Are decor trends important?

I am interested in following the latest  trends in interior design.   I need to know these things to have relevant discussions with clients and to understand where the industry is headed.  Many  trends come and go without ever hitting the average home.



Colour of the year is a good example of a temporary trend.  Depending on which paint company your like, you will have a different colour of the year!   I use Benjamin Moore paint and this year the colour of the year is ....

 Lemon Sorbet 2019-60

This is an interesting fact to know, but I doubt this time next year it will make much difference  because there will be a new colour of the year.

 Then there are broader colour trends that seem to last for much longer, e.g., the change from beige/brown to grays as the predominant neutral in home decor.  This type of information  is  more important to be aware of because it produces whole palette shifts in home accessories including textiles. The  change to grays has moved palettes from warmer and earthy  to cooler and cleaner colours.

 Rather than the burnt orange/rust  of the brown/beige  era

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 you will now find  a more true orange mixed with grays.

 Rather than olive/mossy greens of the brown era...

  you will find fresh apple greens.

You can have such wonderful pops of colour with grays and this is reflected in the vibrancy of home accessories available in the market place today. 

 Several years ago I looked for emerald green accessories for a client.  It was almost impossible to find any!  Pantone's colour of the year for 2013 is...

I find Pantone's colour predictions have more impact on fashion and home decor than those of specific  paint companies. This year you will have no difficulty finding emerald green accessories.

 It is important to keep up with trends that will  impact big ticket, relatively permanent products like hardwood, tile and cabinets.  You do not want to select something that will be dated  quickly.  Awareness of these trends does not mean you have to buy into them.  Sometimes choosing exactly the opposite is the the best design solution for longevity.   That is why it is wiser to choose  more neutral  long term items for your home.

Homeowners  who jumped on the dark wood look  for kitchens will probably end up sorry for their selection sooner rather than later.     Extremes rarely work for long periods of time. I predict the patterned glass mosaic backsplash tile that is all the rage now  will have run its course soon too.

 Reynolds Architecture- Northfield, Illinois

That's why classic soft white kitchen cabinets will always work. There are no extremes in this kitchen.   The style is softly traditional, the tiles are plain and the counters are  lighter granite.   I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea.  I am talking about what stands the test of time.

 

Staying with a traditional example, if you don't like white, consider a more mid tone neutral  or  ...

  mid toned stained  wood. 

Stay tuned for 2013 decor trends with staying power. 

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A little red year round

Red  is a great accent colour anytime, but it seems to be even more inviting at Christmas.  All it takes is the merest hint to bring a room to life. It can be used in small accessories, window treatments or furniture.  In all can't be ignored.

A splash of red always works

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What a difference a pillow can make.  Remember to have at least three hits of an accent colour around a room to create movement.  

Black and red are very dramatic

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Red and black is always dramatic, and when your throw a bold pattern into the mix it is even more so. 

Stunning patterned bar stools

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 Red and gray is refreshing.  I especially like this crisp blue red with a white pattern. Three hits of colour is well displayed in this vignette. 

A sprinkling of red

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Red paired with black and white patterned area rug is very eye catching.   What an interesting window treatment for more than one window set close together. Vertical stripes are so commanding. 

Who could ignore red with black and white?

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 Bold black and white again with a red sofa.  Very commanding.  When you are hanging artwork on a striped wall it is best to keep the mats light and the images simple. 

Red and white striped headboard

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A striking red striped headboard with charcoal and white. 

A stunning red console

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Red with liberal amounts of neutral always works.

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Merry Christmas

This year is coming to an end and with Christmas approaching I will not post more in the coming days. Our oldest son is here for a long overdue visit and we all enjoy his presence so much.

We have again much to be grateful for:  Health, peace and prosperity have been with us this past year. We do not take it for granted.
May you all enjoy relaxing days ahead, make plans for 2013 and may your dreams and hopes come true. May life be good!

Wishing you all the best!
Merry Christmas and a happy NewYear!

