by lauraadmin | Jul 29, 2016 | NOC
My Summer break is officially over 🙁 I had such an amazing Summer of traveling and relaxing. I am excited to share my experiences from London, Barcelona and Paris in upcoming blog posts. I was so inspired by the beautiful architecture and culture of each place I visited. Oliver Wendell Holmes said ” A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”. When I travel, I feel that each place I visit and each experience I have changes me in the most profound ways. It creates a new filter by which I view everything new and old.
So, its back to reality for me 🙂
It is hard to believe during this oppressive heat wave here in the Northeast, that Fall is right around the corner. Sooner than we would like, Summer will wind down and each day will become just a bit shorter than the last. Soon we will be sailing into September; salty air and sandy toes will be a (not too) distant memory.
Therefore, now seems a good time to preview fashion and home trends for Fall of 2016. Even though New York Fashion Week was in February for the Fall/Winter season, I can never wrap my mind around planning two season in advance while I am still wearing snow boots and a down jacket. Dreaming of Summer in February is the only thing that gets me through the Winter; I refuse to disrespect Summer! It is only right that Fall waits her turn.
Fashion-home decor posts are among my favorites; the parallels one can draw are endless. There have been many times when I am designing a room and contemplating color schemes that I ask myself “would I wear that if it were an outfit?” I draw much inspiration from fashion, and it definitely informs my design choices. There are so many trends I am loving for the Fall that I am making this a 2 part post. Here are the first few trends for 2016 that I am loving:
- Pinstripes– Menswear is always chic. Crisp tailoring and a rich navy are as flattering for one’s wardrobe as they are for one’s home. Navy pairs well with yellow, camel, orange and gold.
Image via Elle
2. Velvet – This textural powerhouse creates a soft sheen that is as beautiful to the eye as it is to the touch. It is a rich fabric that elevates any piece it adorns.
Image via Elle
Ethan Allen Baldwin Settee, West Elm Cross Base Ottoman
3. Patent Leather – Admittedly this is a hard fabric to make the jump from runway to real life. Its glossiness adds a smooth surface that reflects light beautifully. The key to making this look work is to use it in small doses. Picture frames, stackable trays or boxes are a great way to incorporate this trend without making a big commitment (although, a statement piece of furniture is the way I would go with this trend). Pick a classic color such as the cream or black as shown below, to make this trend more employable.
Image via Elle
4. Statement (faux) Fur – This soft fuzzy texture conveys warmth and boldness. Adding fur in unexpected colors adds a fun element to any space. There should always be one thing in each room that people want to run their hands over.
Image from Style Caster – NYFW
West Elm Mongolian Fur stool, Lulu & Georgia Dekla pillow
5. Ruffles – this feminine trend is very flattering if the ruffles are structured and strategically placed. Adding small touches to drapery or pillows is a great way to incorporate this trend.
Image via Style Caster -NYFW
One of my favorite apartments in Paris
Evelyn Drapes, Flounce Pillow
6. Gold Metallics – Gold is my favorite metal. I could (and probably will) devote an entire post to gold. It is warm, compliments every skin tone and gives a luxe feel to any outfit/space. This trend has been going strong for quite a few years now and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. If you are still wary of fully embracing this metal, try using a champagne hued gold which will allow you to still incorporate silver into your space. The list of colors that gold pairs well with are endless.
Image via Style Caster – NYFW
MGBW Pillow, MGBW Vase
Great design can be much more obtainable if you view colors and patterns like you would when putting together an outfit. Pay attention to the scale of each pattern you choose, as well as the intensity of the colors you are pairing. A good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn’t wear it together, don’t pair it together. Most of all, have fun with it. Trends are a guide, not a directive. Choose a classic style that incorporates fun trends in small ways.
I’m looking forward to tackling Part 2 of Fall/Winter 2016 trends.
Let me know what trends for the Fall/Winter that you are loving.
