GOLD NOTES: Kravet

Showing posts with label Kravet. Show all posts

04 September 2012

Autumn Inspirations

I grew up in New York City, where Labor Day meant school was about to start again and Fall was in the air. It didn’t matter that the thermometer and official calendar still read Summer. As far as we were concerned, Autumn was officially here.

Now I live in San Diego, where it’s pretty much summer all year round. (Not complaining.) As the days grow shorter, though, I know the fall season has begun.

In that spirit, I thought I’d share a few Autumn inspirations today.

Lustrous wood cabinetry and furniture
(Photo: Bornholm Kitchen)

Jewel-toned paisleys
(Photo: Kravet)

Warm brick-toned walls
(Photo: Sherwin-Williams)

Cozy, whiskey-warmed leathers
(Photo: Pottery Barn)

Lustrous bronze and crackling fireplaces!
(Photo: Pleasanthearthfireplacedoors.com)

Cuddly, chunky wool throws
(Photo: Pottery Barn)

24 September 2009

Color Notes: Green Day

Welcome to the latest Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme. This posting covers one of my personal favorites - green. I've always incorporated green into my home. When I painted my open floor plan condo in LA that color, my brother said he felt like he was sitting in a bowl of guacamole. In my Florida home, our master bedroom is a soothing shade of green... and I have never felt like breaking open a bag of chips. (The green shown here is Benjamin Moore's Green with Envy.)

Why green?

Green is a cool, calming color that evokes images of nature. In fact, the very word "green" has come to mean natural and environmentally-friendly.

I love green in spa style baths and bedrooms, but it also works well in kitchens, offices and dining rooms. Green enhances most wood floors and cabinets - like leaves enhance a tree. In fact, as I recently shared in a Woman's Day interview, if colors work together in nature, they'll work together in your home. After all, there's no better designer than the Creator, is there?

Where not to go green

There aren't any rooms that couldn't go green, but if your purpose in a space is to create a mood of intensity and energy - perhaps an area where you home school - rather than calmness and relaxation, it wouldn't be your first choice.

I love green with...

White

Kitchy together here on Jonathan Adler's Bamboo wallpaper

Orange and Cream

United in pretty paisley on Pottery Barn's Brooks Chair

Pink

Glamming up a bed with Kenzie Bed Linens at Neiman Marcus

Dark brown

Pretty together on a paisley wallpaper by Candice Olson for Kravet

Navy

Circling a super-fun dog bowl by Jonathan Adler

Grey, yellow and blue

Pulled together on Pier 1's mod Abacus Chair

Red and tan

Elegant together on my own china pattern - Oberon by Wedgwood

Green scene

It was great fun finding cool green gear to share for this posting. (I have a collection of green pottery at home that I keep adding to.) Hope you enjoy these!

A piece of greenware I'd love to have in my collection:
Ephraim Faience's Seven-Handled Vase

Go retro with Noguchi's Free Form Sofa from Design Within Reach

Or old school with Anne Selke Home's Green Leather Chair at Neiman Marcus

Dress up your door with Anthropologie's Sly Fox Doorknocker

Delight your bath with these Celadon accessories at Pottery Barn

Create captivating countertops with Cambria's ethereal grey-green Hyde Park engineered stone, as I did in my client's master bath update

Divide and conquer with Pier 1's Plantation Floor Screen

Green your kitchen with KitchenAid's Artisan Stand Mixer in Lemongrass

Enjoy the entire Color Notes series...

Color Notes: A Red-time Story
Color Notes: A Room Full of Blues
Color Notes: The White Album
Color Notes: Purple Haze
Color Notes: Orange Crush
Color Notes: Green Day

05 August 2009

Color Notes: Purple Haze

Welcome to the fourth Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme.

Last month, I kicked off this new series with Red, White and Blue, in honor of the Fourth of July. At that time, I also posted a poll on your next requested color. Lavender won, beating out black, orange and green. So this Color Notes will focus on lavender and its close relatives, lilac, plum, violet and purple, with thanks to my dear friend and flower enthusiast, Cilla, for suggesting it! Shown here is Benjamin Moore's Lavender Lipstick.

