From the Studio

Have I got some goodies for you!

Today, we're thinking ... Chocolate. Mmmm! Or maybe, a bowlful of pecans. Or even Chocolate diamonds and pearls! Ooooh!
Well, come on, you didn't think I'd say "brown," did you? Okay, what I'm vying for here is a change in perspective. That's because if I started this post by saying,

"Today we'll talk about "brown," you'd probably hit the mouse and be gone. So would I. But shift your perception and hang with me here, it's going to get delicious.

Yesterday we talked about the sage and brown combo that is beautiful but … getting a bit old in large doses. We discussed the color ‘sage,’ and I showed you some ideas for working with that color and infusing coordinating colors like gold, melon, and apple green. Today we’ll consider the options of working with … okay, I’m gonna say it … brown.

Now, brown – done correctly - can be one of the most beautiful colors to work with. When you include textures (as in sisal, tapestries and chenille) and depth of color (as in rayon or silk velvet) you’ll create intensity of feeling, to great effect.

Every once in awhile in the design industry you’ll hear the statement “Brown is the new black.” Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t but the simple fact is, brown can hold its own, and make your space beautiful, warm and inviting.

In the artist world, the color brown is made by combining red and green. And of course, green is the combination of blue and yellow. So brown is the ultimate result of the three primary colors – red, blue and yellow. When you look at the brown color you have in your space, what colors do you see in it? Is the tone you have more the color of milk chocolate, or is it closer to the bittersweet variety? We’ll look at and discuss some images that show both, and then you can decide.

So here we go … let’s look at some possibilities ...

Brown, Gold and Red.

One designer that loves brown is Ralph Lauren. Lauren's style is labeled "High Country," and his trademark look has defined an entire segment of interior design styles. It was born of his own lifestyle, and is a reflection of what he does and how he lives; the public has responded with enthusiasm. If we don't live like that, most of us want to! And why not? The Lauren look is upscale casual elegance, with lots of texture.

Here Ralph Lauren has accented brown with tones of gold and red. The textures add richness and depth. Lauren is such a pro at layering for visual interest. Some of the layers in this setting are: velvet (shams), sweater knit stripes (pillow) and wool plaid (blanket). The quilted corduroy comforter reverses to plaid and is trimmed in leather. Talk about High Country chic ... this is beautifully upscale casual, and offers a menu of colors and textures that will make you want to "cozy in."

Brown and Pink.

The brown and pink combination always makes me think of ice cream. It's probably because when I was a little girl we had "Neapolitan" ice cream ... you know, it came with three colors in one box ... brown, pink and white. The color combination is classic and somewhat unexpected. Even nurseries are beautiful in this pallette. It's easy to dress it up and make it fussy, or keep it simple, make it sleek and serene. Either way, it's absolutely delicious!

This bed has a bed crown with swagged curtains for an "over the top" treatment and an ultra feminine look. Textures are used in abundance: the brown lattice on the pink shams, the pink duvet is crushed velvet with brown velvet added to the tiered ruffle trim. The pillows are a variety of textures with brushed fringe, ball fringe, ruffles and embroidery. The result is almost that of a princess's bedroom, high in a castle somewhere. What female of any age wouldn't love this?

Below are examples of simple combinations of

pink and brown, with large doses of white.

Brown and White with Monogram.

Here we have a tone on tone with white. Textures are plenty in this setting, too, but they are very understated. The result is quiet, elegant luxury. Do you recognize the element that really makes it pop? It's the chocolate brown monogram on the crisp, white pillows. The shams, duvet cover and dust ruffle are all the same fabric: a soft cafe' brown linen printed with a classic toile design in deep chocolate. You'll notice that in this setting there are no lavish trims, no embellishments. Carefully tailored details are what make this look work. The shams are flanged, and a simple chocolate braid trims the monogrammed pillows and the cuff on the top sheet.

If you love this look, or just love the monogramed pillows, that's easy to do. Just take some white shams (or whatever your color scheme is) to a monogram store and have them do the monogram. Check online for stores in your area. If you have trouble finding one, or if you feel a bit intimidated about that, write to me in the "comments" section and I'll help you track it down.

