Interior Design "Defined"
A newsletter that keeps you informed of current trends in Interior Design and related fields. |
It's almost December already and Christmas and Hanukkah will be here before we know it. There are celebrations, parties and seasonal events to plan and attend, many a trip to the mall or to various websites for online shopping, and holiday decorating to be completed. How can you get thru this time without a total meltdown? Take the time NOW to make out lists of people to buy for, items to purchase, decorations to pull from storage, etc. No detail should be left out! Break down these details on a calendar and spell out what needs to be done day to day so you can get right to the task. With everything you need to do written down, you can relax and rely on your lists to get you through the next month without the frazzled nerves. |
 Deck the Halls with....classic holiday decorating ideas
Keep it simple, keep it green (with greens) combined with a color (deep green or red) or the sparkle of silver or gold. It could be a small evergreen tree in a pot, surrounded by silver balls and an added touch of wired sheer ribbon. How about placing a fragrant rosemary tree or several on a mantelpiece. Bring in some rhododendron branches and tuck in some gold balls or garland. For the dining room table centerpiece use greens, ribbon, balls. Add a lot of small LED tea lights in votive holders for an elegant feeling or tea light candles floating in a glass bowl or in a number of bowls. The best warm holiday feeling comes from the fragrance of greens, herbs, and a few aromatic candles throughout the house. |
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 Going Green....literally!
Bold colors are very popular now. People are developing a more sophisticated understanding of what color can do and are getting more adventurous in their choices. The internet has brought global inspiration and "green". In fact one designer stated that "green is going to be the new black" because it is the basic color of the environmental movement and it is so universally accepted as a classic color. Greens, blues and neutrals are the leading colors. Bright happy hues can lift our spirits and neutrals can calm us down. Color is emotional. Color is powerful. Color can change how people feel in their home environment. |
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Finish with a Fillet  Would you like to bring a touch of elegance to a room? This idea came from an English blog on the Great Houses. It involves placing a "fillet" around doors, windows and baseboards - a great detail to bring to a room. A fillet is a narrow strip of fabric, metal or gilded wood that outlines a room and its architectural features. It adds detail without bulk especially if architectural detail is minimal. It can be a thin fillet of plain giltwood, probably ¾" in width. Pick up the trim from your local lumber store, paint with gold paint or silver and glue or tack in place. You could also use grograin ribbon to achieve a similar look. This might be great fun for an elegant bedroom or a little girl's room. |
 Going, going.......green Eco-friendly paint
Getting confused when looking at qualities of paint? I just answered an inquiry on what paint to use when repainting and realized how many new names are on the market. For Benjamin Moore there are the familiar Regal paints, the new Aura paints for durability, the Natura Zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) interior paints and Eco Spec, a high performance product with low environmental impact. Sherwin Williams offers Duration, an acrylic latex, low odor, low VOC environmentally responsible formula and Harmony, also acrylic latex with zero-VOC formula with anti-microbial properties to resist mildew. Farrow & Ball's paints are all water based, eco-friendly and comply with the latest VOC content of paints. I would recommend a satin finish for walls and semi-gloss for woodwork.
Benjamin Moore
Sherwin Williams |
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More details on these topics can be found on the Abbott Interiors Facebook page  . This will be updated frequently and include additional items. Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to get together for a consultation.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Samuels
Abbott Interiors
617-332-1100
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Issue 6 November
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