Why lavender?

Lavender is associated with the fragrant and relaxing properties of its namesake flower. It is treasured for its beauty and scent, and adds a soft richness to any room it accents. Lavender can be a wonderful hue for a bedroom or bath, as well as a nursery. Its darker relatives, plum, violet and purple would add cool drama to a living room, master suite or formal dining room.

Where not to go lavender

I'd avoid this shade in a boy's bedroom, as it often feels more feminine than masculine. I'd also avoid it in a work room, as its lulling qualities may hinder productivity!

I adore lavender with...

Apple green and white

As shown here in this Alessa Quilt and
coordinated bedding from Pine Cone Hill

Turquoise and pink

On their Bisley cream/green/lilac fabric

Tangerine

As shown on this Teleflora rose bouquet

Tans and taupes

Like those in this Kravet Heather Funtini fabric

And muted yellows and greys

As shown here on Eileen Fisher's
raw silk pillow covers for Garnet Hill

Lavender, lilac, plum, violet and purple delights

I loved collecting these aubergine treasures. Hope you enjoy them, too! Please let me know if you decide to get any for your home -- send pictures!

Savor these cool and crisp linens from Restoration Hardware

Go plush with this plummy tufted chaise on
Urban Outfitters' site

Spiff up your cabinets with these violet glass pulls
from Restoration Hardware

This relaxed linen bedding from Garnet Hill
just begs to be napped on!

Reflect your originality in this Novica mirror
at Cost Plus World Market

Can't you just picture this Carmen Pillow from Crate & Barrel
resting on a natural linen chaise!

Luxe up your living room with
Horchow's luscious Olivia chair

Stir up tradition with Kravet's House Party - Plum fabric

Or mellow out with Z Gallerie's Mini Orchid Votives

Let's wrap up the posting with this scrumptious
Zambia Throw, also from Z Gallerie

Enjoy the entire Color Notes series...

Color Notes: A Red-time Story
Color Notes: A Room Full of Blues
Color Notes: The White Album
Color Notes: Purple Haze
Color Notes: Orange Crush
Color Notes: Green Day

02 July 2009

Color Notes: The White Album

Welcome to the second Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme.

Given America's 233rd birthday this coming Saturday, I thought I'd kick off this new feature with Red, White and Blue. Yesterday brought you Red. Tomorrow will bring you Blue. Today, we focus on White.

There are hundreds -- maybe even thousands -- of shades of white you can design into your home. There are whites lightly tinged with yellow, gray, green, brown, blue, pink or orange. I'm probably leaving out a few, but it's important to identify the right tone when selecting paint. Shown above right is Benjamin Moore's basic 01 White.

Why white?

White is often associated with purity, cleanliness and innocence in American culture. It's a wonderful hue for a kitchen or bath, lending a crisp brightness to those spaces. It's also a perfect color - and commonly used - for moldings, window trim, shutters and fireplace mantels. White enhances whatever color is put next to it, as sparkling teeth enhance a gloss-lipped smile.

Where not to go white

I try to avoid white in kitchen tile grout, as it can be a maintenance headache. I also like to see ceilings painted something other than white, as they so commonly are, so that the room looks more finished, and the crown molding stands out against it better. There are many, many wonderful all-white bedrooms and living rooms. What makes those succeed as welcoming havens, rather than feeling institutional or sterile, is a warm blending of textures and tints.

I love white with...

Green shutters on Cape Code homes or, as shown here, in summery prints
This one is Pierre Deux's Aventine - Herb for Kravet

Metallics, especially in tile designs, fabric or wallpaper
Shown here is Robert Kuo Cloisonne tile for Ann Sacks

Soft blues, shown here on
Pottery Barn's luscious Lucca Single Sink Console

Crisp borders in black or red contrasting with the creamy background

The White Album - Side One:
Icons and Updates

There are so many iconic white design objects that we've all grown up with, and I'm delighted to share them here. I'm also sharing some interesting updates that those of you who enjoy a more contemporary style may enjoy.

Iconic