What's That Called?

 We see them – in homes, in stores, in magazines, online – but we don’t always know what they’re called.  But they are popular.  So here’s a little get-to-know-you course in a few popular design items trending right now.

Color Blocking – It seems pretty self-explanatory, but color blocking is a technique where blocks of various colors are put together to create clothing or accessories with finite areas of solid colors.  Evidently it was big in the 60s, and it’s back in a big way.  It often refers to women’s clothing, but it can be found in bedding, fabrics, and other home accessories.

Pouf – A pouf is a soft, round or square seat with no back or sides, used for sitting on or resting your feet on.  They’re great little side pieces to go with living room seating in place of traditional ottomans, and they fit right into kids’ or teens’ room for casual seating and lounging. 

Gourd Lamp – A gourd lamp has a bulbous base, similar to the lower body of a snowman, and comes in single and double gourd base styles.  Often ceramic and sometimes in clear glass, it’s a retro look made contemporary with modern colors and simple cylinder lamp shades.

Greek Key – First known as a meander pattern, the Greek key design is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif.  You’ve likely seen it but may not have labeled it as such.  The Greek key is popular on mirror frames, bedding, rug borders, and upholstery fabrics.

Ikat – Ikat is Indonesian in origin and is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles through a process similar to tie-dye prior to weaving.  It would be considered one of the world patterns that is gaining in popularity and has a busy, repeating pattern with almost a water colored, blurred edges look.

Zoey Floral – Zoey Floral is a close-up bloom silhouette design often overlapping and in bright colors.  It is popular on invitations and other paper goods, as well as upholstery fabrics and some clothing.

Ombré – Ombré comes from the French word meaning shaded or shading.  It means shaded or graduated in tone, often going from light to dark or dark to light with a smooth transition.  You see this pattern in clothing, other textiles and accessories, nail art, and even hair.      

So now you know.  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 27th.

Spring Renewal

We associate spring with new life and awakening.  Today, Easter Sunday, is the greatest example through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as He was crucified, buried, and rose again to bring us new life and the hope of an eternal relationship with Him.  As we reflect on the sacrifice of our Savior, let us consider the refreshment that a spring renewal can bring to your home.

Welcome greenery and botanicals into your home.  Fresh flowers, leafy stems, palm fronds, potted plants and grasses, and area growth like dried cotton stalks are lively additions you can incorporate for a touch of seasonal life and a warm environment as well.  Floral accents in throw pillows, quilts, and bedspreads or framed art and shadowbox-style artwork are other ways to bring a little of the outdoors in.

Think about the things that say “new life” to you.  Clean white, birds, birds’ nests with eggs, and butterflies can be incorporated into decorative pieces like art prints, centerpieces, and ceramic and fabric décor.  A milky white cake stand with a craft store nest and robin’s egg blue eggs with hints of moss can be a fitting central fixture to build a dining table centerpiece around.  Accent pillows with bird and butterfly silhouettes can line a bed or sofa. Ceramic figurines or framed prints of birds can be added to tables, shelves, or walls.

Picking up on our proximity to the Gulf, use coastal décor now, which can easily transition into the summer season as well.  Cylinder vases with bases of sand topped with white pillar candles make soothing groupings, right along with clusters of shells or coral pieces.  Use large pieces to top a short stack of books on a coffee table, or gather several smaller shells into a serving bowl to set on a buffet or sofa table.

Choose soft colors in pastel shades for easy-swap items like placemats, chargers, or cloth napkins.  A collection of glass bottles in muted shades can stand alone on a table or against a kitchen backsplash.  A handful of inexpensive bud vases can be painted in pastels now and repainted again for a whole new future look in a different palette.

White, growth, new life, and soft shades are tops on the seasonal must-have list.  Choose the ways you like to embrace spring and show them off in style.  Happy Easter!

Congratulations to the 2014 Royal Algodon Court named in today’s paper!    

www.AlgodonClub.com 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 20th.

  

Fun Home Decor Under $10

A little can go a stylishly long way when you’re on the hunt for fun home décor pieces for a bargain.  So spend a little, get a lot when you make a spectacle out of inexpensive items.

