Life After Neutrals

Once you grow tired of neutral walls - and I hope everyone does at some point in their lives, there is a whole new world to explore. The world of color! Take a look at how these rooms come to life with the use of color . . .

So, how do you keep the room from looking like a box of crayons? You can go back to neutrals on the furniture - which is why I love to use color on the walls in the first place! It's much cheaper to paint a room another color than to buy a new sofa. By keeping the main furniture pieces neutral it allows the walls to have color as well as the accessories. As your tastes change you have options that are easily affordable. A gallon a paint and some throw pillows are an easy fix and won't break the bank.

Intentionally Random Lighting

Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places! This light installation in Houston, TX is a great example of Intentionally Random design. Notice the unifying elements with the identical color, type of shade and suspending cords used to create Intentional balance in the design. Then there are the Random shapes, sizes and heights used for a great look.

The Corner on Cabinets

Storage in a bathroom is something we can all use more of. This bathroom in Frisco, TX takes storage to the max by utilizing the corners of the room for both function and style. 
With great space planning and the right Interior Designer (Me!), you can have storage and beauty in your bathroom.

50 Shades of Gray

No, I'm not talking about a certain book . . .  I'm talking about the actually COLOR! Gray. It's everywhere. In fashion. In Interior Design. In automobiles. The list goes on and on. Nowhere is gray more exciting than in Interior Design! Why? Gray isn't just "The New Black". Gray has become so popular, even vital, for one very important reason . . . . .  HARDWOOD FLOORS.

Gray is a great neutral that I think the public embraced after being WORN OUT with all things beige. Gray was necessary because Interior Design needed a color that is still neutral yet can live with hardwood floors in a way much more interesting than beige. As opposed to stained hardwood floors which have warm tones (oranges, red and yellows), the color gray is cool. Mixing warm and cool tones in a space creates a beautiful balance. As hardwoods take over the rooms of our homes the look can be WOOD OVERKILL. Painted surfaces are becoming more and more popular, with gray taking center stage.

Picture by Houzz

I for one am happy to see gray take such an important role in homes and commercial spaces. I LOVE gray! Although beige will never go completely out of style, there is plenty of room for this cool neutral. And I think gray is here to stay.

Need more information or want to reach out to me: Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net or check out my Website: www.twingatedesigns.com

Mirror! Mirror!

Mirrors are such a great designs staple! There are so many styles, prices and types of mirrors. I LOVE to use them in nearly ALL the rooms I design. But, not all designers - both professional and novice agree. I have heard fellow designers and some of the top DIY shows give some really BAD design advice. I've heard,

"Mirrors should only be placed in a room when they have something beautiful to reflect." 

What???? That is CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! Although I think that what a mirror reflects should be taken into consideration, mirrors are vital in a room for more than reflecting pretty things.

My favorite use for a mirror: bouncing light around a room, especially in a small space! In the picture below, the otherwise narrow hallway is given light and the illusion of additional size. It also helps to tame the busy wallpaper. Artwork would have been too much. The perfect solution was a mirror - although it reflects nothing of huge interest.

Picture by Houzz

In this living room, the mirror reflects little given its elevated height above the fireplace. It could have reflected a chandelier and been quite effective. However, I think the impact is still as strong. The beauty of this mirror is the mirror itself. It has style and charm. I love it!

Picture by Houzz

Do you have a great mirror you want to use in your space? GO FOR IT! Hold it against several walls to see where it has the most impact. The answer may surprise you! Have questions? I'm here to help! Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net or visit my website: www.twingatedesigns.com

Anything Goes!

Really . . .  anything goes??? I say YES! When you have furnishings that have nothing in common it's easy to want to toss them all and start from scratch. DON'T!!! Using my Intentionally Random design, you can mix and match all the furnishings you love. You just need a Common Thread (that's the Intentional) with the pieces you love (that's the Random) for a GREAT look!

Picture by Houzz.com

You already have pieces you love. So, the final step is finding - or making - a Common Thread. These are the easiest to work with:

• Color (They may not be the same color now. But, what if you paint one? Or recover one?)
• Texture (The room above uses similar texture on the fireplace wall, ottoman and the rug.)
• Shapes (Use striped drapery to define a strong line in the room or a round ottoman to tie in circles.)

Look at your furnishings in a new way. You may fall in love with them all over again! Have questions? I'm here to help! Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net

Toss the Pillows!

Every now and then I hear "professional design advice" that just makes me cringe. That's what happened when I heard a salesperson say (not an exact quote): Let's select pillows for the sofa in the sofa's fabric so the pillows look "tied" to it. I'm sorry, what????????

As an Interior Designer, that just won't do. Just like jewelry, pillows can help or hurt the look of the sofa - and ultimately the room. You want the pillows to make sense in the room but not be identical to the sofa. Hmmm . . . . . . that sounds Intentionally Random? YES! It is!

Here's my advice: TOSS THE FREE PILLOWS!!!! If you are going with a ready-made sofa that comes with matching pillows, use them on accent chairs or give them away. Typically the free pillows have no fringe or embellishments and are otherwise just plain boring. Think of what these sofas (below) would look like with pillows if they were simply the same fabric and their sofas. NO BUENO!