XO
Laurie
by lauraadmin | Jan 20, 2016 | NOC
While temperatures dip below freezing in the Northeast, writing a post on warm paint color palettes could not have come at a better time! Dreaming of sun, sand and all things warm is a nice respite from this frigid weather. This might be my longest post yet; so, buckle up, Babydolls!
I find that warm colors are more tricky to work with and harder to pair with other warm colors. The undertones of warm colors vary so greatly making it difficult to find other colors that marry well with them. That being said, there are a few tips I like to use when pairing these colors together. But first, let’s start with some color palettes and pictures that illustrate these palettes before I launch into my tips. As a caveat, most computer screens and the screens of hand-held devices are all calibrated very differently. This great effects the way these colors are viewed. Please take paint chips home or buy paint samples to try out in the space you are looking to use them (viewing them during both the day and night) to ensure the color is right for you.
The colors below are colors we all know and love with a few updates. Those who follow fashion know that when trends emerge from past trends, they are always tweaked to make them more current; paint colors are no different.
As I stated in my last post on this topic, try to use a dark, medium and light colors in each room adding a pop of color for interest and depth. The palette I highlighted below features Springfield Tan, Yosemite Sand, Rustic Taupe, Nightfall and Cork. A nice combination to use might be to have Springfield Tan on the walls, Yosemite Sand on the ceiling (this would look amazing), Rustic Taupe and Nightfall as your accent color and Cork as your pop.
The room below features sand colored walls with white trimmed box molding and pops of yellow and black. Unless you have a high threshold for color and contrast, it is a good idea to limit your pop of yellow to accent and accessories that can easily be swapped out. Yellow is one of the hardest colors to work with; therefore, when it comes to yellow, muted is best. In my opinion, pastel yellow only belongs in a nursery.
Image via Houzz
Here is a palette using a medium tone beige, a deep brown, cream and cherry red as an accent color. I love this bright, almost pink pop of red. This is a beautiful and more current red than was used 10 years ago. It is bright and saturated, yet still refined. In designing a room using these colors, I would use the medium color, Baja Dunes on the walls; the dark and light color, Fallen timber and muslin, as accents and Rose Parade as the pop of color. The dining room below is a very dramatic use of these colors. This designer chose to paint the walls a very deep shade of brown, with white moldings, trim and mirror. The pop of cherry red is used only on the upholstery, area rug and wall decor.
Image via Houzz – Tobi Fairley Interior Design
The deep brown (almost black) walls looks so rich with this shade of cherry red!
My last palette using warm colors features a color that a lot of people are afraid of: Orange. I can understand one’s hesitation to use this color. When searching through Designer portfolios for images using orange, I found more badly designed rooms using this color, than I did of rooms that used orange successfully. I have a few tips just for this color alone. When using the right shade of orange, in the right places, this color can add a fun pop or add a warm, comforting vibe to your space. The palette below features a crisp white, White Dove; a light beige, Manchester Tan; a rich brown, Brown Horse and a saturated orange, Pumpkin Spice.
Tips for using orange: Use orange in a space that gets a lot of natural light. I would also suggest limiting this color to one wall. Orange is a secondary color, it is a blend of red and yellow. Choose an orange that has more red than yellow in it. Therefore, I would opt for a medium to deep shade of orange over a lighter shade of this color. In addition, when incorporating metals with orange, I would suggest using gold over silver.
The rooms below use this color as an accent color to add depth to the space. They both limit this color to strategically placed pops of orange. The first room uses a deep dramatic brown for the wall color, adding a deep orange throw at the bottom of the bed and orange Hermes boxes on the nightstands. The second room uses a lighter wall color with orange as the accent on the rug and upholstery. Most importantly, the designers of both rooms kept the intensity of the orange (deep and rich for the first, rich and bright for the second), consistent with the other colors in the room.
Image via Houzz-Gary McBournie Inc.
