The best part of the impending new year is that we all have the opportunity to start over, and try something different. This thought is not only true for the circumstances in our lives, but also the way we decorate homes. We invite you to try new things, new ideas, and new ways to celebrate the new you in 2012. Let examine several major rooms in your home and how you can incorporate new colors and create a unique look in each room.
Living Room
In this living room featured below, we emphasis color by using an unorthodox method: painting the ceiling. As displayed, we reversed the norm, and instead of putting rich colored walls in the living room, we’ve opted for a vibrant ceiling, accenting the space with the wall art and pillows. With tangerine tango the color of the year, the living room seems like the perfect opportunity to take risks. You may have seen this photo before on this blog, but we didn’t know when this homeowner and I made the decision to use this vibrant burnt orange on her ceiling that it was going to be forecasted as Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year. So we hope you don’t mind that we are featuring it again, as it is a favorite of mine as well, and an inspiration for you to step out of your comfort zone and see how fabulous color can be on your ceiling.
The Decorative Touch: The Living Room
Kitchen
This coming year, let’s brighten up our kitchen will soft colors such as pastels. These neutral and light hues will evoke an ambiance of contentment and joy, perfect for creating family memories in the kitchen. For pops of rich color, designers should think of using the island counter tops in a kitchen as a centerpiece for color, as shown below we this fun shade of blue.
The Decorative Touch: The Kitchen
Master Bedroom
The master suite is a place of serenity and rest for nearly all of us. Instead of adding rich colors, bedrooms are well served with relaxing tones, allowing you to be lulled to sleep. The wall color in this master bedroom below is accented with the bed comforter, curtains, and the decorative pillows.
The Decorative Touch: The Master Bedroom
Are you thinking of changing your look for the new year in your home? The Decorative Touch can help keep you create the ideal feel and traditional touch. Just contact us, and we are delighted to serve.
The Colorful Living Room
/in In Style /by decorativetouchWe love color. And although some homeowners may be afraid of color, it really is a great way to express your personality.
We just met with one of our favorite furniture suppliers last week and learned more about what is up and coming for 2012, and yes, color is coming round the corner in more ways than one. You will see lots of tangerine, wonderful navy blue like its never been seen before, and even tranquil greyed ocean blue is still so restful, and you will find it hard to resist. So, as we show you below, don’t be afraid to use paint in different ways and take a chance on color. There are so many gorgeous things out there to inspire you this year. Be it fabric, area rugs or just a fresh coat of paint dare to be different and express your inner designer.
You’ll see lots of orange in this family room that has been shown before on this blog. This room creates a warm vibrant feeling for family and guests because of the color. We mentioned before how orange (or officially Tangerine Tango) is the 2012 Pantone color of the year. In this space, we used plenty of solid color to set the tone.
Photo: The Decorative Touch
But as you can see in this living room below, patterns can also infuse color into your space. The color certainly doesn’t have to be a monochromatic theme.
The Patterned Living Room/ Photo: BHG.com
If you do not see adding colorful furniture, think about having an interior designer handpick colorful displays. They can even be changed for the season or time of year.
Darling Displays/ Photo: BHG.com
Are you looking to add color to your living space? We can help you get started in the right direction. Just contact the Decorative Touch, and we’ll help with the next step.
Small Space Design
/in Tips /by decorativetouchIn interior design, there are no such thing as small spaces; only small imaginations. The Decorative Touch can take minimal space and maximize its potential. Believe it or not we often take small spaces, make them super-efficient without ever sacrificing any style. We can do the same for you. Check out some of the small spaces that have been converted into amazing areas on the Web site of Better Homes and Gardens.
Have you thought about turning an extra closet into a work zone? We love how this space uses drapery panels to slide along a curtain rod, allowing the homeowner to hide the clutter.
Turn Your Closet into a Work Zone
Also, you can add storage as well as architectural aesthetic by including a built-in. Incorporate a recessed daybed into this design, eliminating the need for both a bed and a sofa.
Incorporate a Built-in
Need help envisioning how a nook can be transformed into a voluminous, multi-functional space? Reach out to The Decorative Touch, and we can assist you starting today.
Photos: Better Homes and Gardens
The Fabulous Foyer
/in In Style /by decorativetouchThey say first impressions are everlasting, so since the foyer is the first impression your home will make on guests, we want to inspire you to create a decor for your foyer. The entryway can be just as creative as other parts of your home.
For example, we were drawn to this foyer because of the design of the chair. This seat has been upholstered, allowing the fabric to keep a relevant, updated feel while preserving the antique ambiance of the chair.
The Fabulous Foyer: Pretty and Classic
Photo: HouseBeautiful.com
If you’ve read the last few posts of this blog, you know that we are huge fans of antiques and vintage. The entryway of your home is a great way to let all of your guests know how much you appreciate things of old. In this foyer, antiques included the American hooked rugs. Such a nice touch.