Victoria






All images by V.Zlotkowski

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Wrap it up

Trying to be earth friendly is an ongoing battle especially at Christmas.   I hate the fact that all the pretty gift wrap ends up in the landfill because  it isn't recyclable.  paper gift  bags work for me and I always reuse  those I receive. I  also purchase fabric bags when I see them and hope the receiver  passes them along to another person. When the last of my gift wrap runs out (probably this year), I plan to use brown paper (Kraft Paper) which you can recycle.  The options for dressing it up are endless. Here's a few nifty ideas to get you thinking about the possibilities:

  Braided wine, a bit of greenery  and a pine cone.  What could be simpler than that?  Wrapping the twine around the package off center adds to the design element.

 What a great way to share old photographs.  Copying them is so easy these days.  

Love how the black satin ribbon looks with the green and the stamped gift tag.  The splash of cedar finishes the job. 

 The name of the recipient becomes the major design element in this wrapping idea. 

  Have you seen the lace tape that is so popular now ? I've been on the look out but haven't found it yet.

Cutting snowflakes from different coloured paper and adding them to the plain paper works to add a spalsh of colour.  Simple butcher twine manages to look elegant with this pairing.

 Who know the pages from old books could make such pretty wrapping material.  You can sew paper to make bags or else glue the edges together.  Adding red string makes it all so festive. You can do so much with so little!

I love this one with red yarn and kraft sticks with holes drilled in them. Of course it is the repetition that makes the design.

 Love this look with red raffia ribbon and strips of black and white printed paper.  What you add between the raffia is up to one's imagination.

 Coloured tape and a button on a string.  How colourful and simple?

 To get this effect I would use scraps of tulle or netting  and then over tie it with twine. 

Wondering what to do with that left over burlap?  Wonder no more.  I made burlap bags years ago to package driftwood Santa's I hand painted.   When you ravel out the tops and include a colourful yarn for tying , it looks very festive.  Burlap will also take a simple stencil using  paint.

 Over wrapping newsprint with burlap and adding a lovely gift tag and pine cones looks very finished and inviting.

 Find the links to these and lots of other gift wrapping ideas on my Pinterest  gift giving page.

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Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

I love repetition as a statement and it is a powerful vehicle for impact  in art and design.  As you get ready for the coming season perhaps  you would like some inspiration. These images illustrate simple, doable Christmas decor with an emphasis on repetition. Of course Pinterest is the go to site now for ideas of any kind.  These and more ideas  can be found on my  Tis the Season folder.

So simple and effective.  I think this works because of its lack of colour and sparkle against the metal tray.

  How simple is this?  Jingle bells, and white candles on a rectangular white tray.  The variations are endless.

  Pick your choice with this one. Greenery with candles or bulbs in sets of three or four.  I think I would stick to one or the other so it would get noticed more.

 Boxwood wreath with slim tapers massed in the middle.  These little candles and holders usually in clear glass are often found at dollar stores. You could also drill holes of appropriate size in a piece of wood and cover it with aluminum foil for safety.

  While this isn't specifically  Christmas decor it offers all kinds of ideas about a similar shelf and a repetition of objects for different seasons.

 Love this idea for over a sofa.  Using those plastic snowflakes you can pick up cheaply and gluing them in a circle with  hot glue.  Velvet ribbon  is a must for the look.

 And don't you just love the repetition of gold vases and two shapes of trees?  Gold is so coming back in vogue. 

 Another set of four but this time using very rustic pots with moss, greenery and candles.

 Lanterns of different shapes and heights can be used with all sorts of seasonal decor.  I think they are handy to have around for  year around use.

 Love white and blue at Christmas.  Add in the sparkle of silver ornaments and the scene is set. 

Remember that you can hang wreaths almost anywhere.

If you missed last year's posts about Christmas decorations check them out here for my house,  for your table,   wreaths,and  mini trees . 

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The Victorians

Some weeks ago we received an unexpected hand -me - down from friends. They had cleaned out their attic and were ready to ship some old, decrepit furniture pieces off to the Salvation Army. But for whatever reason they ask us first if we had any use to fill our house with some more furniture... My husband actually wanted to decline but then asked me if I perhaps should have a look?

