Interior Design "Defined"
A newsletter that keeps you informed of current trends in Interior Design and related fields. |
The winter doldrums are the time to really look at your home, clean out closets, drawers, and change accessories. Do this one room at a time. Bring in a few boxes to hold items and begin to sort. Reorganize cabinets and put some unused items away in storage or prepare to donate to Vietnam Vets, Salvation Army, etc. Removing accessories and then putting them back one at a time will give you a chance to see how this changes your room. A mind clearing exercise! |
 Think PINK
You will see it in clothes and accessories this year but might find it a bit more difficult to plan it into your color scheme. It is the color of the year - Honeysuckle! Why pink? The Pantone Color Institute explains it as "In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits". Benjamin Moore forecasts a Purple reign. "From deep smoky wine to wildly pumped up fuchsia, purple promises to be a predominant color in home décor in 2011." The shade to watch is Vintage Wine 2116-20, a rich hue with a deep brown base or the berry kissed Royal Flush 2076-20 which is a vibrant fuchsia similar to the Pantone Honeysuckle. How can you use these colors if they are in your favorite color range? The vintage wine would make a great wall color. It is dark but dramatic and walks between purple and brown. The Royal Flush and Benjamin Moore's Pink Starburst 2004-40 (a color close to Pantone's Honeysuckle) would provide great accent colors to a room. Change out accessories such a pillows or pottery in a room to brighten it up, especially during the winter months, and then welcome spring. |
|
 From Rags to Riches
Do you have a chair or sofa that is looking shabby? Is it sagging or outdated? If your answer is yes, then is time to reupholster the piece. Reupholstering takes minimum yardage, can rejuvenate your cushions, and can also change the style of a piece updating the look to today's furniture lines. OR - Is your piece in good shape, has good cushions but is wearing through or is frayed? Then it would be time for slipcovers. Fabrics for slipcovers can be lighter than reupholstering and with a zip of the zipper totally redo the look of the furniture. The price of upholstery is more than a slipcover but uses less fabric and certainly brings a piece back to life. Look around you. Perhaps that chair you relegated to the attic or a bedroom would look great in the living or family room. Good furniture never goes out of style and with a new look you can have a great comfortable piece for everyday comfort.
|
|
Are You In Your Comfort Zone?
 In this cold New England month of January we spend a lot more time inside in what should be our comfort zone: the warm, cozy place to wind down and eliminate the stress of the day. Is your home your sanctuary? After cleaning up your kitchen in the evening do you look forward to relaxing with a good book or movie on a comfortable chair? Do you have a fireplace that helps make the room feel warm and curtains at the windows that keep out the cold? Look around you and see what might make you and your family feel better, what might save on heating bills, or what might create a great place for the children to play games or do homework. Do you have an idea of what you want to do, but haven't been able to follow through? If you have not achieved that feeling of comfort in your home, call us and we can help put your plan into action.
|
 Going, going.......greenIt's not easy, being green
ALERT! Be very careful of your new compact fluorescent bulbs! They contain mercury and there are environmental rules if they are broken or need to be disposed of. If broken on a hard surface you would need disposable gloves, sticky tape, and a sealable container to put the pieces in labeled with "Universal Waste - Broken fluorescent lamp" and a date. Using a wet paper towel pick up all the pieces and make sure the area is well ventilated. On carpets it is even more difficult to clean because of some residual mercury. The steps are the same as hard surfaces but vacuum cleaners must be cleaned out afterward, carpeted area cannot be walked on for several days, and some carpets might have to be replaced. Links to web sites in Massachusetts will give you the rules involved at this time. These bulbs CANNOT be thrown in your trash. Check with your local city/town for disposal information.
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
| Quick LinkQuicks | |
Issue 7 January 2011
 For more information
|
|
|
