It is a wonderful thing that such classic and vibrant prints are making a comeback! Finally some visual texture. While this has been a rising trend in recent years it is evident that classic prints with new color trends are making their way to everyday accessories. Some of my favorites include the following from Kathy Ireland’s new collections.

Floral Batik is a classic and historic print with a current twist in color trends. The tropical greens and shades of pink are some of the latest 2010 inspired colors (more on 2010 color trends to come on Color Trend Tuesdays in January).

Another historic and classic print, the Indian Marrakesch with current trendy colors infused into the design. Notice once again the variation of turquoise is seen in this chair. Turquoise, according to Pantone, is the color of the year for 2010.  New color trends for 2010 are taking us to the tropics!

Speaking of turquoise, it is also found in another classic Art Nouveau print called Cattle Kate from the Wallpaper Collective. I simply adore this print and only wish I had a place to use this wallpaper in my own home!

Gray is still considered a current color trend, however, you will find the “new” gray is a warmer tone versus the cooler variations we have seen in the recent past. A classic botanical has a new life on a larger scale, a hint of metallic, and a monochromatic color scheme in the  Flora Slate Wallpaper from The Wallpaper Collective.

I was inspired to take a closer look at “Pretty Prints” highlighted in the current issue of Lonnymag. The more I browsed the prints and recommended online shopping sites the more I realized the new color trends were applied to these lovely classic prints. I can’t wait use one of these as inspiration for an entire space!

See you again on Color Trend Tuesday next month!

Do you live in a small space? Or perhaps you just simply feel like you need more storage? Creative yet attractive storage options for the home can be a challenge for many. I’m always on the lookout for new and fun ideas. The following are three quick picks that can be easily accomplished with found items re-purposed for storing anything and everything…

The use of old wooden crates are a new and attractive replacement for the plastic milk crates we all remember from our college days. 

The shelf on the wall is reminiscent of boxes I used in my own home office. I needed an accessible place for items such as pens, a stapler, little notepads and such. After searching high and low I found these beautiful, yet simple, feathergrain boxes at The Container Store.  An easy fix for my storage need was to turn them on their side and mount them on the wall. 

The “most creative idea” goes to a fellow blogger, Brooklyn Limestone, and her ingenious idea for storage of scissors, tape, and other everyday office tools. The frame and pegboard is not only functional it is very stylish and fun. For more on this creative storage idea that is also aesthetically pleasing check out her posting about her home office at Brooklyn Limestone. This is one idea I may have to borrow one day when I actually have the space for a project room!

The idea of Urban Rustic is intriguing to me and it seems to be a concurrent theme throughout many design magazines and websites at the moment. What I love about this trend is that it is quirky yet livable and it is comfortable but not in lieu of style. So many people think that a styled or a home by design is not livable…this is untrue. You can create a beautiful environment and not feel guilty about putting your feet up. Urban Rustic is a perfect example of livable design and here’s why…

It’s full of rich, comfortable, and at times sumptuous texture. The colors are warm, inviting, and you can feel enveloped by the space just like a warm cozy blanket. Yet evidence of an urban lifestyle with clean, crisp, classic, and modern lines are prevalent in an Urban Rustic space.

The touch of rustic comes in the accessories such as the European trophy mount (faux antlers), leather pillows, and faux fur blankets as seen in this room by Anthony Gianacakos that is currently featured in Lonnymag.

Coupled with a current color trend, turquoise (or version thereof), Haus Interior in New York City is another example of a beautiful installation of Urban Rustic with features such as leather and wood stools and cableknit cashmere throws. Clean-lined modern furniture compliments the space for an urban feel. The most obvious example of  this design trend in the Haus Interior installation is the symmetrical display (urban style) of once again the European trophy mounted antlers and the traditional antler mounted deer head (rustic style).

Unique light fixtures that seem right out of the 19^thcentury are simple  jewelry in an Urban Rustic space. Modern elements such as the clean crisp color combination and clean lined sofa are evident elements of urban design as seen in this room by Karen Douglass. How can one miss the obvious feature of the rustic and seemingly one-of-a-kind sofa table also featured in this room? What feels livable (in my opinion) about the space are the comfy wingback chairs and the comfortable texture of the natural fiber rug underfoot.

