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

A new year is approaching and it’s time to start thinking about what we want to change — not only in ourselves but in our home which will ultimately help create a happy and warm environment for us to thrive in.  We all start with the obvious resolutions such as: get healthy, cut back on the sweets and liquor, be nicer because everyone is battling something and be more charitable, to name a few. This year, why not make a resolution to fix up your home so that every time you walk through the door or go to bed at night you can feel complete.  There’s a lot to be said for selecting the right colors, the right lighting and a few things that are trending so your house doesn’t feel like it’s stuck in the late 80’s.  It only takes a few accessories or a fresh coat of paint to make these changes so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.  Better yet, if you have friends who are looking to give more and be more charitable – put em to work!  Helping friends accomplish a project can be very rewarding and they get to enjoy the results every time they come to visit.  Not to mention free bragging rights.   This is the year to make your house a home.

 

The first step might be to look at the colors for Spring 2014 so that you’re selecting things that are right on trend.  Bring these colors into your throw pillows, smaller furnishings, window treatments and walls.  You’ll be able to talk shop and coordinate with your clothes and handbags!

A bold black and white stripe is sure to grab attention and it’s very on trend.  Think strong contrast and bold stripes

Bright yellow or “freesia” is just about as hot as it gets these days.  Don’t be afraid to add this bright pop of sunshine

Chevron has been and still remains to be trendy so why not do a subtle version with the layout of your wood floors.  It will help create something new and fresh while remaining timeless

Add a little glam to your kitchen with the back splash, lighting or hardware.  It’s all about the jewelry in the room

I’ve always been a believer in mixing your metals and thankfully it’s now being deemed as appropriate and trendy

Radiant Orchid is perfect for the kids bunk room or a playroom where you can have some fun and be more daring

Say goodbye to those boring wood cabinets and doors and give them some life with a fresh coat of paint and some new hardware.  You can transform your kitchen in a matter of days and make it look like a million bucks

Don’t be afraid to paint the walls in a dark navy.  You’ve got enough “bright” in the room with the ceiling, trim, and other furnishings to keep it airy and light.  A rich, saturated wall makes a nice statement

The powder room is the best place to do a funky wallpaper so go for the large geometric pattern you can’t stop thinking about!

These are just a few ideas and there are plenty more out there.  Let’s make 2014 a year to remember and finish those projects you’ve been putting off for way too long now.  I promise you’ll rest easier 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.

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!

When it comes to stripes you’re already committing to something bold so don’t be afraid to use them in small spaces, on the walls, on the ceiling, on the floor and just about anywhere you feel fit.  There are multiple ways to get your stripe on, so take a look at these rooms for inspiration and do something fun for Fall 2011.

A perfect way to add some striping to the room is to put it on the ceiling

Add stripes to one feature wall so you’re not completely striped out

Keep the stripes subtle and neutral for a soothing effect

Another subtle stripe with additional stripes in the furniture and rug

Change your basic beige wall into something with style and funk

The striped rug mimics the black and white stairs perfectly!

Bring in some sunshine with bold yellow!

While at the Design On a Dime event the other night I couldn’t help but notice all of the beautiful colors used in each vignette that added a perfect punch to each designers creation and it made me wonder what would we do without the simple use of paint.  Thanks to Valspar, I was able to see how a room can come together and how easy it is to refurbish your old furniture with a touch here and a splash there.

Valspar, who was a sponsor of the Design on a Dime event, shows you exactly what can be done with color, and while their booth might be too loud and colorful for most, think about having one statement piece in a room that would otherwise be boring and dull.  Take a look at the transformations below to see how easy it is refurbish your old furniture.

Add fun yellow stripes to an otherwise plain table

An outdated chair can become a brand new piece with a little paint and even a fun, new, modern fabric!

This desk has transformed from bland to grand with a little ‘pink burst’.  Now just imagine it with some beautiful new hardware from Anthropoligie and you’ve got yourself a smashing office!

