I Pin, Do You?

I Pin, do you?  Where was life before Pinterest?  I remember now. It was wasting time right-clicking, 'saving as', and choosing a folder where photos go, never to be seen again and never to be sourced.  It was bookmarking a list so long that who cared and who could remember!  I just wish I could have an ipad the size of a giant life-sized pinboard (4'x6' would be nice) that I could put up on the wall in front of my desk at our design studio. Like in those futuristic movies with life-size touch screens.  Now that would be inspiring.

Here's hoping Pinterest is never shut down by the government or my life could fall to pieces.  It'd be like losing my planner in high school. It was my LIFE. Pinterest isn't my life, but it has turned me into an insomniac - darn you, Pinterest app.

Studio 5 : Designing Naturally

Click here to watch video on Studio 5's website - you can read the article there too.

Today so many home trend magazines, catalogs and retail stores are highlighting furnishings and décor that feature the lighter side of the color palette - giving the spotlight to more natural features that seem to eliminate all the fussiness of high-drama decorating. These spaces are often called ‘calming’ and ‘restful’ but sometimes border on, shall we say, boring? Today Designer Lauren Oviatt gives us five no-fail tips to creating fabulous and memorable spaces when heading into “neutral territory.”

In neutral décor, details become the color
When we think about cleansing the palette of a room, so to speak, we are taking away any colors that are too vibrant or strong. Where does the eye go now? The best designers know that design is truly in the details, especially when it comes to neutral spaces. Focus in on the smaller elements of your furnishings and accessories… a leading edge banding on your drapes, the nailhead detail on your sofa or the pleated skirt on your accent chair. It can be a beautiful tassel or fringe on a pillow, the ribbon banding on a lampshade or a subtle placement of ‘found’ objects arranged on a coffee table tray. Paying attention to these details will be the greatest payoff in your neutral space.

**Tip to keep things hip : try to pick details that continue your aesthetic – this will make the details noticeable and not jarring.

Beware of the various shades of neutral
Ever tried to find the color called “white” in a paint deck or the store display?? Doesn’t exist. Just like there are a thousand shades of white, there are also many shades and tints of neutral colors like tan, camel, tobacco, khaki and dove grey, French grey, cool grey, etc. The list goes on. I absolutely believe that layering different neutrals will enhance the character of your room, however, you must pay attention to the undertones of these colors. Adding too many layers of non-harmonious neutrals will muddy your color scheme and defeat the idea of creating calm in your space.

**Tip to keep things hip: A bold and trendy color combination is warm camel with cool grey… you can mix cool shades with warm – the trick with this is that the camel color is rich and deep and the cool grey is a much lighter shade. Contrast is key.

Use nature’s neutral
I am so into greenery! It works in every space no matter your style preference. If you have a love affair with cut flowers like I do, keep a small vase on your sofa table to make the room inviting. More lasting investments would be potted houseplants in your favorite watertight basket or ceramic container. Ever consider a live tree in the corner of the room…? I love this idea because you can only place so many objects in a room or on the walls before it becomes cluttered. Fresh elements like trees, plants and flowers are a terrific way to soften the objects around them while only enhancing their presence.

**Tip to keep things hip: don’t let your pothos swag across multiple pieces of furniture! Keep stems and leaves clipped and neat near the container’s edges.

Think natural elements
With the exception of synthetic fibers, most home décor fabrics come from nature… linen, cotton, velvet, silk, wool, jute and many other readily available fabrics and materials come straight from the ground. Again, think about the details here and get creative using natural, textural elements. Using these different textures will add layers of interest and depth to the space that nothing else ever could. Soft wool broadloom underfoot, silk or taffeta drapery (a personal fave!), cotton velvet pillows and every woman’s bare necessity, a luxurious cashmere throw over your sofa … can you see where I’m going with this? We are creating a space you’ll never want to leave, and we’re only talking texture so far!

