I want to spotlight my four favorite color schemes inspired by our fancy feathered friends.  Feel free to “tweet” about it… ohhhh such a bad joke, I’m sorry.

Here goes…

Pretty Little Blue Bird

Pink Flamingo

White, Blue & Green Parakeets

Orange and Yellow Tropical Birds

If you are interested in any of these products, links to their website can be found on my pinterest page.

Here are my favorite finishes right now:

Antique Gold:  This finish is going to look amazing paired with dark walls in matte black or deep navy blue.  It’s great for that men’s club/ library look paired with rich black leather, oriental rugs, and antiques!

The Look:  

I love the antique gold wall sconce on the matte black wall!

My Picks:

Piquito Collection 1-Light Antique Gold Pendant from The Home Depot – $126 each.

Ramos Collection 1 Light Antique Gold Pendant from The Home Depot $144

Allegretto Drum Pendant by Fine Art Lamps $3,648.00 available through Lumens

Harlequin Pendant – From Shades Of Light – $435

Copper:  I love to use copper with olive green, lighter shades of navy blue, and crisp white.  Pair it with natural unfinished and/or reclaimed wood for an updated look.

The Look:

Love this copper pendant combined with black, white, and natural wood!

 My picks:

Cinque copper pendant light – $795 – available through Iacoli & McAllister

Copper Shade Pendant by Tom Dixon – 17.7″ diameter, $610 each

Bead Pendant in Polished Copper. Available through Holloways of Ludlow -960 Euro

Brass:  Pair these with neutral grays, all shades of navy blue, ruby red or forest green.  Think fall colors here.  Brass also looks great when it’s paired with white walls and layered with other metallic finishes such as gold and silver.

The Look:

Brass really stands out with a dark, moody back drop!

My Picks:

Futagami brass pendant lights – 320 Euro

Jonathan Adler Pendant 15″ H x 7″ W – antique brass – $249 from Shades Of Light

Antique Brass Nautical Mini Pendant Light from The Home Depot – $13.99 EACH!

Brass/Gold Ori Pendant Lamps by Lukas Dahlén – Contact showroom for price.

Pewter:   Pewter looks amazing with any blues or greens.  It creates a very calm feeling when it’s paired with white or gray.  Mix it with weathered finishes and flea market finds!  Black also creates a striking contrast and looks great.

The Look:

Pewter looks great with washed out navy and repurposed wood!

 My Picks:

Metal Drum Pendant – 32″ Diameter, 11″ High $295 from August Haven

Marcel Pendant by Uttermost – Champagne Finish – 8″x 9″ $173.80 from Lumens.

Checkolite International 3-Light Hulton Specialty Pewter Chandelier in pewter finish . Available from Lowe’s for $154

Aluminum/ Chrome:  These finishes are so user friendly because they look amazing with pretty much any color!  I love them with grass green, sunny yellow, sky blue, or even red.  They are great for adding a punch of fun into a space.

 The Look:

I love the sky blue paired with chrome!

My Picks:

Aluminum Top Hat Pendant 8″H x 10″W. $175 from Shades Of Light.

WAC Carina Crystal Quick Connect Pendant with chrome hardware- $222.66 from AllModern.com –  I love to use this when I’m feeling fancy!

Garbo Chandelier in Polished Chrome with Black Pleated Shade and Beveled Antique Mirrored Accents from The Home Depot – $778

Matte Black Metal:   This is definitely my favorite lighting trend that’s happening right now.  If you pair these matte black pendants with a light cool gray wall color you get an instant update.  It creates a comfy, calm space that is perfect for cuddling up in a cozy sweater with a good book.

The Look:

This is the ideal place for a book and some coffee!

My Picks:

CB2 Noir Pendant lamp – $249

Piquito Collection 1-Light Black Pendant from The Home Depot $126

Wide Beat Light by Tom Dixon – 17″ Diameter – from YLighting $490

Black Iron Bell Pendant from World Market $89.99 – 17.5″ Diameter – I have been totally obsessed with this pendant since I first discovered it!  The price is fantastic!

