Gathering the Facts for your Project- Patterns & Colors

Post 5/5 in the series Gathering the Facts for your Project

Well, we've come to the end of our line of questioning.  After you answer today's questions, you should have a clear picture of your project's parameters.

What patterns and colors appeal to you?  Which ones don’t?

Making a note of the colors and patterns you enjoy seeing within your space like will be helpful in keeping you focused while shopping.  The list of what you don’t like really is more important than what you do like.  This list of “don’ts” is the key to  how to avoid buying furnishings that just aren’t your style.

We’ve all done it- bought that CUTE top because the print looked so good on a friend.  But, ever since getting that shirt home and hanging it in the closet, it hasn’t seen the light of day.  The tags still hang from the sleeve, and likely always will.  Do you know why?  It’s because you bought a piece of clothing based on how it looked on someone else, not on you.    Do not make this kind of mistake when it comes to the pieces for your space.  Don’t get blinded by the way items look in a showroom.  Treat your color and pattern preference as guidelines, and you won’t make a purchasing mistake.

Remember, your home serves as the backdrop to your daily life.  It’s not the star of the show, don’t become a slave to it.  Make the pieces within your home work for you while making the space look good!

Having the answers to the questions we've discussed in the last month makes it easier to move forward with selecting the pieces for your project.  Every time you make a selection for the space, make sure it stacks up against your answers  before purchasing.  If it doesn’t, don’t force it, move on to find something else. You’ll be disappointed if you settle, so don’t!

I would love to hear from you on if these questions were helpful for you when planning your project.  Feel free to comment here OR email me liz@pdr-interiors.com.

-Liz

It’s Almost Spring - Here’s how to Begin Transitioning your Decor

Heavy Fabrics and Textures Out, Light and Airy In

caitlinwilson.com

When those cold months roll around we tend to bring in lots of layers, heavy fabrics and a lot of texture. With Spring time knocking at the door its time to start thinking about removing some of these layers and heavier fabrics. Go back in with lighter weight fabrics to create a more airy feel to your space. 

recentlytheblog.com

 Bring in More Color

PDR Interiors

One other easy way to begin transitioning your decor from Winter to Spring is by adding in fun punches of color. This is easiest to do in places like your throw pillows, blankets, and small accessories. That way you are not having to invest a lot in constantly switching ALL of your decor for every season, just small touches here and there.

PDR Interiors

Bring the Outdoors Inside

PDR Interiors

One of the first signs of Spring is when you begin to see green popping up outside. Fresh grass and new buds are everywhere you look, so why not bring that fresh green into your home? There are so many types of indoor plants that are extremely easy to care for like succulents for example. Not comfortable with caring for a real plant? Go faux!  Things like orchids and succulents can look very realistic in their faux versions!

PDR Interiors

Spring Spruce Up - Quick Tips to Update your Bedroom

Spring is now in full bloom, and with that comes the overwhelming feeling of wanting to freshen  and spruce anything and everything in your home. This prompted us to start a Spring Spruce Up series where we will share quick and easy tips on updating different spaces in your home! This week we are kicking it off with tips on updating your bedroom.

Bedding

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Bedding is one of the first things you see when you walk in your bedroom and very well may be the most amount of color or pattern in your whole space. So why is it that we hang on to the same old bedspread or duvet for years and years even though we aren't as in love with it as we once were? One reason is because most people want to spend their money on places in their home that guests will see the most like their living or dining room. While these areas are important to place your attention on, your bedroom is equally as important. You will be amazed at how you feel when you update your bedding because it can make it feel like a totally new space!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Window Treatments 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Window treatments are another area that can stay the same for years and become a stagnant area in your bedroom. Maybe you have some older more traditional feeling treatments in your room and the rest of your pieces have changed over time to a more transitional vibe. Updating your window treatments to something fresh and current can do WONDERS for your space! Always remember to go higher and wider than the window itself to create a larger and more open feel instead of staying right along the window trim. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Tangerine Tango

