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Below is a guest post on the subject of bedroom design.  Basic ideas that some times we can forget.  S Interior Design   believes that your bedroom should be a sanctuary to unplug from your electronic devices and relax.  Do your best to keep your work life out of the bedroom.  Do not have a desk with a computer in your bedroom unless there simply is no other option in your home.  Don’t under-estimate the positive impact of a new mattress.  We just replaced our 8-year-old mattress and the commercial advertisements seem to be true……we are indeed sleeping better.

Bedroom Interior Design Tips

For the most part we all have an idea what our perfect home looks like. Depending on our tastes and preferences, it may look like a nice quiet mountain home or even a rich and decadent villa with its own pool overlooking the endless ocean. For others it may be a very eco-friendly home with sustainable materials that make its carbon footprint smaller. Regardless of what your personal choices and preferences may be, your bedroom is the room we spend the most time in while we’re at it. If you have an uninspired and boring bedroom design then you will likely feel it.  

You should do your best to ensure your bedroom is something to enjoy, even if it’s only used as a place to lay your head down to rest for the night and wash away your troubles. The following tips will give you a head start in what you can do to make it happen:

One of the best ways to approach your bedroom is to consider what you can do with your bed. There are many companies out there on the market which create beds with imagination in mind, allowing one to enjoy a completely new experience instead of sleeping in the same old, boring bed and mattress. It will likely cost more than the usual equivalents, but it will be something to relax in a unique way.

You can also focus on better lighting, such as a chandelier or wall sconces that give a different outcome of your lights and shadows. You should look for ways you can accommodate bedtime reading as well as a low-key and romantic atmosphere when needed. The main idea is to make sure your & is not too bright, as this will disrupt your sleeping patterns and your rest will be quite restless indeed.

You should never underestimate the importance of pillows. They can make your bedroom much more cozy than it was before. Mix and match favorite patterns and looks and you will have a chance to create a unique look of your own. You will enjoy the pillows, even if you couldn’t imagine that at first.

You can also focus on some DIY decorations, pieces of art or even murals if you are so inclined. All of those will require a good bit of work to deal with, but they will add depth and character to the room, literally spelling out your tastes and opening a window into your inner world. Never go with a bare, boring wall if you can create a kaleidoscope of emotions on it.

If you want to stick to a single style or pattern, that can also work well as long as you remember to do so with flair. You must make sure you follow the same pattern around the room and even with its furniture. Themes are very important in cases like these, as they create an identity that becomes easily remembered.

 Bio: Emma is part of a team of professional writers, who, with enthusiasm and flair to the detail, create content on home, renovating, cleaning etc. related topics. For further information check: <a href=“http://www.cleanerscleaning.org.uk/W1-house-cleaning/westminster-cleaning-home-W1.html”>Westminster cleaning home</a>

 

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Paint Color 2013

Are you considering doing some painting around your house or office in the coming year?  Here are ideas to consider based on  2013 Color ‘discussions’ by some of the leading paint companies.
In a sentence–“Look for a lot of variety and contrast to be popular in 2013.”

Sherwin Williams, Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Pantone all have published their predictions for what the popular paint colors and combinations of colors will be in the coming year. 

 

 

 

 

 

Benjamin Moore: Intersection– Flow, Cycle, Animate, Connect 

Sherwin Williams: Opposites Attract–Midnight mystery, Honed Vitality, Vintage Moxie, High Voltage

Dunn Edwards: A New Renaissance Influences Palette and Textures–Simply Re-invented, Simply Re-newal, Simply Re-imagined and Simply Re-vival.

Behr:  Watch this short video!

 

 

Pantone   According to the PANTONE VIEW home + interiors 2013 book, there are nine color palettes predicted to dominate interior design and furniture trends in 2013. A mix of muted palettes serve as the new classics while rainbow-inspired colors provoke bolder style statements.     Note:  From the Casa Sugar Blog

Before you begin your  painting, it is always a good idea to try your color choices on several walls in the room.  Different walls have different levels of light reflection and the colors will look a bit different in different spaces due to the levels and types of light they will have.  We recommend at least a 3′-0″ x 3′-0″ square on the wall.  If the wall already has paint color on it, we also recommend priming before putting the new paint color up.

Of course S Interior Design is always available to help in the Phoenix metro area!

Accent Pillows —A Must Have Room Accessory

Okay, I have a confession—I have a bit of an accent pillow obsession (along with shoes of course!).  Accent pillows are a great way to update your existing seating and bedding without starting from scratch. 
You can change pillows out seasonally to evoke the feeling of summer or fall or winter or even at holiday times.  You can splurge on a pricey fabric when having pillows fabricated because you don’t need  a lot of yardage.  Styles range from simple box pillows to highly adorned and trimmed pillows; the options are endless.

