Runway Fashion Meets Home Furnishings – Black and White

March 17, 2013

Following the looks on the fashion runways can give you a glimpse into the current trends and styles for that upcoming season. Held in New York City twice a year, Fashion Week for Spring 2013 is showing an abundance of the clothing and accessories in black and white.

 

Black and White at Fashion Week 2013

Some trends on the runway are timeless, and that includes this season’s plethora of black and white. Often times these trends coincide with what is happening in the home fashion industry. Fashion on the runway tends to change every spring and fall and have more trendy items.

 

Black and White meets Runway Fashion

image via pinterest

Interior Walls Designs - Black and White

designers Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs via realbeauty

Home furnishings, on the other hand, tend to have introductions of items that are available year after year. Each furniture market, new home accessories along with fabrics and colors trends are typically updated or added to existing lines.

 

Interior Walls- Black and White in Home Furnishings

images via pinterest

 

Designer Narcisco Rodriguez – Kate Spade & Rafe New York handbags available at Bloomingdales

 

Black and white, in my opinion, is easy to live with and can easily be updated in the home by adding pops of color. Tile or marble in these contrasting colors has been around for centuries and continues to be a classic and timeless design for the home.

 

Runway Fashion Meets Home Furnishings

 

Runway Fashion Meets Home Furnishings

Black and White - tile - Interior Walls Designs

Filed Under: Color Tagged With: ,

Viceroy Anguilla – A Carribean Retreat

March 12, 2013

Perhaps it is that time of year again. With the seemingly endless cloudy and rainy days, it is no wonder I have taken the notion to look into traveling south for some sun and tranquility. Offering this and much more on the island of Anguilla is the resort Viceroy Anguilla.

 

Interior Walls Designs -Viceroy Anguilla

 

This first-class resort is nestled on 35 acres in the British West Indies. The island, approximately sixteen miles long by three miles wide, is situated five miles from St. Maarten and twenty miles from St. Barths. The Viceroy Anguilla is a tranquil and lavish retreat offering incomparable accommodations and dining in the heart of white sand beaches and endless views of the Caribbean.

 

Viceroy Anguilla

 

 

hotel viceroy anguilla

 

Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the celebrated and acclaimed interior and fashion designer, this resort presents more calm and tranquil than her typical design projects. Wearstler is one of my most favored and admired designers. Known for her unusual yet keen design-eye and incredible eye-popping style by mixing textures, patterns and colors, she never disappoints.

 

Hotel Viceroy Anguilla

The modern architecture of the property is softened by the organic style of design. Driftwood and rattan pieces along side petrified-wood accessories make the property feel warm and inviting. Travertine floors are abundant against the neutral color palette.

 

 

The accommodations range from rooms and suites in the main resort to the two- level villas and residences overlooking the coral cliffs. Three pools and three tennis courts are at your fingertips. Adding to its allure are five restaurants along with a spa and wellness center.

 

Viceroy Resort in Anguilla - Interior Walls Designs

Viceroy Resort in Anguilla - Interior Walls Designs

all images via Viceroy Hotel and Resorts

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: ,

The Painted Door

March 6, 2013

There are numerous ways to enhance any room, hallway or entryway. The quickest and easiest method would be to add paint. Consider painting just the door alone, and you have added dimension and color in an instant.

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

image via Designer Katie Ridder

When painting any area of the home, make sure you test that color in that space. Do not rely on the fact that your friend used this color or even that you may have used this color in another room of your house. Each area will read differently depending on the lighting in that room. Be sure test the paint on the actual door or paint a piece of white poster board with two coats of paint.

The Painted Door Interior Walls

The Painted Door Interior Walls Designs

The Painted Door

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

images via pinterest

Buying new doors for your home can update your home instantly and bring value to the home. When considering a new door, look at ones with decorative trim. Painting the decorative trim a contrast color adds that extra detail. Changing out the hardware is another way to bring that door to life!

