Eclectic Accents

Many of us grew up with pretty simple rules of thumb which dictated the ways in which we learned to decorate our homes. 

Window treatments were, for the most part, traversing pinch pleated draperies, and were hung, on the window trim, at 84” off of the floor.  Furniture was almost always lined up along the outside walls of a room, and everything matched. 

A typical living room consisted of matching sofa, loveseat and chairs, matching end tables, and matching lamps upon those tables.   Most bedrooms looked like they were created from the same mold, with a bed that matched the nightstands, that matched the dressers, and so on.

Well, times have changed!  Decorating styles today revel in well-chosen variety, and the results have made our homes so much more interesting, to say nothing of being far more reflective of our individual personalities. 

A major factor in this trend is the preponderance of wonderful accent furniture.  Conveniently, with the addition of today’s array of unique accent pieces, you can work around many of your existing furnishings to spice up your home’s décor, and still achieve a wonderfully fresh look in your home. 

Although a supporting player for years, accent furniture has recently taken the spotlight as a real star in home décor.  Certainly, it still serves the purpose of providing interest in an already functional room, but more often these days designers are using accent furniture for many more of their furniture needs.

Gone are the days of the matching suite’s dominance.  In fact, the prevailing consensus holds that the matching suite of furniture is a somewhat dull design option.  Intriguing designs in a wide range of price points make accent furnishings the perfect choice for those homeowners seeking a change.

If you usually play it safe by having everything match, now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and dare to be eclectic.  In the living room, if you have matching tables, chairs and lamps – divide and conquer. 

Remove one or two of your wood tables and replace with a glass-topped, iron-based table.  Add a single ottoman or a chair covered in a dramatic animal print.  Eliminate one of a pair of table lamps and substitute with a stately floor lamp.  If all of your upholstered furniture sports the same fabric, break the monotony by recovering one or two pieces. 

When stuck with a suite of bedroom furniture, you can make a striking difference by changing the bed.  Introduce a sumptuous padded headboard or an impressive iron canopy bed.  Break the set of night tables and replace one with a rectangular skirted table, a round-tiered table, or a painted chest. 

In your dining room, replace the two end chairs with fully upholstered ones that are of a different style and color than the side chairs.  Or eliminate the breakfront and replace it with a beautifully printed buffet and a grand mirror. 

Foyers are also an ideal area in which to have some fun with accent furniture.  Choose a gorgeous round foyer table on which you can showcase a dramatic botanical arrangement, or a unique console table with shelves to display some treasured collectibles.  

Wherever you choose to experiment with a little more variety than you’ve had in the past, allow yourself to step outside of the “everything must match” box.  Let loose with a little whimsy, drama and eclectism in the use of accent furniture; you’ll be glad you did!

Painting 101: 8 Simple Steps

Well, the robins have been back for several weeks now, and the bullfrogs are once again providing us with daily music from the backyard pond, so spring must truly be here to stay.  It's time for many of us to fling open our windows and let the fresh air in.
For many of us, that means it's also time to put a fresh coat of paint on some of our winter weary rooms, so let's take this opportunity to brush up on our Painting 101.

Painting a room is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project, but it's important to know and follow some basic guidelines in order to ensure good results.  We can fairly easily summarize these guidelines into eight steps.

Step #1: Know what you're getting into.  Although painting itself isn't difficult, you need to take into consideration the size and configuration of your room, the condition of its walls, the associated disruption of the room's arrangement and function, and the time that you have available to do the job.
Also, understand that 50% of your work is going to come before you ever open your can of paint, and another 10% comes after you close it.  For most people, the fun part is that middle 40%.  If what follows doesn't seem fun to you, stop right now and consider hiring a professional.

Step #2: Select the right materials.  This step includes color selection, primer and paint type (brand name, quality level and sheen level).  Keep in mind that not all paint products are created equal, and that you really do get what you pay for.  Understand as well, that sometimes you're paying for the advice and expertise of the person who is recommending and mixing your paint, and that can be money well spent.

Step #3: Select the appropriate equipment. At a minimum, you'll need a paint pan and liner, good quality brushes and rollers (appropriate to your wall's texture), a drop cloth, and painter's tape.  If it's a very large job, you may also need power equipment and scaffolding.

