Tag Archives: greek key

Can U spot the trends? in room by Colorado Homes & Lifestyles

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I know summer is waning and this room is kind of summery but it is so pretty I wanted to share it.

Room designed by Emily Minton Redfield, art by Matti Berglund, courtesy of Colorado Homes & Lifestyles
High Quality Photo

There are many subtle trends in this space.  It just goes to show you that you can enjoy a trend without it slapping you in the face.  Here is the list…see how many you spotted.

1.  The first one that caught my eye is the use of honeysuckle pink in the armchair..very nice

2.  Brass accents can be found in the lamps, drawer pulls, coffee table, furniture hardware and chandelier.

3.  Turquoise is still showing up in many rooms but it is used sparingly here in throw pillows.

4.  Bold floral prints are a big trend for 2011 and you can find it on throw pillows on the sofa.

5.  White painted furniture remains a popular trend.  Here it is found on the frame of the chair, side tables and the sofa.

6.  A mix of furniture styles makes a room feel collected over time and less like a “designer” room.  This room includes antiques, an asian flair, a modern touch in the metal items as well as traditional designs found in the sofa and yellow chair.

7.  The greek key design has been around for centuries but it has been popping up in room designs for the past couple of years.  It is used as an accent on the draperies in this room but you will often find it used as metal accents on furniture, trim on upholstered pieces etc.

All in all, I think this is a lovely room that can easily move into the upcoming fall season with just a few accessory changes.  For example, switch out those summery pillows for some made out of a golden velvet that has been trimmed in the hot pink; toss a cozy throw over the yellow chair and add a floral centerpiece made up of mums and sunflowers.  All of these changes will still coordinate with the custom artwork but look warm and inviting.

Can you spot any trends I missed?

How to stay cool and find decorating inspiration at the same time

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It’s too hot to decorate, don’t you think?  Who wants to sit in front of a sewing machine or work hard at painting walls when summer time is beckoning outdoors.  So I thought I would cool you off with some photos that are cooling and refreshing and maybe we can find some decorating inspiration while we look at them.  So grab your drink with an umbrella in it and let’s go….

Primary colors are always a popular choice for summertime, family room or contemporary decorating.  And that cool blue water is this year’s color, turquoise. 

Green remains popular for many reasons.  But take a look at this backyard retreat.  Notice how cool and inviting all the greenery is with just a pop of bright yellow color.  You can do the same thing in the interior of your home.

Blue and white is a classic color combination.  And in this photo another classic, the greek key motif, has been used.  You can translate all of this to your interiors.  Imagine that same border on your living room draperies….lovely!  As you can see it is easy to find decorating inspiration even while you are relaxing.  So refill that drink and enjoy the summer.

Home Decor: Geometric patterns to update your decor

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Interior decorating trends come and go.  Who can forget the mauve and blue of the eighties?  Thankfully that is a trend that went.  But some trends can stand the test of time and are used year after year after year.  Graphic patterns are a good example of this.  Many of these patterns are historical in nature and inspire modern day designers to interpret them for use in today’s homes.  These would include the very popular greek key motif, lattice designs, quatrefoil and geometric forms like octagon and pentagon.  You can find these designs in fabric as well as wallpaper, area rugs, accent pillows and bedding.

  • The dictionary definition of the greek key pattern goes something like this…horizontal and vertical lines connected in a continuous maze…..can you make head nor tails of that?  It is, in fact, a border design that has been found on ancient Greek temples and the clean, geometric lines are a popular design in wallpaper and fabric borders used on draperies, rugs, pillows etc.  The sample picture  above will help you to identify this pattern.
  • You may not be as familiar with the quatrefoil design, which mean four leaves in french.  So, basically, it is a four leaf clover.  This ancient pattern is commonly found in both gothic and moorish architecture.  The simple yet softly curved lines look lovely in a rug or wallpaper pattern and stylized versions can be found in fabric and trim.
  • On to Geometry 101.  An octagon is an eight sided motif and a pentagon is a five sided motif.  Both of these patterns lends themselves to linear designs that work beautifully in a contemporary home or any space that needs a bit of updating.  This rug, available at www.wisteria.com, is a fine example of using a geometric pattern (octagon) in home decor. 

 

Other geomteric shapes include stripes, zigzag and circles.  Any of these patterns will add a modern touch to your home.  All of the fabrics shown above are by Robert Allen and can be found on our website at http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/robert-allen-fabric/robert-allen-fabric.aspx