The Fabulous Foyer: The Antique Entryway
Photo: HouseBeautiful.com
This neoclassical foyer uses creamy marble floors, paired with antique Italian commodes that are topped by marble urns. The space is brought together by a Zodiac light.
The Fabulous Foyer: Neoclassical
Photo: HouseBeautiful.com
Are you thinking of redesigning your entryway? We can help you create the foyer of your dreams. Just contact us. We can help you come up with ideas that will match your home’s look and feel.
The Extraordinary Kitchen Island
/in In Style /by decorativetouchHaving a kitchen island in your home can be very advantageous for your living space, assuming that you have an open floor plan. (When you have a small space, a compact kitchen might be the better way to go.) FreshHome.com says that kitchen islands are a more recent development in the space, and we find that this addition is a great approach when you want the stove to be accessible from many sides of the room. It is also helpful when two or even three people cook together at the same time. And furthermore, if you love to invite friends and family over for food, the kitchen island’s counter top can function as a surface for serving meals. Not only are kitchen islands practical, but they can serve as a beautiful aesthetic to the room as well. We decided to share a few kitchen islands we find extremely original and divine, with each island creative in its own way. With all of the options we will show you, we think you may have more clarity as to which type kitchen island to include in your home.
The Extraordinary Kitchen Island (The Decoractive Touch)
Photo: The Decorative Touch
The Extraordinary Kitchen Island
The Extraordinary Kitchen Island
The Extraordinary Kitchen Island
Photos: freshome.com
Please let The Decorative Touch know if you need help deciding on a redesign for the kitchen. We’re always happy to help.
The Polka Dot Trend
/in In Style, Tips /by decorativetouchAt The Decorative Touch, we draw ideas from our surroundings. We are truly inspired by the plethora of polka dots we see on the fashion runways. This pattern is manifesting in the fabrics and clothes that women will be wearing all of 2012. And you’ll also see the polka dot trend included in the fabrics, design and upholstery in interior decorating for 2012.
I have loved polka dots for as long as I can remember, and so this “trend” is an easy favorite of mine. You might have noticed Kate Spade has lined her purses in polka dots for a while now, and Robert Allen fabrics have had these little dots in there fabric line for years! I have done a nursery or two using these cheerful little prints, and they will never go out of style. Whimsical and elegant depending on the texture, I think polka dots are here to stay.
Designer Luca Luca is the first piece that aroused my enthusiasm for the trend. This floor-length dress is found in the spring 2012 collection. See here the dots are plentiful but not overly large.
Luca Luca Spring 2012
Photo: nymag.com
Interior designers can reincarnate the look by using upscale polka dots linens in more fancy rooms such as the dining room, where the tablecloth, cloth chairs and even napkins can come into play.
The Polka Dot Trend: Dining Room
Photo: Elements of Style
Another fashion picture of inspiration we’d like to show you (illustrating that the polka dot trend is transcending fashion and interior design alike) comes from the American edition of Vogue magazine.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Vogue August 2011
Photo: Vogue.com
We can recreate the look actress Sarah Jessica Parker wears in the August 2011 issue of Vogue, with accents throughout the home sure not to overpower the theme, but to only accentuate the already established feel of the room.
The Polka Dot Trend 2012
The 2012 Polka Dot Trend
Photo: Elements of Style
Of course, polka dots should not be over done, or you might risk losing the graceful touch to your home. For help including this trend in your home in a seamless way, contact us. We’ve got several great ideas for you.
New Year, New Colors, New Look for Your Home
/in In Style /by decorativetouchThe best part of the impending new year is that we all have the opportunity to start over, and try something different. This thought is not only true for the circumstances in our lives, but also the way we decorate homes. We invite you to try new things, new ideas, and new ways to celebrate the new you in 2012. Let examine several major rooms in your home and how you can incorporate new colors and create a unique look in each room.
Living Room
In this living room featured below, we emphasis color by using an unorthodox method: painting the ceiling. As displayed, we reversed the norm, and instead of putting rich colored walls in the living room, we’ve opted for a vibrant ceiling, accenting the space with the wall art and pillows. With tangerine tango the color of the year, the living room seems like the perfect opportunity to take risks. You may have seen this photo before on this blog, but we didn’t know when this homeowner and I made the decision to use this vibrant burnt orange on her ceiling that it was going to be forecasted as Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year. So we hope you don’t mind that we are featuring it again, as it is a favorite of mine as well, and an inspiration for you to step out of your comfort zone and see how fabulous color can be on your ceiling.
