Top Home Furnishing Trends for 2011

·         Water and Beach Themes:  water is a key theme for home décor in 2011.  This is trend is mostly seen by using all water colors, but it also includes prints with water animals, vegetation, and water features.  This was the #1 trend seen at spring market in all price points and categories.    Beach inspiration is always beautiful and calming and this year we are seeing it with white washed furniture, reclaimed materials, beach chairs and LOTS of outdoor furniture being used indoors. 

·         Bright Colors with neutrals:  Besides the water blue colors coral and melons are going to be big!  Purples, teals and light olive greens are also forecasted to be popular colors for 2011 and 2012.  Many people are not comfortable with lots of color so you may see these being used as accents or BOLD color blocking designs with the main use of color being warm greys, taupe, and other neutrals. 

·         Mod revival:  retro inspiration can be seen in many accessories, lighting, and furniture.   MODULAR storage cubes, metal legs and cube shapes in upholstery are also still very popular. 

·         21^st Century Classical:  This is the look of American Traditional with a Twist.  Classic clean styling of American Traditional with an updated modern feel.  This look has the comfort of tradition mixed with fresh contemporary inspiration.  I expect this new movement to really take hold and stay for a while.  As a result of the recent economic downturn people are drawn to the security of traditional pieces that have style longevity, but also like the fresh look of a more modern clean style.  Expect to see traditional furniture with modern influence, like for example a classic wood piece with modern metal hardware or a traditional style lamp in an unexpected bold color.

·         STEAMPUNK:  Steampunk is a term that refers to the mix of vintage industrial materials with traditional elements.  It is another way we can create a feeling of nostalgia in a modern world.  Steampunk accessories are all the rage and will continue to be popular.  You will most likely see this influence in lamps, clocks, office accessories and wall art. 

·         TEXTURE:  texture is everywhere right now!  Raw woven fabrics, textured wall papers, carved wood, frayed edges, puckers, pleats, embossing, woven in ribbons, etched ceramics….all are visible in the market place.  Consumers can expect to see lots more of this look.

·          Tribal Influence:  Another style direction consumers may notice is the tribal influence.  Think Mayan, Inkan and Hopi tribes:  distressed leather, ikat prints, reclaimed wood, kilims, and agate or geode accessories will be widely available.

Studio 5 Video Segment

Picture Perfect:  simple Guidelines for Hanging Art

·        Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture.  A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below.  75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe.  If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline. 

·        Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at “eye level” however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height.  A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65” from the floor.   Most often art is hung too high, so If in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12” between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.

·        Line….consider whether the space in question needs the illusion of horizontal expansion or vertical height, then choose your artwork accordingly.  Diagonal lines are sometimes needed for spaces such as stairways.  Areas that are irregular in shape and line are a great place for round artwork, mirrors or wreaths.  Round shapes soften angular areas and help to avoid the problem of rectangular art looking crooked.

·        Grouping… this can be tricky but can also have amazing visual impact.  A group of pictures should be thought of as one cohesive “unit. An easy trick for creating a grouping is to trace each individual piece of art onto paper and then cut out the shapes.  Using these paper shapes you can arrange them on the floor, or even directly onto the wall using some tape.  This enables you to determine which arrangement you prefer without having to put dozens of extra nail holes in your wall.  When you have found the desired configuration you can then lightly mark it onto your wall with a pencil. 

·         Tools for the job…my favorite hooks for hanging pictures are called “monkey Hooks” and they require no hammer or nail!  These hooks are usually available at your local hardware store.  If I am hanging art for a client I always make sure I have on hand a laser level, pencil, measuring tape, hammer, nails and picture hanging hooks for all different weights.  If you have a picture that doesn’t like to stay straight use some Sticky putty on the bottom corners.  Adhesive felt pads are great to have on hand to help prevent frames from marking the wall. 

Quaint Paint:  Favorite Fool proof paint colors

From the past 15 years working in design I have no doubt that picking a paint color is one of the most agonizing decisions for many people.  Here are some of my favorite colors that are sure to please!

·       best white:  glass of milk 8002 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection

·       favorite neutrals:  café au lait 8128 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection; plantation beige 8213M kwall Howell (yellow undertone);  relaxed khaki sw 6149 sherwin Williams (green undertone);  macadamia sw 6142 sherwin wiliams (brown undertone);  kilim beige sw 6106 sherwin Williams (red undertone); tequila 8672 w kwall howells;  tavern taupe 8673 M kwall howell

·       best chocolate brown:  tilled soil 8395 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection

·       romantic blush pink:  blush beige 7821 w kwall howell

·       spa blue:  dupioni 8057 sherwin Williams Martha stewart

·       creamiest creams:  pannier 8133 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection; coast point 8202w kwall howell

·       favorite greens:  herbivore 8173 M kwall howell; svelte sage sw6164 sherwin Williams; grassland sw 6163 sherwin Williams; pressed leaves 8214 sherwin williams Martha stewart (this is a bright spring green)