The concept of Urban Rustic even spills over to trends in entertaining style. This lovely and warm setting for a wedding found in Canadian House & Home combines natural textures with clean crisp design as found in the acrylic chairs. Dinner by candlelight surrounded with simple and minimalist style in a warm rustic environment is the pinnacle of  this design trend.

As we long for simpler times and a warm and comfortable environment yet have a desire for clean and classic style this trend of Urban Rustic will only continue to flourish.

Recently I fell in love with the Woodland Chalet table linen line from Target. I happened upon a great sale and picked up the tablecloth, napkins, and table runner. The best thing is they are winter themed so I can use them beyond the holidays!

For fun I set a tablescape that was holiday themed with the addition of real evergreen branches, pine cones, holiday ornaments, and two precious little white cardinals that typically sit on my end table. To add a little extra sparkle I tied napkin rings with wire glittered ribbon and interspersed four silver crackle votive holders in the center piece. My favorite touch of sparkle are three oversized silver pinecones I picked up on clearance at Kohls.

This fall I was inspired by a hurricane I saw as a centerpiece for a tablescape in a local Pottery Barn store. I couldn’t bring myself to spend nearly a hundred dollars on a hurricane so I headed to HomeGoods and found this fabulous hurricane-shaped vase for only $15! Two strands of pussy willows strategically wrapped inside the vase brought it to life.  I topped it off with a wood candle holder to contribute to a little ambiance. This centerpiece is on the table year round…only the runner and everything around it gets changed by season.

I hope some of these ideas and photos inspired you with ideas for your own holiday table. Happy Holidays!

I participated in the 69th Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Check it out for other holiday tablescape inspiration!

The 2009 LEED Awards for Homes were announced and my favorite of the bunch is the BrightBuilt Barn Prototype.

If you aren’t aware LEED is an awards system based on points for effective, efficient, and innovative eco-friendly design. We’re talking more than just low VOC paint and low flow water faucets, it’s the design reference system to turn to for building the best when it comes to respect for the environment. Officially LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. For more on this system, how it works, and why it is important check out the USGBC site at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988  

Back to the BrightBuilt Barn, it is attractive, clean and simple in design therefore it seems possible to incorporate some of the eco-responsible construction techniques into a home that is comfortable to live in. Most importantly it uses some the of most interesting and new ideas and technology in environmental design such as the following:

Super Insulation = No Furnace – The most efficient and best insulation is used in the outer walls of the structure. The R-Value of the insulation is R-40.  The R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow and in most of our homes if we have high quality insulation it measures, at best, R-19.  Of course combined with excellent high efficiency windows the combination of the two means the home does not need a furnace. Amazing!

200-Year Design– We’ve all said, “They just don’t build them like they used to.” Well, now “they” do and you can. I live in a home that is 100 years old; while it needs TLC I still appreciate its design and solid structure that has withstood all these years therefore the inclusion of designing with longevity in mind is something I relate to and is truly important.  The BrighBuilt Barn is designed and built in such a way that it its lifespan is measured in centuries, not decades. Essentially this means that it is designed to last indefinitely due to the quality and durability of the materials used. It also keeps the inner workings (the systems) untangled which gives greater flexibility and can be easily modified and adapted to over the years. (i.e. you won’t have to deconstruct everything to make it even more efficient with new technology in the future). My favorite concept!

Off-site Fabrication– The home is built in a controlled environment that reduces construction waste to a level that is simply unheard of in traditional on-site construction. Using computer-aided fabrication of the home in a workshop or warehouse reduces waste because it is a controlled environment. When a home is built on-site unpredictable weather and a construction site that can at times be unorganized due to all the sub-contractors working at the same time there is a greater chanced for a large amount of waste. Waste produced in on-site construction is typically about 50% in materials. Essentially, you could build half of a house the same size with the amount of waste produced in on-site construction. Off-site fabrication using the BrightBuilt method produced only 10% in material waste.