And before I forget: here's a side note about your sheets:

When you're shopping for bed linens, it's important to go for cotton sheets, and to "count the threads" in your sheets. What does that mean? Well, it's pretty simple: the "thread count" is the number of threads used per square inch when weaving the fabric. (It's required by law that the information be printed on the packaging and is usually in the advertising copy.) Sheets generally start at about a 250 thread count, and can go up to over a thousand. The higher the thread count, the more expensive (and the softer, more luxurious) the sheets. You can find sheet sets at department and discount stores that are very well priced, that are 100% cotton, and that have a nice, high thread count. So go for it! Treat yourself to some new sheets, and put your old ones in the tag sale box. I'll be doing a post soon on bed linens. So that's all for now on that subject.

Okay, back to our "Brown" story ...

Brown with Apple Green and Red (and a little jungle thrown in).

If you're looking for something with a bit more spice, look no further. Take your brown items, and pair them with a saturated apple green, and a deep red. Add splashes of leopard print, and voila! A sophisticated "world-view" design that is elegant and energizing. Note the use of a bold pattern with bold stripes ... using a combination of different patterns, in the appropriate scales, adds a special kind of "layered" effect, and that adds interest. There is a bit of texture added, too, in the brushed fringe on the accent pillow.

Brown Tone on Tone.

If your bedding is already brown, or you want to simplify the look without sacrificing a beautiful design sense, this may be just what you’re looking for. In this example, it’s all about color saturation and texture. Let’s start with the bed skirt: this is a gathered skirt, with sheer layers in a light cocoa shade. As we move up to the bed, we see the sheets. These sheets are very high end, with exquisite detailing.

Notice the pleats on the cuff of the top sheet. There are tailored shams in the sheeting material as well. The bed cover is a beautiful quilted design in a dark milk chocolate, with matching shams. Seriously, if you prefer a simple, quiet space – whatever room you may be working with – this is a beautiful way to instill elegance while keeping the palette very simple.

Brown with a ‘Touch’ of Blue.

So maybe what you really want is to tone down the blue, but not get rid of it entirely. I count this as one of the “fresh, outside the box” approaches to the sage and brown palette that can work for as long as you want it to, because … well, it’s timeless.
In this example, the duvet cover is a light cocoa linen with a darker paisley bordering about 22 inches in all the way around. In addition, the hem detail on the duvet is dark brown velvet. The shams and accent pillows are a combination of the paisley fabric, the light cocoa, and brown velvet. Here the sheets are also dark brown. If that’s too much brown for you, try sheets in a light cocoa, the same tone as the duvet. That would quiet down the brown while allowing the pattern to stand out a little more.

Well, I hope you are over flowing with ideas now. If your color issues aren’t about sage and blue, take the info you found here and try applying it to your own color palette. You can do it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way. For questions, just post in the comment section and I’ll get back to you pronto.

If you need help, have no fear.

That’s why I’m here!

Create!


Cece D for DDG

From the Studio

It's a beautiful day and Fall is in the air. Wallstreet is on a roller coaster ride, and Main Street is trying to find its balance. There's no denying that challenges loom on the financial front. Many people are worried about what's happening and trying to figure out what to do about it. Families, couples, singles, the issues are the same everywhere: maintaining home and security in the midst of the meltdown. How do we figure out what to spend our time on?
The answer is pretty simple:
Don't worry about things you can't change. Focus on what you can change, and take action on that. The sense of accomplishment you'll feel cannot be overstated. For example:
Here in the studio, Peter White is playing, and the sun is shining through the windows. Outside I can hear Mr. Joe's chain saw as he clears the brush at the back of the yard. The clutter in the studio is just about under control, and the new product catalogs are crowding the mailbox. So there's lots to tell you about. But before I go off on a tangent about all the new items available for your home, let's talk about where you are with your space right this minute.

I'm thinking we'll start with the issue of how to freshen up a room you've grown tired of.
We'll call it:

Love the Space You're In

One of the best color combinations to come along in a while was about ten years ago when sage blue and brown hit the horizon. Up to that point, brown had been considered sort of a drab color. Whose mother's house isn't covered with beige? Seriously! The fifties offered brown and orange. I mean, remember orange shag carpet? Ouch! For several years, brown was rendered "boring." Then in about 2001, the sage and brown combination arrived. The options were lush and beautiful, or fresh and cottage-y, even sleek and contemporary. And I have to admit, these scenarios wore very well. But now I have people coming to me saying one of two things:

1. "I'd like to do brown and blue. That's being done now, right?" Or ...
2. "I've had the blue and brown thing for awhile,and I'm tired of it. But I can't afford a complete re-do. Help!"

