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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.”
Design Success
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Growth. Notoriety. Two key factors in the success of any business. The lingering question: “How do I get more of them?”
"What Do You Call That Style?" with Bulhon Design Associates, Inc.
Frequently, designers are asked what their "style” is, or how they would describe a room in terms of a style, name or label. Sometimes they are at a loss for words because frankly good rooms are hard to label – sometimes, they are just good! Designers know it when they see it and conversely, they know it when it’s not good. The only rooms with a pure style are usually historic restorations. Nancy Bulhon of Bulhon Design Associates, Inc. writes about design labels and the consistent need to categorize a space.
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.
"Tips of the Trade" with PPDS
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PPDS was recently hired to assist a couple in redesigning the kitchen of their new home. The existing layout was impractical for its new owners and was in need of a makeover. Luckily, space-planning is what PPDS is known for! Proving that PPDS excels in projects such as these, they felt compelled to use this project as a way to share “tips” with anyone who is presented with a challenging space. Janna Paulson with PPDS writes an informative excerpt regarding the strategy behind the design.
Kitchen Design: An Elegant and Efficient Use of Space
A popular mixture in interior design is the elegant blending of sleek, clean and sophisticated lines with traditional colors, lay-out, and design. Vertical storage, and custom cabinetry, maximize this kitchen's space to make the design more open and liberating. It's warm, traditional, and romantic color palette soften the design's hard-edged contemporary lines, while its dramatic entry of natural light produces a beautifully revealing space. Read about the design process from the Poggenpohl Kitchen Design Center's own, Jennifer Fordham.
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.
