NEW SPRING, NEW BEDDING

Spring is coming and you're going to want a fresh look for your bedroom. The easiest way to do this is to buy a brand new bedding set. Paint the walls a new color and you've got a complete room makeover. Here are some great stylish bedding options to get you started.


Crate and Barrel- Adela Bedding


Michael Kors- Nairobi Bedding


City Scene- Damask Key Lime Bedding


Nicole Miller- Piazza Bedding

THE COLOR OF THE YEAR

Attention all! The new color for spring and the year 2011 is honeysuckle. Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and this color is perfect for your night out. Find a great cocktail dress in this color and stand out no matter where you go! Pair with your favorite nude heel.


Great inspiration sketches with this hot new color:



Enjoy your Valentine's Day and night!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR STAIRS

One part of the house that often gets overlooked for its design potential is the stairwell. Stairs can be boring, ugly, and forgotten. With a little TLC, your stairway can become a part of the rest of your home in no time. It can even emerge as the new focal point of your entryway.


Photo: House Beautiful

Something as simple as an interesting or colorful runner going up your stairway can make all the difference. Imagine the above stairs without the runner. They would be very white and completely boring. A runner may be a little bit on the expensive side, depending on what kind you can find.


Photo: Elle Décor

A very simple, inexpensive change, as I’ve said before, is paint. This stairway shines with a pop of yellow paint. Be careful not to paint the walls a dark color, especially if there isn’t a window nearby. Too dark can look depressing and be a little dangerous, particularly for older adults because they may not be able to see the steps clearly. Hanging an array of pictures going up the sides of the stairs is also a great way to brighten up the walls.


Photo: House Beautiful

Throw an element of surprise into your stairwell. This design uses rope to bring in a rustic element and change what we normally think of when we see stairs. A unique element can be anything; a colorful runner, something hanging on the wall, something sitting on the landing.




Photos: Apartment Therapy

If you would really like a unique set of stairs, here’s one idea for you- a bookcase staircase. This will surely grab the attention of any guest to your home. To pull this off you must own a pretty big book collection and have no fear of the unusual.

Have fun with your stairs this spring and don’t underestimate the power of a really beautiful staircase. It just may be your new favorite part of the house.

BLACK WALLS... WHAT?!?

My friends and I recently had a debate about whether or not black is an acceptable paint color. My friend and I argued yes, while her husband said absolutely not. I would like to tell all that black is definitely an acceptable paint color and can actually be a very interesting choice. You will find that your colorful artwork, accents and furniture will stand out wonderfully against this dark background.


Photo: Martha Stewart

No color is sexier than black when used in a bedroom. A black wall can make an enormous impact and creates instant drama. If you are going to paint your bedroom black, a pop of color in bedding or throw pillows will look perfect. If you prefer neutral bedding, pick a side chair or other accent piece that will stand out against the dark walls. Using this color in your bedroom will create a very relaxing environment that will be easy to wind down in.


Photo: Apartment Therapy


Photo: House Beautiful

There are many colors of accents and furniture that go great with black walls. White furniture looks amazing against a dark wall. A bright pop of color or pattern can really pull a boring black and white room together into a fun and modern space. Khaki colored furniture also looks great against black walls if you prefer neutral colors.

The greatest thing about a black wall is the way it changes throughout the day. You will notice that as the sun rises and sets and the light varies in your home, the color of your walls will change dramatically. You’ll love watching the variations in color and it really adds something unique, interesting and beautiful to a room. To achieve the best effect, be sure to choose the room with the most windows to paint black. This will also help to prevent the room from becoming too dark and dreary.

For those of you afraid of color, this may be the ultimate fear, but I’m telling you to take a chance and add some drama to your home. This is a very inexpensive way to completely change the look and feel of a room. Go for it! After all, black is technically a neutral color.

YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE

The holidays are the best time to expand your table setting décor and add some glamour and fun. Don’t be afraid to play with colors and patterns that are non-traditional. Red and green aren’t the only colors that can be used. Other great holiday colors include purple, teal, gold, silver, white, lime green, and blue.


Photo: House Beautiful

Your table setting will depend on how elaborate or simple you want it to be and how much time and money you want to spend on the décor. An elaborate setting can include a table cloth or runner, placemats, chargers, dinner and silverware, napkins, name cards, and even an individual gift for each guest. You don’t have to have everything and simple is usually better anyway.