Image via Houzz
Below are my pairings for those of you who like things a little bolder 🙂 These palettes are deep and dramatic. There is much less variation in the intensity of the colors used in these spaces. This palette features Sherwin Williams paints.
Bold Color Pairing-Sherwin Williams
Image via Houzz- Salins Group
Image via Houzz – Leigh Olive Mowry-Olive Interiors
Image via Pinterest – Blogspot
In the image below, I love how this designer created drama using the same color intensity for all colors. Although this room is too dramatic for most people, it is really well done! Green is a versatile color in that it plays well with both silver and gold.
Image via Pinterest – Studio M Interiors
This last room illustrates a classic black, white and red palette. This palette will never go out of style. However, this is a fresh interpretation that I love. Most elements in this room are kept light and bright. The use of black on the window grills adds a dramatic and upscale element. It is as though this designer used kohl eyeliner to line the “eyes” of this room. The designer showed restraint in leaving the window treatments simple to highlight this feature. The red chairs are a perfect use of dramatic symmetry. I am loving this dining room right down to the blown glass orb chandelier!
Image via Houzz-Spinnaker Development
Ok, here are a few tips on warm paint pairings:
- According to House Beautiful, warm colors are best used in south and east facing rooms. South and east facing light is warm and will enhance warm paint colors. To determine what direction your room faces, you can download a compass app on your phone. Be sure to keep your phone (or compass) flat for most accurate results.
- As a general rule of thumb, gold is the best metals to use when accessorizing rooms using warm colors.
- Be cognizant of the type of light you are using in a room with warm paint. Florescent light bulbs (never recommended) emit a very blue green light and will completely change the way your paint looks at night. Incandescent light (most light bulbs) If you have nothing better to do, you can click here for more info on this topic 🙂
I will wrap this post up by expressing my deep appreciation for all of your kind, enthusiastic and supportive feedback. I appreciate each and every comment and private message I have received. This blog is a labor of love, and it is my hope that I am able to lessen the frustration and challenges that arise in home design. Your feedback is immensely helpful and lets me know what you are interested in reading about. Keep the suggestions coming 🙂
xo Laurie
by lauraadmin | Dec 23, 2015 | NOC
Tween boys (and Men) are pretty superficial in the sense that there is not a lot of depth in their hobbies and interests. Their needs are fairly easy to meet. Most conversations vacillate between sports, food & the ability to burp the alphabet. One usually does not need to wonder what subtext lies beneath their words. My husband insists that all of these reason are exactly why Men are happier than Women. I disagree (this is for another post 🙂
When boys are young, the colors used are mostly pastel blue, yellow and green. The palette I use for tween boys is muted and warm with lots of gray and black undertones. Also, the hues are richer in color than the ones I use for tween girls. Tween boys rooms can be just as much fun to create as girls rooms; however, the SAME themes keep emerging; sports, superheros (I amazed by this theme’s longevity) & sports again!! I love the rock & roll theme, the surfer theme and the campy man cave theme (what guy doesn’t love a gilded deer head hanging on his wall?)
Since sports themes are by far the most requested, I created a baseball theme for this post. Ok, I would like to first state: For the love of all that is holy, PLEASE DO NOT PAINT YOUR SON’S WALLS IN HIS FAVORITE TEAM’S COLORS!!!! I know it sounds like a good idea, but it is not. These colors might look good on a uniform, but they do not look good on walls. It is very easy to incorporate team colors in a variety of ways that will let all those who enter know what team your son is a fan of. The key is to use paint to establish the base, and then add colors and accessories to establish the theme. Below, I listed my favorite color schemes for tween boys rooms. I listed the main paint color, a coordinating accent wall color, ceiling and trim color and any other applicable accent colors (either used through paint or accessories).
