Well color me happy . . . .

We just got back from a wonderful, relaxing vacation in Turks & Caicos!  It was an amazing trip.  The whole time I was there, I could not get over the amazing blue of the sea and sky.  I loved to glance out the kitchen window, and see the intense aquamarine color of the ocean peeking from behind the palm trees.  It was paradise!

I returned to work very inspired to create rooms full of color!   Over the past few years, neutrals have dominated interiors - just take a look at Restoration Hardware and their achromatic color schemes.  I appreciate that look, but I am ready to buck the trend and start using some bright bold colors that I love.  Luckily, several of my clients have been willing to embrace these new color schemes as well.

I'd like to share with you some of my favorite, most inspiring fabrics that I've been working with recently.  Most of them I will use as accents - pillows, draperies, small upholstered pieces.  But it's these great pops of color that will make your rooms:

1. Robert Allen's Nesting Zigzag in Bluebell

Photo courtesy of Robert Allen

I have been on a big navy and white kick lately, both in my clothing and in my interiors.  This is a good weight fabric, and great for upholstery, especially an ottoman or chair.  It also comes in white on white, and yellow/white.  

2. Kravet's Latika

What a great combo of color and pattern!  It would work equally well in a traditional or a more modern room

3. Fabricut's Tilbury in Lapis

Photo courtesy of Fabricut

I fell in love with the pattern and color in this one, but I don't have anywhere to use it yet!  It has an interesting shimmer to it, which makes it a little more dressy.  Perhaps a dining room or formal living room?

4. Pindler & Pindler, (pattern name TBD)

This is such a fresh, fun fabric.  It will look great paired with Navy, red, yellow, black.....pretty much any other color scheme.

5. Clarke & Clarke's Blomma in Rouge

Photo courtesy of Clarke & Clarke

Clarke & Clarke has a bunch of unique, bold patterns and colors in their line.  This is such a fresh interpretation of cherry blossoms, and it comes in a bunch of great colorways.  

6. Kravet's Prospect in Lake

This reminds me of the sea, sky, and sand in North Caicos.  Incidentally, I specified this for a client's master bedroom BEFORE I left on vacation.  I guess my mind was already starting to dream of the sunny Caribbean . . .

7. Kravet - 31202

What a great color scheme:  turquoise, coral, and white.  Wouldn't this look great with those upholstered ottomans I bought for my client in this post?

8. Stout's Baton in Spice

I am using this great fabric as draperies in client's home.  It's such a happy fabric.

9. S. Harris Tabris in Champange

A little more understated than some of the others, but I was really struck by the great pattern.  Maybe a good choice for someone not ready for some of the other bold color schemes above.

10.  And last but not least, the new fabric collection by Eileen Kathryn Boyd for Duralee. 

Don't you just love her purple logo and starburst?  I was so impressed by the bright, bold colors in her new collection.  The colors are perfect - super saturated and full of energy.  This periwinkle embroidered pattern on white cotton is a knockout:

She is a designer who is not afraid of color, and uses it well.   I was so inspired when I visited her website and blog to check out her portfolio.

So what do you think?  Are you as crazy about them as I am?   Don't be afraid to use the colors you love in your own projects -  they will make you happy every time you look at them. 

As soon as I can, I will share photos of how I am using some of these fabrics in my projects. 

Have a great week!

Bronwyn  

The 'Halloween Crab'.....what a great combo of orange and purple!

 

I love my job

Last week's post about shopping really got me thinking about how lucky I am to be an interior designer.  There's not many jobs out there where you get to shop for a living!  And I meet the most wonderful, talented, friendly, hardworking people - both my clients, and those that I do business with buying products and installing beautiful homes.

I love the diversity of the work.  In any given day, I could be doing any number of things (other than shopping, which is not what I usually do):  Mainly, I am drawing and/or designing.  I spend hours every week at my drafting table, either drawing floorplans or elevation drawings and perspectives.  It's generally where I start a project (space planning) and end a project (perspective rendering), before the client gets to see the design. 

I also spend a lot of time selecting the finishes for a project - maybe it's paint colors, fabrics for upholstery, window treatments, wall coverings, tile, countertops, rugs, flooring.   There's a myriad of choices that it can be overwhelming sometimes (for me too!)

