The Decorative Touch Wishes You a Happy New Year!
Happy New Year from The Decorative Touch, we hope you have a happy, fulfilling and prosperous year!
Image from Elizabeth Ann Designs
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Dining Room Alternative: Semi Formal Dining
Many of us lead such busy lives that we hardly have time to sit down with our families for a meal in our formal dining rooms. And with the ever present kitchen island dining has become quick and informal. Luckily, if we don’t have time for formal dining on a regular basis there are holidays and special parties. One of the reasons we enjoy formal dining rooms so much is because of the exquisite decor reserved for them. We also revel in the fact that it’s a large room where everyone can dine together. Eating in a formal dining room daily may not be practical for everyone, but what about an alternative?
If you are longing for sit down dinners that are a little more upscale than gathering around the kitchen island, consider a semi-formal dining room. A semi-formal dining room offers all the benefits of a formal dining room but toned down for daily use. Think amazing, but slightly casual furniture, smaller amounts of luxurious fabric, not so ornate china, and a more casual centerpiece. Take a look at these examples we found and let us know where you would rather eat: in a formal dining room, a semi formal dining room or where ever you happen to crash.
Images from Apartment Therapy
Image from the LENNOXX
Merry Christmas from The Decorative Touch
The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! We’re taking some time off to relax with family and our closest friends, while enjoying a little festive holiday decor. We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and happy holidays. We will leave you with some elegant Christmas decor to keep you satisfied until we get back…enjoy!
Interior Design of How Do You Know
Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson’s romantic comedy “How Do You Know” hit theaters this past Friday. The comedy follows Witherspoon’s character Lisa who is struggling to find herself after being cut from her softball team. Things get interesting as she begins dating Wilson’s character Matty, a major league baseball pitcher and Paul Rudd’s character George, a businessman. Throughout the movie things become just as complicated as interesting. However, the interior design is a different story.
As it is important in any interior design be it from movies or real life, the designs reflect the personalities of each character. To describe Wilson’s quirky character the set designer incorporated dashes of color and unique pieces of furniture. The apartment of Rudd’s character features neutral tones in a more traditional design. Take a look at the interiors of “How Do You Know” and let us know which character’s apartment you like the best.
The apartment of Wilson’s character Matty
The apartment of Rudd’s character George
Images by David James found on casasugar
Elegant Silver and Gold Hoilday Decor
With Thanksgiving recently passing, Christmas knocking on the door and New Years right around the corner all we can think about is gorgeous holiday decor, but can you blame us? The holiday season is always an exciting time to decorate. There are so many different color combinations to explore and decorative items to experiment with. The interior design of any space can be transformed for the holidays with the right decorative touch.
Right now we are are completely in love with the classic and elegant look of silver and gold holiday decor. We found a gorgeous design on Style at Home that we can’t stop looking at. The simplicity of silver and gold paired together creates just the right amount of sparkle. We love the clean lines of this design and how well it contrasts with the various types of texture. Take a look at this interior design of silver and gold holiday decor and let us know what you think!
Major News from the Color Authority Pantone
Today designers everywhere are sifting through millions of new design and color palette ideas. Wondering why their creative wheels turning? Because Pantone released their color of the year last week. The color authority chose PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle as the 2011 Color of the Year. The reddish-pink hue replaces the much loved and widely used 2010 Color of the Year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise.
Honeysuckle can be described as vibrant, courageous and confident. Directors at Pantone’s color institute believe the bold color is uplifting and encouraging.
In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.
We are already envisioning rooms being lit with large doses or small pops of the lively color. What do you think about Honeysuckle, would you mind adding into the interior design of your home?
Images from houzz and Elle Decor
Call The Decorative Touch at 913-219-7333 to begin planning how to use Honeysuckle into the decor of your home!
Tip of the Week #18: Norwalk Furniture 2011 Color Trends
As the year is fast approaching its closing I am sure you all are wondering whats in store for 2011, well…
Norwalk Furniture, an American made upholstery line has just sent me their newest samples of color trends for 2011 and they are wonderful!! I had the opportunity to visit the factory last Spring and wow did I learn some things about how hard the folks who make our fine furniture really do work. And not to mention the time and attention they put into every detail!
So yes, I do recommend Norwalk and I love that they are fabricating right here in the USA.
The new Collections for the coming year are:
- Brittany Cottage: The appeal of the natural weaves of grayed-down base colors that conjure memories of simpler times. Paired with sky blues, charcoals, and deep reds, all french inspired, the Brittany Cottage Collection creates a casual approach to carefree living!
- City Lights: Imagine the views from your penthouse apartment–blue gray clouds, or “vapor” as Candice Olson calls it, coordinated with rich velvets, soft wools, and highly textured foundation cloths in nutty tones. While dove grays play a complementary role, the addition of green-cast golds adds a subtle punch to this sophisticated pallet.
- Coconut Grove: You will see just a bit more upscale with this tropical, yet sophisticated twist that would make it in almost any coastal environment. While green shades of palm abound, colorful prints and bold stripes anchor this great look.
- Highlands Manor: Inspired by the warm hues of the Scottish highlands, this collection is a lively mix of traditional and timeless menswear plaids, leathers, and rich velvets. Stripes and feathers, paisleys, and hounds tooth all reflect the heritage of quality in this look.
Another thing I love about Norwalk Furniture is the interactive on-line catalog. You might like to take a peak and see what you can create, try it out at www.norwalkfurniture.com.
Enjoy! Janine
Highlands Manor
City Lights
Coconut Grove
Brittany Cottage
Kind Words from Rockwood Builders
As the owner of Rockwood Builders I have known and worked with Janine for 12 years. She does all my selections after I’ve completed a project. She has carte blanche when picking paint colors, carpet, tiles, light fixtures as well as exterior colors. When it is time for us to furnish a model home Janine also does all the staging of the house. Each and every experience I’ve had with Janine has been a complete pleasure. Not only is she easy to work with, she has the personality to go with it.
She always goes beyond the call of duty to make sure everything is perfect. Janine has a unique talent as she can envision the finished product when she is just starting on a house. As a builder, I see the house finished at blueprint stage and she sees it completely decorated as an interior designer. Each of my customers that has worked with Janine always tells me how great of an experience it was. Her attention to detail is impeccable and I can’t say enough good things about her as a person or as a professional.
Sincerely,
Richard Pfaff of Rockwood Builders
Interiors of Love and Other Drugs
While you took time off to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family and friends did you have a chance to see any good movies? The romantic comedy Love and Other Drugs opened Wednesday and everyone is talking about the interior design. There is much buzz about Anne Hathaway’s character Maggie’s loft. The loft is the perfect representation of Maggie’s personality- she is a talented artist who is the ultimate free-spirit. The interior design is very raw and industrial. There seems to be mixture of a little bit of everything all tied together to create a very lived-in feel. The design is quite interesting because it perfectly conveyed the character through furniture, fabrics, accessories and an art studio. What do you think of the industrial look of Maggie’s apartment with everything in it? Love it or is it perfect for the movie because it’s not really your style?
Images found on casasugar
Happy Thanksgiving!
We’re taking the day off just like everyone else to relax, eat some delicious food and enjoy family and friends. We would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving this holiday season from The Decorative Touch!
Have you had a change to read our last past post? If not you check it out here. Our favorite tablescape was the one at the very bottom of the screen, tell us what you think!
