2019 Trends- Hollywood Regency

-->

I was recently asked to comment on design trends for 2019 for a magazine article.  Hollywood Regency is a big one!  Are you wondering what on earth I mean when I say “Hollywood Regency”??  You’re not alone.  It’s a term used to describe a certain design aesthetic.  most people can recognize the style, but don't know the name to attach to it.  Easily summed up it is simply old Hollywood glam. 

Typically Hollywood Regency style includes these types of elements:

-velvet upholstery

When velvet is used on a tailored piece of furniture with clean lines, it doesn’t look as stuffy as if you were to place it on a Victorian piece of furniture.

photo: Jonathanadler.com

-deep colors such as emerald, red, cobalt, and purple

We are really starting to swing the other way from the soft grays that have been popular in the past.

photo: Dorothydraper.com

-marble or stone topped tables, specifically those with gold (or metallic) frame.

I am a HUGE Jonathan Adler fan, and his style encompasses Hollywood Regency in a very modern way.  If you aren’t familiar with him, you should check out his stuff.  He’s a great go-to for inspiration when you want to create a luxurious, yet playful space.  His catalog is full of eye candy, some of which can be a little irreverent in the best way. 

Dorothy Draper is another iconic designer that plays with this style well.  Erika and I had the pleasure of taking a workshop from her protege, Carlton Varney last year.  We learned so many fun things about being bold with color and pattern.  The recap of that experience is on the blog.

So, what do you think...is Hollywood Regency a style you see yourself incorporating in your home? 

-Liz

Paint Sheen- the basics

-->

Once you’ve finalized your wall color, please take a moment to consider sheen OR finish.  This is a component that often gets overlooked. Here is the list of your sheen options and their pros/cons:

1.     Flat- This is the sheen I specify the least.  It has no sheen to it which is effective in camouflaging any flaws within the walls (that's why it is a favorite of builders).  The downside is that it does not clean easily.  If your household has children, pets, or generally gets a lot of wear and tear, avoid this finish option except for on ceilings.  When a higher sheen paint is used on the ceiling, it creates distracting light spots.

2.     Eggshell- One step up from flat in sheen, it also helps to hide imperfections in the walls.  As a result, it is slightly easier to clean.  Still not one of my favorites, but it works in households without little hands or paws.

3.     Satin- Increasing in sheen, this finish is cleanable.  It offers a good middle ground. I specify this finish the most. 

4.     Semi-gloss- As the name suggests, it has a semi-glossy finish thus making imperfections in the walls more visible.  I have seen it used in beautiful applications, such as on plaster walls, but it does not work in all instances.  The clean-ability is higher than any of the previously listed finishes.  Consider this or satin for kitchens and bathrooms where the walls need to wiped regularly due to makeup, or food splatters.

5.     Gloss- My go-to application for gloss finish paint is woodwork.  Baseboards, crown molding, any casework such as built-ins within a space get glossy paint on my projects.  The gloss creates a sleek and polished appearance for these elements allowing them to stand out compared to the other components of a space which is typically desired.  The higher gloss increases the clean-ability of this paint finish.

NOTE:

My favorite paint brands are: Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. Both brands offer an array of paint colors, and I appreciate that they break them up into categories that help you narrow down the colors you should be considering.  Both brands offer large paint swatches on their websites

I appreciate these samples because it keep you from having to paint a 3’x3’ square of paint on your wall.  Instead you simply tape the samples up in a large grouping and live with them for a little while.  If you don’t like the color, take them down and choose another option.  If you do like it, purchase the paint and begin your project.  This is especially helpful if you are planning your project while still wanting to entertain and use your home.  Those 3’x3’ painted squares on your wall look unsightly and are distracting.

PDR is closed for the next couple weeks so we can celebrate the holidays with our families.  We hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and we will see you in the new year!

How to Choose a Wall Color

-->

I love color!  I really do.  It’s easy to get carried away with it, if not careful.  I enjoy vibrant hues but also muted earth tones. Every color has it’s place.  When it comes to choosing your color palette, the rug really should be your guide.  You don’t want everything in the space to be perfectly matched, but everything should work together to create a visually pleasing palette.  There are a few ways to accomplish this:

1.     Pull the wall color directly from your rug.  Choose a secondary or tertiary color from the rug to use as your wall color.  You can then pull other colors from the rug to use in your accents.

photo: PDR Interiors

If your rug has vibrant colors in it, choose a muted version of one of those color for the wall.  Strong colors can evoke strong emotions, and most of the time they create the opposite ambience of what you hoped.  A muted color means that it has a gray base to it which keep the colors soothing, neutral and versatile.  The bolder the shade, or more energetic the undertone, the more wired you and your guests will feel when in the space. Most people want a soothing, cozy environment in their home.  What vibe do you want to evoke?

2.     Choose a complimentary color to those in your rug.  If your rug incorporates a lot of yellow hues (warm by nature) cool down the tone of the room by choosing a shade of blue for your walls.  The same rule above applies here- keep the tone muted so as not to overwhelm the space with color. 

photo: PDR Interiors

The color wheel is going to be your best friend when it comes to creating a color palette that works.  I recommend purchasing a color wheel to keep on hand that shows you complimentary color schemes. 

I get asked about accent walls on a regular basis.  I am not a fan of accent walls.  To me, they represent someone being scared to use a color so they take the “safe” route and just put color on one wall in a room.  The other problem with accent walls is that they highlight only one wall creating tunnel vision in the room.  If you have 3 taupe walls and one deep red, your eye will continually be drawn to the deep red wall.  Most rooms don’t justify drawing attention to only one wall.  There are some instances where drawing attention to one wall makes sense, such as a two-story great rooms with a stacked stone fireplace.  You want everyone’s eye to go to that stacked stone, because the fireplace is the focal point of the room.

Speaking of fireplaces, built-ins are often used to flank a fireplace in a living or family room, and even when they aren’t sometimes they need a little something to enhance their appearance. The one caveat I have for accent walls is using an accent color or accent wallpaper on the back of built-in bookcases.  I love a painted white built-in bookcase, but some rooms call for a little more pizzazz in their shelving.  An accent color (dictated by the other colors in the room) or accent wallcovering (could be a texture or a geometric pattern) adds a punch of personality to your space. 

photo: PDR Interiors

Don’t fret if you have already chosen a wall color and are now creating a room around it.  This can work, too.  It may be a little more challenging, but it is possible.  You can work in reverse by either choosing a rug that has your wall color in it OR choosing a rug that is complimentary in color to your walls.

Stop by next Tuesday to get advice on choosing your paint sheen...