Step #4: Properly prepare your walls.  This is the biggest part, and the one that most people try to cut corners on.  Begin by protecting the surrounding area.  If they're not brand new, clean your walls thoroughly with TSP, and rinse.  Be sure to read all instruction on any of the products you're using, and pay heed to recommendations for proper safety precautions.
Here's the part that I personally dread.  Next, mask off anything attached to your wall that you don't want painted (woodwork, light fixtures, etc.) The pros can do an amazing job of 'cutting in' around these adjacent surfaces to your walls without taping them off, but I don't recommend trying that yourself, unless you have plenty of experience, patience, and steadiness of hand.

Step #4.5: If your walls are new, stained, or have had a dark color on them, you'll need a primer.  And if they're damaged, you need to repair problems before priming.  Do not skip these things, or you'll regret it later.  If your new paint is a bold color, ask your paint retailer to mix a tinted primer for you.

Step #5: Now, you finally get to paint! If you're a novice, start in an inconspicuous corner until you get the hang of loading your brush or roller just the right amount.  You want to have enough paint to cover well, but avoid dripping and splattering.  Use your roller for the wall's large, open areas, and a brush or pad for cutting into the corners and other tight spots.

Step #6: Paint again.  Once your first coat is thoroughly dry, look carefully to see how well it covered.  For new walls or bold colors, a second coat is almost always needed, and most often will improve the look on even lighter or neutral walls.  Follow directions on the can with regard to your product's drying and recoating times.

Step #7: Clean up.  This step isn't my favorite, either.  I love all the disposable brushes and roller covers that are available and can make clean-up a breeze, but unfortunately they're not very good quality, so this step alone is a good enough reason for me to hire the job done. 

Step #8: Touch up.  Conduct a final inspection of the room when all the paint is completely dry, and touch up any areas that got missed, or where your color went where it shouldn't have.  It's a good idea to store at least a small amount of your new paint somewhere handy, so that future nicks can be touched up easily and quickly.

Now, enjoy your new look and the freshness that paint brings to a room!

Spring 2010 Top Ten Design Trends

            If you are thinking about doing some decorating in your home this year, you may be interested in the hottest home fashion “must haves” from last month’s High Point Furniture Market.  More than ever, homeowners are looking to their home as a haven and want it to reflect their individuality, so here are this spring’s top ten design trends in the home furnishings industry, to help you accomplish just that.

            1) ECLECTIC ACCENTS.  The #1 Direction in home furnishings, eclectic accents bridge the gap between the elegance of traditional and the informal comfort of transitional and soft contemporary styling.  This is done by mixing various elements and accessories from different periods and styles, rather than being confined to one definitive “in the box” style.  Versatility was evident in all the showrooms, with something for everyone who is looking for fresh choices.

            2) SUBSTANTIAL AND MASCULINE.  “Tall, dark and handsome” would be an appropriate description for the plethora of home furnishings with a bold sense of masculinity.  Clean lines and chunky proportions prevailed among furniture styles.  Leathers, tweeds, plaids, oversized ottomans and handsome recliner chairs were in abundance.  Leather covered armoires and desks were particular standouts.

            3) BOLD BEDS.  No matter what design—four poster, canopy or sleigh—bed proportions are predicted to be bigger and better than ever.  Elegant bed coverings were featured everywhere, as were large plush chaise lounges.  The strong trend toward cocooning was definitely apparent here.

            4) HI-HO SILVER.  The Midas Touch has turned to silver, replacing gold as the #1 choice for a luxurious finish.  Silver will be more prominent in the traditional areas such as accessories, but look for it to pop up in fabric weaves and trimmings as well.  Bronze and copper finishes were also strong, especially in antiqued and distressed finishes.

            5) BLACK IS BACK (AND SO IS BROWN).  Always a fashion favorite, black is back in a big way.  A touch of black was evident in almost every showroom in lampshades, tabletop accessories, frames and bed coverings.  Black and white in harlequin diamond patterns and in French toiles were seen everywhere.  Rich warm browns in all coffee shades made a strong showing as well.  Paired with the metallic touches mentioned previously, the look was irresistible.

            6) MIXED MEDIA.  Accent and occasional tables were an exciting mixture of materials which made each piece seem distinctive.  Leather and iron, wood and glass, woven reed, hammered silver, stones, and even papers---all combined for the intriguing look of eclecticism.

            7) TOUCHABLE TEXTURES.  Highly textured solid and woven fabrics, chenilles, tapestries, velvets, supple suedes and leathers have overtaken prints as the newest ‘feel good’ fabric trend.  Even the cottons are ‘sueded’ to impart a look and feel of comfort and luxury.