Striped and Chevron Straws – Fill a glass canister or apothecary jar with modern paper straws in different colors, and you have a functional pop of spring on your counter.

Bud Vases – Cluster a few together to hold single stems, or take it a step further by dipping the bases in paint on varying angles to create your own custom designed décor.

Slate Tiles – Use painter’s tape or stencils to create stripes or a chevron pattern to make your own chalk-like coasters for the living room.    

Plates – Find cute appetizer, salad, or dessert plates in wilder patterns than you’d use for everyday meals, and hang them in a collection on the wall or use them in hot spots to hold loose coins, glasses, and keys.

Burlap – Turn a wide roll into a table runner for spring or fill a picture frame without the glass for a textured place to hang earrings. 

Craft Paper – Add pieces to a frame instead of a photo, decoupage it onto a small accessories’ box, cover books on a shelf or soap bars in a jar, or add a band to a cylinder vase.

Mason Jars – Fill with markers, binder clips, or tape rolls in the office; rice, flour, or teabags in the kitchen; batteries, nails, or coins in the laundry room; or cosmetics, cotton squares, or cotton swabs in the bathroom.

House Numbers – whimsically number hooks for towels in the kids’ bathroom or hooks for keys, jackets, or umbrellas in the entryway.

Cup Towels – easily add a seasonal touch with bright colored or printed cup towels over the handles of the dishwasher or stove.

 Fishbowl Vases – Fill with candy, gumballs, bracelets, rings, rocks, or beads for small decorate accents.     

Ceramic Mini Pots – Use them for succulents or herbs, or use craft foam, moss, and seasonal décor like paper flags staked in each as part of a centerpiece.  Spray paint or dip the bases in paint to further make them your own. 

Printed Paper Cups or Bowls – serve popcorn or other snacks in cute disposable paper goods, whether for a party, post-Easter egg hunt dessert, or just to make the everyday more special. 

Simple, low cost items can turn decorative accents in no time with a little creativity and know-how.  See what you can accessorize this spring for less than $10 a piece . . . 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 13th.

Old Is New Again

Spring can be one of those underserved seasons for new décor.  If you’re not into little bunny or ceramic egg figurines, you may save your shopper’s eye focus for later in the year.  Instead, take the opportunity to scope out older pieces around your home and help them make like a flower and bloom again this month.

Plastic fruit may have seen its hay day for being on display.  However, give old, dusty fruit décor new life with a fresh coat of paint.  Spray paint plastic fruit pieces, minus their stems, all one color, like a crisp white or robin’s egg blue, and fill a serving bowl to showcase on your kitchen counter or breakfast table.  A dated set of canisters can get a do-over when you paint them to blend nicely with your counters or to stand out in a bright pop of color.  Need some new simple vases for what’s blooming in the backyard?  Line up a row of old juice glasses, vintage milk bottles, or wine bottles and give them a spray in a spring green or pink paint shade, and you’re ready to put small bouquets out for show-and-smell.

The presence of digital photos has caused many of us to end up with an old box of photo frames on a closet shelf somewhere.  But you can take those old wooden or tarnished metal frames and give them a second life with paint.  Gather a grouping of frames, minus their glass, and spray them all one color, like white, gray, or yellow; a gradient of color by using both a darker and lighter shade of the same color on different frames; or a metal finish like brushed nickel for an updated gallery ready to hang and admire. 

Go on a hunt for other left-behind decorations you can spring forward.  Cover the face of a wall clock or mirror and paint the perimeter in a great shade to warrant rehanging it.  Take an old cart, crate, shelf, galvanized bucket, or serving tray and make it look like it just came off the showroom floor.  Glass and ceramic dishes, plates, and bowls (not used for food service) can be painted for new display pieces for surfaces throughout your home. 

Go beyond a couple of coats of one color if you want to.  Use painters tape or stencils to create stripes, chevron patterns, and monograms.  Opt for chalkboard paint to jump on that popular bandwagon.  Finish off a painted surface with a coat or two of pearlized glaze that you spray on for an iridescent finish and shimmery shine. 

Look around for décor pieces that could use a second wind, making old new again.  Some crafting on your part can have you turning old items into new creations fit for a new, sunny season.      

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 6th.