Try out any of these metallic pendants for an instant update to your space!

This space is for my close friend Kate, who requested a space inspired by the song “Beautiful” by India Arie.  Here is the song:

To me, this song calls for an ethereal, serene space.  I wanted to incorporate a soft, calming color palette of white, beige, gray and blue. I gravitated toward soft textures and furniture with a relaxed, lived in feel.  Here is my concept board for the space:

#1:  Whoever said, “Just pick your favorite objects, put them in your space and it will all come together” was a big, fat liar.  

When you put together an outfit you don’t go in your closet to pull out your favorite shoes and pair them with your favorite pants, favorite shirt, favorite hat, and favorite belt.  If you did, chances are you’d look like you wandered away from the local mental hospital.  When you cook a casserole, you don’t put in all your favorite ingredients.  I would end up with a crab leg, tortilla chip, salsa, and chocolate mousse cake cassarole- yuck.    The same element of logic applies to interior design.  You select a few show stoppers that coordinate well together, then you highlight those pieces by keeping everything else clean, simple, and in the background.

#2:  Be careful where you contrast. 

We’ve all seen it before.  You can have a beautifully designed space, but if there is a white vent on a black wall, your eye is instantly drawn away from the design and straight to the jarring contrast.  Blame evolution for all those years cavemen spent looking over their shoulders for visual contrast to avoid being some saber tooth tiger’s dinner.  If you are looking to highlight a feature of a space, make it contrast with its’ surroundings.  If you aren’t looking to highlight it, avoid contrast at all costs.  (I’m talking to you Mr. dark brown ceiling fan on a white ceiling!)

#3:  Measure Twice… Well, Actually Measure More Than Twice.  

In the era of online shopping it is way too easy to click “Buy” without taking time to really reflect on the dimensions of the item you just purchased express shipping for.  Know what your shopping for BEFORE you start shopping and don’t get distracted.  There is nothing that ruins a design faster than furnishings that are the wrong proportion for the space.  While I’m on the topic, I’d like to debunk the myth that small rooms need small furniture.  I’m a firm believer in minimizing the number of furniture items in a space.  Often times a few larger, well placed furnishings in a small room will maximize the space.

#4:  Get Real About Your Expectations.

There is an evil triangle of the elements of design.  There are three sides:

1.  Budget

2.  Quality Level

3.  Time Frame.

It pains me to say this, but pick two.  That’s all you get.  You can have a project that is low budget and done  fast, but the quality will suffer.  You can have it high quality and done fast, but the budget will fly out of control.  You can have high quality and low budget, but that involves you going to apprentice at a furniture making shop and learning to build it yourself – which unfortunately isn’t great for the timeline.  You can not have it all, my friend.

#5:  Have A Plan, Stan.

This is the one that requires the most practice and discipline to achieve.  Here’s how I typically plan for a project.  Before I spend a single penny, I measure the space and draw up a floor plan that is to scale.  There are some easy to use software programs the public can buy OR you can just go old fashioned and use grid paper (one square equals one square foot).

Once you decide on an arrangement, you can conclude some critical information from your floor plan.  This floor plan tells you exactly what items you will need AND exactly what size those items should be.  Make an itemized shopping list and include the exact dimensions of the items you will need.  Don’t forget to consider height!

At this point, you can do some preliminary research on how much these items might cost and assign each item a specific budget.  This way you have an idea how much the entire room will cost BEFORE you spend a penny.  This is the ONLY way to avoid the shopping fatigue that comes when the project is about 75% complete and you panic that you won’t ever get to enjoy your new space because you’ll have to get two more jobs to pay for it.

Consider a design concept and stick to it.  Whether you are going asian modern, classic traditional, or urban loft- stick with it.  Do your research so you can determine a color scheme, what form the objects should have, and what types of decorative elements you may want to incorporate.  Make sure every object that goes in your space is consistent with the concept.  What isn’t in the space is every bit as important as what is!

