Coordinating Fabrics

Do you love the look of coordinated prints and patterns in interior decor? Coordinating fabrics used in homes, bedrooms, and living rooms create unity within a space.  Prints that mesh well together have similar patterns or motifs and incorporate similar colors, textures, and have a similar hand. You can get a more professional or high-end look when pairing coordinating prints by keeping the background colors the same with comparable patterns. Look for like colors and repeats in each fabric pattern that you choose. Keep your fabric coordinate pairings balanced by including a mixture of large, medium, and small pattern sizes or add plain or textured fabrics for more interest.

Christmas Decorations

When decorating for Christmas, remember to keep it to your taste. Decorating should not mean redoing your entire house, it means keeping your taste and adding some Christmas cheer! You never want to change your style just the month of December (or if you're like me, some of November, too). Try to add the simple touches of Chritmas by enhancing what is already exsisting. Nothing says Christmas like garland and tinsle... but nothing says obsessed like covering your entire house in it.

Stick with what you like and come home to your very own Christmas wonderland! Also, remember that Creative Interiors can make this happen for you! We offer Christmas decorating tips and we can do all the labor for you as well! Stop by, call, or click to ask us about it today!

Leather, surprising facts you may not have known!

When buying that cute little leather bag, or even that oh-so-worth-it expensive leather couch, there are some things you should know before you make that purchase.

The number one thing to know is when something says "genuine leather" it is as genuine as a promise during an election. Genuine Leather is leather, but its the top layer of the skin (the most worn and torn) all ground up, laid into a type of glue, and pressed into a leather pattern to make it look real, but its actually a cheap imitation of the real deal.

To get the best quality leather out there, look for leather that is described as "full grain". Full grain leather is the bottom layer (the softest and sturdiest) of the cow's skin. This is what you should look for when purchasing something you will be using a lot, like a couch or that expensive handbag you'll use forever. Another type of leather that is good to use on upholstery and furniture is top grain, which is sturdy and durable, but with a stain resistant finish, great for childproofing that new expensive furniture!



  

Shutters!

Many people are interested in Shutters but want to know more about them, at Creative Interiors, Michelle is our go to girl, but for a quick guide into the shutter world I've got just the fix!

There are several different styles of shutters, different types can colors as well!

Shutters can be put on the inside and the outside of your home and are a great way to bring in natural light without overwhelming a room. They are also great to open and close as you please for a quick solution for privacy.

These are the types of shutters available, a style for everyone!

Thanksgiving Decorations- How to.

When decorating for that wonderful Thanksgiving feast, remember the food on the table isn't all that matters (Okay, so maybe to some people it is, but not to this CI intern!) 

So before the Macy's day Parade and the Griswold family turkey, here are a few table decorating tips:

1. Remember the rule of odds. When setting a table full of bouquets, know that an odd number of anything is more pleasing to the eye. It is easier for the eye to see an odd amount of something than an even number- even numbers divide the space while odd numbers make the table feel more whole.

2. It is still Fall. Even though Christmas commercial are in an almost full swing, it is not yet officially winter, which means there are still amazing colorful leaves and decorations right outside your door, use them for an amazing (and cheap) table runner!

3. Make cute name tags, this is a great way to personalize the table and make sure everyone feels extra special (and make sure you don't get stuck talking to cousin Ernie-Ray all dinner long, right?).

4. Pick a color scheme, show the people you share your day with you mean design business, pick a color scheme to match the napkins, plates, table runner, and cups. It will give a cohesive feel to the entire room and show great organization as well!

5. FOOD IS KING. I know I said earlier that decor is important to me, but I did not say it was more important than the food. That yummy asparagus casserole mom slaved away on all day should be the centerpiece, aside from the 25+ pound turkey of course. Make the food the focal point of the day, the extras make it a great way for people to remember the amazing meal and togetherness.

 

 .. Lastly remember this verse while you celebrate Thanksgiving Day:
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. -Psalm 107:1

When should you hire a designer or decorator? And what's with the money?

