Get rid of the junk and make the space look orderly.  Remember useful, beautiful, meaningful or it has to go! Proper storage will allow both a great look and easy access to the items you need.

Visit my Pinterest board on Storage to some ideas!

With the rapid changes in technology the key is to keep spaces as flexible as possible! Some design trends to watch for:

• Tablets, SmartPhones, Phablets have made the home office moveable to any room of the house.
• Dining is part of the great room or the kitchen has double islands-one for food prep and another for seating. It is more interesting to look at the view than the cabinets.
• Home theaters are wavering as a TV fully integrated with the Internet in the family room seem to work for many.
• Garages also offer flexible space for hobbies and storage.
• Pets need to be considered as well. A doggie door to a secure outdoor space, litter boxes, etc. Our pets have inside entry and garage access which are totally out of sight. Dog showers are also popular or a hand spray with a tiled area.

 

 

The Pantone color of the year is Marsala. Paint companies also choose their favorite colors as well. This year Benjamin Moore chose Guilford Green – a very neutral taupe/green. PPG selected Blue Paisley. And the furniture market is all about the bass (I mean blue!). Do these colors have significance for you?

Many years ago while traveling in France I saw the boldest orange hues in Nice. It did get to the states a couple of years later! Now info travels at nano speed and we are not going to change our wardrobe, paint our walls and buy furniture every year to be “in.”

In fact being in is out! The easiest way to utilize “trend” colors is to buy when we see the colors in a scarf, a tee shirt, pillows for the sofa, etc. It is very difficult to match highly unique colors when replacing the ruined cushion on the chair that coordinates with the sofa and draperies.

When the designer says toss it all and start over, they want you to have a fresh new look! If you’re lucky your favorite colors will be in!

This year –

• Cobalt, lapis and robin’s egg are added to navy and indigo.
• Reds are popular from plum to coral to pink.
• Gray IS the new neutral for the umpteenth time and
• Gold is back.

 

Summer is over and it is time to bring in the orange for fall! As you can see in these photos, it doesn’t take much – a few pillows, some flowers and you have a refreshed look! If you want to change pillows seasonally, cover changes can easily create a new look. Whether they are professionally made or a DIY project, the same fills can be used so all that has to be stored are the covers! This takes up a lot less space and the pillows are always the correct size for your sofa. Orange for fall, a pretty green shade through the winter holidays into spring and a print with a light background for summer and voila! you are changing with the seasons!

Well we live in the copper state and copper is in this fall! It is always a good idea to add elements you love when they are easily available so if you love copper now is the time to look for some new additions for your home! Copper is great paired with purple, green or navy. It can be used to add interest to cream tones. Buy new pieces or from the antique stores where copper has always been popular.