Photo: Martha Stewart

This table setting is simple, fun and inexpensive. The candles can be made by tying red and white ribbons around white, unscented candles. Be sure the candles are unscented or have a very light scent. Otherwise when they are lit, they will overpower the table with their scent. The name cards can also be easily made by tying two peppermint sticks together with ribbon and placing the name card in between. Decorate the rest of the table with white bowls filled with peppermint stripe candy.



Photo: House Beautiful

Another simple way to add something extra to the table is by hanging Christmas bulbs above in a variety of different sizes and colors. These silver bulbs add glamour and whimsy to this holiday table. Stick with one or two different colors and styles. Adding to many bulbs may make the table look overwhelmed.



Photo: Country Living

A great way to make your dining experience more festive is to place your tree near or in the same room as your dining table. This way your guests can gaze at the beautiful tree while enjoying the holiday meal. You can also coordinate your tree decorations with your table decorations to create a theme.



Photo: Good Housekeeping

An easy centerpiece you can make yourself is colored pine cones. Collect pine cones outside and lay them out to dry for a couple days. Next, pick a couple colors of spray paint that coordinate with the rest of your holiday décor. Paint the cones, let dry, then display in clear glass bowls in the center of the table.



Photo: Good Housekeeping

When creating your holiday table, look around the house for things you may already have that can be made into something new. Your mother’s old doilies can be sewn together to make a beautiful snowflake table runner. They can also be sewn together to make individual placemats.



Photo: Good Housekeeping

Transform each guest’s place setting into a present by tying a bow around the entire setting. You can use satin ribbon for an elegant look or tulle for a lighter look. This is an easy way to add an extra touch to the place settings you already have.



Photo: Martha Stewart

If you want to spend the extra time and money, you can also do an elegant display with fresh flowers and taper candles. This would be perfect if you are hosting a more formal party with a large number of guests.

However you decide to decorate your table this holiday season, have fun and think outside the box. Small touches here and there can make a big difference in the overall presentation of your holiday meal. Don’t forget to search your home and the outdoors for materials that can be reused in your décor. Finally, keep in mind that your table décor can be completed a day or two before your meal, leaving more time to cook and spend time with family. Have fun, Happy Holidays!

MY LOVE OF RESTAURANT DESIGN

During my time as an Interior Design student, I realized the one type of design that I absolutely love the most is restaurant design. I've always liked to search the internet for great design firms so that I can get inspired by their work, and one day I came across Avroko. This firm is based in New York City and they specialize in restaurant, hotel, retail, and residential projects. They caught my attention for a couple of reasons, but mainly because they do amazingly beautiful restaurant designs. I'm in love with their work and dream of working at a firm like this someday. Their book, "Best Ugly", is a great collection of their restaurant designs and concepts. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get inspired by great design. You can also look at their work on their website www.avroko.com. Love it!

USING METALLIC MATERIALS IN YOUR HOME

Metallic materials are a fantastic way to add some glamour and excitement to your home. They can easily be used with any color scheme and any style.


Stainless Steel Tile: Ann Saks

This gorgeous stainless steel tile would look great in a bathroom or kitchen. Use it as a backsplash behind your sink and counter or go all out and use it as shower tile. It would also be beautiful around a fireplace.



Mirror Tile: Ann Saks

This is another tile by Ann Saks that is absolutely fabulous. Mirror tile goes great in a bathroom and could be used on an entire wall to make a grand statement.



Picture: Dutchboy

An easy way to add a metallic finish to your room is by using paint or wallpaper. This is a quick and inexpensive change that will add a lot of drama. The metallic silver striping in this bathroom gives the room an elegant and clean feel.


Picture: House Beautiful

Adding some silver tableware or accents to a bookshelf or display can really add an air of glamour and interest. These pieces pop against black shelving.


Fabric: Gretchen Belinger

Using a metallic fabric for a throw pillow, ottoman, or bench is an easy way to add some shine to your room. These fabrics would be beautiful as throw pillows in a crisp white bedroom.


Fabric: Luc Druez

This beautiful copper fabric would be gorgeous as drapes. It looks so airy and thin, yet it adds so much sparkle.


Picture: Martha Stewart

A great easy way to add some gold to a room is with either mirror frames or picture frames. You can go to your local Goodwill or second-hand store and pick up five to ten different picture frames, making sure they're all different sizes and styles. Then, paint them gold and fill with your favorite black and white photos. You can create a collage of the frames on a living room wall or up a stairway. The gold color of the frames will tie them all together and they'll look vintage and elegant.