Getting messy is part of the job too.  I recently spent a very hot day at a job site, going over plans and design details with the general contractor and the client.  The home was full of dust and dirt, and I was sweaty and sunburned by the time I left.  But I had a huge smile on my face to finally see my project underway.  

Selecting furniture, lighting, and accessories is a big part of what I do.  There are so many different manufacturers and sources that it is overwhelming.  I try to stay very current on trends, so I read a ton of shleter magazines (House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Coastal Living, and Elle Decor are on my bedside table) and read lots of other blogs (Things that Inspire, Velvet & Linen, Pure Style Home, and Belgian Pearls are my faves).   I go to 'market' every spring and fall (otherwise known as the High Point International Home Furnishings Market) to find new sources, and I constantly scour magazines, catalogs and internet sites to find the perfect pieces for a client's home. 

    

After all that, I document, record, and organize.  I prepare invoices, proposals, and purchase orders.  I track all of my orders, and ensure that each project is on schedule.   I plan, order, follow-up, and schedule.  Though this part of my job is not nearly as exciting, I have an analytical side that doesn't mind (and actually gets quite obsessed) tracking all these details.  

It's hard work, but i really, really love it.  Sometimes if I'm working late at night, I literally have to make myself stop, so I can get some rest.  And even once I'm lying in bed, I keep reworking the spaces in my mind and dreaming of a new color scheme.  

Thanks so much for reading my blog.  I hope that you also love what you do everyday. 

Bronwyn

Out and about in Charlotte

I have a great friend who lives in Greensboro and she loves to come to Charlotte to shop for interesting and unique furniture and home decor.  Everytime she has a trip planned, she asks for my advice on the 'must-see's' during her visit.   So in this post, i thought I would mention some of my favorites.

First the 'Marketplaces' - these are shops that are comprised of multiple vendor booths, many of whom are interior designers, wanna-be boutique owners, and/or artists.  The pieces are usually unique, one-of-a-kind 'finds' but sometimes there are stock pieces that can be re-ordered.  It can vary from one marketplace to the next.  These are my absolute favorite places to shop since the styles can vary so greatly from one vendor to the next.  Plus, the prices are usually very reasonable.

Here are some fantastic embroidered ottomans I found for a client at Interiors Marketplace:

And this Hickory Chair ottoman, that I purchased for another client:

Cotswold Marketplace is literally around the corner from my house, so I am constantly stopping by.  The inventory rotates pretty frequently, so I am always seeing new things.  Like these drop-dead gorgeous lamps that I bought to go with those cool ottomans:

This was one of the pricier pieces, a Turkish Tulu rug.  So interesting, and it would work in any decor:

These stools by Worlds Away are also so eye-catching:

Many of the vendors at Slate Interiors are treasure hunters who are on the lookout for one-of-a-kind, antique pieces.  But it was this fun, yellow painted console table that caught my eye:

Many of these marketplaces also sell remant fabrics, which can be perfect for throw pillows or re-upholstering small pieces.  I found 15 yards of this honeycomb fabric at Post & Gray, that I plan to use as draperies on one of my projects:

Another one of the stops on my rotation is at The Villa, on Providence Road.  There you can check out Decade, whose owners also own Darnell & Company, a to-the-trade showroom with amazing pieces.  I found that the artwork at Decade was the most striking.  My photo doesn't do this amazing painting justice:

While I'm at the Villa, I'll also stop in Isabella, which sells luxurious linens, some furniture, and accessories.  I am instantly relaxed when I walk in.  It has the most wonderful scents, and the owner Erin is always so welcoming.

Acquisitions, which also has stores in Atlanta and Charleston is another great stop.  When I was there recently, I found this blue linen chair.  I can't believe I am telling you about it, because I want to take it home!

This is the same store we found the butterscotch leather chairs for another client:

And this Hancock & Moore barstool, with it's wonderful 'Coastal' finish.  

Mrs. Howard & Max & Company is a relative newcomer to Charlotte, but what a great addition.  If you've never been, you've got to go.  They have completely transformed the old Charlotte Women's Club into a showroom that is utterly amazing.  Every room is full of inspiration and the staff there is very willing to help.