            8) PIZZAZ WITH PATTERN.  As a result of texture being more prominent in fabrics, pattern is taking off in floor coverings and accessories.  From needlepointed, hooked and chain-stitched area rugs to patterned and beaded lampshades, there seemed to be no end to the variety available.  Animal prints were still in evidence, but to a smaller degree than in recent years.  Ethnic touches were strong, with exciting accessories from all over the world featuring vibrant colors and patterns from Morocco to India, China to Turkey.

            9) MIRROR-MIRROR.  Mirrors are popping up everywhere.  On table tops, on walls, even on armoire doors; it seems we just can’t get enough of ourselves.  Small mirrors on easels for table tops to huge framed mirrors that rest on the floor and soar towards the ceiling were all interestingly framed in myriad materials and shapes.  Even tiny mirrors embroidered into silk fabrics sparkled to catch the eye and the imagination.

            10) DECORATIVE HARDWARE AND TRIMS.  Dramatic and innovative, decorative drapery hardware featured a variety of unusual metals and themes which add tremendous visual interest to window treatments and upholstered furniture.  Tassels and trims were embellished with beads and crystals for additional elegance.  Pillows and lampshades were enhanced with feathers, chenille fringes, and carved wooden beads.

             As the largest furniture and accessories market in the world, High Point is a fantasy of the latest products and design in the home furnishings industry.  Look to the direction and forecasting from High Point to ensure that your investment in home décor will be on target and timeless.

A Guest Retreat

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The ornament of one's house is the friends who grace it." Whether the friends who grace your home as overnight guests are a beloved set of grandparents, an old college roommate, or a friendly out-of-town business associate, it's likely that you want to be able o provide them with a wonderful guest room getaway.  Creating a welcoming retreat which will make your guests feel comfortable, relaxed and pampered goes a long way towards ensuring that their visit will be enjoyable for both of you.

How you decorate and appoint your guest room is a very personal choice.  It can be an enjoyable undertaking and a confusing experience at the same time.  The best way to start, as with any decorating project, is to define the style that you want to use and the overall feeling that you wish to evoke in the room.

If you find yourself having difficulty getting started, consider things that make you feel relaxed and nurtured.  Look through wall covering books, magazines, and fabric swatches for inspiration and color direction.  Think about your favorite rooms, either in your own home or someone else's, and figure out what it is about those rooms that appeals to you.
Decorating a guest room presents the perfect opportunity to do something that is a little more unique, thematic or whimsical than what you are inclined to do in the rooms that are used on a daily basis.  It's a chance to express your passions and share the things that bring you joy.

Do you have a favorite tropical vacation destination? Bring a bit of that home with you, by creating the look and feel of that paradise in your guest room.  The resort look has found its way into homes not only along the coastlines, but inland as well.  Popular for its relaxed style and a touch of British Colonial formality, rooms in this genre appeal to visitors.  Bamboo furniture and palm frond motifs found on accessories and fabrics exemplify the look.  Soft sage greens mix with neutral beiges, and a sprinkling of clear reds, blues, corals and earthy browns tie together a tropical color scheme.  Resort-style rooms are light on accessories and rely on one or two strong pieces of art to complete the look.  Rich pillow trims and small wicker pieces can add a touch of sophistication.

Guest rooms are also the perfect place for showcasing family history and heritage.  Choosing a historical theme not only inspires a gathering of heirlooms and photographs, it also invites guests to learn more about you and your family.  This about this: What collections have family members accrued?  Are there garments that hold special meaning, such as a great-grandmother's wedding gown or a favorite uncle's military uniform?  Think about displaying these in the guest room, then add a treasured chair or table along with photographs which can tell the story of your family's culture or adventures.

Would you prefer to treat your guests to a step back in time and across the ocean, by creating an Old World retreat?  The look of a European getaway can be achieved with a dramatic bed canopy, tassels, faux-finish wallpaper, and a bold Jacobean print accented with at least five different complimentary prints on the bedding, pillows and window treatments.  Mount a dramatic architectural element such as a fountain, plaster relief, or a piece of decorative iron on the predominant wall for maximum impact and a real touch of Old World class.

Whatever decorating style you decide upon, it is paramount to keep in mind the need to convey a welcoming feeling, comfortable accommodations and amenities that will make your guests know you are glad to have them in your home.