To number one I say: yes, it's being done. In fact, it's being done so much that you can do your complete room at discount stores, pre-packaged. What that means is, we need to spin it up a little; find something that is going to have a longer "shelf life." When a color trend - like the sage and brown combo - reaches the pre-packaged state at WalMart, it's time to brainstorm and reach a bit farther to find some fresh, "outside the box" ideas. Because the "sage and brown" marriage is coming up on its expiration date real soon.

To number two I say: there are things you can do with each of those colors. Let's look at what you have in which color, and proceed with ideas based on that.

This post we'll talk about what we can do with Sage. Tomorrow we'll tackle Brown.

Okay, so if your bedding or furnishings or floor coverings are sage, we'll find some accents other than brown; and the walls can be changed to any color, at any time. Paint is one of the least expensive, "maximum effect" changes you can make. But to get the ideas going, consider these options:

Sage and a pale gold.
Check out the image above. This is a very nice pairing. It's beyond "trendy," is considered a classic. And it can be restful.

In clearer tones, the blue and yellow becomes cheery and bright, perfect for a house by the water or a cottage kitchen.


Here's an example of the clear blue and gold tones. You can dress these choices up or down, depending on your preference.






In deep tones, sage and gold can be rich and luxurious, with luminescent accents and textured trims on pillows, throws, bedding, lampshades.


This image offers ideas for combining a variety of textures. Notice the use of trims, and the embellishments on the fabrics. Layering is important for a luxurious look and feel.







Sage and melon.
I have to tell you, I love this pairing! The possibilities are tremendous, and when you throw a third color in ... like apple green (that's what we're calling chartreuse these days) ... it becomes fresher than fresh, and can work in virtually any style choice. The image below shows these colors together. Included here is a throw and a duvet cover, and a variety of embellished pillows. Understated elegance.
If all else fails, or if you're looking for something that's simpler, with a serene or a contemporary feel ... try sage and white. If you want more saturation in the color, try sage and sage! Yup, that's called "tone on tone," and can be positively fabulous. It's all about textures. Take a look at these examples:

Here's a very simple and beautiful way to change the "sage and brown" look without breaking the bank.





This is one of my favorites. It's a classic way to create a
"luxury hotel" feeling in your bedroom.




This is a prefect example of "tone on tone." With sage as the only color, the interest comes from a variety of saturation in the same color, as well as beautifully subtle designs in the fabrics.

Let me back up a minute and be be really clear on this: even though the images I've shown you are bedrooms, the concept applies to any room. I just happened to have these images available, so I threw them up to give you something to look at.

Don't be afraid to experiment. And put your head together with a friend or two. It's great fun to tackle a project in a group, break a sweat together, and when you've hung the last picture you can each stand back with a glass of tea or a chilled martini and swoon over a job well done!

Watch this space for more ideas and creative "nudges" to keep you moving.

And if you encounter a challenge you're scratching your head over, if you need some help,
have no fear.

That's why I'm here.

Create!

Cece D for DDG

From the Studio

It's been an interesting week in the studio. My assistant and I have been organizing folders, calling vendors for updated catalogs, reviewing the new shipment of fabric samples.

We're doing what needs to be done to create a peaceful space here in the studio. You know ... that word I use so often ... "sanctuary."

But seriously, it's gotta happen. As I said last time, things are dire out there. Can't have them dire in here, regardless of how often the phone doesn't ring. As a friend told me years ago, "Honey, the phone rings when it wants to."

In the middle of our organizing frenzy, a call came in from a woman ... really more like an S.O.S. She said she had this week off, had been shoving furniture around, lugging upstairs and down, and she was about to have a meltdown, could I possibly come help her? She sounded breathless and desperate. I quickly moved a couple of things on my calendar, and scheduled a meeting with her the next afternoon.

When I got to her door, she was there to greet me. "I hope you're not easily overwhelmed," she panted. I said no, entered the cluttered hallway sideways and kept my eye focused so I wouldn't trip over the treasures stacked everywhere and break my leg.

