To Market, To Market

Last week the High Point Market in North Carolina was going on and with that comes lots of beautiful new products being introduced to the interior design world.  I must confess that I've only been to High Point once and that was enough for me.  I may attempt it again in the future, but right now I enjoy seeing the products get introduced online and through Pinterest.  It's way less crowded and my feet don't hurt!

This leads me to another great reason to hire an interior designer...our access to these products.  There are thousands of creative, small companies out there producing furniture and accessories that you can't find anywhere else.  And contrary to popular belief, they don't always cost a fortune!  

A consistent, new color I've been seeing introduced at market is navy blue.  I'm so excited to see this color make an appearance in interiors and can't wait to use it.  If you have any questions regarding any of the products below, please comment or send me an email.  I'd love to help you!

Love the pillows with this bedding set.

This new lamp comes in lots of great colors.

           A great transitional rug in all shades of blue.

A great combination of blues in these pillows and rug.

A designer find at High Point - blue glass lamp from Mr. Brown.

I can't resist a beautiful silver chest!

I love a pop of orange with blue.  I am partial to that color combination though...War Eagle!

Oh, no you didn't!

So many design blogs post all of these beautiful photos of wonderfully designed spaces, so I thought I would do something a little different and show my readers what NOT to do when it comes to interior design. It was also super fun finding photos to reflect these great design faux pas!

~Matching Sets~This is a really easy trap to fall into, especially when you are designing a space with all new pieces. You walk into a furniture showroom and the room setting looks amazing, already put together, everything matches...I'll take it! No muss, no fuss and no design! It definitely takes more effort to not match your furniture, but this is where a designer is so important. We can help you put together items that are similar in scale, quality, color, etc. but not pick everything from the same manufacturer. This way your room has more personality, it is a reflection of you and not the furniture store or catalog.
~Painting First~If you are going to paint a room and also plan on replacing other things, then select the paint color last. There are literally millions of paint colors and it's far easier to match a paint color to a rug or bedding set than the other way around. When I design a room, paint colors are literally the last thing I finalize. I will say that I have an idea of what color we are going to use - blue, green, neutral, etc. but I definitely don't have an exact color that I'm carrying around trying to match a fabric to. I'm also a huge fan of putting a paint sample on the wall first. Whether you actually put it on the wall or on a posterboard, get a sample. It's so worth the $7.00 investment...

from Katy Elliott

~Trends~I'm a big believer in classic design and not getting too caught up into what is hot at the moment. When you can walk into a room and not be sure what decade it was designed in, I think you are successful. Trends are great as accents, but don't ever invest in a trend. It's much harder to part with something you spent on a fortune on. Changing out pillows, reupholstering a chair or replacing a light fixture is a lot less expensive than replacing an entire sectional sofa. I like bringing in trendy items through small things like pillows or accessories, just don't over do it.
~Too Many Accessories~Having too many accessories is an easy trap for most of us to fall into, especially with stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Hobby Lobby. How can anyone resist a beautiful vase for $9.99? The problem is, when you purchase a little something each time you visit one of these stores, your room can be overwhelmed with too many tchotchkes (a small object that is decorative rather than strictly functional; a trinket). I have always wondered how to spell that. :)

My advice, buy fewer, larger items. Invest in a few large accessories, versus having a hundred picture frames filling up your tabletops. Same goes for art. There is no need to fill every inch of wall space. Create "breathing room" around your decorative items so that you can appreciate and enjoy them. Don't do this...
~Hanging Art~This is another common mistake people make, especially when men hang the art in a room. It's too high! A good rule of thumb is the center of your art should be about 60" above the floor, but this is just a guideline. Eye level is always more pleasing, but sometimes in a room with higher ceilings, you need to go a little higher or if you have a pair of prints, you may need to go a little lower. When you hang art over a mantle or piece of furniture, only allow about 6" to 12" of space between the two items. They need to appear to work together. Here is a great example of art being hung way too high...
Please understand that these photos represent extremes and are just my attempt at design humor. If you ever have a question about your space or before you commit a "design don't", please send me an email. It's amazing what kind of design work can be done via email with photos and a scanner. I can be reached at JHillTaylor@gmail.com and I look forward from hearing from you.

{Inspiration}

I am often asked where do I start when designing a room. First the boring part, which is drawing out the space and placing all the furniture to make sure it will fit. You wouldn't believe how many times people make the most expensive mistakes by not doing the most simple thing...measuring!

Then, comes the fun part. I start with a piece that provides an {inspiration} for the entire room. That is usually a fabric, rug or piece of art. From that, I just start putting the room together like a beautiful puzzle. I try to keep the larger, upholstered pieces in a solid neutral tone. These are also the ones you should spend a little more money for as they get the most use, like a sofa. I love a rug with lots of color, then pull it all together with the art and accent fabrics.

Accent tables are another great way to inject a little personality into a room, along with beautiful lamps. I look for really unique little treasures to place around a room. There are so many companies out there making great lighting and not only lamps, but ceiling and wall lights. Using lighting in creative ways can help your space be a place of {inspiration} for you.

Here are some pieces I put together for a new space...

If you need some help putting a little {inspiration} into your home, I'm just a phone call away!