Archive for January, 2011

Home theaters seem to be getting more and more popular.  As technological advances continue to be made, people are devoting entire rooms to home entertainment. When properly designed, home theater systems can offer superior picture and sound quality than the typical neighborhood movie theater.  Create a full cinematic look in your home by incorporating traditional details such as a velvet rope, cushy seats and a popcorn machine.  Here are some pictures of home theaters to awaken your creatitivy.

This glamorous space incorporates the 2011 Pantone color of the year, honeysuckle.  The ceiling is to die for!!!

This home theater looks so comfortable with all the pillows and bean bags.  I especially like the fabric wall with pendants hanging.

This is an example of a more masculine and traditional home theater.  The popcorn machine completes the look.

These theater seats look so comfortable!

This would be a great theater for entertaining as well.  The seating is from a company called Fortess, which manufacturers some of the finest theater seating available.

Here are some ideas for your own home theater:

I like this lounger from Fortress Seating.  If you are in the market for the finest theater seating ever then this is for you.  At an average price of $4,000 without all the bells and whistles its for a very select clientele.  Everything is completely custom to the specifications of the space.

This light control system is called RandioRA2 and is a wireless system that provides convenient and intuitive control of lights, shades, appliances, and temperature in a single room or thoughout a whole home.  It is easily insalled and operates reliably.  You can even conveniently operate the system from your I pad by going to the Lutron homepage.

Antique popcorn machine.  They restore antique popcorn machines to better then new condition.  Barsandbooths.com

When designing a space we sometimes start with the rug or we bring in a rug to accent or tie in the rooms colors.  A beautiful rug can be a dramatic focal point and adds incredible warmth and depth to any space.  With so many options out there you can be sure to find the perfect rug for your space.

Loving this black and white chevron rug from Jonathon Adler.  This can also be custom designed so you can use any color combo that works for you.

Decor-Pad

The black and white zebra rug  has been a decor staple for a looooong time but we still love it!  It adds a “wild” side to this traditional space and helps anchor the room.

Ken Gemes Interiors

Sisal rugs work great in so many homes.  We typically use merida rugs to bring organic texture and warmth to a space.  Whether using our own fabric or one of merida’s high quality bindings they last for many years and bind beautifully.

This leopard rug is designed by one of my favorite fashion designers Diane Von Furstenberg.  The Rug Company carries this very glamorous rug.  Below might inspire you make this $4,725 investment for your closet like Kimora Lee Simmons similar leopard rug shown below.

Love the Louis Vuitton side table.

Thom Felicia shows that it is ok to put a rug on top of carpet.  This rug adds a nice pattern and color to the beige carpet that is underneath.  So many of our clients ask if this is ok and our answer is yes .  It’s an opportunity to add some color, contrast, pattern and can even hide a stain on your carpet underneath.

When dressing your bed,  you can go with the simple necessities, or accessorize to create a multi-layer look. Here are some ideas on how to accessorize your personal retreat.

A classic White bed (courtesy of decorpad)

*Using all white for sheeting and pillow shams is great  if you are drawn to the “hotel” look. It creates a very clean and serene space to unwind.

*A nice classic way to dress the bed is by using euro-shams (a 26×26″ square pillows) in the back row to add some height. you need 3 for a king size, and usually 2 for a Queen.  Then add some standard or king shams and a decorative pillow in front.

*A fluffy duvet can be folded along the bottom edge of the bed to create a lofty look.

Blair Waldorf's bed from the TV show "Gossip Girl"

This bed looks effortlessly chic with its elegant yet relaxed silk bedding. This is a completely different look than the stiff silks used in decorative bedding… this silk is made to be slept in.

*The type of silk you should look for is silk charmeuse. Besides looking fabulous, it feels amazing against your skin and its good for your hair and complexion. Our favorite line is Kumi Kookoon (www.kumikookoon.com).

Silk Pillowcases from Kumi Kookoon

*If you like the look of a little more structure but still want the benefits of silk, switch only your pillowcases to silk and you will love the difference.

