Interior Design "Defined"
A newsletter that keeps you informed of current trends in Interior Design and related fields. |
Warm weather is finally here along with some hot days and a forerunner of the months ahead. It is time to put away clutter, simplify things around you, perhaps roll up area rugs and enjoy the coolness of floors, and use a lot of white or light colors to make your surroundings an oasis of calm and serenity. This is the time to pare down, spread out and enjoy all the nooks and crannies of your house. Take a moment for relaxation and reading in an out of the way corner, under a tree, on a pile of pillows or on porch sofa. Run your environment on minimum for several months. You will be ready to tackle more complex things in the fall! Enjoy. |
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 A Place for Dad
Creating a space might be an idea for Father's Day. Or it could be the beginning of a longer term project that fits with the décor of your home. That special space could be "his chair". It has to be comfortable and durable, but it doesn't need to be a stuffed recliner with fuzzy fabric. Look for stylish options that fit your décor while making sure it is big/tall enough to support his shoulders and just firm enough but not too firm for long periods resting or watching his favorite sport. Leather is a great option but pets with claws can do some damage. There is ultra suede or some commercial fabrics that have a high "rub count". Some of the latest all weather fabrics are durable, stain resistant (can be scrubbed) and come in great colors and textures. If you use a light fabric you can protect from stains with fabric protection although I recommend that for all fabrics except the all weather. Nail heads denote a clubby look and can be used as a decorative trim on many fabrics. Along with this chair goes appropriate lighting. You will need a good surface table next to the chair with an appropriate sized lamp. This might include storage for all the gadgets that are needed, and perhaps an ottoman for a full sized snoozing spot. I also might add a pharmacy lamp - great to tuck in next to the chair to be turned on over the shoulder for great reading and an old favorite that comes in so many styles that I saw the other day at Wolfer's. |
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Decorating Do's and Don'ts
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Don't |
This list could be quite long but I recently saw a few articles that brought back some basis rules that designers would automatically use.
v Multiple design styles in a room. Yes, you can do this but it takes a good eye and careful thought to pull it off. In reality you might mix two styles together but beyond that the room begins to look hit or miss and very cluttered with a lack of focus.
v Everything matches. This should not happen. It makes a room bland and uninteresting. Start with a color and use complementary colors or tints and tones of the main color. Then add one strong color that you can change over time and keep the room on its toes!
v Don't think of cliché themes. Make your room timeless. Add something new here and there - a chair in a new color, lots of pillows in the main color and accent colors, new wall color but keep it classic with a twist!
v Do place artwork or pictures in groupings. You might match or use complementary frames, use a similar subject, a group of old and new family photos, different sized pictures but grouped in a pleasant way, even the children's artwork for a monthly art exhibit on easy to mount frames. Have fun with this.
Interiors should be rich in details. It is what makes your house your personal brand and personality.
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Secrets of an Interior Designer.....Balance
The final category in designer's secrets is BALANCE. It brings together the previous topics of proportion, the use of color and the contrasts of materials and textures. "Balance is equilibrium among opposing force - dance of paint and counterpoint played out with a palette of richly varied elements, from fabric and paint to curtain pleats and door pulls; shimmering silk taffeta and time worn antiques to ebonized wood and aged marble." When you do not consider these things in balance, doing too much of one thing, you move toward a room that borders on  a cliché. Knowing when to stop with any phase of this is very important.
"Design is a matter of balancing different needs and outlooks - practical and aesthetic, masculine and feminine, designer and client, dream and reality." A good designer helps the homeowner zero in on the best interpretation of the homeowners style, using all the competing elements to work in harmony. Give it a try, work on it and if you need help, give us a call. A good room develops slowly but it is worthwhile.
Quotes taken fromThe Language of Interior Design by Alexa Hampton |
Going, going green....
An old idea, using the new low- VOC paints
Farrow and Ball has announced a new line of "paint for floors" - taking up on the idea of painted floors in solid colors or in patterns. There are so many ideas for painting floors and their paints in 132 colors can be used on wood and concrete floors. This paint is in a classic eggshell finish, is water based and has a low VOC content. So many designs have been passed on from colonial days but the diamond pattern is as fresh and new as it was 200 years ago. How about a plaid floor or a primary color in a child's room? Use brightly woven area rugs and you have a great inspiring new room. Or paint that basement floor and come up with your own designs such as huge flowers scattered around or just plain stripes that can be as wide as 12 inches. Think of the impact. Get busy and do something new. Farrow & Ball |
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 11
June 2011
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