KSL Segment - Not Your Grandma's Decor

(click here to watch on ksl's website)

In 2010, a new home décor trend is coming from an unexpected place: your grandma’s house. Believe it or not, there is a noticeable emerging style that revolves around pieces you might remember from your grandmother’s house. It’s a style that, at its core, revolves around creating more comforting spaces - implementing vintage pieces like patchwork quilts, hooked rugs, needlepoint and even chintz fabric. One L.A.- based designer described it well when he said, “more American pie, less flash in the pan.” Today designer Lauren Oviatt is here to break down this trend and show you ways to make this style a part of your own home.

For the last several seasons we’ve been talking about trends like “transitional” and “contemporary” – I’m not saying those trends are going away any time soon; however, those styles may not be as easy to implement as people would hope. It’s easy to look at a stylish glossy magazine photo and fall in love with the décor in the picture; it seems cool with all the sleek finishes, bold colors and fancy furniture pieces. Most of the time, though, we’re working a sofa we’ve had for a while – or – a lifestyle that isn’t so conducive to white linen sofas and mirrored furniture. Having this new trend that reflects back on a comfortable way of living is refreshing in its simplicity.

1. Color Schemes
One of the biggest keys to successfully pulling off this ‘grandma’ style is to be careful of antiquated color schemes. Choose color palettes that have bright pops of color and other more trendy shades, chartreuse, aqua, mustard yellow and coral (not all at once per say). The safest bet is to look for patterns with light or white backgrounds… guaranteed to look current and fresh.

2. Texture
When we speak of ‘comfortable living,’ we immediately picture deep sofas and chairs, soft pillows and cozy blankets. Nothing is more ‘grandma’ than a crocheted throw or needlepoint pillow…don’t be afraid to try them. However, don’t get sloppy. Whereas our grandmas may have thrown a blanket over the back of the sofa or draped it casually over a chair – a more clean approach for today’s homeowner would be to place a neatly-folded throw over the arm of a chair or the end cushion of a sofa, gently cascading over the front.

3. Making it Personal
You may have hand-me-downs from grandma or your own parents that you’d like to display. Make it personal! Displaying heirlooms in your home is not only a great way of remembering the past but also, the items become conversation pieces and create tons of character. Not into antique pictures? Try displaying old clocks, hang plates on the wall in an interesting configuration, or give display space to anything you have a collection of. If you don’t have family heirlooms (or don’t like what you’ve been given), find a way of making your own. Someday you’ll be passing it on to your children.

The key to remember is that this ‘grandma’ style doesn’t have to be out of date. My advice is to try it in small doses – a throw here, a picture there… and don’t throw good design out the window.

KSL Segment - Mirrors

Here is the clip from today's segment along with my write-up(or click here to redirect to the clip on KSL's website). We also had a 'host chat' on upcoming trends from last week's Las Vegas market which was fun. I'll see if I can track down that video as well.

Incorporating mirrors and mirrored pieces into your existing décor is one of the most stylish and easy changes you can make in your space. However, don’t act so fast… instead of hanging a rectangular mirror in each room in your home and putting your feet up, take a moment to get creative and think of different ways to bring those reflective qualities into your own home. Designer Lauren Oviatt shares her expertise with us and will also share the newest trends “hot-off-the press” from this month’s furniture market in Las Vegas.

MirrorsCertainly there are mirrors suitable for rooms of any style, from formal to modern and everything in between including coastal and transitional. Hanging a large mirror over a buffet piece or console table makes an outstanding feature in any room. Rest the mirror on the piece of furniture or consider hanging it a bit lower to reflect the accessories or beautiful live plant you have on display. This will double the size of the display you’ve created and gives a less formal look.

Try hanging mirrors in an unexpected way by grouping small-sized mirrors. This is a dramatic and high-impact look. Creating a grid-like display works best when using smaller mirrors (as opposed to the ‘free for all’ approach). This idea works well on a large or difficult wall where one mirror simply won’t fill the space. The other benefit to this technique: you still get the reflective qualities and wall coverage without being so “look at me”!