While you're over on that side of town, check out Boulevard Bazaar too.  It is a warehouse of market samples and discontinued pieces from high end manufacturers.  You will never know what you will find there, but if you aren't picky you may find a great sofa for a fraction of the retail price.

Over at Park Road Shopping Center, I love to stop into Traditions.  They have a showroom packed full of interesting furniture and accessories.  I recently bought this great velvet tuxedo sofa for a client:

Recycle Boutique is also worth a visit.  They have consignment furniture as well as new-pieces that can be re-ordered.  I thought this would make a great wall-hanging above a fireplace:

I feel like i could go on and on.  But I'll end with The Depot at Gibson Mill, an antique mall in downtown Concord, NC.  Plan to spend an whole day here.  You never know what you will find.  I loved this display of old beakers beside these red metal barstools were so charming:

And I could kick myself for not bringing this interesting white-washed chest home:

I didn't even make it through the whole place, so I will be back soon!

As an interior designer, you have got to love to shop.  I am lucky that there are so many great boutiques, furniture stores, galleries, antique stores, and marketplaces in Charlotte.   Let me know the next time you are looking for the perfect piece for your home and I'd love to help you shop for it!

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn

All photos property of BRONWYN Designs

2011 Kitchen and Bath Trends - Part II

Image from House Beautiful

This week I'll continue with my commentary on the 2011 National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Kitchen and Bath Trends, as featured in the May/June 2011 issue of Urban Home Charlotte:

Walls planked with pure white CeasarStone
(Image from MyHomeIdeas.com)

1) Quartz Countertops

Unlike marble or granite countertops, 'Quartz countertops' are actually a composite material made from quartz and resin.  There are great advantages to quartz which include low maintenance, durability, and uniformity of material.  Basically you get the look and feel of stone, without the worry about the red wine stains.

Image from House Beautiful

But authenticity of materials rates pretty high in my book.  If you really want marble, then use it.  There's a common misconception that an engineered countertop (e.g. Quartz) will be more economical than a natural stone (like marble or granite).  This isn't necessarily the case.  My advice is to consider the look you are trying to achieve and keep an open mind when it comes to countertops.

Image from House Beautiful

2) Green Bathrooms

What isn't going 'green' these days?  But in this case, they really mean the color green. Though "off-whites, beiges, and browns are still the most commonly used color palettes", green has increased as the preferred paint color used in the bathroom.  I would guess it has something to do with our increased environmental awareness, the universal appeal of green (i.e. men and women can agree on it), and the calming nature of green.   I will agree that blue-greens and taupey-greens are great choices for bathrooms, mainly because they look great with bright white sinks, tubs, and toilets.

Image via Southern Accents

However, it is possible to get too seafoamy-green in your quest to achieve the perfect 'bathroom-green'.  When we renovated our master bathroom a few years ago, my unfortunate first attempt ended up looking more 'medical scrubs' than 'soothing spa'.  You can never go wrong with Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware.  Now almost every paint manufacturer has their own version of it.  We ended up using Behr's 'Pewter Tray', which was perfect.

Bobby McAlpine designed bathroom, Image by House Beautiful

3) Vessel Sinks

Vessel sinks have become a very popular option in the bathroom.  Their roots are based upon the old washbasin / washstands that become popular in the early 19th century, which would sit on a stand and would be filled with a large pitcher of water nearby.

Image from House Beautiful

There's a number of great options available, in a wide range of prices.  I prefer those with a shallower bowl, with simple materials and profiles.  

Image from MyHomeIdeas.com

The main thing to remember if you want to use a vessel sink in your bathroom, is that the vessel sink sits above the countertop and therefore your cabinet base must be shorter so that the top of the sink doesn't get too tall.

Bathroom by BRONWYN Designs

4)  Satin Nickel Faucets

The survey noted that " . . .oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, and polished nickel are all popular finishes for faucets.  But satin nickel is the most preferred finish for faucets, rising from 41% last year to 63% in th ekitchen and from 45% to 57% in the bathroom".

This statistic really shocked me.  I agree that the popularity of oil-rubbed bronze has started to decline, but I would have guessed the same for satin nickel.  In my experience, polished nickel has been the most popular finish that I've specified in the past year.  Nickel is much warmer than chrome, and it has that same timeless appeal and works well in both contemporary and more traditional kitchens and baths.

