Pillows - A Definite Decorating Statement

A design tip I often hear (and use) is to make a quick but dramatic change to a room, change (or add) pillows. As we move into spring and summer, using this tip can move a room from drab winter into bright sun. These beautiful pillows from Company C will brighten any room! The colors are divine.......and will go with almost any neutral. In fact, with a solid fabric, you can use them all together to bring summer sun into a room. Are you working with a lot of pattern in the room? Then use them to keep the color story going, while toning down the pattern.

Do you prefer patterns to solids? If the background is solid, don't hesitate to mix and match different patterns to create interest. See how these patterned pillows from Pier 1 in various shades of green enliven a beige sofa? To keep things from getting too busy when you have lots of pillows, try using a pair or two. Just keep the pairs at opposite ends of the sofa or on different pieces of furniture in the room.

Even outdoor furniture needs pillows. While it's probably a good idea not to compete with the landscape, simple pillows in subtle colors can add softness, comfort, and interest to outdoor furniture. Look how these pillows make this seating area more comfortable and cozy, while blending with the beautiful view.

Just a few simple "rules" to follow: odd numbers of pillows are usually a bit more interesting as are pillows of different sizes. Just don't have too many different sizes - two usually works fine. And don't forget about texture! Vary the textures of the pillows with that of the fabric they are on - and with each other. Then sink into the sofa and say "ahhhh". And if you like these ideas, visit my Decorating with Pillows board on Pinterest!

Mix It Up a Bit!

While I can't really say that contemporary decor is prevalent in the northeast, it is certainly true that clean lines are making quite a statement. And I love mixing a more contemporary look with furnishings that are a bit more traditional.

Jackson 2-Piece Chaise Sectional

Olivia Cocktail Table

I'm also thrilled that West Elm has opened a store in Westport, which means I no longer have to drive to Massachusetts to shop for reasonably priced clean-lined furniture. Their beautiful Jackson sectional fits with contemporary furniture as well as more traditional. Change the rug and pillows for something more traditional, switch the coffee table for something like this one from Ballard Designs and voila! A fabulous blend of contemporary and traditional. What's not to love?

Barrel Cbair

Sometimes all it takes is a statement piece.  Regency Shop has some fabulous furniture to do just that. Add one of their beautiful contemporary pieces into a more traditional room and you've got an interesting room, one that looks as if it's been put together over time.  This Barrel Chair ( a take on traditional Mission style) would look wonderful in a room with leather furniture, wouldn't it? Or what about this very contemporary Bertoia Chair surrounding a farmhouse table? Wouldn't that make a statement?

Bertoia Chair

So don't be afraid to mix it up! Add a little tension, a hint of edginess, and you've created a room that feels good, looks good and reflects you!

Bookshelves........Not Just for Books

Bookshelves play some sort of a role in most homes. Sometimes they have a simple function of, well, holding books. Strictly utilitarian, but very important. But that doesn't have to be the case. Why not add a little spice?

Bookshelves can be a great place to display collections - and not just family photos. Collections have more of an impact when they are displayed together, so why not distribute them throughout the shelves? Incorporate books as display stands, pay attention to colors and textures, and you can have a bookshelf as beautiful as this one designed by Emily Henderson.


Feel like your bookshelves are a little boring?Why not decorate the backs of the shelves with paint or wallpaper? Books and accessories will stand out beautifully and voila - no more boring bookshelf.

Design by Emily Henderson

What about making use of the front of the shelves as well? While you don't want to forget the function of bookshelves, hanging a piece of art on the front of shelves can be interesting - and can perhaps hide some of those not-so-pretty items stored there. Or better yet, perhaps this is an interesting place to showcase an interesting collectible. While you may not have anything quite likethis around your home, think creatively!

And don't forget about children's bookshelves! While these can provide invaluable storage for toys and books, make them colorful and fun.

Just a few tips to keep in mind when styling your bookshelves. It's a good idea to keep the  heavy items on the bottom. This keeps the bookshelves from looking like they may topple over. Put the prettiest books and accessories at eye level. These are the things you want people to really notice. If you have paperbacks, put them in baskets rather than displaying them on the shelves. And finally, if you have side-by-side shelves, try making the width of the shelves on each side vary just a bit. This can keep things interesting, as long as there isn't too much disparity.

Like these ideas? I've posted photos of my favorites on Bookshelves I Love on Pinterest so check them out!

Is Now the Time to Paint?

After the  holidays, our decorating often focuses on filling in the bare spots left by the removal of our holiday decorations. What about taking into consideration the paint colors on our walls? While we may not think winter is the time to paint interiors, with the wonderful variety of low and no VOC paints, there is very little odor involved. So you don't need to spend time in your beautiful new space inhaling paint fumes. And now you also have the help of a lot of websites, including Benjamin Moore. With their Color Stories, you can see a variety of tints and shades of colors you love put together in a beautiful gallery. Look at these gorgeous blues!

Color Pizzazz

Neutral Nuance

Sherwin Williams also designs Color Palettes for different styles of homes and lives. Here's their beautiful take on an upbeat passion for life called Color Pizzazz. Or if you prefer something a bit calmer, check out Neutral Nuance.

