Great Kitchens....

Love these kitchens from Atlanta Homes Magazine

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Traditional

Contemporary

Home Bars

Check out Derring hall for some great bar for the home.....

http://www.deringhall.com/daily-features/contributors/dering-hall/9-home-bars-to-inspire-your-new-years-eve-celebration

Traditional Kitchens

Check out these beautiful kitchens from house and home.....

http://houseandhome.com/gallery/top-10-traditional-kitchens-with-timeless-appeal/

A few upcoming trends

1. Brown Furniture is Back

Some might argue that brown furniture never went away, but I disagree.  There was certainly a period of time where designers eschewed traditional brown furniture forms for lighter finishes, and most antique dealers will tell you that the market for early English and American antiques grew soft.  That time has past.

2. Lucite, Glass and Brass

Tempering all that dark wood were pieces light as air.  Lucite was everywhere and was used most effectively when accented in brass. Bernhardt’s modern four poster bed was a showstopper.

3. Handcrafted Materials

From small markers to large corporations, I saw a resurgent interest in featuring handcrafted materials.  Tent London was filled with examples, including this very handsome lighting in hand tooled leather.

4. Nature as Muse

Lamps with feather shades and bases crafted to mimic birds legs?

5. Wallpaper As Art

My spin around design events this fall also suggests that wallpaper might be the only art you ever need.  It certainly is not going away, and the days of considering a wallpapered room as too “granny” are long gone.

At Tent London, U.K. designer Deborah Bowness introduced a highly colorful paper that called to mind a super-sized artist palette.   It would make a fine focal point.

from an article by Lynn Byrne.  For images and more information check out this post

http://www.decorartsnow.com/trends-that-will-endure/

Trends - Whats in and What out

Yesterday I attended a Designer event at Brentwood and the guest speaker was Shai DeLuca-Tamasi, a regular design expert on Cityline.  He spoke about some of the trends that are "in" and those that are "Out".

What's In......

One of the biggest things we are seeing and have seen for a little time now, is the use of mixed metals.  There is no matchy matchy of all one metal and this givves greater interest in the space.  We see  it in jewellery and as we know what is on the runway comes to home decor.

Mixing Black with Metals gives a dramatic and rich look

Our look is now a more liveable, relaxed and less staged look which is refreshing and welcoming.   We are less formal in our lives and now in the way we design and decorate our homes.

Area rugs that are painterly in style which is like a Monet painting.  There is an inconsistent pattern which doesn't show dirt as much as other designs.  This is great for families with young children.

Remember the 70's - well smoky glass is back.  Not sure if I like this trend.  I will let it grow on me

The colour Indigo which is a mix of black and navy is being seen and gives a moody look that can be quite elegant and very french.  Mixing it with carrara marble or mother of pearl is lovely and softens it

We are seeing graphic tiles more and more and now continuing as a popular and easy to maintain product - back painted glass which makes for easy clean up on a backsplash or shower.

What's Out....

The ombre look has been overdone and is not being seen as much.

Chevron - only being used in small amounts not as much as previously done

Mirrored Furniture which is still popular to a point but in the more formal design spaces

Text as decor has been around a while and now is going away

Cannes has it all - Sun, Fun and Architecture

To anyone following this blog I have an amazing announcement - Air Transit found and returned my lost tablet with my vacation photos.  Wow, I am delighted!  Now on to the 2nd part of my trip to France.

Yes, Cannes has it all - fun in the sun, great food and amazing architecture.

Our second week in France took us to Cannes, (known for the famous film festival.and pronounced Can like a can of anything)

A stop at the famous french flea markets is a must

A block from our hotel is the historic Suquet districe which is lined with

shops and cafes right down to the waterfront

A cafe closed during the early day

open at night

 Home of the famous Cannes Film Festival on the waterfront

 A short boat ride away and we landed on the Abbey of Lerins, where Monks wander and

practice as well as make wine

 A little retail therapy in the Suquet

All the fabulous yachts in Monaco

I couldn't come to Cannes without looking for the area that housed interior decor items - Le Hoche