This display cabinet obviously needs to shine and be the focal point in your Living Room

What a great idea to keep the inside of the cabinet grey and frame it with a bright “swiss coffee white’

A luggage rack is a great accent piece in a bedroom so make sure you get creative and choose your paint wisely

 

Just remember to add a little color in your life and always keep an eye out for a piece of furniture that’s looking for a quick makeover.  With Valspar paints you can bring beauty to your home

 

House Beautiful dedicated their entire March issue to “the Power of Pink” and have shown us some very enticing ways to use the color without going overboard.  If you don’t subscribe to the magazine pick up a copy at your local magazine stand so you can see how to bring pink back into your life.. without having it look too feminine.  The men in your house have probably been steering you clear from pink because of its girly reputation.  Don’t let them stand in your way!  It’s warm, flattering, sexy and can help just about any mood 😉 

This den has just the right amount of pink in the lacquered walls to make it warm and cozy without screaming barbie pink.  Plus the blue carpet cools down the room quite a bit as does the white sofa and ivory coffee table.

This MBR has a very soft hue of pink which keeps it warm and inviting

This LR ramps it up a bit with some florals mixed in with greens and citrines

It’s always nice to play earth tones (grey, brown, beige) against pink so that it doesn’t become the focus of the room and has interesting contrast throughout

You can never go wrong with making your daughters room the center of pink.  Afterall, the color was created for girls!

The greys play nicely in this tradtional room where you would never expect pink on the walls

So soft and serene.  I wouldn’t mind climbing into this bed at night!

All photos are from House Beautiful Magazine and can be seen online or in their March issue which will be on stands shortly.  Take a look at the entire issue to see how pink can inspire you even if it’s just a small chair in the corner of your room or a throw pillow that can easily be replaced.

 

I have two clients who have recently come to me with extreme interest in using blues – one for a Dining Room and one for a Family Room.  Because blue is my favorite color, I of course am jumping at the thought of these rooms and trying to dig deep to come up with something spectacular.  As I search for inspiration I came across a beautiful “small wonder” that is Todd Alexander Romano’s apartment in NYC.  It’s what he likes to call modest with a view and what I see as heaven!

The lacquered blue walls have just enough navy and just enough aqua in them to create a luxurious space that’s not too dark and not too flashy.  The touches of ikat, apple green and bright yellows add just the right punch to the room to break up the monotany of the blues and keep the room interesting. 

The same color blue continues in the hallway and foyer and is accompanied by great art, rich caramel and a bright contrasting white ceiling that allows the light and the space to still feel open and airy

A close-up of the lacquer and bright yellow flowers which always make a room shine

The apple green velvet plays beautifully off the blue walls

A chinese red plant stand that adds one more needed punch to the room without going overboard

A detail of of blues and reds and golds

One last detail of a brighter view of the apartment

 

It’s obvious that Todd has done a beautiful job mixing just the right colors, materials and styles and has created a comfortable, chic yet modest space with a view so he can enjoy the city just by looking out his windows.  This is certainly inspiration for me and I hope I can use blues in a way that will result in something as stunning as this!

So as it turns out, one of the stenciled floors I posted last week (the turquoise bathroom with white medallions) was a stencil created and sold by Sunny Goode.  She designs these stencils to make it fun and easy for you to create a whimsical touch on your walls, your floors, your furniture – wherever your heart desires!  Check out Sunny’s website for more decorative paint ideas and products.  Looks as though she’s come up with some pretty bright ideas!

Looking for a change but don’t want to break the bank on this project?  Why not paint the floor in your powder room or or entry hall or guest bedroom or wherever you’re dying to mix things up.  It’s something you can do yourself if you carve out the time and kick your family out of the house for a few days 🙂  Below are some fun examples of what you can do to make a pretty big statement without having to spend a ton of money.

 

Get out your stencils, purchase your paint and give your floors the funk they deserve.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly it will change the room and how easy it is to do a quick and cost efficient make-over.

I’m often looking for artists – photographers, painters, sculptors, etc. for my clients and it can be difficult to find the right style and the right fit for each individual client…But when I find an artist whose work I love and admire, I’m sure to show it to just about everyone I’m working with because I know someone will love it just as much as I do.  I recently met an artist at an event whose work is stunning, therefore, I’m sharing it with you.  Her name is Leah Durner and she lives and works in NYC.   You can view her full portfolio here and contact her for further information.  Below is just a small sample of some of her paintings that I love!