So, when asked to post this guest blog about decorative pillows, we of course said YES!!

Decorate with Pillows

Pillows are like the icing on the cake. They bring life to sofas and beds. Pillows are important design elements in the house, and they are some of the best items to express the owner’s individuality. Beautiful pillows have great fabrics that match the theme of the room.

There are some rules that homeowners can follow in order to come up with a beautifully decorated sofa and bed.

Factors to Consider when Decorating with Pillows

• Size
Homeowners should consider the pillows’ size so that they will match the size of the sofa and the bed. Standard pillows usually measure about 18 inches. They are great for typical-sized sofas. Large pillows are also a good choice when owners are trying to create a more lounge-like and casual feel.

• Fill
Pillows with feather-and-down fills are the softest. Unfortunately, this is the most expensive pillow filler. On the other hand, foam and other synthetic fills can hold the pillow’s shape as they are stiffer.

• Quantity
Designers like to include an odd numbers of pillows as it tends to be more artistic. Homeowners may consider having one, three or five pillows depending on the number that can fit into the furniture. Typically, a chair needs only one pillow while a standard 88-inch sofa needs three or five pillows.

• Shape and Color
Opting for a combination of different pillow shapes creates a fun and lively appearance. One common combo is a pair of square solid pillow with a color that contrasts with the sofa, one oblong-shaped pillow at the center and two extras. The two additional pillows can have patterns and may have the same color as either the sofa or the solid pillows.

• Texture
The texture of the pillows should contrast with the sofa’s upholstery. This will ensure that people will not slide off their seats.

• Room’s Theme

All pillows in the living room do not necessarily have to be the same. However, there should be at least a connection between them that will show through their palette or style. A good theme will provide the room with a more polished and unified feel.


Decorating Sofas with Throw Pillows
The Traditional Look
• Even numbers of pillows are great for a traditional sofa look. Four pillows may be arranged on either side of the furniture to present balance and order.

• The pillow size will depend on the size of the sofa. The traditional look is enhanced by pairing 20 to 22 inch square pillows with smaller sized round pillows. Proportion is the key for a pleasing traditional sofa look.

• Silk and velvet pillow fabric can work best with a traditional sofa look. It can have prints and patterns such as flowers. These prints should be simple and may only have two or three colors. One solid and one printed pillow make a great pair.

• A thin braid or cord is a great choice for small pillow trims, and tassel fringes are perfect for bigger ones.

The Modern Look
• An odd number of pillows works best with modern designs. A few large pillows can be mixed with little ones.

• The pillows should be large enough to show off large pattern designs or just a solid color. Oblong-shaped pillows will also boost the modern look.

• Cotton and linen are the best picks for pillow fabrics. Large geometric prints with a few different colors should be considered. However, those who love more colors are not prohibited from going for what they like.

• Trims are usually only for traditional look, but they can also be used. They should maintain the pillow’s solid color and at the same time add interest to it. http://www.2modern.com has a lot of modern pillow collections to choose from.

The Eclectic Look
• An odd or even number of pillows can work well in an eclectic room without making it look cluttered.

• Generally, designers prefer similarly sized large pillows that measure around 18 to 24 inches.

• The pillow fabrics can all be different, but they should have at least one color that connects them. This will ensure that they have unity despite having different fabrics. The eclectic look actually relies more on the fabric than the other elements.

• Trims should be kept simple. They can have braided edges. Inside Avenue offers many choices of decorative pillows that will perfectly complete the living room’s eclectic look.

Decorating Beds with Pillows

• Decorative pillows on beds should blend well with the comforter and coverlet. They are also best paired with foams from Memory Foam Express.

• It is best that pillows are positioned with the biggest part at the back and the smaller part in front. Doing so will ensure that the fabric is given more emphasis.

• Pillow colors can be pulled from all fixtures and furniture inside the room.

• Pillow colors and patterns can bring a more casual look to the bedroom. One great example is white bedding topped with a heavily printed coverlet and white and gray-colored pillows.

• Contemporary looks often involve white pillows and one decorative pillow as an accent.

• Pillow positions on the bed can also add to the overall look of the room. They can be placed diagonally. This may be a simple idea, but this little interesting detail can actually make a lot of difference.

• People who want to have numerous pillows on the bed should opt for a limited palette so as not to overwhelm the room. There are homeowners who really want to have nine pillows around them. There are more pillow ideas available here.

