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!