Other methods that leant to their 2009 LEED – Innovative Project Award include the fact that it Wears a Mood Ring, it is a Sun Worshipper, and it used “State of the Shelf” Design. Sound crazy? Improbable? Well, it isn’t and it is the way of the future if we want to be responsible and leave a living, breathing, beautiful earth to future generations. Referencing and using building techniques found in the BrightBuilt Barn prototype would mean we could even leave our home for future generations to enjoy…something we used to do.

There is plenty about the construction and design of  the BrightBuilt Barn that is so intriguing and I encourage you to go direct to their site to learn more. All the facts, figures, and references to the construction methods mentioned in this posting are discussed in more detail at http://www.brightbuiltbarn.com 

There is a common design trend that is running through design style magazines, home décor stores, and even in color trends from the likes of Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. This design trend is known as rustic vintage. The trend has also trickled down to ideas and inspirations for holiday decorating.

Could it be that in these uncertain economic times we revert to what we know? The place we return to is our home, the idea of warmth, safety, and comfort. For many this conjures ideas from our childhood when you spent the holidays with family at Grandma’s house. A simpler time where homemade gifts were not uncommon and always greatly appreciated and valued.

This trend is found throughout our holiday decorating style in 2009 as well. The idea of using simple household items to create a festive environment in our home is not new, in fact, it was quite common in eras gone by. However, given that most of us are now on a very tight budget but still have the holiday spirit great ideas can be found with this trend in mind.

Elle Décor creates holiday style in the kitchen with homemade baked goods, simple greens as a centerpiece, as well as baskets and bakeware we may already have in our kitchen. It’s simple, clean, and easy to do with everyday items and a few seasonal greens that cost very little.  

Whether we want to admit it or not Pottery Barn has been a long time reflection of current mainstream design and decorating trends. The vintage and rustic style is running rampant through their latest catalogs. Some of my favorites include the vintage snowshoe wall décor, the holiday sentiment pillows that look as though they were hand-stitched, and the potted trees. The burlap is inexpensive and adds the rustic charm. Great idea for a centerpiece or, if you live in a small space, this is a great replacement for the traditional Christmas tree (it also channels Charlie Brown and who doesn’t love Charlie Brown?).

Of course no holiday decorating topic is complete without referencing Martha. Vintage holiday style is an underlying theme in many of her holiday inspirations this year. The idea that stood out for me was the use of doilies to create a snowfall of holiday spirit in the window.

Last but certainly not least, my very favorite idea using inexpensive and readily available items to decorate for the holidays is the Citrus Strand found in Elle Décor. String key limes together using a carpet needle and a thick hemp cord then fasten in a window or use it as a swage to decorate an entry table.

Happy Holidays All!

As a follow up to the Kitchen Cabinet Facelift recent post I thought I would share more about phase two. The second step to improving my kitchen included the replacement of the countertop, sink, and fixture.

Before… 

This was a DIY project as well but I like to call it a DIY-WF (with family). My Dad helped me to replace the old outdated and damaged laminate countertop which was much appreciated and it saved cash in the budget.  This part of the project could not have been completed without him.

First thing first we pulled the old countertop out and replaced it with a new laminate surface. My finish of choice was from Formica in Basalt Slate with a Honed Finish (upgrade) and a bullnose edge detail.

I selected this laminate because at first glance you don’t realize it is laminate. The honed finish creates a tactile texture to the slate look finish. The visual texture isn’t too busy therefore it isn’t cheesy faux like some of the laminates in granite finishes have a tendency to be.

The second selection was the Quartz sink. This option is ideal because it is dark like the countertop which creates a single visual plane. In a small space a greater sense of openness is created. The Quartz is so easy to maintain and always looks clean not to mention it is highly durable and doesn’t provide the tin sound that stainless steel can sometimes do when the water is running.

Last but not least is what I consider to be the jewelry for the sink, the faucet. The fixture is in a brushed nichol finish and the traditional modern style adds vintage style.

The finished kitchen project is a perfect compliment to the gray cabinets and is quite possibly the best transformation in my home to-date.     – Thanks Dad

After…

For more on Phase One check out the posting, Affordable Kitchen Cabinet Facelift at http://theidesignbox.com/?p=395  

With this posting I participated in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. For more on Metamorphosis Monday, December 7th go to: http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/12/welcome-to-47th-metamorphosis-monday.html