Decorating a home with pillows is fun. Homeowners can actually change the overall feel of their homes by simply adding pillows or changing their fabric, colors and arrangement. However, it is always important that they follow the rules in choosing the pillows for their sofa or bed. Otherwise, their space will look more cluttered rather than pleasing. Different types of pillows for modern, traditional and conventional looks can be found at instyle-decor.

 This Guest Post is written by Lisa Jolan: You can connect with her on twitter @lisajolan

Is it Possible to Furnish Your Home Entirely Online?

Wherever in the vast world you reside, the fact is purchasing items on-line is a part of our lives.  Would you feel comfortable furnishing your home or office using only on-line resources?  Do you still feel the need to see and touch furnishings in person?  Many of S Interior Design’s clients are comfortable doing research on-line, but still want to give their seating what we call ‘the tush test’ before purchasing (we highly recommend it!!).  It is also nice to actually see and feel fabrics or leathers that will be used on upholstered pieces of furniture.  That said, many household furnishing items can be purchased on-line with little risk or fear; such as accent pillows, accessories and lighting. We have had good success purchasing area rugs on-line for great prices for many of our clients in the past few years.   S Interior Design offers virtual design services where a full design plan is developed for a client who lives outside the geography we work with in-person.  Included in the service is the identification of   on-line resources to execute the plan.

Below is a guest post that speaks to this subject.

Online shopping is just one of the reasons given for the demise of high streets up and down the UK. For many, purchasing groceries, gifts and clothing online is now the norm, instead of visiting stores. However, it seems that many still prefer to shop in store when purchasing new furniture for the home.

There are a number of disadvantages to furnishing the home through online shopping. For many people, the main one is that they are unable to look and touch the items that they are considering purchasing. For those looking for furniture such as traditional solid pine and oak, they find it easier to purchase online. Not only are colors and styles easily identifiable, the fact that no single piece of wood furniture is identical (because of its grain) means that it is easy to purchase without physically viewing. For those who are looking to replace existing items with the same, or similar, ordering online can also be pain-free.

For those who are reluctant to purchase upholstered pieces or soft furnishings online, a number of companies have fabric samples available. By requesting samples, it allows customers to make informed purchase decisions.

One of the additional expenses of buying furniture is the delivery costs. Local stores can often deliver (and sometimes assemble) furniture for free, whereas many online stores will have a set delivery charge. Couriers often deliver items and they may not be able to deliver furniture into the room where it is required or offer any assembly services.

Some online furniture suppliers are also able to offer complete room solutions to their customers. This means that in the online room design, all of the furniture is for sale. So when selecting a media unit and coffee table, the sofas are available, as well as the soft furnishings such as cushions and curtains. The opportunity to purchase a complete room ensures that when everything arrives in the home, it will coordinate fully.Some shoppers will choose to spend time browsing in furniture stores and then shop online to find the best price deal for that furniture, as one of the main advantages to shopping online is the financial savings and deals. For stores who operate online, they are often able to keep their prices down, as they do not need to employ staff on shop floors. Shopping online is also great for those who work shifts or have commitments that make it difficult to go out shopping for new furniture.

When purchasing online, customers should never be afraid to ring the company and ask for further information about delivery, warranties or any other queries that they may have. How many people are confident enough to purchase their home entirely online is questionable, although the ease that online furniture shopping offers is making it a popular choice for many.

Everything for the home is available online, even paints and wallpapers, but for those who do not feel brave enough to furnish their home entirely online, they should consider purchasing soft furnishings such as Dunelm-Mill .

From this, purchasing a new room is just a few clicks away.

 

Master Bedroom Makeovers-A Short Video

Master Bedroom Makeovers by S Interior Design- We all love a movie right? Short and sweet with some nice music to go along 🙂

 

Add a Bit of British Cool to Your Home or Apartment on this Side of the Pond!

We love keeping in touch with and learning what’s going on globally with design, be it interiors, architecture, or products. This week’s guest blog brings a bit of the UK to our shores. So much is great design is happening over there now, so why not brighten up a living room, or a bedroom or even your kitchen with some great British inspired, British made products!

The hype around the Royal Wedding last year, the continuing popularity of Downtown Abbey, the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics later this year means that once again it is cool to be British and this has been reflected in this years’ hottest interior design trends.

Interior design in 2012 will see a return to traditional British design. We’ve already seen it on the fashion runway with the popularity of Jonathan Saunders and now interior furnishings are favoring British designs with iconic prints, pastel color blocks, floral designs and gingham fabrics being used to complement the clean and sleek furniture trends from 2011.

