Tag Archives: decorating

It’s Design Showcase house time again

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Every year many communities across the country host a Design Showcase house and, many times, the funds earned from ticket sales support a local charity such as a children’s hospital, symphony etc. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know your local designers and view their talents along with the talents of craftsmen and suppliers in your area. Many of the items used in the showcase house are for sale once the house closes, sometimes at a very friendly price! Following is a list of some showcase homes. If there is one in your area, grab a girlfriend or two and spend a fun afternoon soaking up some beautiful inspiration. Top it off with a great girl’s lunch, a delicious glass of wine and, in my humble opinion, you have a perfect day!

West:

San Francisco–April 30-May 30, 2011.  www.decoratorshowcase.org

Pasadena–April 17-May 15, 2011.  www.pasadenashowcase.org

Denver–April 7-April 17, 2011. http://www.denvershowhouse.com/about.html

East:

Atlanta–April 16-May 8, 2011.  www.decoratorsshowhouse.org

Dania Beach–Jan. 19-July 15, 2011.  http://www.dcota.com/#/special-events/

Palm Beach–Jan 19-Feb-19, 2011. http://american.redcross.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=101667

Florida–Febr.26-March 18, 2011. http://chsdesignershowcase.org/

Tulsa–April 29-May 22, 2011. http://www.tulsadesignershowcase.com/

South Carolina–http://www.csolinc.org/events/2011-designer-showhouse

Kips Bay NY–dates not yet determined.http://kipsbay.org/show-fundraiser.php?id=199

Dayton–April 30-May 15, 2011. www.dpva.org

I hope you see your home town on this list.  Have fun and if you have any information about a showcase house not listed, please be sure to share it in the comments section below.

OFS Book club–It worked for Oprah so let’s try it

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There are so many wonderful books on the market that pertain to interior design, interior decorating, history of design, choosing colors, how-to’s..you name it, there is a book written about it.  I thought it might be fun to introduce you to a new decorating book each month.  Like I said, if it worked for Oprah it can work for us.

This month’s book club choice is “My Passion for Design” by Barbra Streisand.  This book chronicles Barbra’s building, designing and decorating of her Malibu compound and includes all the trials and tribulations that went into creating this amazing space.  The photographs are beautiful and the text is down to earth.  You will see a home full of historical collections matched by no other, beautiful fabrics and furniture, as well as a home that is filled with personal photos and memorabilia, just like yours and mine. 

Take a sneak peek into how the other half lives and enjoy this book.  It also makes a wonderful gift (or so my friend who received it from me says).  Enjoy and please share any decorating book ideas you may have.

Hanukah holiday decorating

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Hanukah comes early this year, December 1-9th.  If you have not already done your Hanukah decorating, now is the time to bring out all those treasured linens, decorations and, the star of the season, the menorah.

Blue and silver are the colors most often associated with Hanukah.  There are many opinions on why these colors but the most popular thought is that they are the colors of the Israeli flag.  Whatever the reason, they are lovely colors that can be used during the holiday and beyond.  Add pillows, throws, candles and vases to your home’s decor.  Mercury glass is very popular this year and is fitting for the holiday.  Check out these items from Pottery Barn.

Hanukah is called the Festival of Lights so bring on the lights.  Add sparkly white lights to indoor plants or group several battery operated strands inside a hurricane for real drama.  Small strands can also be placed under a tablecloth to add a magical touch to your holiday table.

Decorate the mantel.  In place of stockings, hang a mantel scarf and decorate the shelf with your collection of dreidels, menorahs and gold coins.  Simple mantel scarfs can be made from felt or other fabrics and DIY instructions can be found here.

Hanukah is a time for families to gather and enjoy old traditions, introduce new ideas and celebrate their beliefs.  Decorate your home to reflect your family’s time honored traditions and add a new “touch” here and there just for fun.

ABC’s of Decorating: “O” is for ottoman, organdy, outdoor fabric etc.

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I could not come up with just one decorating topic that begins with the letter “o” so let’s just review several popular items.

