New York Design Blog | Material Girls | New York Interior Design

There are so many amazing fabrics out there it’s hard to decide how exactly you want your bed dressed every day.  Do you choose a fun and colorful fabric for your headboard and keep the bedding on the simpler side?  Or do you keep the headboard simple and solid so you can mix and match with your bedding and easily swap it out when you need a change?  This is a battle that a lot of my clients have until one day they make the decision to just go with what they love.  Which way would you go?

This bold and colorful headboard is that of Michelle Adams from Lonny Magazine and I think it was a great choice!

photo via effortless style

The shape can sometimes speak for itself so the simpler the fabric, the better

While the headboard has some flare, this room is still very soothing

It’s almost like a puzzle piece

A whole lot of bold thrown in one bedroom for the daring

The height on this headboard adds an element

Simple headboard, splashes everywhere else

Whatever you decide, i hope your bed allows you to sleep well at night!

I have to admit that when I first heard people talking about the book 50 Shades of Grey I was excited to see that someone had finally come out with a book that highlighted the best shades of grey for everyone to use in their home.  It was about time that we were given a guide on what shade to use (where and when) because we all know how difficult it is to get that perfect shade of grey on our walls.  Sometimes it comes out a little too blue or has a hint of purple when all we wanted was straight up grey!  Well, the book wasn’t exactly a guide to grey paint but more of a romantic thriller that explores new love and the complexity of human connection.. and while it’s supposed to be amazing and a MUST read, it has nothing to do with decorating!  So, with that being said, I still plan on reading the book 50 Shades of Grey and I’ll continue to narrow down my favorite grey paint colors until I can create my own guide on 50 shades…or maybe  just 25.  This is where I’ll start:

Benjamin Moore 859 Collingwood

Here’s how Collingwood might look on your walls but this is obviously a room with a lot of sunlight so it’s reading as a very soft and neutral grey.  It might turn out slightly darker in your space depending on the amount of natural light you get

Benjamin Moore 2125-60 Marilyn’s Dress

What can I say other than it’s the perfect soft and subtle hint of grey

Benjamin Moore 1465 Nimbus

Nimbus is more of a greige so it has that slight beige undertone that will keep your space perfectly balanced and calm

Benjamin Moore 2133-70 Tundra

Tundra is a perfect soft grey that will keep things light and bright

These are the greys I’ve used on recent projects and been very happy with – I know I have a long way to go to complete my 25 shades of grey but It’s a start.

In honor of Valentines day (and my dad’s birthday), I thought I’d post some of my favorite images that remind me of the holiday filled with lots of pink!  To be honest,  pink has been on my mind a lot lately – not because of Valentines Day but because I’m working with two different clients who absolutely adore it.  It’s opened my eyes and made me dig deep to incorporate just the right amount and shade of pink without going overboard or creating something that screams cotton candy!  So with that in mind,  Here are the images that grabbed me and inspire me to be more daring :

Happy Valentines Day to all!  I hope it’s filled with love and inspiration..

I found another artist (Mimi Chen Ting) who brightened up my day so I had to share her playful pieces with you.  I can see these compositions and colors in all kinds of rooms and spaces – especially if it’s on the traditional side and you’re looking to make a modern statement.  Take a look at her work through Elisa Contemporary Art Gallery and let me know how you feel after a viewing.  It should be cheery!

I’m back on the art hunt – this time I’m looking for something colorful and bold for a nursery and as I’m browsing through, what feels like the entire world wide web, I came across this print gallery that caught my attention.  Cozamia has a variety of art filled with beauty and energy and it’s sure to brighten up your space.

Out with the old, in with the new.  Just as in fashion, where we see trends come and go, (and sometimes come full circle decades later) decorating has its trends that move with the colors of the year(s).  For quite sometime now (i’d say over the past 2 years), gray has become the new beige and it’s making a statement like no other.  Gray is such a calming color but it can be bright, light, dark, subtle…no matter what, it’s always soothing to the eye.  This is the very reason I’ve been convincing my clients to use so much gray lately, especially on the walls!  It’s the perfect neutral that will cohesively tie any room together.  Take a look at these gray rooms and see how well it works in different spaces:

I’m loving these lanterns and chairs in this country gray kitchen!

