Not So Neutral – The Love of Color

“2011 - Love The Home You’re In”™

Often, one of the first calls I receive after the “thrill” of the holiday season has passed, is in regards to freshening up living spaces.  The New Year has arrived and many of you have put away seasonal decorations, which always seem to add extra warmth to any interior.  The sparkle might seem to be missing and your home may be exhibiting the need for a little extra “love” and attention! 

Even if you’re feeling the purse being pinched by how much you gifted to others, there can still be some “uplifting interior moments” as the coffers are being replenished!  It’s time to hug your home!

Let’s start with color!

Just to give you an idea of how I conceptualize the process of layering a room, I created a virtual design board.  In this case, I might have had a client who’s been afraid to dip their pinky-toe into the color pond.  I wanted to show how lovely it can be to bring in the addition of one of the latest color trends, without it being too “trendy”.  I think this is where I see folks shying away from making the commitment.  They would rather court the idea and a design board allows them to take the concept on a “first date”, as it were!

Sometimes, when color trends are presented, such as Pantone’s Color of The Year – Honeysuckle, there can be a question about how much is too much?  By distributing color in small doses, it’s easier to embrace any new palette additions and to decide if you’re ready to take it to the next level.

This Lee Jofa fabric exhibits just one example of using a pattern to slip in pops of color.  There are also geometric patterns with similar accents.  I wanted to illustrate how even bright colors can transition nicely with earthy tones.

A room has more depth when handcrafted elements are added.  A Suzani pillow, from Claire Watters Etsy site, Material Recovery, was fabricated from embroidered, antique textiles. 

Imagine how interesting it would be to frame out a pen and ink-type print with a painted frame!  Even as trends come and go, this subject would always have a home.  (From:  Natural Curiosities)

Thanks for stopping by for a little design chat.  It’s time to get back to my interiors’ list for new and fun projects!

Don’t forget to give your home a hug! ~ Wanda

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It’s In The Mail – The Gift of Designing Christmas Greetings!

Now that Thanksgiving dinner has settled, one of the first things I like to address . . . no pun intended . . . is the stack of greeting cards I’ve carefully selected to send to family, friends, and clients.  I don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach as to how I design an interior, so selecting cards shouldn’t be any different.  I’ve got a mad passion for beautiful paper, patterns, and lettering.  Email cards can be fun and fast but I love to send salutations which can be held in the hand.  (It’s one of the reasons, if it were up to me, bookstores would still be thriving, too.)

If you need inspiration for your Christmas card list, all you have to do is log-on to the website, Etsy.  I could spend hours searching through all of the designs!  There is something to fit everyone.

Sweet Letter Press displays a peaceful image in current colors.  There is a fab fabric from Lee Jofa and designer, Eric Cohler, which captures a similar, graphic aesthetic.

A fresh interpretation of the lodge look.  I keep hoping to use one of these patterns for a client!

This fun card, from dodeline design, brought to mind a fabulous wall display I saw, below, in the Halo Styles Showroom at the High Point Market. 

Almost hard to believe they all didn’t end up in the landfill!  (Image courtesy of the Kandrac and Kole blog.)

Sentiments expressed, en Francais, always take on certain je ne sais quoi .  I have a wish to someday make it to the Maison & Objet, in Paris, the city of lights.  It’s a trade show of magnifique proportions.  (Wonder what the French would think of my southern accent?)

One Etsy vendor, petitepear, enthralled me with breadth of her designs.  I especially heart her gift tags, as shown below:

When I saw the fine examples of papeterie, above, it reminded me of tagging along with Eddie Ross, during one of our recent antiques’ shows.  He shared a great tidbit about silver in the video I recorded, below:

A friend of mine, Beth Swanson, has a darling antiques shop, Olde Tyme Marketplace, located in the old mercantile building where the “The Color Purple” was filmed, in Marshville, NC.  These gift cards would be right up her store’s alley!

Beth is the consummate recycler.  Just look at what she’s done to this old pail!

The dog lover couldn’t help but to be won over by the little black pup with the wreath collar.  Another friend, Tammy Taylor, is “owned” by her sweet black lab, Reagan.  I just know she would share a big “AW!” if she opened this card.

Tammy is also a talented interior designer in the Charlotte area.  She just recently created a room at the Southern Christmas show.  She was recommended, by the folks at the show, to appear on a “Charlotte Today” segment.  (Smart people, they are!) Tammy was so calm and cool and offered a lot of great tips for trimming the tree!

Any Eames enthusiast would be gaga over the “tree” of DCW plywood chairs!  Santa can still get these from your Herman Miller dealer. 

A design classic!

The card above, is reminiscent of English Transferware.  It’s done in letterpress printed on antique presses using soy-based ink and 100 percent cotton paper - tree free and made from recycled fibers.  Wouldn’t it be a lovely accompaniment to this? . . . .

The relief pattern, around the border of this charger, makes it extra special.  At under $60, I think it’s a gorgeous buy!

Yes, I could find a whole universe of cards for, well, the whole universe on Etsy! . . . 

Let’s hope you’re on a first name basis, if you decide to try the magic powers of the Mistletoe card!  (Smile!)

I live not too far from the barbeque capitol of North Carolina - Lexington.  As long-winded as we southerners can sometimes be, when we’re spinning a tale, we can also oddly enough assign a short nickname to a food which requires hours of cooking over a hot pit! 

I hope you’ve had fun with me while browsing through the “card section” on Etsy!  By now you might be able to tell, I love connecting the dots of design.  A card is not just a card.  It’s about the detail and thought which went into the design.  It’s about the unique quality being shared with an individual.  It’s about a gift from the heart!

From my heart to yours . . . All my best! ~ Wanda

Final Contest Alert!  I’ll be giving away an autographed copy of Vicente Wolf’s “Lifting the Curtain On Design”!  All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on any two of my posts, beginning with the 2010 High Point Furniture Finds – Post 1 thru November 30th – Ends November 30, 2010.

I’ll announce the winner the first week of December 2010.  I hope you’ll enjoy a festive month!

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