Beautiful fall colour trends

Well I'm back, after having had a fabulous summer and goofing off for most of it, can't believe we are pretty much into September.  I thought I'd talk colour trends for this coming fall/winter season 2013/14. This info comes from Mix Global Colour conference held in London - they work with Pantone and are why I'm using their info!

These trends are determined by a secret panel of 10 people in conjunction with Pantone - who basically set the standard for all shades.  Think about it, all of our printer ink is Pantone based, so are the colours that your computer uses when you choose a font colour or even to "see" the pictures I'm posting.  So let's just say that Pantone is an authority, if not 'the' authority on colour. 

The thing is, whether you like the colours of the season or not, they are hard to avoid. Showing up in fashion first, they make into our home decor not long after.  If it's not a colour you like, or one that looks good on your or with anything else in your home, then it becomes limiting and pretty difficult to freshen up personal decor with new pillows or accent pieces.  But there you have it - we have to learn to work with or around it!

The descriptors attached to each colour are written by Gudy Herder, she is trained in retail trade and specializes in what she calls styling services, and also teaches Strategic Visual Merchandising in the Luxury field.  Travelling the world through her work.  Decorating and training in different markets such as Europe, Dubai, Brazil, Panama and Mexico most recently.

So without further ado, here are the colours (in their varying shades) that you can expect to see this coming fall and winter.


STORM

'Climate changes such as floods have been a big deal globally, leading to uncertainty and a certain surrealism reflected in hot and cold colours, bright and smokey shades. Feminine is meeting masculine. Colours range from different blues evoking a storm mood to a softer sand, salmon and bright red, always aiming to combine hot and cold colours.  Changing structures and ethereal layers given through semi-opaque layers are translated into cool tie dye effects, blurred and monofilament weaves.  Holographic and metallic touches add reflective qualities, deep structures and deep monofilament weaves are key here.'

FLINT

'We need to step back to an honest approach to design.  There is a certain Neolithic style going back to our roots reflected by rich earth soil colours, warm neutrals, rust.  Primitive aesthetics, organic and handmade themes, found objects meant to express our own personality.  Sophisticated and soft, rough and ready are the opposites that play nicely together.  Thick leathers, hemp yarns and rustic fossil textures are key here.'

CLASH

The main message is that we need to be positive.  Traditional design shall be reconstructed in new colour-ways.  Bold colours are mixed with pastels.  Blacks are not black but got a dark blue underground. Tutti Frutti colours are combined with neutral colours such as dark brown so they still work in a luxury environment.  Pattern on pattern with a "more is more" approach are the way to go.  It is a very expressive trend with intermixed styles.  Mother of pearl shall be observed with a shiny and reflective quality.  Plastic is not used as a cheap material but high end due to innovative finishing's.  Bold wallpapers are key here.

ALPINE
This trend brings the outdoors in, there is a need of comfort, of time, being together and a friendly approach to a real folk feeling.  The colours are warm (reds) and natural (greens and brown).  Materials such as cork and wood shouldn't be hidden but enhanced and embraced in any design. It's all about sustainability and renewing of energies.  Organic material is used in an honest way to make people feel happy and healthy.

So there you have it - colours I think that each and every one of us can work with to some extent or another.  I quite like several from each palette!  

Let me know what you think.  And if you haven't signed up to follow my blog yet, please do!  All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom and click 'subscribe by email'.  It would really help me out if you did.

Summertime all that much better with beautiful window coverings...

So we are well into summer and what can I say, it's amazing.  I love this time of the year, and I love that we've had one of the best July's I've seen in a long time!  It's more than welcome to continue through to October as far as I'm concerned.