Tangerine Tango is the hottest color around!  Literally everywhere I look, I see this shade.  I must have tried on a dozen Derby dress contenders in the color.  Every striped article of clothing I see has at least a sliver of the warm orange-red hue in it.  As the color name suggests, it’s bright, energetic, passionate and bold.  Admittedly, I was skeptical about wearing it at first- I’m a fair skinned gal with blonde hair and blue eyes.  I don’t have the luxury of bronzing skin in the summer, so I figured the lovely Tangerine Tango would wash me out.  Au contraire!  This color looks good on everyone (what a rarity!).

Speaking of rarities, colors are not often popular in the home fashion and the apparel industry at the same time.  Typically, a shade hits the fashion scene big and then a season or two later makes its way into home decor.  Once again, this color breaks all the rules.  I have seen Kitchen Aid mixers available in this hot orange shade, bold fabric patterns splashed with it, and wall colors covered in the famed tangerine.  

I’m not sure of it’s staying power, but for the time being Tangerine Tango is THE color to decorate with and wear.  If you’re scared to take the plunge, start small and incorporate the color in your accessories (think handbag or jewelry for fashion and pillows or vases for the home). Happy Tango-ing!

My Personal Style

Once they discover what I do for a living, people always ask me,  "What's your personal style?".  I am very hesitant to answer this questions for two reasons:
1.It is a common misconception that the personal style of the decorator is forced upon the client.
2. I don't like labeling styles.

But today, I'm feeling forthcoming.  I ran across this photo on...drumroll, please.....Pinterest (big shocker) and fell in love. 

Everything about this space is me. If I could pluck it from my computer screen and place it in my house, I would.  Let me explain why.Starting from the bottom up:

-The carpet is hip and funky and uses a crisp shade of aqua.  The simple but interesting pattern keeps the space from appearing formal.

-The glass table provides an airy feel that keeps the room from feeling too heavy and allows the rug to be on display. Very few accessories are placed atop the table, but the ones that are there are large and unique.

-Texture.  The nailheads, smooth and round contrast with the slubby feel of the linen fabric covering the chairs and sofas.

-Clean lines.  No piece is too ornate.  All you see are soft curves and straight lines, keeping the room from being too visually stimulating.

-Grand chandelier in a subtle green glass.  Provides function and beauty without stealing the show.

-A final touch of funky adorns the ceiling.  Those tiles are far more interesting than a white dry-walled ceiling!

The whole space is serenity at it's finest for me.  Plenty of room for many to gather and chat. No clutter, just calming features that radiate beauty in my eyes.

As far as my reservations for sharing my personal style-

1. In my business I have a personal goal that no one could ever walk into a space, except my own home, and say "Liz did this".  There are no trademark designs or colors in my projects.  Each project is tailored to the client's lifestyle and needs. That's why I enjoy it so much- I get to play with other styles that I don't have in my own home.

2. I hardly ever use style names when describing my own or someone else's room.  I tend to ask my client's to use feeling words- what do they want their room to evoke?  How do they use the space?  Everyone like to use buzzwords like eclectic and contemporary but most have no idea what they actually mean, rendering them useless.

How would you describe your ideal space?  

Fashion Guest Blogger: Amber Philpott, WKYT News Anchor

Amber Philpott, anchor for WKYT shares some great advice for what to wear on and off camera.  Enjoy!

I find it comical that I am writing a blog entry on fashion, I often tell people it’s funny that I work in a business where hair, makeup and clothes matter because I seem to not know a lot about any of them.  I have never been a fashionista, one who keeps up with the latest trends and fads.  What I do know is that I like what I see.  In fact this time of year is very hard for me because the weather can still feel like winter, but all of those great summer looks are calling my name as I walk through the mall.  

I think style and personal fashion should not be about trends and fads, rather what makes you comfortable and beautiful.  I am quite conservative in how I shop and what I choose; I am the type of girl who would wear pearls every single day if she could.  Pearls are timeless, classic and can be casual or dressy!

