What a Lovely Accent

Posted on July 28, 2011 by jbutler in Trendy Tips

Hoping to make a small change that will have a big impact?  We’ve got the perfect idea for you – create an accent wall! (more…)

Fashion Forward

Posted on July 22, 2011 by jbutler in Fashion and Design

What fashionista doesn’t enjoy staying on top of next season’s trends?

When it comes to this autumn’s breakout hues, we’ve got the scoop. Look out for bold greens and mustard yellows!

Our friends at Traditional Home agree. They fell in love with two brightly-clad pieces in our High Point Market showroom – the Darien Chair in mustard yellow with contrasting brown piping, as well as one of our brand new upholstered desks in green with nail-head trim. In fact, they loved them so much, they featured the pieces in the New + Next section of the July/August issue!

And the eye-popping colors aren’t the only thing we like about these two pieces. We love that they’re in leather! Stylish and durable, this tried and true fabric is making a rather sophisticated comeback. Wouldn’t you agree?

Bastille My Heart

Posted on July 14, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting

Love red, white and blue? Don’t fret that July 4th has come and gone…it’s Bastille Day, a celebration of French independence.  Drexel Heritage trend-watchers confirm that this wonderful combo of hues is en vogue year-round. And, our favorite Drexel designer, Denise Alala, agrees.

Denise believes that great design is all about attention to detail. Here’s a great example. Denise outfitted the Drexel Heritage Bree Sofa with Bastille Day in mind. Of course, a red, white and blue palette is natural choice — de rigueur. But, Denise takes Bree to new heights with perfect finishing touches.

First, notice the throw pillows. Denise went to her very own closet for the fabric, repurposing a favorite dress as a pillow fabric. Caution: don’t try this yourself! The really good news is that there’s no need. There are thousands of fabrics and trims in the Drexel lineup to get an on-trend, but timeless look that’s all your own.

Secondly, oh-la-la, we love the added twist of the sisal rope closures on the skirt. Bravo Denise! It adds an extra je ne sais crois to the Bree silhouette.

Let’s recap. Denise started with a classic silhouette – the beautiful Bree. Color and texture followed with a red, white and blue (or should we say rouge, blanc et bleu?) palette. Dressmaker (literally) pillows were added. And, a great look was wrapped up with perfect sisal details.

Don’t you love it!? Happy Bastille Day from our maison to yours!

Design Dictionary: Knee & Loveseat

Posted on July 8, 2011 by jbutler in Design Dictionary

During the 18^th century, the time period most recognized as the “Golden Age” of furniture making, there were five great English styles of furniture including the romantic Queen Anne style. Named after the famous queen who ruled England in the early 1700s, this style of furniture was most popular in the first half of the century and still influences designs today. Our next two Design Dictionary terms are reflections of this very elegant and luxurious style.

Knee

In a previous blog, we have talked about this period’s distinctive cabriole leg, an S-shaped curve resembling the leg of an animal. This design component is considered extremely practical and was quite common during the time period. More specifically, the “knee” of the chair is an element that is known to be the upper convex of a cabriole leg.

We love the beautifully rounded knee of our Royal Arm Chair, which mimics all of the delicate characteristics of the Queen Anne style. With its upholstered seat, combination of a cuffed and a trifad foot, richly finished and carved wood and the centrally carved shell motif, this chair looks majestic next to the Round Table from our At Home in Belle Maison collection.

Loveseat

A wide chair originally associated with Queen Anne style, the loveseat was created to accommodate women of the time period and their ample dresses.  It was after crinoline and petticoats began to disappear from women’s’ wardrobes that extra seat space was discovered and lovers united! Here is our fresh and modern take on this timeless piece of furniture. Lovebirds, make yourselves at home. Get cozy on the Mackenzine Loveseat!

Fun for the Fourth

Posted on July 1, 2011 by jbutler in Trendy Tips

This Fourth of July weekend, get your family and friends together and celebrate America’s birthday.  We were inspired by a recent article in Country Living to enjoy the staples and simplicities of “Made in America” backyard games. That’s why we put together this list of our favorite, inexpensive American pastimes (and no, we don’t just mean baseball).

• Three legged race: Tie those two bickering cousins together and watch them stumble (or just plain tumble) to a chalk drawn finish line.
• Potato sack racing: Ransack the house for some pillowcases and have your own make-shift “potato sack” race.
•  Tug-of-war: Grab an old rope from dad’s shed, draw a line that can’t be crossed and let the games begin.
• Dizzy bat races: Borrow a neighbor’s baseball bat and start spinning. The first to spin around the bat 10 times and cross the finish line is the winner – it’s way easier said than done.
• Grill-off: On your mark, get set, grill! Who can cook the tastiest hotdog on the block the fastest? Only time will tell….Don’t have a grill? We prefer our hotdogs over a backyard campfire any day.

We think these DIY field games are sure to make this year’s Fourth of July festivities fun for the whole family! What kinds of games do your family and friends play during summer holidays?