It's A Boy!

An atypical splash of color for a growing boy’s room. Statistically, boys prefer an interior with blue and green colors—but who is to say boys are not partial to the other colors on the spectrum?

This combination of fabrics is impartial towards color, sex, or time. It is designed to depict the joy of life in a setting that adapts to a baby boy’s changing moods and humors.

This fabric combination has a story behind it: when we started an interior design project in Miami, Florida for a young couple with a three-year-old daughter and a boy “on the way.” Plans were made for a total renovation of their house on the Miami waterfront with one room assigned for their daughter and another one for the baby boy.

Keeping in mind kids grow so fast, the nursery was designed for the transition from baby to toddler and from toddler to child, so we used a palette of soft muted yellows. The interior design concept we applied was subtle with touches of whimsy. We added hand-painted texture to the walls, and the ceiling is an interior design master piece depicting little stick-figure boys doing different activities like riding a bike and sailing, etc. Young and old alike enjoy finding the stick figures throughout the painting.

As the little boy outgrew his crib, a pair of custom beds was made in an L-shape keeping the room open allowing for ample play space and for little guests to spend the night in the second bed. The frames were upholstered in a heavy silvery-blue woven fabric which will last for years of boyish use and will appeal to boys no matter the age. For the cushions and the pillows we used the fun patterns as they add a splash of color without taking away from the rest of the décor and the painted ceiling. Conveniently the beds can be updated effortlessly simply by chainging the cushions with a color and pattern appropriate for the age while the understated background colors will transcend the trends.

1. COLLIN, 10 / SACHO
2. 30691-410 / KRAVET
3. MILLSTONES, LEAF-BLUE-MAUVE / LEE JOFA
4. PRIMA ALPACA, MULBERRY / SANDRA JORDAN
5. PRIMA ALPACA, DAFFODIL / SANDRA JORDAN
6. BOW TIE, GREEN-YELLOW-INDIGO / LEE JOFA

Palette Trends: Creamy Fresh

Today’s palette is a composition of comforting vanilla and refreshing soft mint, perfect for a "get away from the stress of daily life" room, to recoup, recharge and indulge in total peace. Also ideal for a guest bedroom, although guests may feel so comfortable they may not want to leave...

This color combination is very pleasant because subconsciously it reminds us of soft flavors and the subtleness of nature.  As part of the green family 'mint' is a restful hue promoting concentration. 'Vanilla' has the properties of both clean-white and happy-yellow, favorable when making a soft palette. Inspired by the velvet checkered pattern I like to keep it in the family and contrast with bronze, think of toasted almonds. Lastly add a soft touch of blue-violet, a stable and relaxing color like its blue parent.

A great example of a calming mint palette is this bedroom by Tobi Fairley. It is both romantic and yummy at the same time, much like mint chocolate after dinner.

1. LUX, SLATE / LARSEN
2. BAMBOO FRIEZE, SKY / KRAVET
3. VELVET / ZOFFANY
4. YORK, 101 / CHRISTIAN FISCHBACHER
5. MEPHISTO, SOLID TAFFETA / CREATIONS METAPHORES
6. THAILANA, ALICE BLUE /LARSEN
7. CAPULET, OPALESCENCE / GP HOLLY HUNT
8. MEDIUM WALNUT WOOD FINISH
9. STELLA, WHITE GOLD / GP HOLLY HUNT
10. MERCURE, VERT MING / CREATIONS METAPHORES

PALETTE TRENDS: Blue & Lemon Green

A soft, airy and placid combination is today’s fabric palette. It is hard not to like blue it is also hard to ignore as it surrounds us in our every day life. Blue is perceived as a color of stability, in light shades as having a calming effect. Using different textures in blue creates an interesting yet peaceful variation. Compensating the excitement that light-blue lacks, lemon green accents add rhythm to the palette. Although our example is a soft version of yellow-green it is a very vibrant color, literally! As experts say it reflects more light than other bright colors producing a stronger vibration. It is uplifting and promotes creativity but may border on being fatiguing or over stimulating. But no need to fret; simply use lighter shades on large areas reserving the stronger versions of it for accents. In a large room a sofa may be an accent piece much like a throw pillow in a smaller room. Knowing the implications of color helps us create rooms that are uncommon, pleasant and beautifully combined. In short this palette marries two opposite color personalities to create a complete environment. Below are designs that embrace using such stimulating color with confidence. Bravo!