Reupholstery - Guest Post by Jeanne Grier

Posted from Jeanne Grier, http://www.stylishfireplaces.ca/

New or Not? 5 Considerations before you reupholster

May | 25 | 2015 Posted By Stylish Fireplaces

Many of  our clients are considering reupholstery vs. new furniture, especially those who are downsizing and already have a selection of seating on hand.  When it comes to cost, there is often little or no difference between reupholstering an existing piece or purchasing a new one.  In both cases, you should end up with a ‘new’ piece in the fabric you love.  (Note: A reputable upholsterer will remove the old fabric, replace old foam and padding, glue loose joints, and repair broken springs.) So, how do we decide whether it makes more sense to rework the old furniture or shop for new pieces?   Here are my Top 5 Things to Consider:

• Is the piece in question well-made?  Garbage in = garbage out, as they say!  If the frame is unstable or broken, there’s no point in recovering it (unless it’s an antique that’s worth repairing — more on that, below!)
• Is the piece comfortable?  If not, there are some minor changes that might make it more inviting — softer/firmer foam, a higher/lower seat.  However, some pieces just can’t be made more comfortable, and these pieces don’t deserve to be recovered.
• Is the piece the right size and scale for your space?  If it’s the wrong size, no amount of wishful thinking is going to make it fit. Whether it’s too big or too small, you may be better off with a new model.
• Is the piece a personal favourite?  If you’ve never liked it, it’s possible that new fabric isn’t going to change your opinion.  Try to separate your feelings about the piece from your feelings about its covering, to be sure you’ll be better off with a new covering.
• Is the piece an antique?  You can ignore all of the logical reasons for and against reupholstery, above, if it’s an antique that you wish to preserve.   Except for size — a too-large piece won’t fit no matter how much you love it–the usual reasons against reupholstery become invalid if your piece is unique and irreplaceable.

2015 Interior Design Trends

2015 will be a year for bold colours, oversized canvases and eco-friendly designs. The home décor trends of the year will provide you the opportunity to express yourself through creativity, extravagance and versatility. 

Let the bathroom makeover be your focus in 2015: 

You can expect the bathroom to see the biggest changes out of any room in the house in 2015. Bathrooms will be moving toward a more clean and contemporary look. The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s style report says they won’t completely lose their cozy, rustic charm, but they will transition to a more minimalist modern vibe in the New Year. You can expect
 • Quartz countertops replacing granite. 
• Soaking tubs replacing rain showers. 
• Shades of grey replacing white walls. 

Be inspired by these colour schemes for 2015: 
• “Gray will be the hottest neutral of 2015 because it sets a great backdrop.” Jeff Andrews, LA Interior Designer. 
• Paint your bedroom olive green, a warm and organic neutral. Use white or cream accents in the room. 
• Bring in colours from the outdoors. Embrace the organic colours that feel right in your home. 
• Use a colour from a frosted pastel on the bathroom walls and choose a colour from a bright palate for your vintage tub. 
•Other areas: 
• Try a combination of greens, plums, cerulean blue, beiges and whites in your living room. Don’t be afraid to throw in lots of pattern. 2015 Interior design trends 8 9 It’s important to create balance when selecting the colors in your home. Choose a colour palate you like and then use the more decorative, bold colours on the furniture and other accessories. Don’t be afraid to have fun with colours from different palates, you may be surprised what works together. 

Other Trends to Watch For: 
• Oversized paintings on canvases 
• Eco-friendly materials 
• Animal prints and textures will be popular on couches, pillows, chairs and more 
• China dinnerware will be a must-have 
• Stand alone mirror in the bedroom 
• The mixing of patterns and textures, as seen in many Renaissance paintings 
• Expect combinations of rustic, contemporary and traditional in the same space 
• Accent features such as furniture or light fixtures that work both inside and outside will be popular 
• Metallic or gray kitchen cabinets 
• Warm metal kitchen fixtures Remember to be bold, resourceful and imaginative, but most importantly, be you. If you see a piece of furniture that inspires you, buy it and build a room around it. Don’t be afraid to take risks and to be unique. Which trends will you incorporate into your home decor for 2015

article courtesy of Improve Canada Magazinehttp://www.improvecanada.com/imagazine/vol3_issue1/i_Magazine_vol3-issue01.pdf

There are so many beautiful buildings, museums and cathedrals in Paris, it will take another visit or more just to see them. I love the old architecture and the many carved and rustic doors....