Exotic Home DesignTrends

The summer furniture and accessories markets are a magic carpet ride of style! Moorish shapes; Moroccan motifs;Patterns from Egyptian architecture;Berber inspired latticework designs; Hot pink excites orange; Candles scented with orange blossoms caress your senses and transport you to mysterious and mystical places! These home design trends are exotic and alluring! I love interiors that mix cultures and periods in creative and unusual ways!

Interior design- Ancient meets Modern

One of my favorite designers of all time, Michael Taylor, was mentioned in the May/June issue of Veranda magazine(one of my favorite magazines!!) His work speaks to me on so many levels. I too enjoy mixing organic materials with clean, open spaces. Ancient meets modern! I would love to work with a client that appreciates this design direction and is open to new ideas! Modern furniture shapes mixed with artifacts, original abstract art, and lots of textural play with fabrics and materials;All in a light filled,open space that brings the outdoors in. Ancient Meets Modern– so many posibilities!!!

The Home as Sanctuary

World events being what they are today, your home should be a haven that nurtures your soul and restores your spirit! Restful and serene interiors that reflect nature and incorporate the beauty of organic materials are the hallmark of a restorative home. Lucious silk, fine cotton, textural linen, the warmth of wood and the earthiness of stone are a few tactile choices that awaken the sense of touch and sight, creating the home as sanctuary.

Enjoy beautifully scented candles, fresh, fragrant flowers and perhaps create a “memories” potpourri filled with shells collected on seaside vacations; flowers, recieved as gifts that you have dried; saved champagne and wine corks from life’s celebrations or other special objects that evoke fond memories! Caress the sense of smell!

Comforting sounds such as recordings of wind chimes or bird song and soft music playing in the background along with the laughter of family and friends imbue a feeling of peace and contentment.

Hand crafted bowls filled with sumptious fruits or vegetables give you a renewed appreciation of nature’s bounty!

Family heirlooms, collected treasures and old books are wonderful for those contemplative moments.

Choose soft color palettes to impart a calming ambiance or darker, richer colors to embrace and cocoon. Color is very personal, you should choose those that make you feel peaceful and happy, then wrap yourself in them!

This step is crucial! Clear out clutter and do some “spring” cleaning. Remove anything that has a negative vibe. It’s great, cheap therapy and will create a positive, happy energy in your home!

Finally, immerse yourself in the beauty and serenity of art and objects that speak to you in a special way; wheather a fabulous flea market find or priceless antique, these are the elements that create the home as sanctuary! And always remember to “Live Life with Joy, Wonder and Style”!

Chair Designs

Chair designs through the centuries have been influenced by many things and makes a really interesting study. Did you know? Wing chairs were designed in the late 17th century to be placed in front of a fireplace; the high backs and “wings” kept the heat in around your body and the cold drafts of older houses off your back and neck.

In the mid 19th century, gentleman’s chairs had armrests but ladies chairs had no arms or very low arms and wide seats to accomodate their large hoop skirts.

the Adirondack chair was designed in 1903 to remain level when placed on a sloping mountain side to enjoy the views; hence the severely sloped back.

Chair designs in France have been influenced by the reigning monarchs for many centuries. Louis 15th, Louis 16th etc. controlled the furniture craftsman guilds and had the craftsmen design to their liking. Some liked curves and more ornate designs and others liked straight lines and less ornamentation.

Ergonomic chair designs follow form and function and are based on the human skeletal and muscular frame. Office chairs are a good example of this design.

Do you know any more influences on chair design? I would love to hear from you!
Clay

Interior Design Trend-Redesign

The current interior design trend of redesign is driven by the recent economic downturn (Thankfully, I feel a little up-swing, hopefully you do too!)

Many homeowners are opting for a one day makeover,or redesign, of their interiors using existing furnishings, art and accessories. It can be a DIY project or you can hire a professional designer. Either way , it’s a fun adventure and the results can be quite dramatic, giving you a “new lease on life” by enhancing the quality of the way you live.

I remember when I was a kid, my Mom was always rearranging the furniture. Coming home from school, I would walk in to a completely new and exciting home, even though she used what we already had, but in a fresh and different way. It really gave you a wonderful emotional lift!

Redesign is about personalizing your spaces by repositioning and repurposing your existing furnshings, art and accessories to breathe new life into your home and enhance your lifestyle.

You need to start with a focal point, usually but not always, the sofa for a great or living room, the bed for a bedroom or a large and important piece of art or group of artwork. Remove all art and accessories to a “selection room”, maybe the kitchen or garage, then you can see the space as a blank canvas and begin to “paint” your new design. Now is a great time to edit and eliminate a lot of clutter and do some “spring” cleaning. Collections or groups of like objects are best used together and not scattered throughout the room.

With the help of a few friends or a professional designer,this interior design trend is an economical way to refresh and renew your rooms today and make a plan for future new purchases, if desired. It’s really great fun and the posibilities are limited only by your creativity and imagination!

Hot color trend

Orange has become “the” hot color trend and is certainly the color du jour! Pick up any fashion or design magazine and it is abundantly clear that Orange is here. It is a happy color, full of light, imparting the hues of sunrise and sunset.

Mix it with creme; luscious as a Dreamcicle! It’s bold and graphic when combined with black and white and as Exotic as a Moroccan spice market when paired with hot pink and/or purple!

This is truly a “hot” color trend!

