7 Hot Trends for o'11

7 Hot Trends for o’11

1.    Artsy Accents- Spend your time and money and invest in art that you love.  Here in New Orleans there is an unlimited supply of great art that is affordable to every budget.

2.    Classic Colors- Pinks, browns, lavenders and some pastels are hot right now.  These colors are considered classics and go well with both traditional and modern interiors.

3.    Decorated Walls- Use crown moldings and columns to enhance the dynamics of a room.  Coffered ceilings and ceiling fans also add focal points to any interior.

4.    No More white ceilings- White ceilings are completely out this year.  Choose a percentage lighter than your wall color to blend to the ceiling or if you want a more dramatic feel you can paint your ceiling an entirely different color but beware this is a very bold statement.

5.    White Kitchens- When it comes to interior design white is always white.   Brighten up your kitchen with white tiles, accessories, cabinets, and countertops.  This is glamorous and makes everything appear neat and clean.

6.    Color Those Accents- Use the colors of 2011 such as honeysuckle and vintage brown in accents around your home.  Decorative glass bottles, boxes, candles, and picture frames are easy to use and spruce up your space.

7.    Luxury that’s green- Check your products and see if they are sustainable.  Try and invest in green products this year.  Make an effort to go green with small accessory and also fabrics. 

COLORS OF 2011

The colors of 2011

Honeysuckle is upbeat and dynamic when used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is an appetite and conversation stimulant when used on the dining room walls. In the kitchen, it adds a fun touch on the table in placemats and other linens (patterned or solid), colored glassware, candles and small appliances. Honeysuckle is a great color to cover up shabby kitchen cabinets, or, if that’s too much of a color statement for you, try repainting knobs and drawer pulls. But be warned – once you try this arresting shade, it can become addictive. ut using complementary bronze greens like Willow PANTONE 16-0632 and/or Tapenade PANTONE 18-0840 adds a new sophistication to the combination that showcases the energy of Honeysuckle.The green tones can be really interesting in accessories for Honeysuckle tights and top. Another great and unique combination is Honeysuckle with a pinkish brown like Apricot Brandy PANTONE 17-1540.  Pink doesn’t always have to be super girly.  Pink is easily paired with white, black, green and even orange.  Pantone is not the one that puts out their color for the year, Benjamin Moore also came out with their own color Vintage Wine which is an anchoring, rich hue that combines the comfort of a brown with the luxury of a smoky violet.  Light spring greens and yellows are the perfect compliment for this color.

FEATURED ITEM OF THE MONTH

The Frank Lamp

The Frank lamp is a unique lamp produced by Julian Chichester.  It has a vellum and walnut base.  The Frank Lamp is simple, understated and beautiful.  The style is inspired by Mid-Century Modern and works with transitional, modern, and eclectic interiors.  If you have a neutral palette or colorful room this is the lamp for you.  This lamp blends with most interiors and ads height to any room.  Come check out the Frank Lamp at Chet Pourciau Design 3650 Magazine Street New Orleans, Louisiana 3650. 

NEW YEAR'S EVE DIY

So....If you are like me then you are already worn out from all of the holiday festivities.   But we have one more to go.  New Year's Eve!!  There are so many wonderful parties in town that sometimes it's nice to have your friends over to yours before you head out on the town.  Check out this wonderful DIY project by design sponge that I found.  UPCYCLE some of your old champagne glasses by using gold leaf to bring a little sparkle to them.  Decorate your decor with black and gold glitz.  Not only for new years but for the SAINTS TOO!!!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/12/happy-holidays-happy-new-year-from-ds.html  

last minute diy gifts

If you’re like me sometimes the holidays can be a blur.  Rushing from party to party and buying gifts can make your wallet go flat.  So I have some DIY last minute gifts that are easy and affordable for everyone.  First, everyone loves candles so you can decorate your own candle.  You can use clip art or even old wrapping paper.  Get a design, whichever you chose, spray it with 2 coats of clear varnish, letting varnish dry between coats.  When decal is dry, cut to desired size and soak in a bowl of water for about 1 minute to loosen the paper backing.   Carefully remove decal from water, and apply it to candle, peeling off backing as you go.  Smooth decal with a paper towel, eliminating air bubbles and excess water.  Let dry for approximately 3 hours. Another fast and easy idea for a gift is gift cards.  But to dress your gift card up you can create gift card holders.  You can turn wide ribbon into pouches and grace oversize gift tags with ribbon pockets.  Purchase precut tags with grommets from a stationery store.  Cut a 3-½ inch length of wide fabric ribbon.  Fold each cut end under by ¼ inch; glue.  Sew bottom and side edges to tag to form pocket.  Tuck gift inside.  It’ so easy and cute. Impress friends and family with gifts dressed up in thoughtful holiday gift boxes. These handmade packaging ideas not only offer a beautiful presentation, they'll be cherished long after Christmas is over.  Give cardboard jewelry boxes a ruby-slipper-inspired makeover and you won't even need wrapping paper. Brush the tops with acrylic paint to cover the label; let dry. Apply craft glue, and then sprinkle on glitter in the same shade as the paint. For extra sparkle, finish with metallic ribbon or embroidery floss.  Put a little present such as construction paper that you have converted into one of a kind stationary.  Draw the recipient’s name on the top of the card stock or construction paper and photocopy it on all the others so he or she has their own personalized stationary.

Upcycling your Wrapping paper

In this economy most people opt to not have the gifts professionally gift-wrapped but I have some fun and creative ways to wrap your presents this year without spending a lot of money.  Some items that you will need are regular brown packaging paper, newspaper, acrylic paint, and any type of ribbon or string.  A good thing about gift-wrapping your own gifts is that you can up cycle other materials such as attaching a small pinecone or leaf to a ribbon.  After wrapping your gift, use acrylic paint-to-paint decorative objects on the paper.  To add a personal touch you can even paint the name of the recipient and decorate the gift accordingly.  Another fun touch is to attach feathers, glitter, buttons, and straw or grass to the ribbons.  Gifts can really help or hurt the décor of your interiors.  If you have a themed Christmas try and work in that theme to your gift wrapping so everything looks cohesive.  

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upcycling holiday decor

7 Ways to Upcycle Your Holiday Décor

1.    1.  Use left over ribbon and gift wrap along with pine cones and other greens to create a beautiful and unique holiday inspired centerpiece that you can use on your table and even on your mantle

2.    2.  Spray paint small clay pots and saucers any metallic color and use them as coasters and or little candleholders that create a festive feel for your guests.

3.   3.   If you have left over lights, string lights onto some of your potted plants in the house and in your yard to add just a touch of glamour.

4.   4. Instead of having family portraits or other prints hanging on the wall, take them down and warp them with ornate and whimsical gift-wrap so they look like presents hanging on your walls.  This is especially fun for children.

5.   5.  If you have a chandelier in your dining room or in any other room in your house, hang glittery festive ornaments to enhance the holiday décor.

6.    6.  Get a Christmas ornament and take the top of it out and put a little wather in it and place a small flower in the ornament.  Place this next to a plate if you having a dinner party.

7.    7.  Go to any type of grocery store and buy a small cleaning brush that is usually used to clean bottles.  You can get any color.  Dip the brush in glue and roll it around in glitter.  You can also use a hot glue gun to glue on other decorative objects.  You instantly have a delicate little Christmas tree for side tables and coffee tables.