Many times people have come into our store and want to browse they merchandise while holding something from home. Some people know exactly what they want, while others roam the store looking clueless. While we are always there to help and provide advise, people don't always know what they want which makes it hard for us, especially because we've never even seen the space.

SO, the question on the table is this--When are design services a good route for you? 

When you happen to become one of our many customers not knowing what they want, know YOU ARE NOT ALONE! So many people have "Pinterested" so much they have a million ideas and can't narrow it down, or they are just having what I call "Designers Block" (Something this intern gets all too often with school projects and in everyday life.. I blame social media...).

Whenever your in a jam, designers and decorators are great to brainstorm with, they have lots of ideas and books, and experience! Okay, I know what you're thinking, "Yeah, if I want to spend a small fortune!" However, a design consultation or two is very affordable and can be just what you need to get your creative juices flowing again, or even have them do some of the hard work for you!

Decorators and Designers are not after your money, remember, this is just how they make their money. Creative Interiors Designer, Elizabeth Barton, is a very affordable and flexible designer when it come to style. She can tell you first hand, she works with the everyday people almost always, not the Millionaires with buckets of money.


So remember a decorator or designer is a GREAT tool to use, whether its for a breakfast nook, or an entire house, they can help with it all!

  

What "Contemporary" Means

Ever wonder what the style "contemporary" really means? Well, I'm here to tell you.

All the time people come into the store wanting a fabric or window treatment that looks "contemporary" and stylish, but always come away with different things. This is because the style category "contemporary"  is a very broad and diverse one.

Contemporary design embodies clean and simple designs. No frills. Clean geometric shapes and smooth simple colors. Many times, a neutral color palate will take the stage, while a few pops of bright colors will make to room come to life.

When taking design, anything simple, yet interesting goes. The same goes with fabrics and treatments to the room. Clean, simple shapes are the key to contemporary design.



picture from naurahomedesign.com

picture from freshome.com

But what about the walls?

We all know about the furniture we like, the color of the room that we love the best, and the curtains, fabrics, pillows, and the rest, too!

But when it is all finished, you're always looking down, at the furniture, fabrics, and pillows!

So, when you are decorating your room, remember one word: ART! and look up!

Art in your house says a lot about who you are and can make any room become a unique and exciting place that is all your own!

Word of advice: Don't pick something for your home because you think it is something you should like. Pick it because you like it. YOU are the one that has to sit around and look at all the time!


                 

                

Kitchen is my kitchen.

Have you ever walked into someone else's kitchen and couldn't find a thing? You wonder what Nut case puts the silverware so far away from the dishwasher and the pots next to the refrigerator instead of the oven, we've all been there.

When moving, redoing, or reorganizing your kitchen, here are a few space planning tips:

1. The triangle. Any good designer should know this key rule. The oven, sink, and refrigerator should make one triangle on your floor plan, this makes the kitchen a much more usable and cohesive space.

2. While unpacking everything, make a good dinner. While you're in the zone cooking, you'll reach to an empty drawer for your mixing bowl and now you know where it would be comfortable for you to have it, it's your kitchen, organize it to your liking!

3. Pick only one. Island or table. Both can feel cramped and uncomfortable useless you have a huge kitchen and nothing to do with the space. There are some islands which double as a bar type seating area, which works well if you can't choose between the two, but never cramp a room, especially a kitchen.

4. Remember the kitchen is the heart of a house, so put your heart in it and make it a statement of all whom dwell there!

Designer vs. Decorator, and then some.

Many people think that an interior designer and an interior decorator are the same thing, and when it comes to projects for the home, where should they go?

Well, here is the answer...

1. Interior DESIGN is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. Interior designers apply 

creative and technical solutions within a structure that are functional, attractive and beneficial to the occupants' quality of life and culture. 

2. An Interior DECORATOR may decorate a space, but will not actually design the layout of a house without the supervision of an architect or contractor. Decorators are very helpful and great to use. 

