Tufting

When you ladies are in discussions with your significant others about what type of furniture to get I have found the perfect option. It is both feminine and masculine at the same time…Tufting! You can use it on so many different types of applications and it is an easy project that you can even do at home yourself.

Tufting is classic, it’s elegant and it can add personality to even plain furnishings. Tufted chairs, tufted headboards, tufted ottomans and tufted daybeds, to name a few: tufting works wonders on almost any upholstered or leather piece when it comes to upping its chic ness factor. Whether it has a lot of covered buttons, just a few, or rows of indented stitches that pull at the fabric, solid tufted fabric always looks special and catches the eye.

Here’s a simple way to tuft a sofa pillow:
1. Get 4 very large, matching buttons (the size of half-dollars) that coordinate with your color scheme.
2. Take a pair of relatively soft, flat decorative pillows and sew two of the buttons back to back in the center, with heavy thread, until taut. This should create one center indentation on each side, if the buttons are well secured. Repeat with the second pillow and you’re done.
Enjoy the Project!

Power of Pink

In the spirit of the recently passed Valentines Day I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you about the power of my favorite color…PINK.

There are so many different shade of pink: Salmon, coral, hot pink, fuchsia, blush, flesh and rose. All of these shades provide feelings of caring, tenderness, self-worth and acceptance. This description can also be attributes for a room. A pink room will be a peaceful and calm environment.

Studies have shown that the color pink calms heart-rates, making it difficult for one to get upset in its presence. It has even been used in opposing team locker rooms and prison cells. The softer the shade the more delicate the feeling the room will convey. All shades of pink become more sophisticated looking when combined with black, grey and shades of blue.

Even though pink is often labeled a girlish color, the several rooms in the pictures below show how warm and sophisticated a pink room can be. Don’t be afraid to give it a shot!

How to Make a Small Space Feel Larger

Lots of people live in a small home, a small room, or just a small space. Not only can small be beautiful but it is also easy and practical. Regardless of your reason for living in a small space you will have to make some compromises in your décor in order to not feel cramped.

Here are some simple suggestions to make a space feel larger.

Clear out the Clutter: Nothing makes a space feel smaller than having too much stuff. Organize what you need and get rid of what you don’t. With things neat and organized the space will definitely feel much larger.

Choose Soft Light Colors: Dark rich colors make a space feel cozy and intimate where light cool colors make a space feel open and airy. Light blues and greens are great options.

Coordinate Wall and Furniture Colors: When you contrast colors it has a tendency to break up the space and make it feel choppy. Your eye will wander from one piece of furniture to the next rather than the room as a whole. In a small room this makes the space feel even smaller.

Lighten up the Space: Any room will look larger if it is well lit. You can accomplish this by getting rid of heavy window treatments and by adding more lighting.

Even if you just choose to do one of the four I promise you that your small cramped apartment will feel larger in no time. Good Luck.

Magic of Candlelight

When you are designing a room one of your main objectives may be to create a warm environment where people feel comfortable and at ease. Sometimes this is not so easy if you have a very cool space with minimal textures and lighting. Even in the coolest rooms or on the snowiest of days, you can always create warmth by lighting candles which will give off a warm amber glow.
Candles can be used in casual, sophisticated, practical, fun and elegant applications. They are also very cost effective in comparison to flowers. Almost any type of candle can be used in a centerpiece, and you don't need to stick with only one style at a time. They can be mixed and matched in whatever pattern or freeform design you'd like. Try using some different types: Pillars, votives, tea lights, floating candles, jar candles and tapers. Also don’t be scared to mix colors. In the right application this could be very attractive. I do suggest staying away from scented candles. The strong smells can easily overpower what you are serving and may unpleasant to some.
If you are using candles as a centerpiece on a long table, an easy way to create depth and extra light is by placing a mirror underneath the different size pillar candles. The light from the candles will reflect in the mirror and give a really nice warm sophisticated ambiance. Water is also a great reflector of light and looks great when you float candles in a hurricane or bowl. Going back to last weeks post you can always get personalized candles. These are great for weddings; perhaps in the bathrooms.
If you are hosting an outdoor summer party or a wedding at the beach, luminaries are a simple and cost effective way of creating a dramatic entrance or pathway. If you are worried about fires you can also now purchase battery powered votives that set off great light.

To Monogram or Not to Monogram?

Most people recognize a monogram as initials or a set of letters combined to make one sign of identity. A monogram was first used as a royal signature and was originally seen on coins and artwork to identify people of importance. During the Victorian era members of high class society started adopting the monogram to be used as a symbol that represented their place in society.

Female monograms had the first initial on the left, middle initial on the right, and last initial embroidered larger in the middle. That is hardly the case anymore. Now a days you will find monograms on just about everything: bags, belts, shoes, sheets, pillows, towels, car seats and stationery. You will see playful, whimsical, traditional, understated and elegant monograms these days. Not to mention a monogram can now be a whole name rather than just initials.

In regards to interiors I think that you should have no reason not to monogram towels, bedding, accessories and kitchen goods but just use it in moderation. If you decide to get monogrammed towels then hold off on the monogrammed sheets or lamp shades. If you choose to monogram your glasses then pair them with non-monogrammed flatware. Monogramming is an easy way to make a room or accessories look clean, crisp and elegant, be careful however because you can easily over do it and need to know when enough is enough.

Picture Frame Wall

Do you have a wall in your home or apartment that is either small or awkward and not in such great shape? You would love to put up some artwork but nothing ever seems to fit quite right? Have you ever considered a frame collection? They are perfect for that small awkward niche that might normally be overlooked or you can take it to the other extreme and make it into the focal point of a room on a larger wall.

Your first step is to decide if you would prefer something more grid like and structured or free flowing and organic. Grid layouts work really well when you have multiple frame sizes. Whether you are hanging in a group or a row, just make sure each frame edge will line up with the frame next to it. Pay attention to where the hanging height of the frame will be because not all frames are the same. It is a good idea to have your largest and most noticeable frame in the middle and let the other frames branch out off of it. A good distance between the frames is 2-4 inches. For the smaller frames stay closer to the 2 inches and the 4 inches for the larger.

If you are using all black frames it could be a bit startling on a white wall. If the wall is not too large you might want to consider painting the wall a dark color. Two great options are a dark grey and a cerulean blue. Both will leave you with a very sophisticated look.

Good Luck Hanging!

The 2010 Color of the year is TURQUOISE

It is in...the 2010 pantone color of the year is turquoise. Turquoise represents deep compassion and healing and is also the color of faith and hope. How appropriate is that for 2010? The color is influenced by the sky and water and for many represents the idea of an escape. Many people are craving escapism after a tough year and what better to put in your house than a color that reminds you of a resort destination.

So how can we use turquoise in our homes? Turquoise works really well with most colors in the spectrum. It adds stimulation to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a nautical look with deep blues, livens up greens and is trendy with yellows.

Turquoise can be used in both formal and informal applications.
It can easily look both elegant on dressy silks or casual on linens and cottons. Being that it is such a versatile color it works well as a accent color in a room rather than the dominant color. Turquoise works very well in powder rooms and bedrooms. It adds warmth and excitement to any cool space. It is also a great accent color in a kitchen being used on tiles, table linens or appliances to create some vibrancy in the room.

"Turquoise is universally appealing. It puts everyone in the same state of mind- on vacation." Says Jane Shoenborn of Lilly Pulitzer.