  1. Ottomans:  We have discussed this very versatile piece of furniture many times.  You can review the latest blog post here.  But they are so popular it bears repeating.  An ottoman can be used as a soft place to rest your tired feet, as a multi-functional coffee table, as an additional place to sit or as a “filler” piece of furniture in a hallway or odd corner.
  2. Organdy (or organza):  This very pretty fabric is most often associated with wedding gowns or baby’s christening outfits but it can be used in home decor as well.  Some ideas might be a tablecloth for special occasions such as bridal showers or formal dinners, a topper for a bedside table in a romantic bedroom or a pretty canopy over a crib.
  3. Outdoor fabric:  This durable and versatile fabric has come a long way since the days of stiff, dark green fabric.  Today’s selection offers a variety of patterns and colors that can work just as well indoors as it does outdoors.  It is fade and stain resistant and can resist moisture and mildew making it the perfect choice for a busy family room or playroom.  But the colors are so pretty that you can use it in any room in your home and no one will know!
  4. Etc.:  Let’s think of other design ideas that begin with the letter “O”.  Orange, overhead lighting and organization come to mind.  Can you think of any?

ABC’s of Decorating: “N” is for numbers

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Have you noticed all the home decor accessories and fabrics that are featuring numbers and letters lately?  It seems to be everywhere from numbered canisters for your kitchen counters to toss pillows for your bedroom.  This is an easy and affordable trend that you can use in many areas of your home.

  • Cover a set of numbers in fabric of your choice to hang on a child’s bedroom or playroom wall.  Very cute and educational at the same time.
  • Embroider a favorite or meaningful number onto canvas, add some trim and you have a personalized and special pillow for someone in your life.
  • Stencil numbers onto glass jars to create a fun and graphic storage idea for your pantry.
  • One bold number on a lampshade is an unusual idea for any casual room.
  • A lap quilt featuring squares of numbers provides a cozy blanket to curl up in while watching Sesame Street and children can match the numbers to what they see on television.  Love this idea!!
  • A set of numbered pillows on the family room couch eliminates the fight over who gets what pillow during tv watching time.  The graphic pattern also adds a contemporary punch to the room.
  • There are small spheres and vase fillers of marbles with numbers painted on them.  These can be gathered and placed in a large bowl for an interesting conversation piece on the coffee table.
  • Add your favorite number to a gallery wall.  It will add interest to all the frames and photos you are displaying.

Many of these ideas are DIY projects that you and the family can do together.  It is a fun trend that does not take a lot of thought or money to implement into your decorating plans.

Fabric: Fuzzy, funky, fun faux fur

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Wow…that sure is a mouth full!  But faux fur is making a triumphant return to popularity in both fashion and home decor.  Here are some ways to use this very fun fabric.

  1. Fur and hide rugs are very popular but can be expensive.  And no one really wants to place a REAL fur rug on their floor these days.  Warm up a cold bedroom or bathroom floor with a faux fur rug.
  2. Create a throw for the foot of your bed to snuggle up in during an afternoon nap.
  3. Sew a sleeveless vest (remember Sonny & Cher in the sixties?) to wear over jeans this winter.
  4. A faux fur scarf tossed around your neck will show everyone how fashionable you are.
  5. Toss a couple of fluffy pillows on your family room sofa.  This is a fun way to introduce this trend into your decorating without going overboard.
  6. For all out glamour, cover an ottoman in a rich looking faux fur for your den or family room. 
  7. Impress your guests with a fur covered bench at the foot of the bed in the guest room.  It creates a cozy spot for their bottom when they are tying their shoes or getting dressed.

Holiday decorations, costumes and theatre productions can all benefit from the use of this fuzzy, funky, fun faux fur fabric.

ABC’s of Decorating: “L” is for loveseat

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There is often some confusion as to what a loveseat really is.  Is it just a different name for a couch, is it a small sofa, is it a large chair?  It is, actually, all three of these.  In some neighborhoods the word couch and loveseat are interchangeable.  In other neighborhoods a large chair and a half is often referred to as a loveseat.  But the most common usage of the word is to describe a small couch or sofa.  A loveseat is a small, two seater sofa that is shorter in length than a standard couch but the back, arm and seat height can be the same as a full size couch.  This versatile piece of furniture has many uses in your interior decorating:

  1. Obviously, in a small room a loveseat will provide seating but take up less wall and floor space.
  2. Flank a fireplace with two matching loveseats to create an intimate conversation area.
  3. Combine a couch, chair and a loveseat in your family room for maximum seating.
  4. In place of a bench, place a loveseat at the foot of your bed.  This not only provides a spot to tie your shoes or curl up with a good book but it also offers the opportunity to introduce another fabric to the room.
  5. For a sophisticated and chic look, replace two chairs with an upholstered loveseat in your dining room.
  6. A home office can double as a guest room with a loveseat sleeper sofa. 
  7. Teenagers feel very grown up when you furnish their room with an unexpected piece such as a loveseat.