Also, plan for the unexpected.  The only thing that I wouldn’t expect after working on so many renovations is that one might actually just go smoothly without termites, foundation cracks, or a major contractor mistake.  Something always comes up, so leave about 30% of the budget free to address whatever does come up.

Hello!  Today is my second post in a series of concept boards I plan to share with my readers.  The idea behind them is that a design for a physical space can be inspired by sound.  Long before I ever went to design school, I designed a few of my own rooms inspired by the mood that my favorite songs made me feel.  The result was that I created some of the most soothing and moody spaces I’ve ever designed.  I wanted to bring back the process and test it out with my post design-school skills.  I’d love some reader feedback!

I asked a few friends with amazing taste in music  to request songs that they would like to see transformed into physical space.  I put together a concept board for each.  Today I am going to share a concept board I put together to go with the this week’s song, “It’s Real”  by the band Real Estate.

It is a sunny, breezy song that brings to mind summer days spent road tripping and camping throughout Northern Michigan with good friends.  For my design I used a color scheme stolen straight from the trees, lakes, and sky.  I mimicked the contrasting materials and textures found in nature by incorporating natural wood, grasscloth, lambswool, and stone.

I want to use the Jaryd Niebauer Photography sheep photograph (Baaaaaaaa!) as a vinyl wall covering on the entire wall behind the hanging rope bed.  I think there is something really comical and light hearted about these two sheep characters and would love to wake up to them every day.  I also threw in a couple other playful details like the brass crane and owl throw pillow.  A light blue fan and knotted Melati hanging chair add to the kitschy camp out vibe I was going for.  The round shelving unit reminds me of a ring my family always used for storing firewood for campfires.   The yellow glass pendants for over the night tables remind me of a burst of sunshine.

Here is the song:

Here is my design:

I asked a few friends with amazing taste in music  to request songs that they would like to see transformed into physical space.  I put together a concept board for each.  Today I am going to share a concept board I put together to go with the XX remix of “You’ve Got The Love” by Florence and the Machine.  Thanks to Xenia for the inspiring song request!

Press play on the youtube video and see if you think the space reflects the mood of the song!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1l4pDXbkic&w=420&h=315]

My music vocabulary isn’t highly developed, but I can verbalize the design elements that came to mind as I listened to the song.  Immediately the imagery in my mind went to a dark, mysterious space that had intergalactic elements like deep navy blue, black, and metallic starbursts.  The smooth lines of the harmony gave me the idea for using smooth curves.  The layering of xylophone, drum beat, male and female vocals among other sounds made me want to layer textures like the wool shag rug, tufted velvet sofa, silk throw pillow with a watery print, and bold marble mosaic art.   Her voice has a melancholy tone to and it translated to this vintage black steel revolver coffee table I found.

In the second part of the concept board, I used an actual image of Florence as art leaning on the wall behind a sleek black Saarinen tulip table.  I love motion of the blue sequin in the art.  Instead of using the obvious matching Saarinen tulip chairs, I used a set of “S” Chairs by Panton.  This gunmetal finish is a modern re-imagination of this classic chair.  I used silky drapery and a plush shag rug to extend the design element of layering rich textures.  The punchy beat of the song is reflected in this vintage 1960′s brass chandelier.  I grounded the space with deep gray concrete floors that mimic the mood that the male’s voice brings to the song.

Hopefully this will help my readers expand their search for inspiration into new realms!  Just listen for the elements of a song that speak to you and imagine what they might become in physical space.  Thanks for reading (and listening!).

-Katie (Cadillac, MI)

A. Hi Katie. Thanks so much for your question. I love the idea of using your window as a focal point above your bed! The best way to make an architectural feature a focal point is to visually frame it. I used an 11′ wide wall, 40″wide x 48″ tall window, and king size bed to sketch three solutions for visually highlighting the window in your bedroom. In all three solutions I would use roman shades for privacy on the window so that you don’t have to wrestle with drapery between your bed and the wall.