Mirrored FurnitureThe use of mirrored furniture is an enduring, classic trend. Mirrored pieces tend to recede while also creating the illusion of more space in any room by reflecting what’s nearby. In the bedroom, use a mirrored nightstand to add a touch of glamour and sparkle. In a hallway or entry, place a mirror-topped console table or mirrored chest that becomes a conversation piece. And if your family room feels heavy due to a dark entertainment center or too many other wood-stained pieces, introduce a mirrored coffee table to break things up.

You’ll love trying different accessories and lamps on your mirrored tables. Any display immediately looks more glamorous and pulled-together. A lit lamp on a mirrored piece will double the sparkle factor and add an ethereal glow.

Mirrored Accessories and ArtBeyond the obvious wall mirrors and mirrored furniture, there are hundreds of accessories, light fixtures, art and other decorative accents that can help create that reflective quality in your home.
Mercury glass is a very popular trend right now. Everything from candlesticks and kitchen canisters to decorative orbs and planters are made from mercury glass and readily available. We’re all familiar with this type of material used in ornaments and other holiday display; but why not use these beautiful things all year long? Add fresh greenery or live plants to your mercury glass display to give it a spring-time look.

Art framed with antiqued glass (called “Eglomise”) is another great approach. These pieces work well in powder rooms and other more intimate spaces where the glow of a chandelier or lit candles picks up that fabulous mirrored quality. Antiqued glass is also being used a lot more in light fixtures themselves. A silver lamp base paired with a dark silk or paper shade is a fabulous and current look, as well as chandeliers that are paneled with mirrors; they give off light even when turned off in the daytime. Keep an eye out for accessories in this type of antiqued glass – it is timelessly beautiful and creates less glare in spaces where you’re going for a softer look.

TIPS:

*Hang a mirror at the same height as a chandelier or pendant to reflect the light and double the impact behind it. Works best in a dining room or entryway.

*Hang a rectangular, over-scaled mirror at the end of a hallway to give visual depth and double the hallway’s length.

*Place a mirror (or mirrored accessories) in a place in your home that doesn’t get much light to immediately brighten it.

*Don’t be afraid to place mirrored accessories in front of a hung mirror or even on a mirrored table. Layer them with books, picture frames or pillar candles or a fresh plant for a variety in texture and color.

KSL Segment - Accessorizing Your Fireplace Mantle

I was excited to put together a mantle display to bring on set and I thought the topic 'designer mantles' would be make a really great segment. Here is the clip along with my write-up. Or you can click here to watch on ksl's website.

Fireplaces are often the major focal point in a living room and usually the feature which commands the most attention in your entire home. But not all fireplaces are created equal! Designers can take a quick glance at a room and instantly fix those little things that make it look incomplete. Today designer Lauren Oviatt will give us tips on how you can make the most of your fireplace -- and -- she’ll show us a custom mantle design she’s created right here on set.

Scale
The single most important thing to consider when addressing the space above your fireplace is the scale and proportion. Do you have a small fireplace with a minimal ledge for display or does your fireplace command the most attention for the entire room? Taking a step back to look at the scale of your fireplace will help you determine the art and accessories you’ll need to make the unit look well-dressed and complete. Consider using multiple pieces of art instead of one gigantic piece if you have a large space to fill. Before shopping, use your existing art and accessories on the mantle to see what works in terms of size and scale. You’ll find certain things will disappear when placed on the mantle while the size of other pieces will suit your vision.



Tip: Do your homework first! Many people find art or accessories they love while out shopping, and then expect them to work simply because they like the piece. Most common errors in design revolve around the improper use of beautiful things. Have you ever said to yourself, “I love that painting, but I hate the way it looks right there!” Take a picture of your fireplace to keep with you on your shopping trips, and better yet, keep useful dimensions written down in your planner for reference when considering that piece of art for your mantle.


Symmetry
Traditional spaces lend themselves to a symmetrical balance, where eclectic spaces are more fit for the assymetrical. If you have a pair of candlesticks you want to use, try them on either side of your mantle… if it doesn’t create the impact you need, put them together on one side and find another object of equal visual width or height to balance the empty side of the mantle.