You must know, this is always dangerous, for I am known to rescue old abandoned pieces from curb sites, and dig through dumpsters for treasures without a moment's hesitation!  I went over and was confronted with two small, sad looking curio cabinets, literally falling apart, one missing a door in the hinges, tops loose and lining ripped. But I also saw some potential...

What was I to do? I liked them regardless of their situation and in my mind I played out a couple of scenarios.

I'll take them, I told our friends and they were happy when I drove off with them. Problem solved. As I discharged them at home, I was pondering what in the right mind possessed me to get them and what I was going to do with them. They were in no state to be brought into the house and needed serious repair. Which would be expensive, something we could barely afford these days, with a huge bill ahead of us, due to Sandy....
Although I had a fairly good idea where they came from I googled them up. They were indeed about 140 years old English made curio cabinets, for china display or various collections! Not book shelves. Their velvet lining is perfect in its faded beauty to hold on to slippery china.

There they sat, a reminder of my foolishness. Every time I entered the garage they stood there, looking mournfully, silently pleading with me...
I finally spoke to my husband. After all, he put me on their track, he must have known what he unleashed when he asked me to look at them. We decided to have a craftsman looking them over and see what's needed and if there was any hope.
Eric Clingen of Tarrytown Woodworks is a man after my own restoration heart. He is a non-invasive, gentle restorer, trying to leave pieces as original as possible. No need for extensive repairs, he told me. Great, I thrilled inside!
I have worked with him many times before for clients or our own needs. We will glue them back together, clean the fine wood and metal trimmings, we'll leave everything else alone. They will be beautiful! Do you know, the glass in the doors is the most valuable of the pieces? Hand blown... I was happy!
We finally came to a good deal, the price was right and we drove them over to his workshop! 
Yesterday I got them home and after a few trials and errors regarding their placement I found their perfect spot!

I pulled out the few valuable pieces of china I own, things I have had inherited and some I have collected over the years, some Astier de Vilatte and some Meissen.... Some knick knacks and some small pieces I love to see displayed.....

Even the toaster fits right there, close at hand at the dining table....

A few details have to be taken care of, I do not like dangling extension cords for example....
The small painted sideboard moved around and holds now, like many years before, the coffee maker and an additional lamp.

The old chest of drawers, in which I kept my table linens for a few years will have to find a new home, there is no way that I clutter this beautiful dining room with that unfitting piece. I am eclectic, but not messy!

After we marveled at the beauty of these Victorian cabinets for a good while I had the strangest thoughts. You must know, that I come from a family on my mother's side, where wonderful old furniture have been always appreciated, even after the war, when money was short. My parents bought themselves at their wedding an original chippendale dining set, something people were shaking their heads about it at the time, being the sixties and everybody trying to be modern. We love the regal curves of the large buffet, which, until today, holds everything of the china my mother treasures. Christmas displays are highlighted at that piece every year, as far back as I can remember. Do I digress?
Maybe, but hang on! Back to what I was thinking. Now there runs a connecting string in the family, something which also unites me with my grandmother and great grandmother. 
As I finished the set up, I realized, how traditional these pieces looked, something I could perhaps not have embraced a few years ago, when I was younger and wanted to be more contemporary and eclectic. Which still I am I believe. Perhaps this is the first moment of wandering off into the older generation, I thought, laughing to myself.... All I'll need some day (soon?) are admiring grandchildren, which will stand in front of these cabinets, asking about this piece or that, just as I did when I was young and begged my grandmother to share the stories of the pieces behind her glass cabinets, which came directly from the Victorian era, being the time in which she had grown up!
Have I come full circle? If yes, I am happy!
I feel I do not own them, but rather take care of them for a few decades until I'll pass them on, then even older and more beautiful, for they will then have belonged to our family and will have collected memories and carry something which is more then wooden walls and a glass door. By then they'll contain some more stories as well.

I wish I could find out where they have been earlier in their existence and how the ended up on this side of the pond....Who owned them before our friends got them in an antique shop many years back. Who ever had these cabinets, must have loved them too and their spirit is carried on....and well kept with us!

A happy weekend to you all!

xoxo

All images by V.Zlotkowski

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