Design During a Lockdown

Design During a Lockdown


Tired of Looking at Your Walls?


 

This isn't another commiserating email about the tragedy we are all facing with the Covid 19 virus.  If you are like me you have had enough doom and gloom and are looking for hope, sunshine and spring flowers. I have  spotted budding daffodils on my daily sanity walks and am reminded that this to shall pass; warm weather and reuniting with friends will soon be here. 

In the meantime we have to stare at those tired walls, worn out furniture and dated window coverings. I myself have been compiling a mental list of home improvement items I will be dealing with when the work ban is lifted.  So far I am planning on carpet cleaning, new accessorizing and (gasp!) wallpapering my powder room.

That's right... wallpaper is coming back with full force!  Granted, it isn't for the faint of heart, it isn't for EVERY room and it most certainly is NOT your mother's wallpaper.  (Remember the tiny flowered paper with the border at the ceiling?)

Today's wallpaper makes a statement.  It says "look at me" with oversized patterns and striking colors.  It is reserved for those special areas that a homeowner wants to WOW.  Powder rooms, dining rooms and offices are the first to cry out for patterning.  Furnishings in those rooms are hard in texture and tend to be monochromatic.  Wallpaper softens the look and creates a unique environment.  Do you like a sophisticated feel, a gentle spa-like setting or a bold and beautiful accent wall?  Today's designer wallcoverings can instantly add those elements.

Why do we wallpaper?  The past twenty years or so had seen a dramatic decline in wallcovering.  I believe we overdid its use resulting in a pendulum swing to all paint and no paper. New homes are not being built with the attention to architectural detail that we had in years back.  Together that leads to a slightly boring interior design.

As all design trends go, the pendulum is swinging back.  I am not advocating to return to the mini flowered papers of the past and certainly not in more than a few choice spaces in your home.  Styles available range from updated traditional takes on classic damask to full wall non-repeating murals and bold, modern geometrics.  Color palettes vary from soft and muted to loud and bold.  They are the perfect way to personalize your house to your style and taste!  

So, if you are tired of staring at those four walls during our shelter in place order and really want to add some spice to your interior decor just call me!  I'll help you find the right pattern that gives your home the lift you need. 

Wallpaper not on your radar but you still want a refresh of some sort?  Although we can't meet in person until this is all over  we can still schedule a virtual consultation over Facetime or Zoom.  Since I will not have travel time involved during the lockdown I am discounting my design fee by 25% to just $75 per hour with a minimum charge of one hour. 

If you are looking to refresh your interior design, call me at 216-554-2377 or email barbabraham1@gmail.com to set up a personal design appointment either in home or virtually. For more information about Barb Abraham Designs, visit our website at www.barbabrahamdesigns.com.

Art Deco returns with soft geometric curves to accent dining room walls

Or, opt for a traditional, non repeating  wall mural that immediately adds style to a room of hard furnishings


Trust Barb Abraham Designs to make your house the home you have always wanted.  Call today for your personal design appointment. 

Copyright © 2020 Barb Abraham Designs, All rights reserved.


Keeping Ahead of the Design Curve

Keeping Ahead of the Design Curve

Staying Ahead of the Design Curve


I am often asked the question "How long will this be in style?" My answer is always this... "If I could forecast that I would be charging a lot more money for my design time!"

That said, I do spend a considerable amount of research time following the design market so that I can keep my clients aware of emerging and fading styles. Every design field has its marketing and forecast groups that analyze the surge and wane of consumer interest in their products. Much of the interior design market follows the fashion design trends. Keeping our eyes on current runway styles and colors will give us a hint on what is coming down the road for our home design.

What are we seeing on the horizon for interiors? Softer, more tactile furnishings are the most impressive movement in my mind. Nature inspired textures and colors are bringing to homes a calming, welcoming aspect that was missing in some of the gray and white high contrast interiors of the past few years. Luxurious fabrics that beg to be touched in throw pillows and big chunky afghans in family rooms are a good way to introduce that invitation to "come in and be at home." Softer curves on couches and chairs take the psychological edge off our day when we enter our homes at night. Muted colors in bedrooms inspire a calming feeling to induce relaxation and rest.

As I wrote to you before, neutrals are still influenced by some gray but are morphing more into warmer beige undertones. Pale white is coming on strong with a much softer, less cool base. Brown is the new black as a neutral and black as a strong accent is taking the interior trim world by storm. Accent colors on the upswing for 2020 include dusty pink, aqua, pale teal and light terracotta. All in all, everything is leaning towards a softer, less high contrast palette than we have seen in the past few years. Bolder contrasts are being reserved for the less used dining rooms and powder rooms when looking to show off style.

Don't fret if you feel you are lagging behind in the design world. Much can be done with simply changing out some of the accent features in your home to freshen the look. A new pillow, area rug, lamp or accessories can transform your room for a season or provide a completely new fresh look.

If you are looking to refresh your interior design, call us at 216-554-2377 or email barbabraham1@gmail.com to set up a personal design appointment. For more information about Barb Abraham Designs, visit our website at www.barbabrahamdesigns.com.

Say Goodbye to Gray!

Goodbye Gray!  Paint trends for 2019

 

As trends go, the phenomenon of Gray in interior design has been a lingering bane to most interior designers.  True, gray is the new neutral alongside white and beige, but can we say that it is time to move on?

 

Designers wholeheartedly embraced the graying of design 15 years ago as a way to change up a tired look and give it a fresh, cool feel.  With tones ranging from light to heavy and bases of green, blue or brown; gray opened up a world of possibility to homeowners stuck in the beige and tan rut.  Designers saw it as a chance to introduce a more minimalist look that easily highlights high contrast items. 

 

In 2019, however, designers are calling time out.  It seems that everywhere we go we see variations of the same design in homes with white cabinets, espresso floors and gray walls.  It is time to  bring back individuality. 

 

Granted, being based in the cold Midwest that sees very little but gray and gray all winter long, this designer began longing for color and warmth several years ago.  While keeping my eyes on design trends in Europe and both US coasts I am encouraged to see vibrant colors and classic neutrals returning.  

 

Grays are morphing into taupey “greige”.  The revitalized classic of a warm taupe now sets the base for residential design.  Vibrant blues, mid tone greens, millennial pinks, calming yellows and earthy terracotta compliment the softened look of a classic neutral stone.  To ease the transition away from the harsher grays, designers are studying the base tones in permanent features of a home to pair with soothing, rich accent colors. 

So, you don’t need to rip out that new gray wood look tile or toss the new gray couch… Just purchase a beautiful cozy chair in a warm contemporary floral print (no quatrefoil please!) that adds the spark of color and whimsy to brighten your space.  Throw pillows with patterns and colors you love are an easy way to bring a new face to that gray sofa.  Search for a colorful single piece of artwork that inspires you.  Little changes can make a big difference.  Your designer will thank you!

www.barbabrahamdesigns.com 216-554-2377