White room with Pop of Pink (courtesy of elle decor)

If you need a pop of color in your room, try adding a bright colored throw or quilt at the foot of the bed. Throw blankets and pillows are a great way to accent your room with your favorite color of the moment without making a permanent commitment.

Stacked Pillows at the Avia Hotel in Savannah

If you prefer a more minimalistic approach… try stacking your pillows. To keep things linear and modern, try a throw folded into a rectangle at the foot of the bed, and no more than 3 pillows per stack. This look works best if you use knife edge pillows or even cases.

We recently bought the ipad for business purposes.  So glad to have this for client presentations, taking notes, floorplans, emailing etc…. Once you own this wonderful gadget you need a case to protect your ipad.  Here are some  that we are drooling over.

Yves Saint Laurent ipad case.  This is so glamorous.  The cost is $595 and you can buy it on net a porter.com.  Yes its the same price as buying the ipad but its just so beautiful!

I LOVE this Re-Purposed Canvas iPad case from Tepmplebags. This bag is the ever so popular military style that you can carry your ipad in while protecting it at the same time.  The cost on this is $148. Much easier to justify spending your money on.

This snake skin ipad case from Cole Haan is on sale for $138.60.  Such a bargain for a beautifully designed case.

Etsy has these beautiful handmade leather envelope ipad cases for $119.  As an added bonus the seller will monogram your case at no charge.  This would make a great gift for the man in your life! Click on the image to go to her store.

Honeysuckle is the color of the year for 2011. We are not sure if this would be our pick.  What do you think?

Home Interiors
Honeysuckle is upbeat and dynamic when used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is an appetite and conversation stimulant when used on the dining room walls. In the kitchen, it adds a fun touch on the table in placemats and other linens (patterned or solid), colored glassware, candles and small appliances. Honeysuckle is a great color to cover up shabby kitchen cabinets, or, if that’s too much of a color statement for you, try repainting knobs and drawer pulls. But be warned – once you try this arresting shade, it can become addictive. – From the Pantone website

Here are some ways of introducing the color into your home

I love this pillow from Lisa Fontanarosa!

I am wanting this Valentino coffee table book for my house!

Floral Trail Wallpaper from York wall coverings.

Florentina Wallpaper from Stark Wallcovering

Voluspa candles are always nice.  You can email us if you would like to purchase.

Southern Living

Adding a throw and some pillows are simple ways to  bring the honeysuckle color into your space.

I thought I would share a few Jaw dropping glamorous rooms I have come across. Glamour styled rooms can sometimes look to overdone. These rooms show how beautiful modern and glamorous can look.

Room designed by Kelly Hoppen in Metropoliten mag

I love how Kelly Hoppen did the window treatments in this room. We plan to do something similar in a clients home we are working on. Window Treatments add so much to a room when done right.

The paint color in this room is beautiful! Paint your wall in Eagle Rock by Benjamin Moore to get this look.

Enclosing  a space makes a room feel warm and inviting.  Use a sheer fabric to enclose a space in your home.  It will add instant glamour.

The bergere chairs  look  perfect upholstered in the Ikat fabric. So many of our clients have chairs with beautiful lines that just need to be updated.

Tips from Elle Decor on how to make a Modern Glamorous room:

• Blend old and new
• Create warmth with metallic tones
• Experiment with drapery
• Mix in Global touches
• Amp up drama with multiples
• Select striking Chandeliers
• Find room for a daybed
• Set off an intimate retreat
• An Awe-inspiring fireplace
• Think scale thing grand
• Be fearless with color

“Selecting the fixtures and fittings is one of the pleasures of planning a bathroom. Fittings are the room’s jewelry and show your style and flair.”
-Judith Nasatir

A small investment up front gives you a long time of ‘living in luxury’. It makes such a world of difference to splurge on a ‘feature faucet’ or get creative with any hardware used in the bathroom! These are items we twist, turn, pull, switch or latch everyday. Why not do it in style.