Don’t be afraid to mix your grays and beiges – just make sure that gray is the more dominant color in the room.  It will freshen up your space instantly and keep you on trend!

With all the beautifully designed wallpapers out there today it’s no wonder why papering your walls is back in style — It’s the element in a room that can pull it all together in one fell swoop.  Have you ever noticed that your space doesn’t feel quite complete until the art and mirrors are hung on the walls?  Well, wallpaper has the same effect and it can give you that final dimension you’re looking for. I’ve been browsing all kinds of wallpaper lately for clients looking to complete their powder rooms, nurseries, kitchens and dens — and I’ve come across some pretty amazing stuff:

Kudos to Meg Braff for creating such a fun yet useable line of wallpaper.  I’m loving her Meadow Reed paper in coral on white

Another gorgeous design by Meg Braff – Sasa

Sometimes the boldness in the paper is enough to complete the room without adding too much color.  The Imperial Trellis by Kelly Wearstler strikes again..and again.  It’s that good!

Speaking of F. Schumacher style – their new-ish Jaipur hand block wallcovering collection is to die for — Rampura Turquoise is shown above

One of my all time favorites by Florence Broadhurst – Japanese Floral

Another one “spotted” – Florence Broadhurst’s Spotted Floral

Hello color!  Loving this bright pink vine floral from Thibaut

And this bright green ikat also by Thibaut – could be really fun in a kids room!

Whatever the case may be, your walls can always use an extra punch of pattern and color — and paper is the best way to add that jazz.  So when you’re decorating your house or re-doing a room try to think beyond paint and spend a little extra money to get a unique look that will be the envy of the town!

I can’t seem to focus on anything other than pumpkins these days and because it’s almost Halloween I thought I’d share a few rooms that may inspire you to add a little orange into your life.  It’s a beautiful, bright color that works well with blue, and when done right, it can add just the right amount of happiness and pizazz.  Use the holidays and colors of the season as a guide for color in your home. Color schemes are often right in front of us —  We just need to be more observant!

Pumpkins!

Orange turns an otherwise neutral room into something bold

These walls have a perfect spice to them

Go bold with your sides

Modern and sharp

Smashing with the black and white zebra

Don’t forget to bring in color with flowers!

I woke up this morning happy to see that the sun was shining and that the day was going to be a perfect 66 degrees.  Sundays are the perfect day to walk around the city and in and out of stores in hopes of finding something new and different (and affordable!).  Although YellowKorner gallery has been around since July of 2010, today was my first visit inside and I have to say I was very impressed with the entire collection.  Their concept is simple: To introduce the greatest photographers from all over the world and to increase the number of copies to make it accessible to all.  It’s simply brilliant!

Mykonos Beach by Richard Silver

Avel, St. Tropez by Jonathan Critchley

Vosges I by Friedrich Gier

La Fille au Parapluie Rouge by Matthieu Casimiri

Please visit the website to see the entire collection, there’s obviously much, much more — and if you’re in New York you must visit the gallery in Soho or the gallery at the Short Hills Mall in NJ.  There’s something for everyone so now you have no excuses as to why you aren’t collecting art.  Make your home a happy home by adding something spectacular to your walls!

Most people are afraid of using white in their home because the thought of anything spilling on it is absolutely terrifying! My advice is to take the risk and go for it – at least in one room.  Take a look at these rooms and tell me how soothing they make you feel.  I for one, need a little white on white in my life to keep things fresh.

throw a little shag in there for some texture

fix up an otherwise dated room with a painted white floor and ceiling

paint that old chair that you inherited from your grandmother and make it fresh and chic

add some black for contrast and a nice pop

the dark wood floor is a perfect platform for crisp white furniture

so simple yet so sweet

a bright, white and sunny space to wake up in!

texture, wallpaper, lacquer, old and new – what a great mix!