these new tones your house will look brighter and also immediately look more updated. For more information on this topic watch Modern Design on Facebook. Our podcasts are live each Wednesday 2-3 pm e.s.t. and you can call into our show live @ 908-237-0410.

Trim and Molding

Trim and molding are probably as important today as ever. Paint colors have really become soft neutral grays and off whites. It is the trim and molding that gives a space visual interest these days. Big baseboard molding, crown molding and chair rails are a must. Built ins and window seats with storage are very popular. Ceiling moldings of all types are really important when you have high ceiling. We are even seeing headboard walls in master bedrooms being treated with decorative molding. Let think outside the box and create some new profiles using molding.