·       soft yellows:  sienna sand 8223m kwall howell; ivories w 6127 sherwin williams;  rattan 8145 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection (this is a little bit brighter)

·       deep red:  red miso 8383 sherwin Williams Martha stewart

·       muted gold:  camelback sw612 sherwin Williams

·       modern grays:  manatee 8061 sherwin williams Martha stewart collection;  catbird 8063 sherwin Williams Martha stewart collection

10 Tips for Picking the Perfect Paint

1.    Start with Inspiration:  Whether it is a fabulous piece of art, your favorite accessory, an accent color from a rug or simply a swatch of fabric…these can all be great places to find inspiration for your walls.  Some of my most favorite color schemes started from something small that my client fell in love with.

2.  Get in the Mood:  Think about the use of the room and the emotion that you want to evoke.  Color has a lot of effect on us psychologically so use it to your advantage!  Bright colors stimulate, warm colors increase energy and can even increase your appetite, neutral earth tones create a sense of comfort and security, and monochromatic color schemes evoke tranquility.  Keep in mind that color is subjective and the initial response to a color may change over time.  For instance, while many cool tones such as blues, grays and greens can give a sense of calm, they can also promote sadness.  Intense colors such as red, orange and yellow can invigorate at first sight but can also create feelings of unrest.

3.  Shed Some Light On It:  Does the room have lots of natural light during the day?  Is the area mainly lit by artificial light? The lighting of a room is a very important factor in color selection.  Rooms with southern or western exposure will naturally have a warmer light.  Northern or Eastern exposure casts a cool light.  You may want to choose a paint color with the opposite effect to balance the light in the room.  ALWAYS choose the paint color while you are in the room…and be sure to look at the paint chip in both natural daylight and artificial light.

4.  Understand Undertones:  Cool vs. Warm….the easiest way to explain this is to draw a line straight down the color wheel from the yellow-green mark to the red-violet mark.  The colors on the left are warm and the colors on the right are cool.  Warm colors can have a yellow, red, or orange undertone.  Cool colors can have a blue or green undertone.  If you are having a hard time seeing the undertone of a paint color try looking at it against a plain white sheet of paper...is there more red or more blue in the color?  Undertones are important to look for and understand because this is what causes most of the paint mistakes.  If you are not careful to notice you may end up with a mauve wall instead of beige!

5.  The Shocking Truth:  Intensity is the term we use to describe the brilliance of a color.  The more pure the color is the more intense it will be.  Paint color appears brighter on the wall than in the can or the paint chip so be careful about the level of intensity you choose.  I have had many clients call me with a paint mistake that involves the color being too strong when it goes up on the wall.  Even when you are seeking a bright color you may need to pick a paint that has a more “muddy” or less pure appearance on the paint sample to avoid this costly mistake.

6.  Look towards the Finish Line:  Paint is available in several finish options or sheens ranging from flat to high gloss.  Lower sheen paints such as matte or eggshell are great at hiding imperfections and flaws but not so great for cleaning and durability.  Areas that are high use and need frequent scrubbing are better suited for semi-gloss or a high-gloss paint.  Because these paints reflect more light, they will make any wall imperfection more noticeable as well.  The change in sheen can also have an effect on the appearance of the color.  High sheen paints can make paint colors appear deeper, while flat paints can have the opposite effect, making colors appear lighter.  This is actually a great way to use sheen to your advantage when using a monochromatic color scheme.

7.  Room with a View:  When considering paint for one area of your house take a step back and see how it will work with adjacent areas.  Approach it like a composition:  as you walk through one room you are going to see a piece of another room through it.  Think about the flow of color from one space to the next.

8.  Things Are Looking Up:  Painting the ceiling can actually make the room appear larger by pushing the walls out visually.  Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls came help blend the wall and ceiling border.  Try painting low ceilings in a lighter shade to help add height.  To add warmth to a room with high ceilings try painting the ceilings two to three shades darker than the walls.  Rooms with decorative ceiling finish work are an excellent opportunity to add a bold accent color.

9.  Take A Test Drive:  Once you have narrowed down your options the best way to make sure you have the right color is to test it.  Many paint stores are now offering small tester size paint cans.  These are inexpensive and a great way to boost your confidence and confirm your choice.  I always recommend that my clients paint the color(s) onto a white poster board or a large area of wall that is well lit.  Leave the paint up for a couple of days so that you can view it during the daytime as well as at night. 

10.          Be Color Courageous:  Now that you have found your perfect color you can add pattern and interest by using your creativity.  Areas that are in extra need of personality can benefit from a strong accent wall, a bold stripe pattern, or for added depth a textured finish.  There are many new specialty paints available to experiment with including chalkboard paint, suede finishes, metallic paints and glazes.  Be bold and have fun!