Kitchen by BRONWYN Designs

Similar to the resurgence of gold in fashion, I've noticed that brass finishes, especially antiqued brass, is becoming extremely popular in home decor.  You'll notice it not only in faucets and cabinet hardware, but also as lamps, occasional tables, framing, etc.

Powder room by BRONWYN Designs

That wraps up my commentary on the NKBA 2011 Kitchen and Bath trends.  I'll be interested to see if I continue to notice these trends in the designs of the kitchens and baths in the year to come.

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn

2011 Kitchen and Bath Trends

Recently in the May/June 2011 issue of Urban Home Charlotte, there was an article about the 2011 top kitchen and bath trends based on a survey completed by members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).  Some of these trends I agreed with completely, though other trends were more of a surprise.  This week I'll comment on the kitchen trends, and I'll save the bath trends for my next post.

Kitchen by BRONWYN Designs

1) Shaker Style

I was never a fan of the 'Old World', heavily glazed, fussy, over-corbeled, overdone look that has been popular for the past decade or more.  The irony of the 'old world', 'tuscan', or 'french provincial' style is that truly authentic European kitchens are very simple, functional, and hardworking.  Kitchens were never intended to be the huge, showy, public entertaining spaces that they have become.  In this new age of 'non-conspicuous' consumption, I think people have realized that a clean, classic design is one that is also timeless.

Image from Belgian Pearls blog

2) Dark Cabinetry & Painted Cabinets

I'll be the first one to tell you that I love white kitchen cabinets.  They are just so simple and clean and you can add color and texture with tile, flooring, lighting, and countertops.  Plus the beautiful colors of your FOOD look great against the white backdrop.

Kitchen by Barrie Benson, Charlotte Home & Garden Magazine

But alas, the NBKA indicates this trend is on it's way out.  I'm not disappointed though, because my mouth is watering when i see some of the fabulous new grey, taupe, and cream painted cabinets.  I love the way an antiqued brass pull looks against these colors, and how they really draw out the grey and taupe veining in a beautiful Calcutta gold marble countertop.  I'm not quite prepared for dark stained cabinets yet.....I still remember the dark red cherry stained cabinets of the 80's and early 90's too vividly.

Kitchen by Kay Douglass, South of Market

3) Wine Storage

Based on the article, wine refrigerators are on the decline and storage of wine at room temperature is becoming more popular.  Maybe that's because our wine fridges are being filled up with juice boxes?  Oh, sorry....that's just my wine refrigerator.

Image source unknown

4) French Door Refrigerators

A french door refrigerator is one with a freezer door at the bottom.  Yes, I can attest that these are becoming very popular, though they do take some getting used to.

Kitchen by BRONWYN Designs

5) Induction Cooktops

As far as cooking methods, I really love gas.  I love the look of a commercial gas stove, and I love how I can control the heat.  However, induction cooktops are gaining popularity and the price of a household induction cooktop has started to come down.  Basically an induction cooktop uses an electromagnet to transfer energy into your metal cooking vessel.  The advantages are that the amount of heat is extremely powerful and can be adjusted precisely and instantaneously, and that the cooking surface will not be hot after you remove the pan.  The disadvantage is that you must use a pot made of a magnetic material (like stainless steel or cast iron).  Unfortunately your beautiful antique French copper pots won't work with induction cooking.

Source unknown

6) LED Lighting

LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are perfect for undercabinet lighting since they are cooler and more energy efficient.  But they are more expensive.   Xenon bulbs is another option you'll hear about, that is less expensive but not nearly as cool (temperature-wise) than LED.

Image from Elle Decor

7)  Pull out trash

Yes, yes, yes, absoutely.  In every single kitchen project I've worked on in the past year, my clients have requested at least one pull out trash bin, if not 2 (one for trash and one for recycling).  On the farmhouse project there will be four!  And I predict that in the year to come, there will be more and more requests for pull-out (or otherwise concealed, but accessible) food waste bins for composting.

Image source unknown

Consumers are becoming more and more educated and environmentally concious.  These trends all seem to be going in the same direction.  I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on these trends - are you a trendsetter or a trend-breaker?

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Bronwyn