More Design ideas using current color trends

Current color trends for interiors and clothing fashions are showing Orange everywhere from bright citrus orange mixed with black and white, to coral mixed with browns or ocean blues.

Gray is the top choice for garden accents and outdoor rooms using stoney and natural textures. Splash colors such as orange, and peacock blue make great accent colors.

White on white interiors with shimmering metalic silver are as glamorous and sophisticated as a 1930’s movie star! Design ideas featuring metalic silver on furniture, fabrics, leather and accessories abound in today’s design market.

Peacock blue is smashing on dinnerware, accent furniture and accessories or try this design idea; paint a powder bath with Sherwin Williams Posiedon(visit www.sherwinwilliams.com) in a glossy finish and use chartreuse accents for a jewel box effect!

Using aged finishes in the home 2009

I wrote this article recently and hope you will enjoy the information on using aged finishes to add warm character and a sense of heritage to your home.
Faux finish illusions for walls and ceilings achieved with layers of paint and glaze are just one of the beautiful ways to create a sense of timelessness and age in your home. Subtle techniques on walls imbue a room with warmth, personalized character and the look of antiquity.Stencils can be used to create an embossed texture that adds lucious depth and detail to any technique. Crackled finishes are another way to bring more textural elegance to your interiors. There are many tools and products available for DIY,or you can hire a professional to design your own very unique look! Just remember that a little goes a long way so don’t faux everything that doesn’t move!!

Found urns, vases, pots and bowls (I love the hunt!!) can be refinished to replicate the ancient look of artifacts and bring an instant touch of history to any room. With the use of a wide variety of tools, textures, paint and glazes, you are limited only by your imagination and daring!

the ancient art form of mosaic, in stone or glass, with a wide range of colors and textures will transform tabletops, picture frames, vases and tired accessories into exotic works of art with your own creative touch!

Antique wood furniture , or new ,made to look antique with distressing, carved motifs and worn finishes with tinted washes give a feeling of heritage and tell a story of human touch through the generations. Furniture and accent pieces found in thrift shops or flea markets make perfect candidates for DIY finishes produced with hand distressing, layers of paint and stain, sanded and rubbed through to impart a comfortable timeworn elegance. I especially love dining tables that are old and worn;I love to imagine the hands that have touched them and the people that have dined around them over the ages.

Bring in antique salvaged doors and hardware, fireplace surounds, old architectural elements, tumbled marble floors or counter tops and reclaimed wood floors, or new finished to look used and worn. Add some charmingly faded antique rugs along with your personally refinished furnishings and accessories to complete your elegant interior with aged finishes!

Spring 2009 newsletter -Outdoor living

Spring, one of my favorite times of the year is right around the corner. Mother nature puts on such a spectactular display just for us! Lucious Azaleas, Cardinals darting among the Dogwood blossoms, fresh asparagus and yummy strawberries. A time for long, leisurely walks in the park, followed by a picnic and dreams of watermellon to come! A beautiful time of awakening an renewal, this is the perfect season to refresh and revitalize your home , indoors and out.

Outdoor living and dining is at its best with nature inspired color palettes that provide an oasis of peace and comfort. Beautifully designed garden rooms with soothing water features and stylish , comfortable furnishings create the perfect ambiance for reveling and relaxing with those dear to you.Patios, balconies, verandas, boat docks and poolside decks are a few candidates for planning your own special place of serenity and enchantment for alfresco dining and entertaining.Scented candles, wind chimes, Moroccan lanterns and floating candles in a garden pond scattered with flower petals imbue the balmy evenings with a sense of ease and well being.

Dress out your special retreat with accents and accessories that reflect the colors of spring. Mimosa(Pantone’s color of the year- a beautiful yellow with a slight orange blush), sea blues, pink and purple are a few good choices. the combinations are limited only by your imagintion and daring, let nature inspire you to be your creative best!!

To awaken your interiors, add some seasonal color with accent pillows, new accessories, fresh flowers(Daffodils and Narcissis,ahhhhh! the fragrance!), area rugs or some slip covers. rearrange your art and object d’art to enjoy them from a new perspective.

So have fun with this glorious season of hope and new beginnings and enjoy outdoor living in style!

Clay Stephens 2009

What a good interior designer does

I think that most people don’t really understand what a good interior designer actually does. It’s entails way more than placing furniture, accessories and art work to make spaces look beautiful.

A great designer knows not only how to create beautiful spaces but also how to enhance lives and experiences.

I have worked with many clients where, together, we have created a home that nurtures and enhances their lives and actually creates a lifestyle for them.

Have you ever been in a space(home, hotel, offlice or other public arena) that made you feel special and nurtured or that created a sense of joy, wonder or awe? Well, more than likely a talented and creative designer or team of designers planned and supervised the execution of that special place!

A good interior designer can grasp the scope and “feel” of a project and know intuitively how to proceed with planning, research and implementation to achieve the desired outcome.

The first step in a project is to interview the client to obtain as much information as possible about their desires, dreams,and way of life. At this point I will usually have developed a mental picture of the way the project will look when completed! If I don’t get this picture, then I know that I need much more info or that the project isn’t right for me. It is always in the best interest of the client to decline a job that I don’t feel an affinity for and recomend for the client to interview other designers.

Being an interior designer is a hard job, but rewarding when you know you have made a positive difference on a project. I am always happy to hear that I have in some way enhanced a client’s life and exceeded their expectations!