Well today's topic is...I so wish I knew!  Oh I know, let's talk window coverings, it is a topic I know lot's about after all.  The weather is hot, and while we love it, it is affecting everything to do with your house. Your windows while offering a great view, are also the greatest source for heat retention and loss, or as Hunter Douglas calls them - 'windows are energy holes'.  Simply put, even if they are triple pane, they are still making your house so much hotter (or colder depending on the time of year) than it needs to be; so basically despite the fact that your windows only make up about 10% of your house, you loose about 50% of your energy through them.  Add to that the UV damage to your floors, furniture, artwork, drapery (and the list goes on) caused by the suns rays, windows are to blame for a large percentage your heating and cooling bills all year round.  

I know what you're thinking, who's got the funds for "those" kinds of window coverings, well big picture, and long term, they pay for themselves in the energy savings and protection of your floors and belongings.  Course I'm not trying to "sell" you on any particular product today, I just want you think about it, so that when you finally do decide on replacing what you have, you'll consider the long term value of a good window covering!

I'm going to touch on two products today, not extensively, but more to make you aware of what they look like and what purposes they serve.

The most cost effective are the screen shade. They are essentially a roller blind, but are designed to provide you with a small % of light (ranging from 3 - 14% openness).  They come in a variety of neutrals, and look best within a cassette (meaning that the roller and mechanism are hidden from view within a casing).  There are also some beautiful patterns, still neutral, but with a bit more style than the blinds you see in Starbucks!  

Screen shades with a 3-5% openness block more than 85% of UV rays, and make a significant difference to the temperature of your room.  They are also easy to clean! Also in my professional opinion, should you go with the product please never go with more than 5%, anything higher and you can forget about privacy and real light/UV control, at 14% openness they won't even help with heat control.

While the photo's show living rooms, and more formal spaces, my personal preference is that they be used in a sunroom, kitchen or very casual space.  If you put them in your living room, remember that what you can see out during the day, others can see in come night when your lights are on.  It's why I don't recommend them for spaces that you want evening privacy.  The back of house is fine, but generally the front not so much.  However, if you live in a high-rise as featured in the below image by Hunter Douglas Blinds, then privacy in the evening isn't as big an issue, but again, if you put them in your bedroom, there is no guarantee that people in the space across from you can't see you or at least what's going on via shadows at night.

They are also great out of doors, designed specifically for outside by Hunter Douglas, you can use them on one side of your deck just for some privacy and help with the days heat, or everywhere.  Check out this gorgeous patio idea.

Next I want to talk about Hunter Douglas Honeycomb shades, and while others make them, they are but a poor cousin to the inventors of the brand. The Duette Architella blind is the most versatile product in the entire range of blinds, hands down.  They fall in the middle price point, meaning that there are many cheaper products and many much more expensive products. They are called honeycomb because from the side, that's just what they look like. 

Offering superior sun protection, they come in an amazing array of fabrics and styles.  From top down/bottom up, to duo lights, they can be controlled by remote, and work superbly in skylights.  Offering 95% UV protection when closed.  They can reduce your heat gain from 76% down to as little as 15%.  Imagine how cool your house would feel if you closed them all before going to work, and didn't open them till the sun had passed.  This is probably my favorite product on the market for the sake of versatility and efficiency.  While there are "prettier" blinds on the market, none come close to the versatility and energy savings that you get with the Hunter Douglas Architella Shade.

These two examples are called top down / bottom up, and come cordless or with a lifting system.

Now imagine how much better they'd be if you motorize them, you can add the free app to your portable device (smart phone/iPad, etc.) and set your blinds to open and close at specific times of the day, optimizing the efficiency of this product!  I won't go on about it any further, I think that the pictures will speak for themselves!

The duo-light show here is lovely, and this particular one is of an opaque (meaning black out) with a sheer, so basically you get two shades in one. The Opaque Duette is also the best blackout product on the market, leaving such a small light bleed that most light sensitive people have no problem sleeping with this product in their windows.

And last but not least is the sheer Duette, this photo shows the product with the sheer alone, offering a contemporary level of privacy (over traditional sheer drapery), and while it offers more than 60% UV protection, it won't do for you with a semi opaque can and will do.  It does however, look beautiful.

