Friday, January 30, 2015

The Magic of Marsala


today.com

At the beginning of every year, all the design industries await the new Pantone color selection
for Color of the Year. For 2015, the color is Marsala, a magical color that exudes comfort and luxury
as well as earthiness and well-being.  To quote Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute,
"Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability.  Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth."  I would add that Marsala is a color
that flatters everyone and every home interior.
districtre.com

In the photo above, a city loft homeowner is fortunate to have a background of brick walls
in subtle shades of Marsala.  The color makes the space look both comfortable and sophisticated and contrasts elegantly with the whites of the carpet and bedding.  The wall color in the photo below replicates the same rich tones of the brick in this classic home interior and is beautifully matched to the warm hues in the wood flooring and furniture.
blog.hgtvremodels.com
Darker shades of marsala can intensify the drama of its effect on painted walls as in the two photos below. Like that of fine red wines, the richness of color variations in these rooms is very appealing.
blog.decoratorsbest.com

digsdigs.com
Marsala is a color that is suited to both hard and soft surfaces.  In the following two photos, a cubed ottoman and round garden seat display how well suited the color is to different textures. Soft pillows and chair seats complement the painted hardwood cocktail tables.
dailyherald.com

democratandchronicle.com
Evidence of the magic of Marsala is seen in how well it goes with neutrals as in the photos below.  In
one photo, the color is used in the rich texture of the carpet and window treatments in contrast
to the off-white furnishings.  In the second photo, the furnishings carry the color against a neutral backdrop of soft whites and grays.  The third photo highlights a sofa surrounded by both light whites and dark grays.   In all three photos, the rooms exude a feeling of comfort despite the coolness of the background walls.

carlawordsmithblog.com

decorfox.com
vida-design.com
Jewel tones like blue and yellow complement Marsala just as well as the neutrals seen above.  In the photo below, turquoise and teal colors in the walls, carpet and decorative accents are perfectly paired with the warm reds in the room.  In the following photo, Marsala is deftly applied as an accent color in the windows and adds to the glow created by the golden tones of the woodwork.


homedit.com






sothebysrealty.com
Every interior space can be enhanced with the color Marsala.  In the farmhouse kitchen below, the wall color gives a cozy feeling to the room.  In the modern kitchen, the color on the cabinets makes the room look exciting and sophisticated.


housebeautiful.com

buying-guide.capricoast.com





In the final photo, a family room incorporates many of the ways cited above that Marsala can be used to add magic to any space.  On the walls, it adds warmth and but also looks elegant in contrast with the neutral woodwork.  On the soft furnishings and pillows, it enhances the texture of the fabrics. It also complements accent colors in jewel tones of blue and gold used throughout the room.  Where can you feature Marsala in your own home?

yahoo.com



Thursday, January 22, 2015

Built-in Basics

coolshire.com
January is the traditional month to get organized.  Whether it's because cold weather keeps us indoors or we have a new year's resolution to de-clutter, we are inspired to find ways to organize our home environments.  One of my favorite aspects of interior decor is the opportunity to design custom built-in cabinetry.  They not only provide extra storage and display space, they can also add architectural features to a plain room and solve spatial problems.  The photo above features quintessential shelf and cabinet units which flank a central fireplace.  The symmetry and neutral paint color connect the cabinetry to the surrounding wall spaces and add interesting detail without overwhelming the living room.  The balance and harmony of the design are very pleasing to the eye.

 The photos below offer a solution to the problem of an existing fireplace that is off-center on the wall.  In the first one, symmetrical cabinets encase the fireplace and wall-mounted television and the leftover space is filled with seating and storage that help unify and fill the whole wall. In the second one, the extra space is filled with a complementary unit with glass doors and drawers.  These examples also show the difference between cabinetry painted to match the other woodwork in the room versus woodwork stained to contrast with the other painted surfaces.
forums.fatakat.com
crown-point.com
Clients often ask what they can do to make a long living room seem less awkward and more livable. Built-in cabinets surrounding the windows at one end of a room are both useful and visually appealing. A library has been created in the first photo in a minimal amount of wall space.  The pop of color inside the built-ins in the second photo adds drama to the room. 
houzz.com

houzz.com
theinspiredroom.net

vi.sualize.us
In the two photos above, built-ins show additional solutions to design problems. In one, extra display space has been creatively arranged around a doorway and adds architectural detail. In the other,  there is an abundance of detailled woodwork so floor-to-ceiling built-ins would overwhelm the space.
Instead, the cabinets relate the fireplace to the rest of the room but only along the lower half which opens up wall space for artwork and accessories.