And there are plenty more colors, ideas, and websites to help you with your choices. What's important is that you love the colors surrounding you - and the paint colors you choose are a big part of that. So have fun - and make the colors surrounding you a reflection of you!

It's the Holidays!

There is so much out there about holiday decorating, but it just never gets old for me! I hope you feel the same way and appreciate these tips.

Lucas Allen/Country Living

I'm a big fan of traditional trees......you know, the kind with ornaments you've collected over the years. Some may be homemade, some may be from trips, and some you may have bought just because you like them. But when you have two trees (for me, that just covers the big ones), I love theme decorating. My living room tree is trimmed with poinsettias and snowflakes, with a vintage holiday card or two thrown in. You can use live poinsettia with floral water tubes or you can take apart fake plants and use these care-free blooms (which is what I did). Either way, it's a beautiful look.

Robin Stubbert/Country Living

And what about mantels? While I'm not a fan of mirrors on mantels because they usually reflect the ceiling, if you put a beautiful arrangement in front of the mirror, you have double beauty! Simplicity always appeals to me as well, so perhaps just beautiful greens and maybe a few candles will do the trick. Most of us have quite a few decorations, so keeping it simple keeps the decor from being overwhelming. Consider using things you have around the house that aren't necessarily holiday-themed but could be. What about silver candlesticks, branches from the yard spray-painted silver and in a silver vase, or unpainted branches intertwined with battery-operated lights? Inexpensive yet stunning decorations!

Wreaths are a big part of the holidays for me as well. I use them indoors and out. Evergreens make beautiful wreaths, but what about something a little more unusual? Wreaths made from herbs such as bay leaves, rosemary, oregano, and such are not only beautiful but also won't be thrown out at the end of the season. Add a few oranges or cranberries - and maybe a bunch or two of grapes - for color and you're done! Eucalyptus leaves also make gorgeous wreaths, particularly when the leaves are spray-painted metallic gold or silver.

However you decide to decorate for the holidays, make sure it reflects YOU! Just like design throughout the year, your home should be a reflection of you and your family, not what you see in the magazines. So put out what you love, then sit back and enjoy! It will be over before you know it.

Late Fall Decorating

Or does that become holiday decorating? Late fall certainly covers Thanksgiving and by the time winter officially begins, Christmas decorating (for those who celebrate) has usually been completed. But there's so much more to late fall decorating than just holidays!

Fall vegetables make wonderful late fall decorations - and not just pumpkins. Kale, eggplant, purple cabbage, pomegranates, and ornamental peppers are all beautiful. Take inspiration from the colors, shapes, and textures and bring them into your decorating scheme.

Tabletop arrangements and mantels are of course lovely, but what about your entry? Can you bring some of those colors into your decorating scheme so people see it when they walk in the door? The entry is often a place where we can add a little color drama without conflicting with your entire decorating scheme, so see if you can add a beautiful eggplant pillow, throw, or entry table arrangement.

Courtesy HGTV

If adding fall colors is a bit much, what about using bare branches and some simple things from nature? The fruit, feather, and pine cone in this photo add interest to the beautiful display of branches, combining rustic and elegant at the same time.

Texture is also important at this time of year. And you can add that to any room without disturbing the color scheme. Cozy throws and soft pillows in any color add texture to any room, while faux fur rugs and floor pillows make lounging on the floor as inviting as the furniture!

Whatever you do, make sure your fall decorating is all about you.......and that it makes you feel happy every time you walk in the door!

It's Fall!

I do so love this season, as apparently (according to a recent survey) do a lot of people. In fact, October is the favorite month of the majority of Americans. And I love decorating for fall.......especially with just a bit of a twist.

Courtesy of HGTV

For example, pumpkins and gourds are definitely a sign of the season. But you don't have to keep them orange and yellow. Paint them to match your decor. Or purchase faux in the color of your choice. Look how beautiful this monochromatic mantel looks! If you prefer more color, go for it!

Use things from nature to add interest. Gather acorns, bare branches, feathers, and perhaps even a fallen nest to make a creative arrangement. Use them in bowls, jars, and vases to replace those summer collectibles of seashells, sand, and sea glass. Keep branches in place using dried beans for an unusual touch.

Rather than change your sisal rug, try layering another rug on top of it.  Rugs Direct shares a beautiful look in a bedroom, but that will work well in any room of the house. Think of the floor as the wall, with the sisal or natural fiber rug as the wall treatment, then the patterned rug as the artwork. Or get even more creative and layer different patterns. Keep in mind the tricks to using different patterns together (colors that blend and patterns that are similar in style), then have fun! Animal prints are a great trend now, so try adding one if the mood strikes you.

And of course, the "traditional" bounty of the season is always beautiful. Pumpkins stacked on your front porch,pots of jewel-toned mums, and bowls of seasonal fruit (is anything more beautiful than a bowl of apples?) are always a delight to behold - and a wonderful touch of fall both inside and out.