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Design Guide: The Source for interior design products, services and fine home furnishings.
Nooks and Crannies: Things That Make Up a Home
An architect from California, Berry Berkus, used to say, “humans love arches.” It’s true, we do. But, we love all special places. We love attic rooms with slanted ceilings, we love window seats, bay windows and clever niches. No one ever walked into a rectangular room with a flat ceiling and gushed, “Oh, I LOVE this space!” (unless it had a special feature like a window wall or something). So, remember to ask your architect or building designer to give you some special places, some special touches. Don’t just build a home that flows well and is attractive from the street. Those things are important, but create something that surprises you and makes your home feel distinctive once you get inside or when you encounter the backyard.
REINVENTED COLOR PALETTE FOR 2012
Light wood finishes, chairs upholstered in vintage grain sacks and dark leather in the central seating area contrast with pastel pillows and custom finished armoires at A. Hooper & Co., a Fort Worth fashion boutique, designed by Gibson Gimpel Interior Design. Farrow and Ball "Elephant's Breath" wall and ceiling color creates a soft ground to showcase the colorful spring fashion on display.
The New Year offers an opportunity to breathe new life into tired spaces. With trends toward lighter and softer palettes on the rise, designers are invigorating this new look by pairing these soft palettes with modern, saturated, bright colors. From the 2012 Spring Fashion Runway shows, to fabrics and paint colors, inspiration can be found in novel and unexpected color combinations. High contrast natural tones and textures mix with industrial materials and finishes to add drama to the design.
The New in Haute Hue: Tangerine Tango
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(items in photo: Cordova Lamp; Formosa Tray Table; Ikat Pillow; Marimeko Napkins; Panton chair; Clairemont Side Table; Draper Stripe Throw; Trina Turk Tiger Leaf Pillow; Thomas Paul Plate; Midnight Stemless Wineglass; Faceted Table)
A new year, and a new attitude, has been officially declared! Pantone has chosen Tangerine Tango to represent 2012. For almost fifty years, industry leaders have relied on the authority to forecast our color culture. Spring lines, within the fashion and cosmetics industry, will boldly introduce this enthusiastic color. The interior design trade has fearlessly embraced the haute hue! Pantone insists the featured shade “provides the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.”
Custom Fireplace Design with Iron Age Studios
More homes are being designed with several fireplaces, as opposed to one. Although fireplaces are only used sporadically during certain seasons, they are one of the main focal points of the room. With this said, it is important to maintain the fireplaces(s)' aesthetic so that it does not become an eyesore in the space. Through several techniques, Iron Age Studios implements beautiful fireplace designs from hand-forged firescreens and tools to custom fireplace surrounds and hoods.
New Year, New Color with Denise McGaha Interiors
As we close out 2011 and look forward to the New Year, I am looking forward to the return of bold color in my designs. The Fall High Point market gave us a sneak peek of upcoming bright colors. With this year being an abundance of bright and vibrant colors, spaces are sure to be lively and one-of-a-kind. Denise McGaha of Denise McGaha Interiors enlightens Design Guide on some great pieces that she will be installing in projects this Spring.
Traditional Rugs From All Over the World
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(Kazak Rug: 5’ X 9’8”)
A lavish rug can make a space appear elegant and grand. Rich in their aesthetic, traditional rugs from all over the world will add character and prestige to any home. Ambiance Home Décor, Inc exhibits some of the most sophisticated rugs of their kind. Ambiance strictly chooses an array of the highest custom-quality rugs so that its incorporation into a space has longevity.
Art Restoration: Preserving History
(Photo of "Landscape" painting half cleaned)
Over the centuries, treasured antiques and art objects have suffered the wear and tear of everyday life. In order to preserve these objects, there are experienced professionals to repair them. Restorers and conservators have been giving new life to anything from cathedral murals to the ashtray you made in art class when you were 5 years old. It takes an amazing amount of skill and patience to be a restoration professional. Laura Pate of Brown Mountain Art Restoration and her tremendous staff have been conserving, restoring and preserving our treasures for almost 20 years. Pate, with a sterling art and design reputation, shares her insight on the world of restoration with Design Guide.
Holiday Design Tips: Customized Christmas Wreaths
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Christmas wreaths are full of symbolism and also bring the spirit of the holiday season to any space. Christmas Wreaths are designed in a continuous circular shape, meaning there is no beginning and no end to the wreath itself. The circle or ring shape has symbolized eternity or eternal life for centuries. Christmas wreaths are a fantastic "finishing touch" to any door, mantel, office, apartment, home, or any space where you want to have a touch of the Christmas spirit. Christmas Wreaths can be as very ornate and festive or they can be classic and evergreen. When deciding what is the best style of wreath for your space, figure out what colors and size you want to work with first. Once you have your idea or ideas then your options are endless. RSVP Design Services guests blogs about how to design a customized wreath.
Holiday Design Tips: "Deck Out Your Deck-orations"
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Whatever may be your family’s holiday traditions, one of the best parts of all is decorating the home to exude holiday cheer! The Christmas tree, many times, is the focal point of many homes during this season. Although the Christmas tree is an important focus, there are other designs you can include in your home to add some vibrant spice to other spaces as well. Give your home a sophisticated lift by decorating for Christmas with this chic color palette and these clever contemporary decorating ideas. Komal Sheth of Spaces Designed Interior Design Studio writes a few helpful tips on holiday-decorating trends and energy-saving tips to make your holiday home even more enjoyable.
Kappa Tablescapes 2011: Designer Table Inspirations
Kappa Tablescapes is a unique two-day event benefiting Dallas community non-profit organizations researched and selected by the Kappa Kappa Gamma Dallas Alumnae Association Foundation, Inc. Its "Tablescapes by Candlelight" event was a magical evening with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Guests mingled and socialized while viewing the elaborate table designs. For the Tablescape Luncheon, attendees heard guest author Betty Bearden Pardee speak about her new book Elegance on the Atlantic: Newport, Rhode Island and her unique perspective on “America’s fine and fabulous”. Afterwards guests dined and enjoyed the whimsical table designs firsthand.
With over 60 decorated tables this year Kappa Tablescapes 2011 was a huge success. Some of our impressive DG Partners Yves Delorme, Charlotte Comer Interiors, Rutherford's, and Boudreaux Associates designed tables for the 2011 event.
