High Contrast, High Reward

Like many design junkies out there, I am a big fan of HGTV and websites like Houzz. It's always fun to follow trends and (let's be honest) judge the designs others have done. Besides these guilty pleasures, with my position as an in-home design consultant for Eddie Z's Blinds & Drapery, I have the pleasure of visiting many different homes. Consequently, I pick up ideas to use for both myself and other clients.

My current favorite idea is one I've decided to use on my entry staircase. Having been in this business for a quarter of a century (!), and living in the Chicago area my entire life, I have had my fill of oak! Like the Midwesterners that love it so much, oak is a wood that is very sturdy, with a strong grain, yet still warm and beautiful. While I don't want to lose the benefits of this hard wood, it's time to give that golden oak a new, fresh look. So, my plan is to paint the treads and the handrails of the staircase high gloss black, while also painting the risers and the spindles high gloss white! The impact will definitely get attention when you walk through my front door!

Using a high contrast in a window treatment can also take a room to the next level. This Barrington client has been remodeling her older home for a while, but she has done it the right way. By taking her time in making design decisions, she has turned the 1st floor of her home into a show stopper! When I came along, I quickly understood that Sheryl loved to use strong graphic fabrics that make a statement and will complete her beautiful rooms. One of the most striking treatments we've done so far is in her dining room.

 

Simple flat roman shades, yet the high contrast pattern (Robert Allen - Lewis Range/Chalkboard) finishes the room in stunning fashion. There is a reason you are reading black type on a white page - it stands out! This particular fabric is actually a charcoal gray, yet the light to dark not only of the pattern but the wide white trim against the dark walls pull the room together to make an impact when you enter. You can't miss it!

 

Another less permanent way to achieve that high contrast visual is with your family photos grouped on a wall. By using simple black frames and wide white matting, you can draw new attention to those treasured shots as they become a statement work of art. It serves a second purpose by unifying what may have been a hodge podge of images and gives you the opportunity to change the photos as seasons change or children grow.

 

Now I just have to get to work on those stairs...

TransFIXING Transoms!

I've been working with people for many years covering their windows, but there is one kind of window all are reluctant to cover at all. TRANSOMS! That window above the window that you paid a little extra for. It brings an added architectural detail to a room and lets extra light in without (usually) affecting privacy.

Normally, I will accomodate the customer's wishes. Sometimes, if it's a patio door with the transom above, we cannot because there is nowhere to put a center support for the treatment below. But look at the windows in the photo of this two story family room. We installed gorgeous Hunter Douglas Vignette Modern Roman Shades in the Etched pattern on the lower windows only, leaving the transoms open. The Stoneware colorway was perfect for her contemporary room with lots of gray. It looks beautiful!



Except......the light coming in from the transoms (and the upper windows) causes tremendous glare in the room, making the television and anyone sitting across from you difficult to see. Because you can't lengthen the Vignettes  (you can only start from scratch), we needed a different solution.

Easy solution for the upper windows - we are installing the same Vignettes in the Etched/Stoneware pattern but adding the Powerrise feature, so they can open and shut them with the push of a button! Next step is the transoms. We will be tinting them in the spring, which will not only aid in reducing the glare, but also the fading of her beautiful new furniture and dark wood floors.

Sometimes getting what you want, like open transoms, can bring about challenges! Fortunately, we can find a solution!

After the Before Before

 

I wish I had the before "before" photos of this contemporary room. Typical suburban two story family room is what I would tell you. But this savvy homeowner brought in some major bling with the floor to ceiling marble fireplace and an incredible chandelier that just dances throughout the room.

But something was still missing! That is where we came in...

 

The first layer we added was privacy - all the glass gave the room a bit of a fishbowl look. We used Hunter Douglas Pirouettes - giving the homeowner complete control over her privacy while also providing excellent light control. Then we played up the height by adding cascades to the centers and panels to the outside of the corner windows. This Fabricut faux silk added a graphic element and a bit more sheen. Depending on how and where you view this fabric, it can pull up grey or gold tones - perfect for the palette of this room!

Tango Anyone?

Have you ever thought about color? About why you are seeing so much more grey in furniture right now? Or how Avocado Green became the color of choice for refrigerators many years ago? There is a group whose only job is to think about color. They are called the Color Marketing Group (CMG). They are the ones who actually determine what next year's car colors will be or what colors you will be drooling over when you choose those roman shades for your bedroom.

How do they decide what colors you'll be seeing in the next year or two? Where do they get the inspiration to inspire you? It's both simple.... and complex. They take a look at what is going on in the world. One key element they look at are economic conditions - and as a country we seem to be on the upswing - so right now the colors are bright and cheerful. Just the tonic to bring us out of the economic doldrums of the last few years! Pantone, the world-renowned color communication company used by interior, fashion and print and product designers has named Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year.  "Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward." - Pantone.com

An entire room of such a bold statement is probably too much for most people to handle. But, think about Tangerine Tango as an accent! Maybe in a couple of custom pillows against a neutral sofa or on a hotel-inspired neutral bed? This is a tone that would pop with greys, taupes, beiges or creams. If you want to be really daring, pair it with a complementary color - a turquoise - just in small doses - and really make your room sing! 

I'll be exploring more about color in upcoming posts....

Slider Solutions

You probably have one in your own home.... the ubiquitous sliding door that leads to a balcony or a deck or a patio.  Unless you are in a situation where you don't need privacy or to protect your furnishings from the sun, you probably want to treat it with some kind of window covering. The quick and easy fix was always a vertical blind. And they still are a great solution for that situation - economical, attractive and practical. But if I had a dollar for every time I heard "I hate verticals, what else can I put on my slider?" - well, I would have a lot of dollars!
There are plenty of other solutions available when treating your sliding glass door. First of all, you need to answer a few questions.
What room is it in? If it is in the kitchen, you may be getting a face full of sun at breakfast, or at dinner and want to control your light differently depending on the time of day.
Does it get much use? Are the kids or the dog going in and out several times each day (or hour)?
That is going to lead you to your next question - Vertical or horizontal? In reality, any product can be used to treat a slider, but vertically moving products may be a wiser choice if your door gets used frequently throughout the day.

One of the up and coming products, popularity wise, is a product called panel track. The one pictured here is an Eddie Z's woven wood, that serves two purposes - as a sunscreen and as a decorative complement to the adjacent windows with woven wood roman shades. This family had a wonderful, private backyard so their concern was not privacy. You can also use semi-opaque or opaque fabrics to suit your particular needs. The panels, which you can vary in number or width depending on the width of the window, slide open and stack behind one another allowing easy in and out access. I think this is a great option to a vertical, especially in a more contemporary room. They are moderate in terms of price range so you can get a lot of bang for your buck!
No, vertical blinds are not the only choice out there! When you set up your appointment for the new look on your slider, we can review all your options and choose the right look for your situation!