Many people get the terms confused and intertwined, and the differences are actually quite large.  In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
  
                        

Source of definitions from the NCIDQ website. Picture from http://uthinkido.com

Five Senses of Design

When decorating your home, it it not about what you see in a room. Its a whole body experience. All five senses are used. For instance, ever smell a smell and immediately remember a place, person, or event in your life where that same smell was involved? I can't smell my dad's old 90's hairspray without remembering him lay it on thick each morning (He's almost bald now- I blame that terrible hairspray).

When decorating, remember the 5 senses:

• Sight: Obviously this is the most important. What the room looks like and the way it is designed makes the foundation of the entire experience.
• Smell: This is the strongest sense of them all. Like a candle or make some cookies to bring an emotional connection to the room. That signature smell will make all the difference.
• Sound: Once, I went to a friends house directly across from the train tracks, busy ones at that. We called it the train track house. She moved quickly. Soundproofing can be key to a design.
• Touch: Textures make a room come alive. I am a person who must. touch. everything. Splurge on a cashmere throw or some big fluffy fabriced pillows to add depth to you design.
• Taste: This one really only applies to a kitchen. What you eat and the taste of a delicious meal can make a ugliest room someone's very favorite!

It's Fall Y'all!

   It is officially Fall now, the leaves are changing, pumpkins are growing, the crisp fresh fall air is all around us. So when you walk inside your house, make it feel the same way! 

   Changing your inside environment to match the outside environment is the best way to keep a fresh new excitement to your house. Take the beach towels and put them away and bring out some warm colored pillows and throws. Light a warm vanilla sugar candle to set the fall mood (or whatever fall smell you prefer, it's your nose that has to smell it, not mine.) and make some warm yummy soup with some loved ones!

   During the day, the windows can be your best artwork, open the blinds and crack the window a few inches to smell the fall air and see the changing leave. Incorporate as many warm colors into your house as possible. Fall  = Warm colors, the opposite of the temperature outside (rule of thumb for all seasons). 

Enjoy this beautiful season and bring it indoors, its super easy and gets you in the spirit of fall, y'all!

     

Fabric Rooms

Remember the old movies from the 1940's and 50's where the old movie stars would play the queen of Egypt or a princess of Persia? They always sat in rooms of fabric and circular chairs all covered in fabric. Although it was beautiful in the movies, never would you want to actually have that in your house. But with a twist of color and a downsize of room, plus some funky fabric, it could be really spectacular! This picture shows a room of fabric ceiling to floor, and a cushioned bed to match. This idea separated the space and gave a whole to elegance to the house, yet with the bright colors, it was a welcoming area.

#Trending Fabric Patterns

Lately patterns have been changing and the designs we form around them have been changing, too. Some will be a fad and in two years you'll say "What was I thinking?!" But Others have been a timeless pattern that may have been thrown to the wayside and now are coming back brighter and bolder than ever!

These are just some of the new and trending patters:

Reupholstering

When people become put out or bored with their old furniture, their first thought it to throw it out and get something new, but that should never be your first thought!

Reupholstering is a great way to save money, yes SAVE money! Think about it, you'll get your very own custom piece exactly the way you want it, and it is almost always cheaper that getting something from the furniture store (that everyone else has might I mention). 

A lot of the time the furniture you have is the right size for your room, so you have to go through the long rigorous task of finding something that size and with the fabric or leather you like, and then spend a small fortune on it. Also, let's face it... furniture is not the quality it once was, to throw away something so well built because it isn't what you like would be crazy!!

SO.. reupholster!!

  

Window Treatments 101

When customers come into Creative Interiors looking for something to spice up their windows, the possibilities sometimes become overwhelming. Trust us, they're overwhelming for everyone, only because the options are somewhat endless. How many gromments you want, the size, the cut, the shape, so on and so on... and then come the fabric choice! When looking for window treatments just remember to go with what you like, if you find something you absolutely love, then stop looking. Don;t pressure yourself into looking a every single option if you know you've found what you like. Redoing things can be really fun, so don't stress out about it all!