The Decorative Touch: The Living Room
Kitchen
This coming year, let’s brighten up our kitchen will soft colors such as pastels. These neutral and light hues will evoke an ambiance of contentment and joy, perfect for creating family memories in the kitchen. For pops of rich color, designers should think of using the island counter tops in a kitchen as a centerpiece for color, as shown below we this fun shade of blue.
The Decorative Touch: The Kitchen
Master Bedroom
The master suite is a place of serenity and rest for nearly all of us. Instead of adding rich colors, bedrooms are well served with relaxing tones, allowing you to be lulled to sleep. The wall color in this master bedroom below is accented with the bed comforter, curtains, and the decorative pillows.
The Decorative Touch: The Master Bedroom
Are you thinking of changing your look for the new year in your home? The Decorative Touch can help keep you create the ideal feel and traditional touch. Just contact us, and we are delighted to serve.
Unique Ways to Add Portraits and Paintings in the Home
/in In Style, Tips /by decorativetouchWhen you think of adding a family portrait to your home, you typically envision a large painting above the fireplace. But there’s more than one way to include this classic tradition. We are urging you to think of the new way to add paintings and portraits to your home.
For instance, pillows are an avant-garde way to add the feel of paintings throughout the home. This way, including paintings becomes much more versatile, with the idea lending itself to the the traditional living room scenario but also in places such as on top of your bed, in a chair, or on a sofa.
Also, portraits can travel with you as a tote bag, and when you come home, you can leave the bag hanging on a hook to display the painting when you are not using it. Be open to putting portraits on accent pieces, such as ceramic jars and throws for the sofa.
Feel free to connect with us, and we can help you add portraits throughout your home. Visit our contact page for more information.
Photos: Decor8.com
100% Vintage
/in In Style /by decorativetouchVintage pieces are commonly used as accent pieces in upscale decor. We want to show you how vintage can be more than an accent piece and instead thought of as the ambiance for the entire home.
For example, let’s start with the kitchen featured below. The essence of an era gone by is reincarnated with a vintage sign, worn bar stools, white panels on the lower part of the walls, the stone-looking counter top and even the worn door and door knob. This kitchen is 100% vintage.
100% Vintage: The Kitchen
This stunning dining room boasts of an ornate chandelier, distressed pillar and cabinet, and a rough cream color theme. The unfinished wooden table and wide-plank hardwood floor bring the room together nicely, while the aged latter in the corner is a nice touch.
100% Vintage: The Dining Room
The bedroom furniture sets the vintage tone in this master suite. Grey, iron-looking accent pieces, analog clocks on the night stand and wall, and the aged books go well with the antique feel.
100% Vintage: The Bedroom
Are you looking to create a room with a 100% vintage style? We want to hear from you. Connect with us on our contact page.
Photos: kchandg.com
Tangerine Tango: 2012 Color of the Year
/in In Style /by decorativetouchA new year means a new trend. The market leader in color Pantone Inc. says the 2012 color of the year is Tangerine Tango, a strikingly warm hue reminiscent of a sunset glowing in the distance. Tangerine tango dethrones the 2011 color of the year, honeysuckle, and brings interior designers a vivacious reddish orange that can add vigor and warmth to any home.
We couldn’t wait to share how you can you incorporate this friendly, inviting color into your everyday living space, giving off a dynamic energy with a few simple touches. Below are three ways The Decorative Touch suggests you can infuse tangerine tango into your home:
Accent Pieces
Accent pieces, such a decorative pillows, throws, or even art on your wall can bring in tangerine tango without over saturating the room. Used with other brilliant hues or neutrals such as taupe, the trend can bring in just the pop of reddish orange that you might be hesitant to utilize in other scenarios.
Patterned Fabrics
Include a simple chair or an ottoman with stripes, dots or even piercing paisleys colored tangerine tango to complement the furniture already in the room. Placing a piece designed with delicate touches of tangerine tango in the fabric makes an awesome transformation simple to do. You can also buy a slip cover for existing pieces in the room.
A Coat of Paint
Image: Interior design by The Decorative Touch
Dazzling Holiday Decor Raises Money for Breast Cancer
/in In Style /by decorativetouchThis time of year is the season of giving. The Holiday House, presented by Traditional Home, keeps this tradition alive and well. Back for the fourth year, breast cancer survivors and advocates created a holiday-themed designer show house to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The 2011 participants were some of the top names in interior design, and visitors viewed many rooms inspired by several different holidays, including Christmas, Mother’s Day and the Chinese New Year. We were galvanized from the showcases and decided to share some of our favorite rooms this season.
Chinese New Year by Inson Dubois Wood
Christmas by Bradley Thiergartner Inc.
Mother's Day by Ally Coulter Designs
The 2011 designers and participants included:
Proceeds from the event benefited the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer. For unique ways to decorate your home for the holidays, contact The Decorative Touch.
Photos: The Holiday House