THIS is an entrance!

The entrance is the first impression of the entire house. It sets the stage for all to see. This is where you should remember the key term that all house savvy people know: BONES. The bones of the house are the things you don't pack up and take with you when you move. The floors, moldings, the wood work, etc. This is what you should put your big bucks into, because good bones means a good listing price! For a grand entrance like this, one with magnificent bones, always call a skilled professional, like a builder. Builders work with designers all the time to make the most perfect house come alive. In fact, some are both builders and designers!

designbuildersonline.com

Bold Prints: Houndstooth

Houndstooth has gradually made its way from the fashion industry into home décor. Always the attention getter, houndstooth is a classic pattern that easily adapts to various seasons and can enhance everything from vintage to modern-looking spaces. Houndstooth is traditionally recognized in its bold black months and white palette during the fall and winter, but can now be found in an array of colors to coordinate and be stylized with all interior schemes. Depending on the scale, a houndstooth pattern can be very muted and quiet or bold and demanding. Small houndstooth prints are soft and charming, often relaying a vintage feel to accent pillows and blankets. Larger prints found on draperies or upholstery are more graphic, lively, and attention getting. The print can quickly add stylish and sophisticated flair to a bedroom. Accentuate your bedding with a houndstooth comforter, bedspread, or quilt for a classic look. Choose a traditional black and white pattern or pick bolder colors like red or yellow with white for an energetic, unconventional look. Coordinate with solid colored decorative pillows and throw blankets. Also, by placing black and white houndstooth cushions on antique chairs or vanity seats within the room, a classy, retro look can be achieved.

  

Rod Pockets

Rod pocket drapes and valances are also among the most popular styles of drapery headings. Simple to explain, the rod pocket is just that- a fabric pocket sewn against the top back of the drapery where a decorative rod can be placed through. Rod pockets are popular in minimalist décor and are a less extravagant type of window treatment. Rod pockets can be used decoratively though, pulled to the side with tie backs or used as a valance, where drapery is operational. Rod pocket draperies can easily pulled for privacy and are simple to install. These draperies are simplistic and require minimal upkeep. Rod pocket draperies are easy to maintain and launder, as they can be quickly taken off the rod to hand wash or thrown in a machine. Often rod pockets are used for draperies covering doors and are managed with a tieback or by pulling the middle section together to create an “hourglass” effect. They also look nicely when they cover only half the window to create a “café curtain”.


Picture from backyardcity.com

2013 Home Decor Color Trends

With March quickly coming and going, most of us are starting to feel it-- the winter blues. Yes, the tease of the sunny day where it is over 60 degrees followed by the rainy/snowy 20 degree day, it makes you want to pull out your hair... but please don't do that. I have a solution!

I have been researching the upcoming SPRING color trends, and they are fabulous. Earth tones are back again, with soft blues, grassy greens, wheat yellow, and pastels that make you want to hunt Easter eggs all season long! They are used on furniture, walls, draperies, pillows, and bedding too!