Fall in Love with Fall

(Photo by L. Burgio)

Autumn is the time of year that nature puts on its annual drama of the harvest colors. Personally, it is my favorite season and where much of my inspiration comes from. Here in New England, gold, cranberry, amber, and eggplant shades of color paint the landscape with vigorous beauty. These colors symbolize warmth, home, and the holidays.

Try applying these rich colors in your home in simple ways. Be creative to decorate temporarily for the upcoming celebrations. Sticking with these warmhearted colors you can utilize your decor through the New Year. Table settings, candles, curtains, and duvet covers are all examples that can transition your home into the autumn and winter months.

Wainscoting and Chair Rails – To Be or Not To Be

Whatever you drape onto your walls, a good investment is to frame them out with crown molding.

White or stained woods are both good choices, but it all depends on what look you are going for. White painted moldings will make your walls stand out, as well as the beauty and pattern of the molding. In contrast, a dark stain will give deep warmth to your room. It will provide a rich and cozy feeling.

Chair rails are either a hit or miss for people. You either love them or hate them. Personally, without wainscoting, chair rails are not my favorite accessory to nail onto a perfectly good wall. Wainscoting presents a certain formality, but dressing it down is also an innovative way to utilize the product.

But I do have one question… why is it that people feel they must position a chair rail in their dining room; and even so, why are they always located in the same position on the walls? Who took these measurements and set them in stone? I say, be creative and make use of the unexpected…

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Wallpaper that’s not from the 70’s

It’s funny that when someone says wallpaper, some people go running and screaming in the opposite direction.

Wallpaper did get its bad reputation from those horrible floral designs and unexpected zigzag patterns that are now outdated and honestly repulsive. For new homeowners, wallpaper is the last thing they want to see when house hunting. When every room in a house is cover to cover in ugly and extreme patterns, wallpaper may even be a deal breaker.

But readers, open your eyes to the endless assortments of modern wallpaper. There is a large variety of bold prints, simple patterns, and soft textured papers. I have been impressed in what I have encountered in the past few years. There are not many dizzy and tasteless patterns that only seem like a necessity to an outdated Inn or diner.

(Photo by L. Burgio)

If your taste in style is Retro, you might not be attracted to these new trends. Nevertheless, there are always places to find those vintage prints. For all of you Ultra-modern fans, those vintage prints can also be inspiration for a contemporary look in your own home; if you furnish and accessorize it correctly.

All in all, I am not advising you to wallpaper your entire home from floor to ceiling; but, I am saying take a look at the options and you will be surprised.

Color Me Crazy –The Headache We Have All Encountered

Are your walls shades of cream, eggshell, or bone? Are you swimming in a sea of stark white? Or does your home resemble a circus with bright colors splattered all over your walls? Whatever the case, color is the root of your design scheme and choosing correct colors is a big decision.

As you may already know, “neutrals” are the popular trend right now. It might be obvious to you that a neutral color on the walls allows what's inside the room to take the spotlight. But, if you are not a neutral lover and you are into bold or bright color, you like the room as a whole to make a great impact or statement. Both are correct if you know how to pick and choose color and both can be mistakes if you can’t. Personally, I like mellow and light shades of colors, and I know I am not alone. But, overall color should influence mood.

When thinking of color for a particular room in your home, don’t just choose the color that you are sure you want to paint it. Be careful to see that the color you have chosen will blend with the rest of your house because you do not want it to stick out like a sore thumb; unless that is the look you’re going for. Remember, a smooth transition is key. Instead of going to your local paint store and staring at the wall full of color chips for what seems like an endless hodgepodge of rainbow, try pulling inspiration from a piece of fabric or a piece of art and bring it with you. No matter what, get a sample of the color/colors you would like to paint and try it on a piece of the wall in your room. Painting is a trial and error process and it may even be smart to get a sample of a shade lighter or a shade darker. You will be surprised that you might be drawn to a different shade of the same color you love.

You know, color doesn’t have to be an understatement. Textures, crown moldings, chair rails, and wallpaper treatments are all options that can make your walls come to life. A conversation we will discuss next time…