Design Trends 2011 - Trend #11 Change It Up!

I have a dear friend, who every time I go to her house (which is once a week) she has moved everything around! Other than a few accessories that she changes out every-so-often, for the most part the items in her house are the same…just moved around! And I am not just talking about a couple of accessories; I am talking about furniture, art, lamps, even place settings in the hutch! She knows how to re-vamp her house without spending ANY money!

The key to being able to change it up and really see the is to keep you base pieces (ie: sofa, dining table, main dishes, etc.), the pieces you are only going to purchase every 10+ years, keep them neutral and timeless.  And let the smaller investments like lamps, picture frames, chargers, and linens be for colorful, playful and trendy.  Also buy a couple of statement pieces like a funky shaped Bombay chest or a mirrored buffet.

This week when I went to my friend’s house she had her dining table set with leopard print glass chargers, white plates and blue and gold napkins. She accented the room with a leopard-shaded lamp and a piece of art that tied all the colors together.  In her music room she leaned an iron piece of art (that is usually in her master bedroom) up against the wall and hung various framed picture of her loved ones.

So I challenge you! Once a quarter change it up! Move your furniture around, move your accessories, even rehang some art. You will be amazed how much it changes the feel of your home.  Pieces that didn’t show up before are now standing out and making a statement!

Penne, I adore you and you truly are an inspiration!

Design Trends 2011 - Trend #6 Sparkle and Shine

First let me say, "Happy Birthday Lauri and I love you!" Today is my sister's birthday!

Now back to design...

Lately, I've really been embracing the trend of adding just a little touch of something metallic. A pillow here, a candle there...it gives me a happy feeling inside, like I am fantasy! I have an obsession with mercury glass and now that I have started searching for it, I am seeing it in everywhere, light fixtures, frames, candlesticks and dishes (which of course if faux mercury)!

Remember that old "foil" wallpaper from your grandmother's house? The stuff you may have helped rip off the walls when she redecorated? I do! Well it is BACK! Maybe not all over and definitely not the same colors, but yes metallic and in smaller spaces, in niches or on one statement making wall. The designs are better, the colors are current and you will be seeing it everywhere!

This decor used to be reserved for holiday decorating, but now we're spotting shiny metallics and even sequins year-round, in nearly everything from throw pillows and serving ware to tile and wallpaper. It's a nod to Hollywood Regency and sophistication. You only need a hint of metallic to make a bold, glitz-and-glam statement, so be careful not to overdo it!

Design Trends 2011 - Trend #3 Vivid and Bright

Bright colors are another trend for 2011. With the economy still suffering, people are relying on youthful, bright colors to cheer up their homes, and their moods. Whether in a new wall color, lighting, occasional tables or accessories adding bolder hues makes even traditional pieces seem more unique and adds an eclectic element.  Experts say intense turquoise and vivid greens can play up a dull and dreary looking room.

Aspiring to restore balance to society and the economy has initiated a return to the way it was when life was easier and less complicated. A return to simplicity coupled with our search for certainty has us learning to live with less and embracing an uncluttered lifestyle. White offers a fresh start with a focus on re-building and re-evaluating personal and professional growth, as well as encouraging self-sufficiency. White evokes the feelings of a safe place, the nostalgia of old-fashioned values, innocence, and the protection of a white picket fence.

Neutrals play a leading role in the color story. These low chroma colors of brown, gray and beige may be clear, or grayed, and may have a very distinct undertone of color. There is an attraction to the more complex neutrals (the colors you can’t pin down with a single word- described as bluish, greenish, gray or pinkish beige), which signals a higher level of sophistication and sensitivity to color.

Collectively color is being used more confidently.  The key is to keep it simple and use neutral colors to balance these bright hues out. White furniture and curtains would certainly do the trick.