One of my favorite clients is wanting a mini change in her bedroom. We created new bedding and window treatments for this space when she moved into her new home 2 years ago. We created a plan at that time for the ultimate finish of the room as budget would allow. So now it's time to take out the heavy sleigh bed and replace it with an upholstered headboard.
Here's how the room looks now. I don't have a pic of her beautiful drapes....no idea why???
Her bedding is so soft and romantic...yet, colorful....just what she wants.
This is a closeup of the fabrics we've used in her bedding.
Kravet - Hassock/716
This is the lovely linen print that we used on the soft shades, and we'll cover the headboard in it as well.
Isn't it pretty?
I've been putting together some images for her to see. And because I'm an image freak, I continued to collect pictures long after I had decided what we would do. I just kept finding really cool headboards!
Do you have any idea how many different styles of upholstered headboards there are? Could I settle for a simple curved shape?
Phoebe Howard
or a standard rectangle?
House Beautiful
NO, my friends, I just kept looking. So even though I have now aquired "headboard overkill", I've got some great and inspiring images to show you.
I'm working with several clients on projects that encompass a lot of fabric...yeah!!! Fabric is my "drug of choice" in the design world...well, maybe after PAINT...which I love most.
It's very interesting to me to see a person's tolerance for pattern. I have some clients who love pattern and color and want it all around them.
Todd Alexander Romano, Interior designer
Crosby street Hotel, private event & dining space
Then I have other clients who love patterns, but prefer something subtle and less obvious.
Sally Steponkus
Joseph Minton, Riverhills show house for Southern Accents
Then I have some clients...and family members (you know who you are)....who love the interplay of solids and no pattern.
Elle Decor
Schumacher
Some people love stripes. Some people hate stripes.
Caroline Paterson
Watergate Apartments, Washington, DC
Some get nervous when I pull out a mix of 4 or 5 different patterns for the same space.
Sorry, this was in the March issue of something !
Some really want the same pattern everywhere.
Nancy Serafini, Interior Designer
And some just don't want any pattern at all.
As a designer, I think I have to assess early one what my client's tolerance for pattern and color is. I think it's also a part of my job to "push the envelope" for my clients and show them something they would never think of....that IS why they have hired a designer after all. ( I will admit that they don't always know that's why they've hired me!)
I know my tolerance for bold and inventive uses of pattern and color is pretty high, which is why I get all over the new fabrics when they come in. For me, it's a litte difficult to get excited about a book of solid chennile when I can look at new book of prints or a modern wallpaper.
It's often the print and pattern that becomes the inspiration and the color palette in the room.
Fabric by Duralee
Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa - Groundworks
Barclay Butera for Kravet
GP&J Baker for Lee Jofa
The pattern often becomes the focal point to the room design.
Traditional Home
Mary McDonald
Sometimes the pattern isn't the 'star', but the backup singer.
JMac and Kennedy Interiors
The pictures in this post clearly show that there is no "right or wrong" when it comes to using or NOT using pattern in your design plan.
It's all about your tastes and how you FEEL.....(How 60's does that sound???)
If you google "cake balls" you'll get more ideas and combinations than you could ever want to know, so I hope you all have a great time making (and practicing) cake balls. Trust me....you might not want to take your first batch out in public. They'll taste great even if your dipping looks like the kids did it.
I'd love for you to post your favorite combinations, so give it a whirl. Take a picture of your work and email it to me sally@sallyjdesigns.com, and I"ll post everyone's first attempts. YOU CAN DO IT !
This Thursday we're doing something new and fun in the studio.
We've invited our Kravet - Lee Jofa representative to come to the studio with her large road sample and her bag of goodies. We've invited clients and friends to come see, enjoy some great food and check out all the Kravet products.
Ok...here's the real hook....I've made CAKE BALLS!
Yummmm.
I've carried Kravet fabrics in my studio since I opened up 4 years ago, and I've grown to appreciate that company and all it's offerings more and more. They have wonderful designers with their unique collections.
Calvin Kline
Candice Olson
Barclay Butera
and Kravet's newest collection from America's favorite designer,
RALPH LAUREN HOME
This year Kravet has launched a new "smart" line of fabric and furniture called (surpisingly enough...)
Kravet Smart Line
The line has a full range of fabric in textures, patterns, solids and furniture, all made to Kravet standards with a little ease on the pocketbook.
Kravet and Lee Jofa have some of the most amazing trims.
One of Kravet's most unique product lines are the carpets and rugs that can be custom designed in size, color and pattern.
We'll be showing their really cool computer program that allows you to make a design, change it and even see it in the room.
There's a large selection of imported rugs in so many sizes and styles...
naturals, and hand tufted Orientals.
Kravet furniture is some of the best in the business....all hardwood, 8 way hand tied, American made and availabe in over 60,000 fabrics....wow!
But upholstered furniture isn't all that Kravet does. They have case goods, beds, dining and occasional tables, lamps....what else could you want? Take a look at the new dining room in the New York Showroom!
We have a Kravet sofa in the studio and it's everyone's favorite "sit".
If you're in the Dallas area, we'd love for you to stop by.
Anyone who knows me knows that I will paint anything that isn't nailed down.
It's easy for me, because, well....it's just paint!
But last week I had the discussion twice with different clients questioning my advise to paint their ceilings. It's interesting to me that there is so much angst about color on a ceiling.
When did the rule book come out that says that ceilings must be white? And who wrote it? I really want to know, because historically, ceilings in Europe were decorated more than any other wall in the house.
Versailles Castle - Paris, France
Now, mind you, I wasn't interesting in being this dramatic.
I wasn't even trying to get them to do simple clouds on the ceiling.
RONALD LAYMAN, Mural artist
or French style moldings....
or crazy stripes....
Sara Story, Interior Designer
I wasn't even suggesting a contrasting color....
(although, I'd do this for me in a heartbeat!)
I just wanted to take the neutral wall color on to the ceiling to minimize all the angles.
I've had a little break in my blogging this weekend, but I've got a very good reason to focus elsewhere.
Look who lit up my life at 6am Saturday morning!
My daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Brad, introduced me to my newest grandson, Jackson Allen, today.....all 8lbs 12oz of him!
There's just something about your baby having a baby that is a bit surreal. The other weirdness is that they are in Delaware where Brad serves as a C-17 pilot for the USAF, and I'm in Dallas, so I spent Friday night with the phone in my hand instead of sitting in a waiting room.
Grandmotherhood is an amazing institution, and I've gone into it's ranks full force in the last six months.
My son, Matt, and DIL , Erin brought baby Tyler into the world only 6 months ago.
He's waiting for baby Jackson to arrive as well.
Everyone told me that being a grandmother was their most joyous role, and I am learning that that is truth, but it's not because you can give them back to your children when they get fussy. It's more because you can be so much more authentic with them than you could with your own children. I know myself so much better at 58 than I did at 28, and it seems that it's just easier to release and let the unconditional love flow!
I'll be back into design mode shortly, but thanks for allowing me to detour into what REALLY matters today.