#2: In this option I would install 4 rows of evenly spaced shelving above where a headboard would normally be (36-48

#3: In this last option, I would use drapery fabric to soften the wall behind the bed. Use a ceiling mounted drapery rod to hang the fabric so that it can truly go wall to wall. Then use metal or wood tie backs placed about 2

I hope these sketches help you come up with some inspiration for sprucing up your new master bedroom!

Stripe Duvet Cover and Shams from West Elm $19-89

Q.  Where’s the best place to get bedding or curtains? I have an idea of what colors I want for my daughter’s room, but I can’t find anything anywhere!! Should I make my own or is there a hidden treasure somewhere online?

-Amanda (Austin, TX)

A.  Hi Amanda!  My clients consistently come down with a bad case of sticker shock when we start looking at bedding and curtains!  It can be tricky to find something stylish and affordable.

If you can sew, then I certainly think making your own is the best option.  I suggest looking up a local fabric wholesaler in your area so you can touch the fabric before purchasing!  I would even suggest working with an interior designer so you can get discounted access to amazing “to-the-trade” only fabric sources like John Brooks, Kravet, or Dohghia.   Designers often work with a fabric workroom who can sew beautiful custom bedding or curtains.  While custom is more fun, you will most likely be spending upwards of $300 for a duvet and a pair of shams though.

Etsy.com has some online workrooms who can make custom bedding and window coverings.  I would strongly recommend ordering fabric samples before making any purchases.  Texture is so important when purchasing bedding!  Also, do not get led astray by claims of high thread counts.  The quality of the fibers are far more important than the threads per square inch when it comes to softness!

My local go-to retail stores for inexpensive curtains and bedding are Ikea, Home Goods, Cost Plus World Market, Target and Ross.  JC Penny also has a huge selection.  The problem with the most of the inexpensive retail stores is that you have to search through a lot of ugly stuff to find the gems!  It is worth it though once you find exactly what you were looking for!  If I’m searching online I go to Overstock.com, Amazon.com or Home Decorators.com.

For mid-range pricing the obvious first places I check are West Elm, Pottery Barn, PB Kids, Land of Nod, Crate & Barrel, CB2, Z Gallery.  If shopping online I would check TheCompanyStore.com, Allmodern.com, and  DesignPublic.com.  Depending on what you are looking for, you can usually have items made custom in this same price range if you can get your hands on a fairly inexpensive fabric.   I love fabric.com because of its huge selection.  Spoonflower.com is great too, but a little more expensive.  Don’t forget to order sample swatches first!

If you are looking to spend a bit more (say, $500 + on a bedding set) you can have a lot more fun!  In this price range you can shop at Restoration Hardware, Anthropologie (my personal favorite), Dwell Studio, or Bliss Living Home.

Often times people buy really expensive curtains or bedding in the wrong size or color and then are unable to return them for some reason.  That’s when I snag them up on ebay!  I was able to buy 8 brand new Pottery Barn silk dupioni window panels for one of my clients for less than $200 total on ebay!  If you find something retail that you like, be sure to google it to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible!

Here are some of my favorites kid-friendly bedding sets for spring/summer 2012:

PB Kids Chambray Duvet Cover $16-109

Dwell Studio Chinois Blue Draper Stripe Duvet Collection $29-310

CB2 Jump Bed Linens $20-100

Marimekko Lumimarja Celery Bed Linens $39-149

Dwell Studio Draper Stripe Bedding In Poppy $270-280

Laelia Bedding From Anthropologie $58-198

Woodland Organic Duvet Cover and Sham from Pottery Barn $29-129

Hannah Comforter Set From Target

Unison Sailor & Regatta Bay Boysenberry Duvets from DesignPublic.com

The Spoonflower marketplace is the BEST resource for original fabrics I have ever come across.  Anyone (even you!) can design a print, upload it, and either purchase it or sell it to others on their site.  You can order any of the prints on any of the 9 types of fabric (including ORGANIC COTTON!) While perusing their website I was consistently drawn to one designer’s prints- Holli Zollinger.  Today I will feature some her prints to illustrate my color scheme predictions for spring and summer of 2012.