No matter how you define it, don’t overlook this versatile piece of furniture when you are decorating your home.

Home decor: 5 quick fall decorating ideas

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Summer is officially over.  My only question is “Where did it go?”  But I can already smell a bit of fall in the morning air and feel a touch of autumn chill in the evening.  While there are many ways to bring the loveliness of fall into your home decorating here are just 5 quick ideas to get you started.

  1. The good old standby–new throw pillows.  This year choose warm and cozy fabrics like suede, velvet and chenille or patterns like plaid and checks.  Don’t forget to add trim to raise the cozy factor.
  2. Replace your candles with colorful rust, orange, gold and green colors with scents like pumpkin pie, evergreen, mulberry etc. 
  3. Even if your kids are all grown up, showcasing a collection of “first day of school” photos or those school pictures we all had taken, is a fun conversation starter and you will enjoy the memories they evoke.   You can display these on your entry way console, the kitchen bulletin board or console table in the family room.  Choose frames with a warm finish such as rubbed bronze, burnished brass  or wood to add to the autumn feel.
  4. Line the walkway to your front door with luminaries to light the way as the sun sets earlier.  You can use battery operated candles with a timer so they automatically come on.  Purchase small lanterns or use old glass jars filled with glass chips from the crafts store.  Place a small tealight inside and voila!  you have a luminarie.  These are a nice change from the landscape lights normally used.
  5. Place a beautiful wreath made from natural materials on your front door.  I prefer a simple grapevine wreath with no adornments.  You can make your own or purchase one from many sources such as your local home improvment store, craft store etc.  Pinecones, corn husks, natural vines and berries are all suitable for fall.

There you have it….5 quick tricks you can do in just one day to welcome the changing season.

Home Decor: Shabby Chic is baaack!!

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Several months ago I wrote a post on the design elements of Shabby Chic.  This style has been popular for many years but had fallen out of favor a bit.  Well,  it’s back but in a less feminine and more sophisticated way.

Like many businesses around the globe, Rachel Ashwell, the original founder of Shabby Chic, became a victim of the economy.  In order to save her floundering company she has reinvented the idea of shabby chic design and made it more appealing to both men and women by offering rustic yet sophisticated decorating ideas.  Elements of shabby chic today include:

  • Rustic furniture.  Gone are the distressed white pieces so familiar to the original shabby chic design.  Today’s furniture is weathered and beaten and shows signs of use.  Finishes are rough and very often gray in color.  Anything reclaimed or repurposed will fit into this category.
  • The “girly” pink and green floral fabrics have been replaced by luxurious faded velvet or rough natural burlap and linen.  White slipcovers are still a staple but appear on more structured furniture and not quite so sloppy. 
  • While feminine pink colors are still part of the design plan they are strengthened by other colors that include soft aqua and celadon green and if you look closely you just might spot a bright fuchsia stripe.
  • Natural fibers are important to this look and appear in raffia, cane and rattan.  Unpainted plaster walls are a nice contrast to gleaming stainless steel appliances in a kitchen any man would be happy to own.

It appears that Shabby Chic design has grown up and caught up with the sophisticated, back to basics style that both men and women are seeking today.

Fabric: P. Kaufmann Fabric

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With so many choices when it comes to fabrics I think it is nice to know a little bit about the companies that provide these fabrics. 

For over half a century, P. Kaufmann has provided the design industry with exquisite fabrics.  Their line includes P. Kaufmann Contract (for use in public areas and any place where durability is necessary), Pk Lifestyles ( an informal line in partnership with Waverly) and Braemore fabrics (a bit more upscale collection of fabric).  With all these choices you are certain to find just the right pattern, color and weave for your interior decorating projects.

Braemore Spring Green
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Need a pattern to liven up your space?  P. Kaufmann offers stripes, dots, paisley, floral, animal prints,geometrics, plaid and toile.  Right on trend, any one of these patterns would make beautiful window treatments including draperies and valances as well as throw pillows. 

P kaufmann Bangal Jet
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If a comfortable weave is what you need for your upholstered pieces be sure to check out their selection of woven chenilles, faux suede or thick and inviting matelasse. 

Whatever your decorating needs are right now, P Kaufmann is bound to have just the right pattern and color for you.

P Kaufmann Brewster
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