Time to Change

              I love living in the north east.  I think it is great that we experience all 4 seasons.  I also believe that the transition between seasons should be reflected in our homes.  Although it was 26 degrees when I woke up this morning, it is actually Spring now.  I think this is a good time to make subtle changes in your home to reflect the passing of time. 

            Now is a great time to add the color green to your home.  It could be through fabric like pillows or throws for the couch.  It could be through accessories like candles or potpourri. It could also be by adding live plants and fresh flowers to your home.  Let's celebrate Spring, even if it is only 26 degrees outside.  Maybe our simple gestures will help improve our mood and start the transition to warmer days ahead.

Sometimes you just need texture

          I am often in clients homes and talk about the importance of texture. When I bring this up most people have no idea what I am talking about.  Texture is a way to create visual interest in a space without having to add color or pattern. Texture can come from fabric, from paint or wallpaper.

       I happen to love wallpaper, but I find most of my clients are afraid of  it.    They visualize lots of fruit or flowers and shiny outdated style.  Wallpaper can be that, but it does not have to be.  I always tell people a balanced home will have a variety of wall finishes.  I often suggest mostly solid painted walls then a little bit of faux paint and some wallpaper. Wallpaper does something that faux and regular paint can't do.  Use it sparingly and it can really be dramatic.   Powder rooms and  dining rooms are great places for wallpaper.  Use a grass paper or one that looks like linen.   You now have texture but it won't be too busy like a print might be.

   Panel drapes are another area for texture.  Use a thai silk, a linen or burlap type fabric.  Here are some examples of texture. Add texture and you will always look good

New Year New You

When the Christmas tree comes down in January and the doldrums of winter begin to kick in.  this is the best time of the year to change your home.  Not only is labor cheaper, but why would you wait until the weather is nice to work inside.  I hate putting away all the holiday decorations, but I hate how the house looks post Christmas even more.  That is why every January I take a good look at my home and do a small project.  It keeps my head out of the refrigerator and keeps in occupied.

You don't have to spend much money.  I would start by moving your furniture around.  Put your bed on an angle or switch your living room furniture around.  You will find it will make you feel different.  The next thing I suggest is to paint.  Paint is magic, I have said this many times.  You don't have to paint the whole house.  You can paint the ceiling or an accent wall.  Just a little new color can really make you feel different.  I also like to start plants in the winter.  Get some bulbs and out them in you kitchen window.  you also can buy some great supermarket orchids or flowers.  these things will give you a lift through the cold dark winter.  Take advantage of this time of year to change your life and change your home

Christmas is not just Red and Green Continued

I also love to take old things and re invent them at Christmas.  I have used ornaments that go back to the 1950's mixed with new ones.  I have an antique sleigh with modern branches next to it.  I think you need to make Christmas personal.  I love to drive around during the Holidays just to see what other people have done.  It the homes that do things I would never think of that I appreciate the most.

Christmas is not just red and green

             I must apologize for not writing in a while.  I have gotten extremely busy at work, but will promise to keep blogging on what I discover as I run my design business.  This time around I want to talk about Christmas decorations.  I have always felt that you Christmas decor should work with your home decor and colors.  There is nothing wrong with red and green, but there are some many other interesting options.  In additions to interior design, I also to event designing and seasonal decorating to businesses and private homes.  I love to use non traditional colors and elements to decorate for the holidays.

            One of my clients is a fish monger with an upscale gourmet market.  We did all his decoration in blue to represent the ocean.  Blue and gold with greens are very attractive

Seasonal Planters bring color to your front door

 May is the time of year where we begin to transition into the summer season.  One of the best ways to add color and visual interest is with seasonal planters filled with beautiful flowers and plants.  I recently had to add interest to a new home.  The front door was white and there was no door mat or pots in front ot the door.  I believe that even a beautiful house looks dull without color at the front door.  The first thing we did was paint the front door a beautiful brick red.  We then added a black iron front mat to match the color of the shutters.  The house was now balanced with color, but it was till lacking visual interest.  That was when I went looking for interesting planters
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  First you will need to pick a container.  There are so many to choose from.  You can do clay pots or urns or zinc planters.  You can use colorful painted pottery or very contemporary tall modern brushed nichol containters.  My rule of thumb is have the style of planter match the architecture of the house.  Don't put neon green containers in front of a center hall colonial.

 Once the pots are picked you will need to fill them.  As of late, I have become very creative with what I fill my pots with. You don't always have to use flowers.  I have done pots with ornamental peppers, with grasses.  I have even used lettuces in a decorative way.  Try to think outside the box.  The best thing you can hear from someone is how did you think of that?  Or, do you mind if I copy that ?

 In my clients case, we chose square planter boxes made of wood.  I had them sprayed in a high gloss black finish so they would contract with the front door.  I then put a spike planted in the center of each planter box for height .  In this case, I chose to do an unusual combination of reds, purples, and oranges.  I combined flowers vines and foliage.  I have to say it looked great.  Be creative this spring and do something unexpected with your flower pots.  If you do a really good job being different you may start to see your neighbors copying you.  I guess then they won't be so unual after all.  Oh well at least it was your idea first, Happy Planting.