On our drive back to Florida we stopped in southern Savannah Georgia. It was fabulous! I love all the old buildings as they flaunt history and style all at the same time. The Savannah Cotton Exchange building is gorgeous. It was completed in 1887 during the era when Georgia was one of the cotton capitals of the world.
The Old Savannah Cotton Exchange was ranked as the first cotton seaport on the Atlantic as well as being second in the world for cotton production. During this time, over two million bales of cotton were moved through this port per year. The building was designed by William Gibbons Preston, an Architect from Boston and won the competition amongst 11 architects.
Ok…so we all have some dirty laundry to air but now you don’t need to with these fabulous laundry retreats!
Murals instantly transform a space. They take you beyond the walls and into a landscape that visually moves you to far away places. That is the power of a mural!
Add another room to your home by creating a stylish outdoor living space. All you need are some ideas, great fabric prints and a space to call your own.
Shabby Chic Haven
Incorporating white painted furniture always brightens a room while showing off your fabrics. I love how Heather Cameron varied her rose vintage pillows, making this outdoor room feel cozy and romantic. Adding lighting really sets the mood and the crystal chandeliers make this greenhouse very glam.
Whether you have a summer place, cottage, cabin , weekend retreat or beach house, it’s a perfect place for you to play up your personal style and create a themed room. Coastal style is a look for many places as it exudes a relaxed, casual atmosphere that promotes an easy and care free lifestyle. One can easily create an escape with just a few coastal themed items added to the home or go all out and design a nautical space to be enjoyed everyday.
Ever heard someone say “Bold is Beautiful”? Well it certainly comes into play when decorating with pattern. First of all, get rid of that old decorating myth ” use small patterns in small spaces” because we no longer live by those rules. Large scaled patterns are perfect for small and large sized interiors.
Myth #1: Large Patterns are for large spaces.
There are no limits anymore when it comes to design rules. Turn a boring white walled decor into a stylishly bold space by using a large scaled pattern on one wall. I love how the designer took a traditional floral motif transforming it into a grand sized print, instantly creating an urban beauty. The look is simple yet dramatic and reflects how old ideas are revitalized with new technology in today’s design world. Read more..
Fortunately, we in the United States celebrate our most patriotic holiday and the glories of summer on the very same day: the Fourth of July. Rain or shine, indoors or out, a picnic table dressed in red, white and blue offers a spirited reminder of what we celebrate on The Fourth of July. Colored glassware is a tabletop trend, and cobalt blue wine or water glasses fit perfectly with this theme when mixed with various blue and white china to set off a gorgeous table cloth or place mat!
Ever dreamed of driving a car with a pattern on it? As featured in Trendhunter.com hip auto wraps are becoming the trend with automobiles in Europe and Asia. Yes, they are putting pattern to the test. If you live in Sweden, you can choose from over 20 different auto skins for your Volvo C30. Even Lotus was in on the Union Jack trend this year in Europe, creating a patriotic car for the English. China also loves pattern and offers various prints for Volkswagen Beetle lovers.
I love the fact that one can finally branch out and have some fun with pattern outside the home. If your a little more conservative like most of us, why not use pattern to enhance your decor? Pattern adds value to your home while making a personal design statement. Here are a few tips to inspire your decorating whether it be a room, a dresser or even a car! Read more..
Remember the old joke: What’s black and white and read all over? Although that joke, along with its punch line, the newspaper, as well as black and white television, may all be obsolete, the fashion cache of black on white and vice versa is never out of style. Like the little black dress, this distinctive combination reeks of sophistication.
On ABC recently, the classic black taffeta dress worn by Princess Diana at her first appearance with Prince Charles, fetched $335,000 at a London auction. Classics like Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana have encouraged our love affair with black and white through their elegance of style which resonates into home decor. Read more..
Do you get totally overwhelmed and feel frustrated when it comes to mixing patterns for your home? Well let me solve your dilemma! Stop going crazy and start enjoying your decorating experience. Keeping it simple in the beginning is always the best approach when mixing patterns. Let’s start with a few design rules to help you out.
Keep your pattern count to 3. Three sounds like an odd number, it is but it isn’t when it comes to placing patterns together for a visually appealing space.
Getting the look in 3 easy steps.
1. Use a solid colored or tonal colored fabric for the larger pieces of furniture in a room. This highlights the main color you want to feature. (like the lime cushion above)
2. Select a stripe to coordinate with the solid fabric. Stripes add dimension and structure. You can use simple stripes, ticking stripes, loosely painted or wide stripes. It is recommended if you do bring in a multicolored stripe into your color story, make sure it has some of the main color in one of the stripes so it coordinates with the other two patterns selected. In the lounge chair above, the multicolored stripe brings a variety of color into the picture but also features the main lime color of the chair cushions unifying the entire look.
3. Pick an accent print for the third pattern. An accent fabric tells a story and makes the overall design statement. These types of prints can include a novelty print, like the parrot fabric featured above from The Walfab Company, a modern graphic print, a floral, a paisley, a Jacobean or even a damask. What ever you choose, you should love it. Just make sure your accent pattern has some of the colors from your other two fabrics in it to finish the look. Always take your swatches with you when selecting your prints to make sure they all co-ordinate together.
Balance the scale of patterns and colors in a room. Scale should also be taken into consideration when mixing patterns. When you walk into a well designed interior, one pattern should stand out and make a statement. A usual guide line to go by is use one pattern & color scheme for 3/3rds of the rooms space, then another pattern & color for 2/3rds of the room and then the final pattern and color should be 1/3rd. It is important to keep one pattern and color the main focus so to visually ground the rooms decor. A good example of this is in the Traditional Homes interior above by Toby Wells Fairley. Aqua is the main color with the large scaled graphic screen and ottoman acting as the main focus of the room. The patterned curtains in red are secondary to aqua but they add a visual pop to the space, making it exciting and colorful.
Give your patterns some space. You don’t have to use a print in every corner of the room. In the room above the patterns are featured in the center of the room. Sometimes it works better to leave some space around your patterns. Notice again the balance of pattern. Three chairs are in an orange leaf print to one small sofa in zebra and the accent zebra rug. The rug draws the eye to the center of the room. If you can’t live with to much pattern, then use a tone off your fabric or a neutral shade to surround the room in so the main focus is on your favorite prints you have selected.
Mixing prints is Easy. Animal prints are always stylish and they definitely add pizzaz to any decor. This is one pattern that is universal and almost becomes a graphic print. Animal prints can also be tonal and can be considered a plain fabric, acting like a texture. They mix easily with stripes and floral’s.
Mixing prints is fun. Geometric prints, stripes and plaids coordinate extremely well with floral’s and paisley’s. Just remember, when blending various prints, use the 3-2-1 rule when it comes to scale. One pattern should be large scale and the main focal point; then the next coordinating print should be medium sized and then the third print smaller. This way, it is more pleasing to the eye and creates a visual balance amongst patterns. As in the room below by Erinn Valencich, the wallpaper is the larger scale pattern where the pillows are medium scale. Of course, a plain is mixed in to act as a calming agent to the entire look.
So mix a little pattern into your lifestyle today, whatever your style may be! Enjoy!
Images via: omniartedesign.com;traditionalhome.com;decoratingwithpattern.com;jaimabrownhome.com