So that's it just a little taste of two beautiful but very different styles of window covering.  

Whether you need them today or next year, there's always room for a little knowledge when making your choices.

If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.  You can also find me on Houzz under Live Beautiful Designs.  Yeah I just realized that this last bit sounded like a bit of a sales pitch, but hey I'm a self employed designer, I guess it needs to be once in a while!  Hope you found it of interest.

Beautiful Curb Appeal...

Well I'm back, and it's been far too long.  But it's almost June, which means summer is on its way (really it is I'm sure of it!).  I haven't written in so long that I'm not sure where to begin, but I think I'm going to talk about house exteriors.  We're spending more time outside now, and as soon as we do, we begin to think about how our house looks.  Not just decorating like at Christmas, but more about the things you can do to "freshen up" the exterior of your house. 

So here are some ideas, and it's not just about mowing the lawn and having some plants, but making it feel like you've changed the house without breaking the bank to do so!  Though weeding and adding some beautiful planters makes an amazing impact, that and all that tedious edging that makes a lawn look like a golf course!

If you need to paint the exterior, do it the next time the sun comes out (for more than 15 minutes of course).  Don't put it off until the middle of summer, then it's just too hot and you won't want to do it all. But a fresh coat of paint  has many benefits, protecting your siding being at the top of the list.  But also enjoying seeing your house every time you pull up in front of it.  Choosing the right colour is always a challenge, but be a bit bold; I'm not talking pink siding, but maybe a couple of Grey and slate tones with a beautiful black door or lovely yellow as shown, or maybe white and navy trim with a red door.  You get the idea, use sophisticated colours that don't clash with all the houses in your neighbourhood.  You want to stand out as unique not colour blind or as the below picture illustrates a whole kind of crazy (this people is what NOT to do!)

OK so I know, that's the biggest possible project I could have chosen for you, but it doesn't need to be such a big thing.  If your paint is looking good, then let's move on!

1. House numbers are a simple but fabulous extra to freshen up the exterior.  There are dozens and dozens of gorgeous number out there, especially via online shopping.  Find some that suit you and the style of your house.  Bigger is better because it's easier for your guests to see.

2. Does your exterior lighting look dated, rather than replacing it, remove and paint it; I find that spray paint gives you the cleanest paint job, and goes the fastest.

3. If your front door is looking shabby and can't be saved with a coat of paint and some sand paper, buy a new door, make it interesting and unique.  I don't always like glass myself because it does make it easy for someone to see in and easier to break to get in...but that's just me.

4. Go out and buy those beautiful urns and flower pots that you've been wanting for years, but could never justify or get around to picking up.

5. Pressure wash your house (if it doesn't need painting of course), walkway and front entrance.  You scrub the interior of your house, why not the exterior, especially after a long drab winter.

6. It may not seem obvious, but your interior blinds may need replacing (if they do call me!), they are one of the first things guests will notice as they arrive at your front door. Interestingly enough they make as big a statement from the outside as they do from the inside.

7. If you have a front porch, and have enough space for furniture, put out a really nice piece of outdoor furniture, whether it's an attracitve chair or a whole set, something inviting will always be welcomed by your guests and family alike!

8. If you have a path or gateway between the front and back yard, lay down a pathway, lovely white rocks, stones, brick, something to help lead people down the garden path as it were.  

9. This one ties in with the pathway, lead them between the front and back gardens with a beautiful pergola and gorgeous floral hedging.  

10. Lighting, with all the lovely lighting (solar and hard wired) available these days, there is simply no excuse for not finding a place for them, they glow beautifully in the summer night, gently illuminate the steps of anyone making their way to your front door or back if you have number 7 and 8 in place! I'm particularly fond of solar lighting as it's quite soft and gentle.

11.  More on lighting ideas, there is also luminescent paint that will glow all evening after a full day of sun.  You can paint some floral pots and they look will look like they are alight from within! (As shown on the left)

12. Now here's a simple idea for all you crafty people, take some mason jars or any glass jars with a neck, and some wire and string them up in a tree (if you have one in your front yard all the better) put tea lights inside and hang them out there for your guests as they arrive for an evening BBQ.

13. And last but not least your fence, do you have one in the front yard, or along the sides, give it a good power wash as well; then odds are that it needs a fresh coat of stain or paint.  Just do it, you know it needs it.  Then plant something that climbs like clematis.  They are beautiful, but not invasive or impossible to remove like wisteria.

Well there you have it.  I hope you have some new inspiration for sprucing up the front of your house this spring/summer.  It's amazing what a beautiful exterior will do for how you feel about the house itself.  It's not just for your guests and neighbours, but it's for you too!  Taking as much pride in your house exterior as the interior will help you love your house just that little bit more!

It's Christmas Time...

So here we are, into December and we are officially allowed to talk about Christmas (cause really I hate hearing Christmas music and seeing Christmas trees already up in the middle of Nov, it just seems wrong to me)!  Now however, the countdown is on, and we need to get to decorating...
I've been thinking that we should talk about decorating your door, front porch, yard and all those things.

Let's be realistic, most of us aren't trying to win "the most lights in your yard" award, or even trying to get onto the Christmas lights tour in your home town; what we really want is a pretty/beautiful home that invites our guests and expresses our joy of the season.

Most of you are fans of coloured lights, and that's OK, so each there own, that is the beauty of individuality; I however am of the white lights camp.  I think they had a glow and touch of elegance to things - I confess, I have been known to mix red and white lights, but that was then and this is now ;)

If you have stairs leading up to your house, how pretty and simple is this? 

Glass bowls, some holly, cranberry and the white stuff is salt!  Course rain is an issue for us, but try some type of glass lantern or hurricane lamp with the same combination.


Regardless of the colours you choose, try to do it tastefully, doors and front porches are an amazingly simply way to do it.  Even if you live in a flat or apartment, I've wrapped my door like it was a huge present, with really wide gold (insert colour of choice) ribbon that I attached to the bottom and top of the door with tape, literally tying a ribbon.  Wreaths are beautiful, and can be done in so many ways.

But don't forget those big beautiful pots or urns you usually have filled with flowers.  Take greenery (you live on the Coast, you can find pine branches easily) like pine or holly or both, add in some red berries on stems from the local craft store.  and if you have an electrical outlet handy just randomly stick white lights within the mix.

Regardless of what you do, do it with intent, try to keep a colour theme, whether it's lime green and purple, traditional white, green and red, metallic's or navy blue and white.  Just give it a sense of intention.  Your beautifully decorated front door and porch is the the invitation to your guests during this happy and festive season.  They will feel welcomed and enticed as they enter your home!

Now all that being said, I'm going to just give you lot's of pictures for inspiration rather than bore you with words, pictures as they say speak a thousand words!  Enjoy, and I hope you'll send me some pictures of your beautifully decorated front doors, porches, steps, yards, whatever it is you choose to do!

Just don't worry about it being too perfect, it's about expressing your own personal taste; and since none of us are perfect, your friends will love it because it was something you did!

The urns with the Christmas trees are tomato cages, and here's what you need to make them.

• a tomato cage, one for each urn
• medium gauge garden or fencing wire, lighter cage craft wire
• outdoor Christmas lights, one string for each tree
• decorative polyester mesh for wrapping, approximately 7 feet per urn
• decorative mesh or wide ribbon in a complementary colour to wrap the base and create a bow, about 3-4 feet per urn
• a variety of shatterproof ornaments in different sizes in whatever colour you choose
• some artificial greenery — I used holly leaves, poinsettia, more bows, bells, snowflakes, whatever tickles your fancy, just remember it has to be able to handle the elements.
• 15 feet of 2 inch decorator ribbon per urn
• two large bells or a large bow for the bottom
• hot glue gun
• tall pole, bungee cords and tent pegs for securing

Wreathes, beautiful wreaths - as you can see for all my contemporary style, I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas, so these are the ideas that appeal to me.

 Front entrances as a whole can also be done big or simply as the black garden pot above shows, or as I love it, all in white white lights with greenery.  If you can get your adorable little dog to sit with a Santa hat, well all the better lol :)

So a red door is obviously a fabulous choice for Christmas, but I'm not suggesting that you paint your door unless of course you wanted to...

And like I said, wreaths they come in endless options.

 This is a clever idea from Martha Stewart.  You'd have to use something that can withstand the elements, but all it would take is white "boxes" with plastic ribbon and some outdoor lights.


And the combination to your right, is so clever and yet so simple.

Take white balloons and white tissue paper.  Blow up balloons, dip tissue in glue, cover balloons and let dry. cut out a space for battery tea light and use in either indoors or out.  The size will be proportionate to the urn and location.

There you have it, some simple and yet lovely ideas for decorating your outdoor spaces this Christmas season!  Have fun everyone.

Curbside Beauty

www.livebeautifuldesigns.com

Well I can't believe it's almost December, time is flying, and even though the rains are here I am somehow loving the weather regardless.  Every time I drive across the Lions Gate Bridge (and it doesn't matter in which direction) I find the poet in me come alive.  Like the other day, heading into the city ...The depth of forest that is Stanley park loomed below me, the skyline encased in hazy shades of grey, with only a handful of buildings illuminating an otherwise dark day... it just seems to capture me each time, but I promise I won't write about it every single time ;)

Basically it comes down to this, Vancouver is a beautiful city whether the sun shines or not, and let's face it we have to just enjoy it in the rain, because it is the "Wet Coast" after all!

Today I think I'm going to talk about ... And we're back, if you saw the draft of this you'd note that I stopped there yesterday because I couldn't decided what to talk about!  But after taking a look at one of my many sources for ideas and inspiration I thought I'd talk about Curb appeal.  This great description is from designer Carson Arthur (yeah I don't know who he is either lol), but he is right.

Picking an accent colour for your home is not unlike picking the right eye shadow for your face. While they both do wonders to highlight the positive, the wrong combinations can come off as a hot mess. 

Hide the Awkward and Unsightly
Start by objectively looking at the front of your home. Ask yourself "What are the areas I want to draw attention to and what would I rather people not notice?" Quite often, homeowners go with one trim colour for everything and that is a big mistake. For those areas that you'd like to add punch, use a darker more dramatic tone. For the awkward spaces like under the eaves, go with a shade lighter than the siding colour as the eye will always focus on the deeper pigments. 

Designing a New Build
For those lucky folks working on new homes or playing with the façade of a modern space, the sky is the limit. Keep in mind a few simple things. You may need to add a third choice as the main colour for the body of your home. The accent colours need to be chosen based on this main colour: lighten and darken appropriately. Also, if you are planning some horizontal banding, stay away from using the darker colour as it will draw the eye from side-to-side. Go with the lighter option in this case.
Just remember that the front of your home is its face, and the accents are there to make it shine, not stand out like a brightly painted clown at the circus.


But I won't leave you stranded, I'm going to give you one colour palette idea, shades of brown, because they are the colour of choice here ont he Coast, and because I find them rich and inviting.

Now don't forget, beautiful rich neutrals are all well and good, but make sure your door is an interesting colour as well.  Let that be how you express your individuality.  If you're selling it won't freak people out because they know it's easy to paint a door as compared to a whole house in brilliant purple and yellow.  If it's long term, why wouldn't you?!

Well now we know next weeks topic, bold, beautiful and interesting doors...stay tuned!

This seasons colours and why they're here...

Welcome to Live Beautiful Designs where living beautiful is what it's all about!

livebeautifuldesigns.com 

This week, we're going to talk about some of the fall colour trends according to one of my fabric suppliers, Maxwell.  They have gorgeous fabrics, and if you ever see something you love, let me know and I'll get it for you!

But before I get into the colours of the season, I have to tell you the reasons behind each colour trend; it comes down to guessing the mood of the country 2 years in advance, and that includes understanding the economy, and I know that sounds crazy, but it does.  Each season is about capturing the mood or influencing it based on how things stand economically.  Here in North America (let's face it what trends in the US trends in Canada) the The Color Association of the United States (CAUS), Roberts and her team directly influence the shades that define each season — from the hues found on the runway to those found at home goods stores and even makeup palettes.

"Basically, it's about capturing the mood of our ever changing culture.  The trends are forecasted by a panel of committee members who are experts within their industry, such as designers, buyers and textile manufacturers. This group of eight to 12 people brings in research on and examples of colors that are resonating with them. “We’ve had committee members come in with a stone they found on a street, a scrap of fabric, a flower, a spice, anything that really has a color,” Roberts says. 

So, for example, the color trends for Fall/Winter 2012 that Fashion Week attendees are noticing now were actually defined and developed in 2010. The extensive lead time is necessary, Roberts says, so that textile manufacturers can produce the materials that designers will be looking to use. But the delay does pose certain challenges. (taken from newsfeedtime.com)

How crazy is all that?! But there you have it, it's about capturing the mood and essence of our lives before they even happen.  Si I am going to go out on a limb and guess that in the depths of the US economic crisis these experts looked toward Winter 2012 with optimism.  And really these colours make us feel good, and when we feel optimistic we spend our money, redecorate our homes, travel, etc., so economics and colour trends go hand in hand.

Well all that being said, let's talk about some of this season's colours.

Turquoise, it apparently never really goes out of style.  And for the record, I want that bag!

"This trendy blue re"ects serenity and well-being and is loved for its soothing tranquility when paired with soft neutrals, and for its bold showiness when accented with lime green and citrus yellow.  Turquoise continues to add excitement as an important trend for seasons to come."



And Orange, I know most of us can't wear it well, but we can throw it in amongst our neutrals for that splash of colour; even a wall painted orange won't hurt, it's not difficult to paint a wall nor to change the colour when you're tired of it after all!

 
"Tangerine, carrot, apricot; orange is this year's biggest color trend.  Orange is a power color known to stimulate creativity and positive energy.  Pair this warm vibrant color with teal blue and yellow for this season's most dynamic color statement."


And because very few of us can live with an orange or turquoise room, here's a lovely neutral palette to use as your base.  Shades of Grey, pardon the reference, but we (meaning the world of colour) had the term first, and there's nothing like beautifully mixed shades of the same palette to make a room feel complete. 

Well that's it for today, it's a lot I know, but understanding whey we choose the colours we do allows us to decide what works for us, without being so strongly influenced by the "trends" of the season.  That's not to say we shouldn't embrace them; I just think that we need to choose colours that appeal to us for the right reasons!

The start of something beautiful...

Welcome to Live Beautiful Designs where living beautiful is what it's all about!  

This blog will mainly be about all things design, my business focuses on window coverings and interior design, but I'll be talking about things that I think make my world (and hopefully yours too) more beautiful.  I'll be writing about design trends, colour trends, talking about a specific style of window covering and even drapery.  But I'll also cover things like art, photography, fashion if something really strikes me as beautiful, because I believe it's about the beautiful moments, those things that make us stop and step out of our increasingly busy lives for just that moment.  Like today as I drove across the Lions Gate bridge.  I actually had to write it down because the words came to me, and now it's my comment on FB.  

"Clouds the colour of smudged charcoal shrouded the snow caped peaks of the North Shore as I crested the Lions Gate bridge, the ocean almost the same colour as the sky, as it cradled giant rust coloured cargo ships in the mists of November..."

And that's my moment for the day as I ran around doing errands it stuck with me - a picture would have been great, but not so smart when driving across a busy bridge!

S