Wednesday, May 16, 2012
This years outdoor trends include bold colors, patterns and shapes. There is also a lot mismatching going on-and it is done on purpose!! I have been looking at this seasons outdoor trends and found some great buys from local ‘go to’ stores, to get the look that is HOT!
(click each photo to go to the store that carries it).
Use these products together for a fabulous look!
Brighter Color Mix
The people at Pantone tell us that brighter greens, yellows and reds are on the rise (just wait until 2013!). Many stores have picked up on this and are showing a ton of bright outdoor furniture and decor to choose from for this spring and summer season.
How to get this look: These Antonia Sculptural Planters give off bold color and bold shape! Their bodies areaccordion pleats handcrafted from fiberglass and resin. So unique.
How to get this look: Add an accent table finished in one of the hot colors from the color wheel! I bought one of these Umbra folding tray tables for my backyard in red from Bed Bath & Beyond. Its made of steel and has ventilation slots to drain liquid spills or rain. Plus it folds for compact storage.
How to get this look: If you need a big pop of color for your chairs or sofa, try these 18″ Peacock throw pillows in yellow and red. Adorable!
Playful Patterns
I love a good graphic. Mixing and matching them is so much fun. Lattice and geometrical patterns are popping up everywhere. You can easily incorporate this pattern into your outdoor space through pillows, cushions, and your outdoor rug!
Make a ‘quick change’ with new cushions for your lounging and dining chairs………
How to get this look: Change out your chair cushions to these intricately latticed Pavilion Cushions from Pier 1. They come in lime green and lemon yellow.
Or take this trend to a higher level, and add more bright color by a. changing out your wicker chair to this Casbeh Chair, or b. spray paint your chairs with outdoor use spray paint!
Give your rattan chairs a modern upgrade by using a cushion with a pattern.
Don’t forget about your chaise….
How to get this look: Try this knife edge chaise cushion in a Sunbrella Raffia Gate Tuscan pattern for a bold look on your outdoor chaise! Frontgate sells this in a blue color also that they call ‘Aruba’.
How to get this look: Love the look of this Terrene green and cream geo-patterned hooked rug from Layla Grace. It is handmade from polypropylene acrylic for an all-weather piece that resists mildew and fading. Works well with the yellow, red and green products from this post!
Love this door mat! Stripes never seem out of style and this one is unique. It is extra long (46.0 ” L x 18.0 ” W) perfect for wider doorways. And the colors are bright and cheery. It is a Smith & Hawken Coir doormat.
Mix Up Woods With Metals & Rattan
Everyone’s mixing it up to get more texture and color. It also allows you to keep a table you have and just replace old chairs (or the other way around). This keeps your outdoor space interesting looking!
How to get this look: Pair a wood dining table with fun colored iron or rattan chairs!
These Pier 1 outdoor stacking chairs in yellow (also come in a slew of other fun colors) really pop with this gorgeous West Elm Jardine wood table that has a driftwood-inspired finish.
The table will distress more over time, making a great contrast with the chairs that will stay bright because they are made of iron, covered in synthetic wicker.
Lanterns Are a HOT Accessory
Light it up with bright lanterns. Outdoor lanterns have come a long way; they now bring architectural interest and add colorful interest (it used to be that the candle was the colorful part, but not any more!!) They come in really large sizes and small ones great for hanging!
How to get this look: These colonial style metal lanterns in rustic red from Pier 1 are well priced and offer a warm classic red look!
Solar/battery lanterns with lighting that looks like candles but does not need to be lit are great! You can find battery/solar operated lanterns in so many sizes and shapes.
How to get this look: These little solar powered, battery powered lanterns from Target would be great hung from trees around a backyard. They are light weight and blend in with the environment during the day, and at night they would light up the night from above (should last up to six hours).
Don’t forget about how beautiful light looks above, hung from trees!
Create a Boundary With Appeal
If your patio does not have any walls defining it from the rest of the yard, make one! Finish it off with something beautiful and bold like a bench. Choose a bench that feels more like a large architectural structure vs. a slender dining bench.
How to get this look: This Luytens Wooden Outdoor Bench from Grandinroad also comes in a black finish. Place the bench at the back of your patio and anchor the corners on either side with two large planters (see below). You can also use a bench under a large tree or in a proud big garden. These are great little spots to sit and enjoy the view.
I use these Toulon Planters from Ballard Designs all the time when I want to get some beautiful color and create a sophisticated space. They come in really large sizes!
DIY IDEA!
Paint your house numbers, or a beautiful design to an inexpensive planter in front of your door to welcome guests and show them how creative you are! Use a pair of planters on either side for a grand entrance.
CLICK HERE to see the steps to create this unique planter.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
See how this turned out!! Design a unique welcoming planter for your front porch, backyard, or apartment doorway (yes, even if your front door is inside a building you can still make your own statement). This project is fun, inexpensive, and can make a major impact to your home.
CLICK HERE for the easy steps!
*as seen on WFMZ TV 69 News at Sunrise
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Need a rug? Want to know the trends and how to find the right size, style, and shape for your foyer and dining room. CLICK HERE to get the scoop and see MY FAVE rugs!
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Ottomans are an added luxury to any sectional, but they come in so many shapes, sizes and styles that choosing one can be overwhelming. Picking the right ottoman for your modular sofa depends on the configuration and the look you want to achieve; you want to find one that has the right scale, height and feel to coordinate with your space. Here are some helpful tips. CLICK HERE.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
If your powder room is suffering from a severe case of ho-hum, bring it back to alluring with skillfully placed art. CLICK HERE to see!
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
11 modern ceiling fan designs worthy of a round of applause CLICK HERE to see!
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Our client works mainly from home. She wanted an office that felt cheerful and functioned well without looking like a commercial space. It was a total transformation since there was nothing in it previously. We had so much fun on this project!
BEFORE
AFTER
A spot for relaxing away from the desk area was important.
The door shades keep the room private and add a colorful pattern.
We included a unique textured wallpaper in a silver finish with a interweaving wave pattern. It shines when the light catches it.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
We recently added window treatments to a beautiful home in Lititz PA. We created a young chic vibe through the patterns we used, and connected all the open spaces to each other thru the colors used. My client and I had so much fun picking the fabrics, and then on the day of installation, we ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ at our vision coming to be!!
CREATE A COLOR STORY
Choose unique fabrics that connect through color!
The Fabrics connect thru color! Can you tell which fabric we used for the kitchen, dining room, family room and living room?
The kitchen became brighter thru simple bold pattern on a white background!
Large pattern looks great on flat valances to show off the large repeat.
Tip for inside mounted window treatments- Choose a light fabric if you are placing your window treatment inside the window because you are taking up some of the natural light and do not want it to feel too dark.
Simple stationary drapes soften and warm up the double story family room.
They are stunning from the second floor!
Be dramatic in a dining room! We love the swirls that glimmer at night! And the crushed glass finials bring the bling too!
Just a little pizazz was used but through the fabric it looks so dramatic!
Add a table runner on your table for a big punch of color in the center of your dining room! Like this Moroccan inspired pattern.
Bring in bold color without pattern by having two fabrics sewn together. Use one color for three quarters, and another color for the quarter left!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Getting ready to sell your home? If you are reading this because you want to stage your place before it goes on the market, then you are very smart!
What is STAGING?
Staging means more than cleaning your home top to bottom and making minor repairs like fixing those cracked tiles. Its all about setting your home up to flaunt its best features, inside and out. It helps to have a professional stager or realtor give you tips so you know where to make changes that will enhance your home’s beauty. Here is a list of some home staging tips that should not be overlooked:
FIRST know who you are staging for -
A real estate agent will tell you about your local housing market so you list it during a seller’s market, when there will be more competition among buyers for your home. Make sure you know the demographic of your optimum buyer. Staging is a great opportunity to showcase its best features and make a lasting impression for that SPECIFIC buyer; Create a home ‘they’ can envision living in. This give you more chance to lead to a quick sell at your asking price!
Shosh’s Top 6 Staging Musts
1. De-clutter Unseen Spaces. Potential buyers will look inside closets and cabinets to see how much hidden storage there is. Even in the bathroom, hide all your personal items in storage containers that look smart on the outside.
2. Keep windows clear and clean. Take down heavy window treatments and out of date shades and blinds to bring in natural light and show the view.
3. Make the most of architectural details. Show off unique focal points. Do not over decorate your fireplace and do not overstuff your built ins with books and knick knacks. Keep them both simple and elegant.
4. De-Personalize Your Home. Bring down family photos from the walls, pack up displayed collections, and tone down ‘themed’ rooms.
5. Neutralize walls. Take down dated wallpaper and paint over bold colors with a non-offending warm neutral shade like Benjamin Moore’s Marble Canyon. Stay away from white walls because it can appear cold and life less.
6. Zap Empty Spaces. Give every room in your home purpose. Even an open loft area or empty space in an unfinished basement can become a reading nook by adding a small comfy chair, lamp and an accent table. You want buyers to visually see how to take advantage of your space.
Want to know more? Watch Shoshana talk about how to get home buyers attention, with Eve Tannery on WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise CLICK HERE
Shosh Talks 'Home Staging Musts!'
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Lobby
Last night was the big reveal of the Versailles at Eighth chic loft apartments we decorated. There It was soooooo much fun! First of all, yes, the sangria from Sangria really rocks!! Dina Hall performed amazing original music (she was set up in the upper loft in one of the apartments so it felt like her own stage!) See the photo of me above? That smile was plastered on my face all night as I met so many unique people in the area. 69 News ran a story on it, and I can’t wait to see what the Morning Call does with the photos and interview March 6 (that was the date the photographer told me they might run the story).
It was great to be a part of the re-vitalization of our beloved downtown Allentown, and even more amazing to hear from so many other people, over good music and sangria, that they are excited of the future possibilities!
Thank you Ken Palumbo, of the Frederick Group, for having faith in me and my team!
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