** Tip to keep things hip: Edit down to the details and keep things looking neat. It’s like taking off a piece of jewelry before you leave the house. 

Light isn’t just the palette here
I always like to inject a bit of glamour into my clients’ spaces, and when it comes to rooms where the palette is neutral, special consideration must be paid to how light comes into the space. If you have floor to ceiling windows and ten-foot ceilings, lucky you, but many spaces have few windows, natural light coming only from one side of the room, standard eight-foot ceilings and other normal obstacles we all face. I am a huge proponent of incandescent secondary lighting like floor and table lamps, wall sconces and any other light fixtures that have dimming capabilities. Usually when a room “feels good” it’s because it’s well lit and inviting, no matter if the furniture budget was $1,000 or $100,000. Another way to bring light into the space is to bring in mirrors. This tip is as old as the book and works wonders especially in small spaces. Not just wall mirrors but mirrored trays, mirrored furniture or decorative glass objects can instantly add detail and that sparkle factor to a room while visually brightening and expanding the space.

**Tip to keep things hip: Place mirrored accessories directly under or near the light in the room – it creates a stunning look and shoots more light across the room.

KSL Segment - Five High-Impact Decorating Ideas

Great segment today.  I loved pulling this together because there are some elements of design that might be considered secondary... today we gave them front-row treatment.

You can watch the segment right here by clicking the window below, or click here to redirect to the video and article on the Studio 5 website.

   

Florals & Greenery

This time of year aren’t we all dying to bring some bright pops of color into our homes?  From picking up a bunch of tulips at your local grocery store to putting together a more lasting ‘preserved’ bouquet, both fresh and ‘faux’ arrangements add much-desired color and life to your space.  You don’t need a designer sourcebook … it’s easy to find flowers and plants in many shapes and sizes at your local market or garden center.  The best part is – you can customize your selection to fit both your personal style and color palette. 

Drapery

Valances and cornices are great, but I’m talking about floor to ceiling drapery here.  One of the quickest ways to add impact and drama to any space is by installing full-height drapery panels on the windows in a room.  They have an instant ‘coziness-factor’ and add a softness that can’t otherwise be achieved. This is one area where designers know – you get what you pay for.  Spend a little extra time choosing a luxurious heavyweight fabric (note: I didn’t say dark color) and make the smart choice to have them professionally lined and constructed.  You’ll never regret it.

Silver Accessories

While we’re on the topic of no-regret decorating… let’s talk about silver accessories and similar home-décor details. Metallics seem to be the continuing hot-trend, however, sterling silver pieces are like the dependable big brother and create a very similar look.  They are a classically traditional choice that will always be fashionable to display.  Think about collecting sterling silver frames and small jewel-box accessories to display together.  Consider adding eye-catching details like new polished nickel hardware on furniture or built-in cabinetry or shiny new bathroom accessories grouped on a modern silver tray.  Your eye will be drawn to the shiny hits of silver all around the room.

Wallpaper

Nothing creates more high-impact than wallpaper these days.  So often we see photos of stylish rooms designed with at least one wall devoted to some serious wallpaper patterns or similar stenciling.  Talk about drama! I think this trend is a much-needed replacement for the ‘accent wall’ of the 90’s. Do : wallpaper in small doses but maximize the impact by choosing a bold stripe, geometric or floral.  Don’t : wallpaper or stencil every room in your house just because it’s on-trend.  You’ll scare off the neighbors.

Paint

Re-painting any room is an easy and surefire way to add impact.  Paint selection is one of the most important decisions you will make when pulling a room together and can easily make or break any space in my opinion.  A well-chosen wall color makes everything in the room sing while the wrong color choice has a horribly negative affect on both the furniture in the room and the people who live there!  My tip here is test, test, test! Paint swatches on all four walls and check the color at all times of day and especially under lamp light at night.  Paint isn’t permanent, but it can be a time-consuming process so do your homework first.  Log on to Oviatt-Pratt & Associates’ Facebook page for six of my favorite foolproof paint colors.