Fall in Love with Fifty Shades of Grey

Valentine’s Day is this week and we just love how there are over Fifty Shades of Grey that are trending in design right now. Why not share with our readers why we fell in love with grey, I don’t mean Christian Grey but the color grey.  So for those ladies and gentlemen looking for a new look in 2013 here are a few things to get you excited and talking about grey.

• MASTER BEDROOM: Why not start in the bedroom, after all it is Valentine’s Day! Below’s image from Houzz is an example of using the entire pallet of grey including black in a master bedroom design.  Update your master bedroom by integrating silver lamps, picture frames, a chandelier, bedding or curtains.

•  MASTER BATHROOM: A great place to relax and step away from the business of life. Redo your space with a complete overhaul or simply update your faucet, mirrors and lighting fixtures. A quick and easy makeover is a splash of color and new linens but why stop there? Create a complete look from top to bottom.

10 Tips for Decorating Your Outdoor Space

Are you looking for some interesting ideas to create a more enjoyable and functional outdoor living area?  Well, here are some simple recommendations that once implemented can make quite a difference in the look and feel of your space.

1.  Create cozy seating areas with comfy deep cushion furniture that look like an extension of your home.  Make sure the fabric is soil and fade-resistant as well as water and stain-repellent.

Photo: Elegant Interior Designs award-winning deck

2.  An outdoor fireplace or firepit adds ambiance and warmth on a cool evening.

3.  Add a water feature to your backyard. Consider a fountain or create a rock-lined stream with multiple waterfalls in your landscaping.

Photo from bestgardendesign.net

4.  Outdoor rugs are very trendy and help to define and anchor seating areas.

Paint with Color – Designer Tips

Did you catch September’s Newsletter? If so, then you must be anxious for the Painting Color Tips by your very own Pamela Kofsky, Color Consultant. Pam does offer a la carte services including a color consultation when selecting a wall color for your next room.

Purpose of Space

• What is the purpose of the space?
• What mood are you setting?
• Is this a high-traffic area?
• Will the kids or pets make contact with the wall?

Selecting a Paint Color

• What is your color palette for your room/space?
• What are the other items in the room or space?
• Are you looking for a solid color or a two-toned room?
• Are you looking at a WARM color palette or a COOL color palette?
  • WARM = Red, Orange, Yellow
  • COOL = Blue, Green, Purple

Selecting a Finish
Know your options, each option reflects light differently:

• Semi-Gloss
• Gloss
• Matte
• Eggshell
• Flat
• Satin

Bedroom Bliss: MASTER SUITE

No Kids? Why not treat yourself to a modern upgrade? 

Is your master suite is stuck in the 70s, 80s, or 90s? If you have waited long enough your bedroom might be back in style but it might be time to update the textiles in the room. Yes, you can work with existing furniture in your room and still have a successful makeover.  Focus on items that wear or may be outdated. Consider alternating existing room features: from wallpaper to paint, carpet to hardwood, floral to patterns, and mirrors to framed art.  Don’t forget new linens, new wall color and finish, wall art, accessories, and even refinishing your furniture with a lighter or darker finish.

Tips for Getting Started:

•  Keep vs. Sell/Donate
•  Create a Color Palette
•  Furniture Placement/Room Layout
•  Flooring vs. Carpet
•  Wallpaper vs. Paint

 Things to Consider:

•   Lighting and Room Ambience – Softer Lights Work Well
•  Explore Window Coverings, Shades, and Blinds to Control Morning & Evening Light
•  Is there room for a sitting area or an extra room to convert to a sitting area?
•  Can you maximize natural light in your room?

Remember: A bedroom is meant to be a place of rest and comfort.

For Kid’s Room Ideas Check out our Kids Room Blog!

** Need help getting started? Seek Professional Help and you can Enter the Summer Room Makeover Contest!

TURN ORDINARY INTO EXTRAORDINARY: ACCESSORIZE WITH STYLE

Did you ever look at a room and think it’s nicely furnished but it wasn’t quite right, something was missing?  Well, it’s the accessories that add the finishing touch which can make all the difference. Picture a well-dressed woman wearing a beautiful evening gown, but lacking:

•      any discriminating jewelry
•      coordinating evening bag
•      shoes that compliment the outfit

The same concept applies to dressing a room in your home.  The accessories are the jewelry of an interior.   They add accent and emphasis and serve to pull an entire design together.

Well-placed accessories can make any room come alive by adding interest, texture, shape, and color to the design.

Imagine what the addition of an area rug does for a room.  It can:

•    Define and outline the space.
•    Add design, mood, pattern, texture, and warmth, with a pop of color.
•     Use in large or multi-purpose rooms to break up the space.
•     Define individual seating groups.
•     Establish a style or theme that other accessories can support.

To have effective placement of accessories consideration needs to be given to proper scale and proportion.  Be careful not to clutter up the walls, tables, or empty areas with “stuff.”

The days of “matching” items in a room are gone.  Today’s look is coordinating and blending colors, fabrics, and textures to create an interesting mix.

This decorating advice was provided by founder and designer Pamela Kofsky of Elegant Interior Designs. These tips will be a surefire way to spruce up any bare rooms in your home but don’t forget these tips are the starting point to transforming your space from ordinary to extraordinary

Tips for a Backyard Paradise