You ever flip through a magazine and see a sofa with ten toss cushions on it and think “Wow! How did they do that?”
Here’s a couple of tips for you:
In spaces where you have one accent colour, and you want that colour to really play a part in your design, use multiple patterns, textures and shades of that colour in your cushions.
Continue reading “Pillow Paralysis? How to choose toss cushions!”
All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow
-Leo Tolstoy
“Shadow”. It sounds so dark, exotic, sexy. It’s Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year. And it’s a good one.
Well, let it be said that design occasionally reflects on past trends (dreaded stirrup pants and neon pink t-shirts), but design’s true calling is moving forward: bigger, bolder, inspired and, well, ALIVE, to be honest.
With so many designers being focused on greige the last few years, it is a welcome breath of fresh air that Pantone has released some awesome, bright and, dare I say, happy, forecasted colours for 2016. Not one greige in the deck.
I’m always game when the world of design moves in the direction of good wine. What? Oh, sorry, did I write that out loud? Marsala, a wine produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala, AND, the Pantone colour of the year (#18-438). An earthy brownish-red that is described by Pantone Color Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman as “nurturing and fulfilling…Marsala is a natural fit for your kitchen or dining room, making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home.”
I love doing crafts with my kids. And holiday season gives me lots of opportunity. I also find that it helps me my “control freak” a bit of a break. I mean, there is no way 5 year olds are making perfect ornaments with straight lines and pretty lettering. So it’s a free for all with lots of shiny stick on thingys and crazy paint patterns, and some painted shiny stick on thingys. And once we’re all done, the kids get to help me hang them up. What a joy it is to see the pride on their faces.
Decorating for the holidays is: Fun? Daunting? Mystifying? Stressful?
Got a mixed up family full of: Hanukkah? Christmas? Kwanzaa? Newtonmas? Festivus?
Wanting to make it: Classy? Fun? Youthful? Colourful? Taseful? Cheery? Cozy?
Paint above: Benjamin Moore
Welcome to the new age of design. As the new generation starts to move into their new homes, condos, apartments and swanky lofts, they long for something different than what they grew up with. They want to spread their fashion wings, and let their individuality shine. We spent most of the 80s and 90s saturating homes in greens and burgundies. One of my first jobs, as a designer, was to help a client who spent a fortune on a turquoise leather sofa in the late 80s. Yes, you just read that.
Any designer will tell you, they have a secret obsession with the accent chair. Accent chairs offer us easy and fun ways to fill little empty spaces, create punch in an otherwise boring room, use our favourite fabrics, indulge in a sculptural piece, or repurpose the cutest, sweetest, possibly not even usable, old chair that we can live without. But the insistence that every chair in your house must serve as seating holds us back. As does the misconception that your chairs must “match” your sofa, or your entire dining set. Think of it this way. An accent chair can be purposeful or just visual, funky or vintage, cheap and cheerful or expensive and luxurious. Here are some of my top picks for this season!
Newport style defined: classic design that lends its origins to Newport, Rhode Island, a seaside city along the east coast of the United States. The city boasts beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean, and is well known as a summer resort destination. Not as beachy as Cape Cod, or neon as Miami, Newport has its own niche style. A style that has been coveted by today’s homeowner. But it’s not super easy to create a space, in Canada, that reflects the vibe of this lovely city, while not looking like you’re trying too hard. Design that looks too conspired never truly feels like a comfy home. And if nothing else, Newport style is comfy, calm, organic and natural. Maybe even a little, teensy bit, Ralph Lauren.
It’s back! It’s been back for quite a while, and although most of us associate wallpaper with the 1970s velvet flocked granny papers, modern times have propelled wallpapers into the future. No matter your design ethic, wallpaper can add anything from some simple texture, a splash of colour or an artistic element. Use it to complete your design, add sophistication or even frame it as an inexpensive, yet unique, piece of art.