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

image via pinterest

The Painted Door

Designer S.R. Gambrel

Filed Under: Doors Tagged With: ,

For the Love of…Marble

March 5, 2013

Not necessarily a newcomer in the design industry, Carrara marble and other similar marbles are continuing to make a statement in today’s homes. Sought after by interior designers, builders and homeowners for the last decade, many factors need to be considered when choosing this or any surface throughout the home.

For the Love of Marble Interior Walls Designs

image via pinterest

Carrara marble is timeless and classic and works in traditional or contemporary settings. Many homeowners may choose marble for their kitchen countertops or backsplashes. Take into account first that marble is more porous and softer than granite, therefore it needs to be noted that as a countertop, marble will patina over time and will show signs of wear. Even though it is sealed after installation, marble may stain, scratch and chip. Etching may also occur which is when the marble dulls in spots due to chemical reactions. Many people embrace this look and welcome these traits while others may choose a different alternative.

For the love of marble- interior walls designs

image via Design Galleria

Marble slabs can either be polished or honed. Honed marble has a matte or satin finish. Both finishes have their attributes therefore a homeowner should research both finishes before purchasing. Polished marbles are often used for wall veneers, fireplace surrounds and furniture tops.

Marble tiles can give a wall or a backsplash that added dimension in a room. A slab or section of a slab can also be applied directly to the wall.

For the Love of Marble - Interior Walls Designs

image via pinterest

Calacatta marble, which come in many varieties, should also be considered when selecting a marble. Its background is whiter in nature than Carrara but also more expensive. Though every slab will have its own color and character, the main differences are that Calacatta is a whiter marble with bold, gray veining and Carrara marble typically has a grayer background with softer veining.

Marble is often seen in many applications in today’s bathrooms. It is frequently used as shower walls and floors and is sometimes utilized as moulding, trim and door casing.

For the Love of Marble - Interior Walls Designs

image via pinterest

The crisp, clean look of marble is timeless and works well in these contemporary and transitional applications by Architect William Hefner.

For the love of MarbleFor the love of Marble

images via Architect William Hefner

Filed Under: For the Love Of..., Marble

Symmetry & Asymmetry in Design

February 22, 2013

It is interesting to see the manner in which a client interprets or understands the elements of balance. When it comes to interior design, I have found that most people either embrace asymmetry wholeheartedly or they prefer the symmetrical route.

Many people understand and relate better to an equal balance of items, such as two matching chairs that flank either side of a fireplace. They prefer, for instance, two matching lamps on two matching tables.  This may be related to the theory that we are either left brained or right brained. Each side of the brain is responsible for different modes of thinking.

 

Interior Walls Designs - Symmetry

image via Veranda magazine

 

When it comes to design, does symmetry in your home make you more comfortable? Symmetry achieves balance through repetition of items.

Interior Walls Designs - Symmetry

 

The left brained individual tends to be analytical and detailed-oriented. While easily comprehending math and science problems, they also tend to look at the parts, not the big picture, of  matters. They are the rule followers, with an emphasis on the specifics and facts in all situations. They tend to understand the concept of symmetry and prefer it in their design. Are they possibly the engineers, accountants, computer programmers or lawyers of the world?

Symmetry Interior Walls Designs

Designer Phillip Sides via Coastal Living– photo: Tria Giovan, Stylist: Heather Chadduck

 

Studies say that many right brained individuals are more creative and emotional and tend to take risks. These individuals are many times left-handed. Are these the artists, fashion designers, chefs or graphic designers of the community?

Interior Walls Designs - Asymmetry

Designer Betsy Brown

 

Interior Walls Design - Asymmetry

 image via pinterest

 

You may be right brained if you welcome asymmetry into your home. Scale and proportion is utilized in order to give the proper sense of balance. Asymmetry contains different elements that provide equal visual weight.

Interior Walls Designs- Asymmetry

image via pinterest

Filed Under: Design Principles