Item Of The Week ~ Accent Chairs

Photo courtesy of Blue Girl Art


Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate accent chairs’ contribution to the comfort level of a room, as well as their ease of planning a room’s layout. While I enjoy a comfy sofa to sit/lounge/nap on, I also enjoy sitting in a comfortable chair while reading or visiting. Chairs come in all shapes and sizes so you are bound to find one that fits your home.


Photo courtesy of Anthropologie

Long gone are the matchy-matchy suites of furniture with their sofa, loveseat and chair combination (if you were lucky you got the coffee and end tables thrown in, too!). The versatility of chairs is why I suggest to clients purchasing new furniture to look toward chairs rather than a second sofa or loveseat. I have incorporated this in my own home as well.

Photo courtesy of The Furniture Site


Chairs make it easy to move furniture into another room where extra seating may be needed. They allow you more options when configuring your living room or den. They are especially appreciated when so many living rooms and dens have more than one focal point with a fireplace, television and, even, an outdoor view.

Photo courtesy of Designers Guild

Chairs are also a great way to add another fabric pattern into the room. With the sofa having the largest fabric field, a chair’s fabric can tie in with it and, not only bring in a secondary color, but help move that color around the room. A comfortable chair with a little whimsy attached to it, can make for an interesting piece in an otherwise traditional room.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions.

William Haines ~ Inspiring Decorator

Photo courtesy of http://www.williamhaines.com/

One of my favorite decorators is William Haines. The book William Haines A Class Act by Peter Schifando and Jean H. Mathison is, in my opinion, aptly titled. I count this book among the many in my interior decorating and design collection.

Learning about this former leading man's route to interior decorating was very interesting, especially for his time (the 1930's), beginning with his start in opening an antique shop to decorating for all his star friends. Joan Crawford used his decorating services for many of her homes over the years, as well as being his friend.


Photo courtesy of http://www.williamhaines.com/

I was so taken by one of his many quotes that I put it on my website: "The only real freedom we have left is the home. Only there can we express anything we want".


photo courtesy of http://www.williamhaines.com/

Williams Haines is absolutely a "class act", and if you get a chance to look through the book, I think you will enjoy it. For more information about the current company, and some history of William Haines, you can visit the website at http://www.williamhaines.com/.

Blog Of The Week ~ Home Workshop

This is Kathy. She is the author of this week's blog of the week - Home Workshop (http://www.homeworkshop.com/).


The tag line of Kathy's blog is "Where design and decorating junkies gather, and challenge one another to do great things". Kathy shares a variety of posts on her blog from artisans to furniture to wallpaper - and all the interesting design and decor things in between!

I think Kathy says it best on her blog:

At HomeWorkshop you’ll read daily posts about design trends, color, and the latest furniture and accessories. You’ll learn some design and decorating basics. We’ll discover great artists and craftspeople who make fabulous pieces for our homes, and we’ll learn how-to’s for some terrific home projects. We’ll see makeovers of pieces, transformations of rooms, and we’ll explore the workspaces where we design and create. And much more.

So fellow Design Junkies, come on into HomeWorkshop with me! I can’t wait for us all to meet, to drink in our designs and to see what we’re doing with our homes. Grab a cup of coffee, your paint chips and your colored pencils. I know that we will inspire one another to do great things.

I hope you'll visit Kathy's blog and leave a comment on one of her interesting and inspiring posts!

Item Of The Week ~ Bedding

Photo courtesy of Horchow

A beautifully dressed bed is the focal point of your bedroom. The colors, patterns and styles are unending. There is something to please everyone.

If your current bedding is hitting the 7-year-old mark, you're most likely due for some new bedding. Worn, faded, ripped bedding is not very inviting to slip into at the end of the day.

Photo courtesy of Horchow


While you may cringe at the prices, you can get some great deals on Bed-in-a-Bag items. Some of them even come with the sheets! You can get over the "wow, this is expensive" mantra by realizing just how many years you've used your old bedding. Time for some math.

You see a set that has everything (comforter, dust ruffle, shams, sheets, decorative pillows). Let's say it's $200.00. For the average, middle-class homeowner, you think that's a lot of money to spend on bedding. Well, not really. First look at all your getting for the $200.00. Second, even if it's not this large a set, divide that $200.00 by the 7 years people typically keep their bedding - that's about $28.58 a year. Is it expensive now?


Photo courtesy of Horchow

These pictures show just a few collections from Eastern Accents, a To-The-Trade company. Eastern accents offers custom bedding, as well as some Quick Ship items. A visit to their website will have you drooling over their offerings. If nothing else, they will provide you with some inspiration.


Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

This one has the current "cool kid" - Orange.

Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

A girl's room design that grows up with her. The use of pattern in this bedding is young and fresh, and should last for many years.

Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

To be fair to the boys, here's one for their room.

Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

You can get an extravagant look on a budget too. Just look at all the pictures - the "look" is in the pillows, the way the bed is made and, in some cases, the layering. The pictures below show bedding from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Some of the patterns are similar to the more expensive ones shown above.

Photo courtesy of Bed, Bath & Beyond


Add decorative pillows as shown; maybe drape a throw, light blanket or quilt that coordinates with the bedding (even if it's a solid) over the bottom corner of the bed. Mix up patterns and solids.

Photo courtesy of Bed, Bath & Beyond

Photo courtesy of Bed, Bath & Beyond


Pleasant dreams!

Mentioned in this post:

Horchow

Eastern Accents

Bed, Bath & Beyond

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Notecards ~ The Personal Touch

Photo courtesy of FabulousStationery.com

Between Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, texting, e-mail, instant messaging, it almost seems that handwritten notes are a thing of the past. Yet we all look forward to getting our mail - is it really for the bills and junk mail?


I found some websites that carry notecards for many people that cater to the interior decor and design profession. I've included a small sampling in this post, with links to the various companies below.
Photo courtesy of Cafe Press


I like to use notecards that are blank inside to send a thank you to a potential client for a consultation or to follow-up with someone I haven't heard back from yet. I may use double-stick tape to attach a business card to the inside front and write my personal message on the other side. I believe people like to receive handwritten notes and it shows that you've really put something into it by making your note personal. It shows that you took the time to think of this individual.

Photo courtesy of Cafe Press

With all the notecards available today, you can find one that you feel depicts you and your company best; and if you can't find it, chances are you can have it made up for a reasonable amount. Whether you are in decorating, designing, lighting, furniture, art, photography, flooring, accessories, etc., there is a card out there that best suits the face you want to put forward.

Photo courtesy of PinkLillyPress on Etsy

You're more likely to be remembered for a handwritten note or thank you card than for an e-mail you've sent.

Photo courtesy of FabulousStationery.com

Oh yeah, this one (above) is one of my favorites; just need it in my colors!

Fabulous Stationery's cards can also be used by realtors, new house announcements, housewarmings, etc.

Cafe Press has many notecards, as well as cards intended to be given to designers.

PinkLillyPress on Etsy had the fabulous chandelier notecards.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions