Surf’s Up!

Posted on June 23, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting

The sun is hot, but this summer’s trends? Even hotter! Beat the heat by surrounding yourself with cool nautical colors that pop against calm, neutral-toned furniture.

Mixing things up in the same color family, the surf blue drapes in this Drexel room stand out next to the sea and crystal blue stripes on the walls.  The charcoal grey and yellow painting on the wall creates a striking contrast against the blue hues and ties in the ikat-patterned throw pillows on the sofa. We even mixed and matched custom finishes – we love the look of the armoire and end tables (from our Postobello Home Collection) in a Sepia finish paired with the Westwood Ottoman in a Dark Walnut finish.

A final touch? We placed a colorful arrangement consisting of a bowl of lemons and refreshing bottle of San Pellegrino on the ottoman to invite company to sit down and have a drink (or two or three).

So, no time to pack up that picnic basket or beach bag? No problem! Just bring the spirit of summertime into yourhome! Does this look like a place you might want to relax this season?

Design Dictionary: Jacobean

Posted on June 15, 2011 by jbutler in Design Dictionary

Summer’s here, and one thing is clear – great things begin with the letter J like June, July and  our next Design Dictionary term, Jacobean. Named for the style of English furniture that emerged during the reign of King James I, these ornate yet pragmatic designs are still seen in homes today.

The Ornate

Jacobean-style furniture lent itself to the creation of beautifully carved pieces. Some of our favorites? The intricately detailed mirrors fashioned during this era. With Early Renaissance and Baroque influences, mirrors like our Carved Mirror from the At Home in Belle Maison collection feature carefully crafted ornamentation. We especially love the detail that favors an acanthus leaf at the top of the mirror – very much a popular feature of the Jacobean style. One great way we gave this historically-inspired mirror an update – one of our custom paint finishes. The Vintage Endive finish we chose for this particular mirror will really pop against a gray or neutral-toned wall!

 The Pragmatic

An important (and very pragmatic) feature to emerge during the reign of King James I was the gate leg. Still used today, these functional swinging legs allow you to fold out or fold in table leaves so that you’re always maximizing the use of your space. We can’t help but showcase the St. Helena Gate Leg Table from one of our newest collections, At Home in the Wine Country. This transitional table can be used in a breakfast nook, for a dinner party or tucked away behind your sofa when not in use. Not to mention, we love the piece’s rustic oak finishes.

 What pieces in the Jacobean style are you using in your home?

It’s Showtime!

Posted on June 8, 2011 by jbutler in Furniture Market

It’s showtime for our  Drexel design team – no, really, Showtime , High Point’s semi-annual fabric market hosted by the International Textile Market Association, is here!  Drexel designers, including Denise Alala, vice president of upholstery design, are on site snapping photos and taking notes as we speak! Here are some of our favorite trends so far:

The Gray Evolution

There’s been a lot of talk about the gray/charcoal presence the past few Showtime and High Point Market seasons. This time around, we’re seeing this wonderful, neutral base paired up with much warmer colors – gold tones all the way to mustard yellows.

Zest – A Yellow and Green Citron Infusion

We’ve seen a lot of movement in yellows, but not they’re not your average mellow yellows. These are more greenish-yellow tones translating into vibrant citron shades.

Green Immersion

There’s a lot green this year at Showtime, including a color direction Denise has been developing – tonal teals.  With this trend, we’re seeing a lot of deep jade teals all the way to mints, but it’s the mix that’s important. Each color is unique but is in the same family.

Floral Flurry

We’re seeing plenty of large, oversized floral patterns paying homage to Impressionistic masters like Monet. The palette is typically softer and sometimes monochromatic with big “brush” strokes.

Modern Master

In addition to Monet-like patterns, we’re also seeing Picasso-inspired Cubist patterns. Bold geometric shapes in strong reds, yellows and greens define this modish trend.

Fabric Origami

A trend straight from Italy,  this look might pop up on a pillow or accent piece. Made by possible by laser-cut technology, we love these fabric origami pieces!  

Touch-me Texture

We’re a big fan of the broken-in, comfortable feel of the stonewashed linens we’ve spotted. We also love the effect of overdying fabric to the point that the ground comes through – a unique way to ensure that your upholstered piece is truly a one-of-a-kind.

Well, that’s it for now from all of us here at Showtime. How will you use these trends to decorate your own home? We’d love to hear from you!

Blossoming with Color

Posted on June 3, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Trendy Tips

It’s the perfect time of year to fill your home with the aroma of fresh flowers. We love the idea of incorporating bright bouquets that match your room and furniture décor, and that’s just what our design team did at High Point Market this spring.

Notice how the hyacinths stood out in this Drexel showroom. The purple blooms perfectly complemented the light pink tea light holders and lavender drapes. The reflection of the glass table also heightened the effect by creating a dramatic illusion of flowing color.
Have you ever seen such stunning tulips? This water-filled display was the perfect way to catch the eye and pull color from the pieces surrounding it.  The bursts of red and green in the floating bulbs complemented the coral cover of the book and upholstery of the sofa. 
Perfect harmony – this was what our Drexel design team had in mind for this side table. That’s why they chose a simple arrangement of calla lilies to complement the purple-toned books underneath the very serene and meditative sculpture.
In a recent blog, we mentioned finishing a look with a fresh vase of flowers. In this Drexel showroom, designers did just that by using orange and white stock to play off of the existing color scheme of the upholstered side table and neutral-toned lamp.

So whether it’s just stepping outside into your garden or visiting a nearby florist, we encourage you to color coordinate with flowers in your home….If anything, it’s a giant breath of fresh air!