 

Color Forecasting, wait.. what??

Many people in the business of design, fashion, and decorating will throw around vocabulary that can sometimes be confusing, one of the biggest questions people have is "what does color forecasting mean?" Color Forecasting is a prediction of colors that will become popular during a specific period of time. Have you noticed the coral reds, bright yellows, neutrals, and grays? Those are all part of the color forecasting. The importance of this in design and fashion are critical, color is what they are completely based around! So next time you go to look for a fabric or pick out a shirt at your favorite boutique, just remember, color forecasting was the reason for that item!!

Monograms!

One of the biggest trends these days is personalization. Making something everyone has and putting your name, initials, logo, etc. on it makes it become totally yours! Many people have pulled this into their home decor by monogramming pillows, towels, even drapery and rugs! Its a quick easy way to make your space feel like you very own!

Trims, what are my options?

When decorating or vamping something up, trims can be just the little pop you need. But what are the options? Some people think of trim and think it is outdated, but that is exactly wrong, it is making a huge comeback! So, here are some of the amazing trims out there (and also available at  Creative Interiors!)

• Brush fringe
• Tassel fringe
• Gimp
• Braided
• Cording
• Beaded fringe
• Bullion fringe
• Chainlette fringe
• Ball and Pom Fringe

 

        


Just some of the many types of trims! (Photos from Creative Interiors store!)

How to Space Plan

When redoing a room and moving into a new house, know these tips for Space Planning is not only important, it is the key element to making your house feel like a home and a comfortable environment.

Some things to keep in mind:
1. Match the size of the room to the size of the furniture. Small furniture in a big room will make to room feel uncomfortable and unfinished looking. Big furniture in a small room easily becomes cramped and claustrophobic for most.

2. Do not over stuff the room with little nick-nacks and little stuff, it clutters the room and can make the space feel overwhelming and even small.

3. Spread everything out. Jumbling everything into one corner or side of the room will make the space feel uneven and leave you with unusable space.

4. Make the room equal parts. If you were to look down on your space from the sky, would you see everything is spread out to make each side of the room the same weight? This is the goal for every room.

5. Remember the triangle rule. Especially in the kitchen. there should always be a triangle between the most important things in each room. For instance, in a kitchen, there should be an imaginary triangle between the refrigerator, stove, and sink.

These tips are great to remember for next time you move or rearrange a space!

Loving What is Yours

So many people today go to Pinterest, HGTV, magazines, and everything else to get new ideas for what they want for their interiors, but what is trendy right now, or what your best friend loves may not be what you love. Always remember- YOU have to live with it. 


Going crazy with color is great, if that's your personality. when investing in bedding, upholstery, carpet, or whatever the redo is for, it is usually something you will have for a least a few years. So don't pick something unless you love it. Remember to be picky- you're worth it!




OR 

Linen, the Fabric

Linen is becoming a very popular fabric for many different purposes in the home, clothes, drapes, bedding, everything. It's biggest issue- wrinkles. you touch it once and you'll have to iron it out! So, here a re some facts about linen to make your choice choosing fabric a little easier:


- One of the oldest fabrics.
- Made from the Flax plant.
-The production of linen fabrics uses five to twenty times less water and energy than the production of cotton or other synthetic fabrics. Linen fabrics are biodegradable and recyclable.
- Linen does not produce static electricity.
- There are many fabrics that look and feel the same as linen, without the wrinkle problem linen tends to have.


                     

Summer Solstice Style

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! The time to get outdoors and expose yourself to you backyards and the bright summer colors!


Changing your indoors to suite the season is a quick growing stylish way to always mix up your atmosphere, so go paint that accent wall bright blue and buy a super funky area rug! It is a cheap and fun way to spice it up!

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Paint is really east to change from season to season.

Pillows are easily changed out and easy to store until the next Summer!