Reflective qualitiesFireplace mantles are a fantastic place to use mirrors or other reflective surfaces. Your first thought might be to use one large mirror to fill the entire space – what a great look! But if you’re looking for another option, use geometric groupings of smaller mirrors to create more energy and movement. (Use multiples of the same mirror, not mix n’match mirrors please!)



VersatilitySimply resting artwork and accessories on your mantle is a great option for those who have a rock or brick fireplace or any other type of tricky surround. Also, it makes seasonal changes so much easier to manage. Some find that they just can’t commit to that solitary picture year round – I encourage you to use different accessories as your mood or the seasons change. It’s a great way to refresh the space and make things feel new to you!

Celebrating the Season

The Oviatt-Pratt showroom puts on its holiday decor. Stop in and see our new Bedding display but together by Lauren. So inviting that you'll want to climb right in.

KSL Segment - Holiday Decor

Today I went to KSL to shoot my "Alternate Holiday Color Schemes" segment on Studio 5. What a blast. Their studio was all done-up for the holidays and the other guests on the show were doing all kinds of fun cookie treats and other holiday gifting ideas.

I've attached my write-up which appears on the Studio 5 website as a web article. Below are a few pictures from the segment as well. It's a great priviledge (and a personal thrill!) to be on air with Brooke & Darrin and I hope I'll be able to go back again soon.

To go to KSL's site - click here

Poinsettias, Amaryllis, Holly & Ivy, Christmas Trees, Santa’s hat – The holiday season is so easily associated with two dominant colors, red and green. With tradition meaning different things to different people, why not create your own holiday color scheme? Better yet, plan Christmas decorations to work with your existing décor, even if it means breaking from that standby red and green.

Designer Lauren Oviatt shows us three non-traditional colors schemes and gives us tips on how to take what each of us love about holiday decorating and make it a personal reflection of our own style.

Create an opulent feel without overwhelming the space by decorating with a limited color scheme of silver, green, and chocolate. Wrap pieces of wide taffeta ribbon in varying shades of caramel and brown around your garlands and throughout your Christmas tree. Ribbon adds a richness and texture that ornaments never could. Mercury glass ornaments are readily available in many shapes and sizes and are great element in this color scheme – their reflective qualities create the illusion of more light and add that “sparkle factor.” **Tip: Use white poinsettias, paperwhites, ivory candles and other cream accents to soften the impact of the silver while maintaining the look you’ve created.

Blue and silver have always been a popular combination, (think icy winter wonderland) and can easily be carried over into New Year’s Eve festivities. A more modern idea is to use aqua, sky blue, or lime green accents for a monochromatic yet colorful punch. For those who have furnishings in a more cool color palette, blue can be a great addition because it too is “cool” in tone.

Orange is a very unexpected holiday color, but one that is deeply rooted in tradition. Cloven oranges, also known as pomanders, go back as far as wassail. A friend of mine always had an orange in the ‘toe’ of her stocking each year. They make a fabulous addition to wreaths and centerpieces, whether they are cloven or not. Plus, they are in season, so enjoy them & then eat them! Orange paired with cream and green makes for a very traditional scheme, where orange paired with pinks or lime green creates a very energetic and youthful look. It can be fun to have a secondary or kids tree with this kind of scheme.


Other ideas for high-impact holiday design:
* Use lots of greenery and metallics. Be creative and place left-over ornaments and greenery in a decorative container for a fabulous and easy centerpiece.
*Collect something you love. Much of the fun during the season stems from annual traditions ranging from collecting pinecones outside in the yard to shopping for a new ornament each year.
*Combine multiple ribbons for interest. Use either different textures in the same color scheme or varying colors in a similar style. Try them tied around your wreaths, packages and garland for a cohesive style from room to room.
* Embellish what you already have. Year-round accessories can be punched up and highlighted by adding ornaments, holly berries, or sprigs of leftover evergreen.
* Group items for impact. A silver tray that rests on your coffee table is the perfect place for an assortment of candles, ornaments, or holiday magazines and books.