For this entry though I wanted you to have some expert advice from a woman who I rely on to help me look the best I can each and every day on WKYT.  We have an image consultant that helps us determine the right look in terms of clothing, color choice, makeup and even hairstyle.  For someone like myself I truly appreciate the help that she provides me, it means I don’t have to study magazines to figure out what I should look like.

Our consultant is Sherry Ailor with Focus Image Consulting, when I asked her what the hottest trend for spring is this year, she said Yellow!  Here is her advice for all of us out there that are a little fashion clueless!

"Yellow is a great color for every stylish woman and fashion Diva to invite into their wardrobe this spring and summer. Consider a great piece of clothing in a yellow shade or tone that flatters your skin tone, eyes and hair. Or, a yellow accessory such as a great piece of jewelry, a scarf, a belt, shoes or purse would be a great addition too. It is all out there just waiting for the right person to incorporate it into their wardrobe.

Yellow is not only an on trend color for spring it's actually the color of happiness, and optimism, of enlightenment and creativity, sunshine and spring. In almost every culture yellow represents sunshine, happiness, and warmth. This alone is good reason to add a little yellow to your fashionable life."

Sherry also says it’s “Game On,” when it comes to a popular spring trend this year.  She says sports and fitness are not only influencing our health, but now it is becoming part of our wardrobe.  Sherry says this spring you will find sporting designs that are wearable, but also allow you to show off all of the hard work that you have been putting in at the gym everyday!  She says taking care of your body and soul is very important and finding that right outfit for this spring might just help you feel even better about yourself.  

 Happy Shopping!

-Amber

Amber Philpott is an award-winning news anchor with WKYT. She is living her dream as a television news journalist, she proudly brings the news to Central and Eastern Kentucky each night as co-anchor of the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.  www.wkyt.com

Color Blocking

I love the current trend of color blocking!  Don’t know what I’m talking about?  It’s when you pair a few solid colored items together to create an outfit.  Here’s a great example I found on Pinterest. 

This dress combines three colors to make a bold statement!  I’m so engrossed in the trend because if you take inventory of my closet, you will see that I own a lot of solid color clothing.  Color blocking gives me an excuse to pair it all together and look chic.

Color blocking is just as popular in the home decorating world.  You can pair a few bold colors together through wall color, sofa fabric and throw pillows to create an energizing space that is beautiful to look at.  

This bed exemplifies color blocking and it has a serene, peaceful look to it.  I’m ready to curl up on it with a good book right now!

Provided everything goes as planned tonight, I will be doing some color blocking with my outfit on Saturday- some green for St Patty’s day and some blue for the UK game.

Happy color blocking to you!

Color Scheme

Every room has one.  A great space has a well-thought-out color scheme.  But where do we start?

The most logical place to being is by selecting an area rug you want for the space.  Because of size and budget restrictions, there are far less choices of rugs than there are of paint and fabric.  Building a room from the floor up is the easiest way to create a color scheme.

If you aren’t incorporating a rug, there are some choices for your starting point.  Many people use inspiration pieces to guide them.  An inspiration piece can be anything from a photo in a magazine to a fabric that you are dying to use in the room.  I’ve even seen people get inspired by nature- their personal garden, the colors of the Kansas plain, or their favorite vacation spot.  Most recently, one client used a family heirloom painting as her inspiration piece for the colors on the first floor of her home.  All have different color palettes that can be used to create a beautiful space.  

The color wheel is another helpful tool.  If you are clueless about colors that work well together, go back to your elementary school art class.  Remember what the teacher taught us:

-Complimentary colors- colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel (ie- blue & orange)

-Analogous colors- colors that appear side by side each other on the color wheel (ie-yellow-orange, yellow, and green)

-Monochromatic – using various shades of the same color (ie-plum, violet and lavender)

There are a variety of ways to create a color scheme for your space.  Which one will work best for you??