What To Expect In 2012

Again this year you will see a lot of international culture inspired prints and subtle nods to nature- indicating a return to the simplicity of the past.  You will also notice vintage americana type prints like gingham, plaid, and bold stripes.  All of these colors look great with vintage brass or rustic pewter metallic accents and beat up antiques which is great for the budget.  There is most definitely a psychedelic Woodstock hippy vibe behind these color schemes although they can certainly be refined and used within any design style.  I’ll definitely be sourcing from my collection of vintage National Geographic magazines for inspiration this year!

Woodstock, 1969- Color Inspiration

Spring 2012

Spring is going to be all about light celery green, blushy pinks, muted lavenders, watery aquas and misty blue-greens.  Hints of tangerine and mustard will give the color scheme a late 60′s early 70′s nostalgia.  Cool grays and rich camel will star as the main neutrals.

Pronghorn and leaf by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower.

Neutral Mosaic Bright by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Gingham Lilac by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Leaves Aqua by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Early Summer

As summer starts, the colors will intensify a bit with tons of tangerine, harvest gold, washed out turquoise, deep lavender and rich indigo blues.     As summer continues, you’ll see more bright poppy reds and geranium pinks paired with rich indigo blue and even more tangerine.

Coral by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Coral Bells Seafoam by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Poppy and Leaves by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Flower Wave For Whales by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Daffodil Red By Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Late Summer 2012

  Late summer will feature rich indigo blues paired with  burnt oranges against cranberry and olive accents.  Gold based beiges like camel will serve as neutrals with cool grays.

Tree Blue Linen by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Nautilus Small By Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Umbra Linen By Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Deer and Flower by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Linen Orange Stripe by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

Wheat Copenhagen by Holli Zollinger on Spoonflower

I encourage you all to go to Holli Zollinger’s Spoonflower page to check out her designs and purchase some of her fabrics!  She has an incredible sense of color and style.  While you’re there, check out all of the thousands of designers that sell their work on Spoonflower.  You won’t regret it!  Here’s a little video full of the color inspiration I expect to see in 2012:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yHoh50VDs&feature=related]

-Melissa (Cadillac, MI)

A.  Hi Melissa.  Thanks so much for your question.  Once holiday decorations get put away it is amazing how empty a space can feel!  There are a few simple tricks to transition your decor from the holidays into the new year.

First, when there is still a foot of snow on the ground and you are months away from seeing spring flowers, it is probably a bit too soon to jump to spring decor.  What I like to do is start with light neutrals like white and beige and then slowly add more color as spring gets closer.    In January and February I think it’s important to hang onto that winter cozy feeling by using textures such as fur, large knits, baskets, and rugs with a high pile.

This is the perfect cozy look for January. Light colors will brighten your space and scare away the winter blues. Layered textures add warmth and coziness.

Another great look for January. Again, this look uses light colors to brighten and layered textures to add warmth. The pop of green in the hydrangeas signify that spring will be here soon!

One more great look for January. The bed skirt's color still hints at fall winter, while the white hints at spring. I love the texture on the rugs. It really warms up the space.

As months go by and you add more color, start with lighter hues in the pastel family and then in may and june you can switch to more intense hues.   Here are some of my favorite examples that use blush pink, light blue, and light greens:

This look brings in just a hint of color with blush colored pillows and a light wood top on the tulip table (my favorite table of all time).

This room combines light spring colors with cozy winter textures for the perfect late winter balancing act! The pinky blush color adds a bit of romance to the look.

The hint of celery green is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise neutral space. This look is perfect for March as it is a bit brighter, but neutrals still dominate.

This is the time of year when I am always really grateful that I purchase all of my main design elements like sofas, chairs, and paint in light neutral colors.  This gives me the flexibility to transition from season to season without having to spend lots of money.  I have throw pillows, blankets, rugs, and accessories in storage boxes labeled for each season and use those items to bring color and life into my spaces.

I hope this helped you start your year right with some great design!