 The following three photos portray the versatility of built-ins in transition spaces.  Stairways and hallways are given convenient and attractive storage areas that blend seamlessly with the homes' interiors.  The first stairway unit provides display space for decorative accessories. The second unit creates a mudroom to store outdoor clothing. The third unit has blue glass sliding doors that replicate the sky in the nearby large windows so the enclosed hallway storage seems to disappear.
houseanddecoration.com

lanakress.com
hillarydijon.com

Master bedrooms are enhanced by built-ins to provide storage that doesn't crowd or clutter the spaces.  They eliminate the need for the variety of chests and trunks one often finds in these rooms. It's easier to organize clothing and accessories and the feeling the room conveys is more restful.
weddingseve.com

funny-pictures.picphoto.net

mobmit.com
Children's bedrooms usually include both sleeping and play areas so built-ins in these rooms can be both functional and fun. Both photos below highlight how great design can take a child from a very young age through the teenage years...and beyond!
home-designing.com

lanite.com
Kitchens certainly benefit from custom-designed and built cabinetry.  I really like the ideas presented in the following two images. The first one suggests installing antique doors over new built-ins and building new freestanding cupboards to replicate old ones. The second photo shows an island that makes use of built-in shelves to hold cookbooks and baskets in an attractive display...items that can look very messy in the room.  The wall units combine open and closed shelving which is much more interesting than all covered cabinets.
materiadesigns.com

marna-diasdelunayviento.blogspot.com

The possibilities for built-ins are endless. With creative and quality construction, they add visual appeal and increased value to any home.  Whether your home is traditional or modern, built-ins
are a definite plus to the interior design.




Friday, January 9, 2015

Collectibles on Display

examiner.com
The holidays are past and it's time to put away the treasured old Santas and other favorite  collectibles.  Many of us received gifts of to add to our special collections that we like to display year-round.  There are many ways to showcase our collectibles in fun and creative ways.   If you have just a few small pieces or large collections , collectibles look better when placed en masse as seen in the following two photos, both filling a standing piece of furniture. The first one is a display of pewter where the shiny metallic surfaces sparkle against the warm wooden tones of the beautiful antique cupboard.  The second photo is a coastal collection of seashells and coral in a light and airy painted wood and glass cabinet.
hiltpewter.com

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com
With limited wall space, portable open shelves or custom built-ins can house a variety of colorful items as well as a large collection of similar items as see in the next two photos.  Light and dark background walls further enhance the collectibles.

garrisonhullinger.com


atticmag.com
Larger rooms invite the possibility of full wall displays of collections.  In the next photo, the first homeowner has created a museum-like presentation of a few valuable Asian artefacts with beautiful lighting.  The library in the second photo makes use of every bit of wall space from floor to ceiling for shelves carrying many books, collectibles and artwork.

decorationforhouse.com

pinterest.com
Unique collections are often skillfully displayed directly on the walls as pieces of artwork.  I love the
impact of the arrangements in the next photos. The diverse shapes and colors of the animal weathervanes are whimsical and sculptural in the first photo.  The arrangement of decorative plates in the second photo is equally dynamic even though the shapes and colors are similar.  The third photo is just a delight with the graphic arrangement of miniature cars in colors that are repeated in the room's other furnishings.

atticmag.com

pinterest.com

apartmenttherapy.com

 Small collections can be effectively used to brighten a small tabletop , hallway corner, or narrow wall as in the following three photos. 
coastexplorermagazine.com

littlehouseonthevalley.com
drivenbydecor.com
Framed art, prints and photographs can be displayed in symmetrical wall arrangements that appear
carefully designed. But, a more unbalanced and random arrangement is also pleasing to the eye. I really like the following examples of both styles.

oliverburns.com

scottsdale-home-decor.com

a-change-of-pace.com

pinterest.com
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this is especially relevant to collecting and displaying artistic or mundane objects. The things we like to collect and how we live with them are key to showing our personalities and design sensabilities.  What do your favorite collectibles say about you?
eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

poetichome.com