Below, I created a baseball themed room. The palette is gray, navy & white with brown and red accents. Since the colors are muted in the room I added a lot of texture to add depth. I added a chenille rug, faux fur throw pillow, distressed leather desk and accent chair knit pouf and galvanized metal on the locker style desk and night table. The brown is repeated on the vintage bats hung over the bed, the distressed leather chairs & the hardwood floors. The red accents are picked up in the locker, pouf, pendant lights, throw pillow, art, and bedding. The striped euro shams (I repeat stripes on the throw pillow) and zig-zag drapes added a much-needed pattern. I framed the Yankees and MLB logos to add some “art”, and I added the decal between the vintage bats. I am a huge fan of decals (any more than two is serious overkill). This is such a fun and easy way to add team spirit without commitment. When you are done with it, just peel it off.
A REALLY, REALLY important element that I add to ALL sports themed room are vintage accessories. This is the element that keeps this room looking stylish and well done!!! I can not stress this enough. It is the juxtaposition of the new and old that makes this look successful. The internet has a vast selection of vintage accessories. Although I couldn’t fit it in this frame, I added gray wire cubby type shelving on the left for storage (they are from Land of Nod) to add to the vintage vibe. As I stated in my last post, I really like to add visual tension in the rooms I design. I did this here by adding the single red locker and the zigzag drapes (which is an unexpected pattern to use in this themed room).
Tween Boy’s Room
So here are a few tips on successfully creating a themed tween boys room:
- Keep colors muted. You can create interest by painting accent walls or painting the ceiling (which looks amazing in boy’s rooms)
- Try not to match every piece of furniture. I used the galvanized locker style on the desk and night table. I would NOT also use a locker style dresser. I would have used a painted gray dresser that coordinated with the bed.
- Play with texture. The texture is more interesting to the eye than color.
- Add an unexpected pattern as I did with the zigzag drapes.
- Add cubby type storage. Boys will shove things on or under anything they can. Cubbies (hopefully) keep things off the floor.
The nice thing about this design is that should he decide he doesn’t want a sports theme anymore, you take the wall decor down and the bedding and this can easily be a skater, ski, or man cave theme. Also, your son can take the desk, night table & locker to college, and only the bedding and wall decor need to be swapped out to make this a great guest room.
Kid’s rooms are so fun to create!! Let me know what themes you would like me to create, and I will post on it. Message me if you would like to know where I got these pieces.
XO Laurie
by lauraadmin | Dec 10, 2015 | NOC
Since bookcases and shelves serve as a focal point in a room, it is important to get the styling of them right. They create an opportunity to show all those who enter your home about you, your hobbies, family life and travels. These displays help to put the finishing touches on your home, just as jewelry does for your outfit.
I won’t bore you about the horizontal and vertical planes of one’s home, and the importance that bookcases play in this balance. So, I will jump right into my tips:
- decide on a color scheme (which should coincide or complement the rest of the space).
- keep color scheme limited to 3-5 colors.
- Provide an eye catching backdrop to add some drama to your displays. In the pictures from Houzz and Pinterest below, this is illustrated beautifully. Paint adds a pop of color (robin’s egg blue is my favorite), and wallpaper adds instant texture and dimension to your display.
Tidbits and Twine
Houzz- Erinn V Design Group
4. If your shelves are adjustable, adjust the shelves to create different size openings to add accessories that you would like to showcase. The shelves can be set to different sizes like the first picture below, or can be set to different sizes in a more symmetrical pattern as shown in the second picture.
Houzz-Jamie Keskin Design
Houzz-Brooke Wagner Design
5. Vary the height of the items you put in your display. Keep balance by keeping roughly the same number of tall items and shorter items used throughout.
6. Add some texture to your display. Add something shiny, bumpy, rough, spiky etc… The eye is drawn to texture as much, if not more, than color.
7. Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT CROWD your display. Negative space is a beautiful concept in design!! It is the presence of negative space that allows your objects to shine!
I hope this helps when styling your bookcases! Let me know if you have any questions. There are infinite possibilities in how you can style your shelves. As with my post on patterns, I will post again to elaborate more on this topic!
xo Laurie