Have fun playing with metallics in your home. Don’t be afraid if you think metallics are too shiny or crazy. They're all neutral colors that will compliment any color scheme.

IF YOU LOVE ARCHITECTURE AND SUSPENSE...

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's a great read for people who love history, architecture, and murder mysteries. Erik Larson seamlessly combines the excitement surrounding the Chicago World's Fair, the architecture that went into making the fair a success, and a suspenseful and thrilling tale of murder. I loved reading about the World's Fair and all the amazing inventions that were being unveiled at the time. Bravo to Larson!

FASHION I LOVE FOR FALL

There are a lot of exciting fashions this fall, a lot of edginess and a lot of sparkle. When shopping for new pieces, choose items that are classic and that will be around for awhile, like a great black leather jacket. Splurge on things you will love forever, like a great pair of heels or a to-die-for hand bag.


Leather Jacket: Mackage

The first must-have piece for fall is the black leather jacket. Get one that fits like a glove and has great detailing. The black leather jacket is great because it can be used with any outfit to add a little bit of rocker appeal. You can pair it with jeans and a tee for a day look or pull it over a mini dress for going out at night with the girls.


Dress: Haute Hippie

Sequins are a great going-out look for fall and they don’t have to be too flashy. This is a great dress to pair with a black leather jacket and some colorful heels. Here are a couple more fabulous options for sequin dresses:



Dress: Balmain

Dress: Preen

I love the cutout neckline in this dress and the sequin shapes.

Boots: Rodarte

I am absolutely in love with over-the-knee boots for fall. These boots take the place of pants so you can wear them with a mini dress or shorts. I love the ones that fit tight to the skin and have a lot of detailing.

Hand Bag: Gucci

Metallics are huge for fall. An easy way to bring this trend into your wardrobe is with accessories. This Gucci hand bag is a perfect metallic addition and will definitely add some edge to your look.

Silk Scarf: Nicole Miller

Scarves have been a fashion trend for awhile now, but this fall it’s all about prints. This art deco printed scarf will add a pop of color and pattern to your outfit. This would look great with a leather jacket or wear it to work with a suit.

Have fun with fashion this fall! There are so many exciting trends and great pieces and as always, they are all available at many price points.

THE COLOR ORANGE

For some reason, I have always loved the color orange being used in interior design. It’s a great color that brings fun and happiness to a room. Orange is compatible with any room and can be used as a base color or a bright pop.

Picture: Martha Stewart

I absolutely love how beautiful this room is. Who would have thought to use orange in such a dramatic bedroom? Blue is a great color to contrast orange with because they are complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel). Without the use of orange, this bedroom would be bland and cold.

Picture: Martha Stewart

A great way to brighten up the usually boring home office is with a pop of color. Here orange is being used to give this space some life and energy. The orange storage boxes are available at IKEA in many different sizes and at a great price point:

Storage Boxes: IKEA

Vase: Alvar Aalto

Another easy way to bring in a pop of orange is with an accessory such as a vase, lamp or throw pillow. This gorgeous vase designed by Alvar Aalto definitely makes a statement. Set it in the middle of a round dining table or on a fireplace mantle. If you have a beautiful vase like this, don’t put anything in it. It stands alone as a work of art!

Throw Pillow: InMod

Toss a modern orange pillow like this on your sofa and you instantly have a brighter room. Throw pillows are a great, inexpensive way to change the look of a room. I recommend buying new throw pillows at least twice a year. You’ll love the change it brings to your home and it won’t cost you a fortune. I love going to Pier 1 Imports to look for throw pillows because they have a great selection and a great price point. Be sure to have at least one patterned pillow in the bunch and don’t be afraid to mix patterns. Here are a couple great patterned fabrics that could be used for throw pillows:

Fabric: Maharam

Fabric: Duralee

Picture: Dutchboy

I love the use of orange paint in this dining room. Paint is another really inexpensive way to change a room into something great. If you’re up to it, you can even change the paint in a room every season. However, use a bright paint color like this in moderation. This room has the perfect amount of orange, without being overpowering. If you’re absolutely in love with the color, go ahead and paint the entire room but then use neutral colors and fabrics throughout the rest of the room.

Picture: Dutchboy

This is only for the daring color lovers out there! Orange is being used as the base color for this room and it makes quite the statement. This room absolutely glows. I love the subtle pattern on the wall behind the bed.

Picture: Sherwin Williams

There are so many shades of orange to choose from that it can be used in any room and with any style of design. Have fun experimenting with orange and incorporating it into your house!