1. CLEMENCE, COBALT-LETTICE /HILL BROWN
2. CARREG, LIME-CREAM / SANDERSON
3. SOFA ANIS / PIERRE FREY
4. PATOLA, CITRON / HILL BROWN
5. MEPHISTO, BLANC /CREATIONS METAPHORES
6. COMO, COMO /D.G. OSBORNE & LIITTLE
7. CALLAS, 15 /CREATION BAUMANN

Fabrics by Daniel Fragata /design intern

Text by Andrea Chery /design associate

PALETTE TRENDS: DEEP BLUE SEA

Deep blue sea …is a very dark color, but it has an exceptional richness that encompasses power, abundance, strength, and the imposing presence of royalty. Its deep character yields a fine contrast with any light crystal color such as sea foam, mint green, aquamarine. In this palette we have a deep blue velvet (#1) as the main fabric, its embossed floral pattern adds a subtle elegance to the already shimmery hand of velvet. Such enigmatic fabric is perfect for a focal point piece, a sofa for example. Add a pop of color with silk pillows and juxtapose it with additional pieces upholstered in the color family accents such as striped jade, light blue, aqua and sand. We added a large printed silk (#3) for curtains to continue the drama to the walls, it has a light background so it won’t be visually bulky, it brings rhythm by braking away the rigid stripes. It introduces a little vibrant rose to the composition for contrast. Compliment it further with a kidney pillow or an accessory in a rose tone. The contrasts and the rhythm between the patterns is gauged to deliver a brave yet welcoming space whether it’s a living room or a more intimate space.

Below you will find some examples of courageous design using dark blue as the center of their color scheme. The first image is the Blue Room in the White House as it was around 1903 during President Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. The second image is a daring kitchen showcasing a contemporary dark blue with deep earth tones and contrasting white solids.

1. PEONIS, 50 /JAB
2. BACKSTAGE, MINERAL / KRAVET
3. LE CABINET CURIOSITES, ROSE /MANUEL CANOVAS
4. JULES, PIVOINE /MANUEL CANOVAS
5. ENGLISH BURI WOOD FINISH /NANCY CORZINE
6. QUEENS, SPRINGFIELD /SHYAM AHUJA
7. ILLUSION, PARIS BLUE /GREAT PLAINS HH
8. SOIREE, MIDORI /GREA PLAINS HH
9. MARIN, NATTIER /MANUEL CANOVAS
10. NATURAL OAK WOOD
11. ROYAL FLUSH, BLUE CHIP /GREAT PLAINS HH

Reference;

http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor1/blue-room-history.htm

http://www.cococozy.com/2010/12/color-watch-dark-rooms-pitch-black-and.html

PALETTE TRENDS: Vibrant Colors

photo 1.2

We have been gathering our fabrics and we are back with something great this month. We are featuring a mix of Manuel Canovas’ newest collection that lightens up our design world. Indeed, a strong statement is a palette of vibrant colors one next to another. This composition is made of equally saturated colors, any of which can dominate the palette. Its success is in the repeated use of all the colors in small amounts. For example by adding a large sofa in the fuchsia geometric fabric the palette becomes harmoniously fuchsia with a colorful framework. The options are endless!

In the printed designs of head designer Ariane Dalle the Uzbekistani women are working on their embroideries in the process of suzani making, everything from carrying seeds, hand weaving and nursing their children is depicted, as if paying homage to the labor of the women behind a craft which is basic yet becomes a sophisticated way to dress up our homes and ourselves. Dale’s designs celebrate the art of fabric making with a wide cultural perspective and a refined French spirit. This ensemble reminds me of certain indigenous cultures I have visited whose bold use of color in their elaborate prints and weaves embodies the artistic nature within humans that transcends culture, language, education or technology.

Color is dear to my heart because it can express a range of things from; geography, affluence, to personality and emotions. The indigenous people of San Cristobal, Mexico and Antigua, Guatemala (pictures below) engage colorful designs in their clothes and accessories in their everyday life, which are amazingly similar to those from Asia proof that we are undeniably connected thru color, art and nature.

photo 2

1. VOYAGE EN CHINE, TURQUOISE /MANUEL CANOVAS
2. KERALA, ROSE INDIEN /MANUEL CANOVAS
3. EBBTIDE /SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT
4. MONCEAU, TURQUOISE /MANUEL CANOVAS
5. NURA, CITRON /MANUEL CANOVAS
6. FABULOUS GRAPE /SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT
7. FOCH, CARDINAL /MANUEL CANOVAS
8. BELLA, AQUA /MANUEL CANOVAS
9. EXUBERANT PINK /SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT

RESORCES:

Michele Nessen Mikulskis

http://lifepart2.com/day-of-the-dead-in-chiapas-near-san-cristobal-de-las-casas/

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/14149516

http://www.tropicaldiscovery.com/regional_info/antigua_tours/vacations.php

http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/7605.html

http://mexicotoday.org/culture/san-cristobal-de-las-casas