Pictures from Pinterest and Houzz.com

The best way to make a sofa look LESS ready-made and more custom is to use coordinating and contrasting pillows. If you are choosing a custom or semi-custom sofa ASK if you can choose another fabric for pillows. The answer may be: YES! This will save you the expense of buying what you don't need. If you can't choose another fabric, consider using the stuffing (aka: the pillow inserts) from the free pillows in your new pillows for a GREEN design option. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Have questions? I'm here to help! Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net

THE Color for 2014

The Color for 2014 is fun and fabulous!

This is what Pantone had to say about their choice: "Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, emanates great joy, love and health."



Interior Design is already jumping on board with their translations.

The Wingback Chair (Below, Left) offers contrasting      The Lounge Chair (Below, Right) carries Radiant     colors to complete the look drawing attention to the      Orchard throughout the fabrics creating a chair that
chair's shape.                                                            is cohesive and inviting.

cyandesign.biz

Radiant Orchid is used in a rug (Left). It's a contemporary style that brings neutrals back into the pallet to make the color more livable. The graphic design is fresh and young.

Enjoy Radiant Orchid in your home today.

Have questions?   I'm here to help! Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net

Controlling Visual Noise

No matter how much effort you put into decorating a room, a mood is always evoked by anyone who goes inside. It can be negative or positive. There are many ways to set the mood in a room. I call it Visual Noise.

The Visual Noise can be loud, soft or somewhere in between. No matter what mood you are trying to set in your room, the choices you make matter. Hmmmm . . . . . . . . that sounds Intentionally Random. YES IT IS!

decorpad.com

The Visual Noise level in this room is cranked up full. There is lots of color and pattern throughout the room. The colors used are vibrant and highly contrasted. The lines of the furniture are sharp and unexpected. No surface is left untouched. You can walk into this room and know that FUN is encouraged here!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

By Eddie Royster

  The Visual Noise in this room gets turned way down in this beautiful formal dining room. It is quiet, nearly a whisper. The colors are kept to a minimum and stay soft, creating a serene and tranquil room.  The patterns are subtle.The lines of the room are gently curving, never straight. The crystals in the chandelier beg to be studied and enjoyed. The puddling of the drapery and abundant skirted, upholstered chairs encourage you to gather with others and stay a while. The abundant accessories extend the invitation of welcome. Walking into this room, you can expect an intimate conversation with friends that are very happy to see you.

Most people decorate a home for themselves without giving much thought to other people that will see the home. However, most homes are enjoyed by many others than just the ones living with its walls.

Reflect who you are and what you want to say about yourself in your home. Each item inside tells a story. Make sure your home tells the right story. It'll be an Intentionally Random result you can be proud of.

Still have questions? I'm here to help! Email me at twingatedesigns@verizon.net

HELP! I think I'm Colorphobic!

COLOR is alive and well in Interior Design! So, why are you sooooo afraid to use it??? Chances are you've had a bad experience. You've tried to mix some colors. But, the outcome was miles away from the look you were going for.

What if I told you: ANY COLOR COMBO CAN WORK if you know how to use it!  It just takes some thought and a lot of color balancing.  Hmmmm . . . . .  that sounds Intentionally Random. Yes! It is!
                                                                                                           

prepagand.tumblr.com

This picture shows an eclectic mix of pink, blue, teal and green to create the feminine room. Using so many colors could easily create sensory overload. So, why does it work? It works because of the excessive amounts of neutrals and texture.

1. The white bedding in varying textures

2. The muted rug

3. The FABULOUS Lucite Cocktail Table

4. The glass screen (Yes! Glass can be a neutral.) framed in gold

5. The frame in the background with an oversized, solid colored mat.


Fashion often drives color in Interior Design. If a color is successful in fashion, it won't be long before you see it translated into Home Décor. As an avid tennis fan, I love Serena Williams. Known on and off the court for fashion, her innovative and fearless use of color sets her apart.

nikeinc.com

Serena's color choice is bold, using purple and orange. So why does it work? She follows a 60/30/10 rule.

• Choose 3 colors
• Use varying amounts of each
• 60% 1st Color - Dark Purple
• 30% 2nd Color - Light Purple
• 10% 3rd Color - Orange

If you are just staring out on your color journey, paint can be an obvious first step. With all the paint colors out there, that is also where you may feel like ENDING your color journey. DON'T BE AFRAID! You may be tempted to go "safe" at first. But, if you're ready to take the plunge, the rewards are SO WORTH IT!

wayfair.com

This room would be nice, but average, if it weren't for the AMAZING painted stripes on the walls.

How can you use a similar look in your own room if you're a colorphobe?

1. Use the same color paint, only in different sheens. Flat and Semi-Gloss are a great option.

2. Use colors with much less contrast. White with a pastel. Two complimentary neutrals. The possibilities are endless.

Remember that stripes can be tricky to paint. Hiring this job out may keep you out of therapy.

The Good News is: THERE IS A CURE FOR BEING COLORPHOBIC! By learning the ways to successfully use color, you can feel confident in giving it a try. Color can change your room  - which can change YOU. It's time to add color back into your home.

Still have questions: I'm here to help! Email me at  twingatedesigns@verizon.net