To achieve this look with the furnishing you already have, add some British flair with oversized pillows in floral prints and pastels or floor length curtains in bold, iconic prints. Liberty offers some great home accessories, like the Edenham Liberty print silk and velvet cushion, as well as some new season fabrics that have been inspired by English nostalgia as well as the upcoming Olympics. The best thing about this trend is that adding a bit of traditional British elegance is as easy as pulling out the sewing machine (think pillowcases!).

British patriotism is also a hot trend continuing on from 2011 with everything from Union Jack pillows to wall decor. The Shoreditch Union Jack Ottoman from The French Bedroom  makes a great statement piece. The ottoman, in vibrant colors, makes a great coffee table with the added benefit of offering a storage space. Alternatively British furniture designer Jennifer Cooper’s Jack Upholstered Storage Box in muted tones is a great British made storage solution at a fraction of the cost.

If lavishing your home in Union Jack’s isn’t your thing try Graham and Brown’s Crown and Coronets wallpaper for a more subtle approach to cool Britannia. Crown and Coronets wallpaper can also be decorated with jewels, perfect for your very own little princess. Recreate the definitive British with Keep Calm and Carry On wall art; variations on the saying can be found everywhere, from Camden market to numerous online outlets.

For something with a bit of an edge have a look at Tobyboo’s range of tea towels and cushions with iconic images of London in bright yellows and oranges. Or if you’re on a budget, add a splash of Olympic Blue (also known as Pantone 19-4056) against some clean contemporary lines to get into the Olympic fever.

Roomservice By CORT is a company that specializes in furniture rentals, furniture packages, and has a passion for all things interior design.

About Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID
Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID, is the owner and founder of S Interior Design, the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™. Suzanne works with her clients to develop a winning combination of design elements that result in warm, comfortable and functional spaces that reflect each client’s personal style. Suzanne and her team specialize in residential, contract and hospitality interior design, from simple color selections, to office build outs, to restaurant, spa and hotel designs. Suzanne shares her years of expertise through the power of social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and at this blog. To speak to Suzanne about your interior design needs, please call 480-220-4659 or visit her website at www.sinteriordesign.com.

Luxury in the Bedroom-Upholstered Headboards

An upholstered headboard can define the style of a bedroom.   Styles range from traditional to ultra modern with everything in between to choose from. 

What a luxury to lean back on a soft upholstered headboard to read a book or watch television before counting sheep.

Featured On Hand Made Design/Faberuna’s Site

We try not to use our blog to be self-promoting, but sometimes you just gotta break the rules .

This week S Interior Design was honored by being featured on Hand Made Design/Faberuna’s web site.  Please take a look !

The site is unique and definitely worth checking out.  Have fun!

 

Interior Design A-Z: ‘V’ is for VELVET

VELVET.  The word itself evokes thoughts of   ‘luxury’.

Here is the official history of velvet:

Velvet and Cashmere wool originated in Kashmir.  Traditionally, velvet is associated with nobility. Velvet was introduced to Baghdad during the rule of Harun al-Rashid by Kashmiri merchants and to Al-Andalus by Ziryab. In the Mamluk era, Cairo was the world’s largest producer of Velvet.

While velvet is a commonly used fabric for clothing, we will ‘talk about it’ in terms of how it is used for interior design purposes.

Interior Design A-Z: ‘B’ is For Bedding

So many options for ‘B’.  Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Bedding and more.  We chose bedding as the subject for ‘B’.
As you read the blog and have another design area associated with the letter of the day, please share!!

B is for:  Bedding

So many options when it comes to choosing bedding!  The rule of coordinating,  NOT matching applies here for the most interesting personalized result.  So folks, that means steer away from the ‘bed in the bag’ option.

As always, function comes first, design options second.   Decide on what level of warmth you like best.  Is a quilt okay? Do you need a down comforter to get the warmth you enjoy at night?  How many pillows do you like to sleep with?  What is your tolerance for making your bed in the morning?  By that we mean will the accent pillows actually ever find their way onto the bed or remain thrown on the floor in a corner.  Tip:  Get a large basket to hold your accent pillows at night.

Here is a recent example of a bedding ensemble S Interior Design put together for a client’s Hollywood Glam guest bedroom.  The duvet cover came from Macys as did the bed skirt.  We customized the accent pillow that came with the bedding by adding a floral fabric stripe.  We designed a ‘foot warmer’ at the end of the bed that uses that same fabric, and a 18″ x18″ pillow and finally we added a fun glittery pillow to the mix.

Some good options for finding interesting in-stock bedding include Macys, Dillards, The Great Indoors and if you are lucky, you might find some good treasures at Marshalls Home Goods.