Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Recessionista Style - Window Treatments

The Christmas decorations are all cleared away (and they really should be by now). If you're like me, this is the time of year you start obsessing about your interiors.

Who wouldn't want to lounge all day in this dreamy Jamie Drake room? Elegant swags convey classic style while a practical roman shade offers function.


Window treatments make an impactful statement in any room. Done correctly, they can tie the whole room together like the ribbon on a gift box. But you don't have to spend a fortune to get the look. Here are a few recssionista tricks for doing window treatments right.

Always try to hang panels as high on the wall as you can to add height and drama. You don't need the most expensive panels either, but do try to coordinate the style of your fabric to your pole. In other words, don't use a skinny pole with heavy, traditional drapes.


Add embelishments to plain, inexpensive panels. There are so many great retail resources for linen, cotton and silk-look pieces. Adding an interesting patterned ribbon (make it wide enough, please) or bit of trim can make those off the shelf curtains look high-end.



Consider using burlap. It's incredibly cheap, comes in black, white and several shades of tan and hangs beautifully. At Honeysuckle Home we added a quick applique of black over white to create these fab panles for our opening (right).





Have an off-centered or oddly-placed window in a room? Solve it with window treatments! Just because a window falls at a certain place on the wall doesn't mean you have to place panels immediately on either side. Hang full-length panles across a whole wall for drama and interest, or stack panels just one side to disguise assymetry.

This bedroom has a window where the client wanted the bed - and it's off center on the wall. The solution? Create a "headboard" of fabric centered where the bed should go and ignore the window.


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Color Trends 2010


Pantone, the world's color authority for 45 years, has announced that THE color for 2010 is.... turquoise. According to the company, "combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."




Turquoise has both warm and cool undertones so it's universally flattering for both fashion and the home. If you haven't noticed the trend for big, chunky turquoise jewelry then you haven't been paying attention. Accessories are a great way to take advantage of a trend and turquoise pieces will add punch to your existing wardrobe.

In the home, you don't have to make a big commitment and paint the walls. Turquoise is a great accent for greys, black, tans and most neutrals.



This turquoise is always in fashion!

Monday, January 11, 2010

February Artist Sneak Peek








February's featured artist will be Tressa Hommel, a freelance fine artist, and instructor of both Pastels, and Watercolor. Tressa is now doing commissioned work, workshops, private tutoring, and teach Self-enrichment adult education in Drawing, Pastel, and Watercolor. She has studied Pastel painting with Master Pastelist, Albert Handell, Anita West, and Richard McDaniel. Hommel has also studied Watercolor technique with Chris van Winkle(President of National Watercolor Society), and Tom Fong, both internationally known Watercolorists. Originally trained in Oils, Tressa fell in love with Pastels, and the ability to create "Paintings" with a dry medium. The brilliant refraction, and the intensity of color are two of the main attractions.






Monday, January 4, 2010

Happy New Year!

Resolved to update your decor this winter? Come see what's new at Honeysuckle Home.