Long story short:

She had become completely overwhelmed by several things:

1. The furniture she had (lots ... and LOTS of furniture).
   
2. The spaces she was putting them in (not huge. A lovely house, but no mansion).
3. How to actually "see" new ways of utilizing the pieces.
4. How to let go of some things in order to create the spaces she really wanted.
5. Which pieces to let go of in the first place.
6. Oh, did I mention she was having house guests ... the next day?

She took me on a tour, and we ended up back in the living room. After a complete review of what was before us, and taking a breath, I suggested we use the time to create sanctuary (there's that word again, but what can I say? it's what I mean!) in the living room and dining room. Currently she had "sanctuary" only on her bed. Literally. Every other space in the house was in the kind of turmoil that's born of being unsure which direction you're heading, of not having a plan, and in trying to get "something" done, you end up going too many directions at once. Result: bedlam.

So we began. We shoved sofas, we rolled up rugs, we stood back and considered end tables, console tables, we broke down a large Queen Anne dining room table and hauled it to the garage. We began talking as if joined at the creative lobes: "Do we like this in the corner, or over here?" "No, I think we want that in the dining room against the far wall." "Oh, right!" More moving.

In the end, two and a half hours later, my client had an organized, peaceful space, fresh and airy. We'd moved the tall back sofa so now the large cathedral window offered an unobstructed view of the lake beyond.

She plopped down on the sofa and said,"Wow, this looks and feels great!" I asked her if she'd had the furniture in this configuration before. "No, I thought I'd had it in every conceivable arrangement. But never like this."

She said that it was well worth the cost to have me come and work through the process with her. I was pleased that she felt that way, and I have to agree. Her home was filled to the brim with beautiful furniture and accessories, to the point that every room just felt crowded. But she couldn't see past her memories in the pieces to figure out how to select just the right ones and make them shine.

So today, back in the studio, I'm sorting fabric samples, jazz music is playing, and I have a revelation. We're going to continue to work on making a great space here in the studio ... but wait. There's more! We're going to send out invites to clients, friends, and all their friends to come in for a morning of coffee and brainstorming right here in the studio. You can bring in your projects, spread them out on the work table. You'll have all the fabric samples to look at, all the catalogs to look through, a complete selection of paint samples from every possible paint company, and we'll be here to brainstorm with you. If the budget allows, we'll be happy to order anything you need. If it doesn't we'll assist you in getting the "look" you want, no matter what's in your wallet.

So keep your chin up, and keep your wheels turning. And if you need help, have no fear.

That's why I'm here.

Create!

Cece D for DDG

From the Studio

After all the conversations over dinner, chats on the phone, friends' constant nudging, telling me that it's something I just HAD to do ... I finally realized - they're right. I have to do it.

So here it is. My first blog.

Rather than be chatty about nothing in particular, let me tell you what's going on in my head right now.

Things are tough out there, people, and getting tougher. Here in the studio, calls from clients have gotten fewer in number as people forgo the beautiful new chair to put petrol in the tank. I get it.
And I support everyone in what they have to do to survive.

But here's the deal:
When times get harder, we turn to family and home. It's very important - especially when we're struggling - that our homes provide sanctuary. Leaving the outside world, unlocking the front door, and entering a peaceful environment gives us a chance to revive; to drop our shoulders and let go. The rooms we live in will be as supportive to us as we make them.

And guess what? It's not about money. It's about cracking open your mind and letting possibilities flow free. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

That old cabinet in the garage might be perfect in your bedroom ... painted a beautiful shade of soft, sage blue.

The worn quilt on your bed that doesn't match a thing would be fabulous thrown over the table in the dining room (washed first, of course!).

If you just want a project to freshen up a room, start at the "oops!" section of the paint stores. I make the rounds, and get gallons of high dollar paint for less than five bucks a can.

Check out the remnant section at the fabric store, the sheets at the discount houses. A flat sheet is a wonderful, seamless piece of material, just begging to be ... something else!

I haven't given you anything specific this time around. I just wanted to blow the dust off the wheels in your brain, get them turning, get them thinking about the possibilities. It is possible - in any space, in any income bracket - to create a beautiful sanctuary. You deserve it, and you can do it. So put on your sweats, turn up the music, and get started!

If you need help, have no fear.

That's why I'm here.

Create!

Cece D for DDG