Settee and Slipper Chair
Posted on March 30, 2012 by jbutler in Design Dictionary
Whether you’re hosting a small family get-together or throwing a cocktail party, one thing is certain — it’s always good to have extra seating on hand. For today’s Design Dictionary, we’d love to introduce you to two of our favorite styles of chairs, the settee and the slipper chair: the perfect answers to your seating shortage.
Settee
Developed in the 17th century, the settee is the predecessor to the sofa and is the perfect chair for two. This elongated armchair can accommodate two or more people and looks oh-so-stylish in any of Drexel Heritage’s custom upholstery options, such as a fabulously fun floral design. We love the Christelle Settee and its classic form, which blends seamlessly into any room. The settee’s size makes it easy to move and use wherever extra seating is necessary!
Slipper Chair
Another great way to add seating to a room is the slipper chair. Designed in America in the 18th century, this style chair has a characteristically high back and a low seat with short legs. Our Abigail Chair is a fabulous example of how trendy and functional the slipper chair can be. This chair’s double-curved leg and tufted chair back make it fashionable, while its wide seat and customizable upholstery make it practical.
Are you in need of some extra seating? How do you accommodate for all of your guests?
Flourishing Florals
Posted on March 23, 2012 by jbutler in Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
Spring has finally arrived and blooms are popping up everywhere…and not just outside! From the runway to what we’re cultivating for High Point Market, one thing is evident: floral is making a big comeback.
Designers across the country are using head-to-toe florals to make an important statement: you can be both bold and ladylike. And the same can be said for the household — floral is no longer just for your grandmother’s sitting room. Bold colors and contemporary patterns are bringing a fresh look to this once traditional look.
A few seasons ago, we introduced this fabulous linen floral fabric (above) along with our Dalliance collection. Feeling particularly bold? Upholster an entire sofa or chair with it. Its bright colors and large pattern will grab your guests’ attention in the best kind of way. Not ready for all-over flower power? Try throwing a few accent pillows or an ottoman with a smaller floral print into the mix. For example, these cotton throw pillows add just a touch of floral femininity to our Kerry Sofa and go great with the stripes!
Do you have a fetish for all things floral? We would love to hear how you are incorporating this revitalized trend into your own designs.
Go Green
Posted on March 15, 2012 by jbutler in Color Forecasting
These days, green is everywhere. From emerald to jade, jasper to sage (and even environmentally), everyone and everything is going green. Right now, we’re spotting different shades of green all around us, from Pinterest to the runway to right here in the Drexel Heritage showroom – and just in time: Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner!
To celebrate the approaching holiday, we’d like to revisit a quote from our resident designer, Denise Alala. “Green is the ultimate perennial – the color of nature,” she said. “But a new incarnation is just starting to emerge.”
Denise took note of this in Fifth Avenue windows and SoHo boutiques during a trip to New York early last year. Now, her ideas have taken shape on the showroom floor. Here are a few of our favorites:
Nothing says sleek sophistication like Denise’s green leather desk with lustrous silver nailhead trim.
Invoke feelings of calm and relaxation with this muted green sofa. Want to make it pop? Toss in a few striped pillows.
Sick of the same old solids? Create an interesting focal point in your living room with this Missoni-inspired side table in differing shades of neutral greens.
Go green or go home. This sofa table will turn heads with its bright acid green leather upholstery.
What are your favorite shades of green? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Blogger Spotlight: Meet Elaine
Posted on March 8, 2012 by jbutler in Blogger Spotlight
For more than 20 years, Elaine Williamson, principal of Elaine Williamson Designs, has been creating interiors that are elegant and comfortable. We were lucky enough to catch up with her this past week.
Elaine loved our upholstered bed-mirror combo at High Point Market last season!
How did you become interested in interior design?
Growing up in the Deep South and New Orleans, I could not seem to think of anything else. I can remember from a very early age loving the fabrics my mom had in our home, and I will never forget the day the “drapes” were hung in the formal living room. I swooned for hours! Moving to New Orleans only added to my addiction of layered fabrics and color.
When you aren’t blogging, what do you do?
Well, I truly should be blogging more. I have the utmost appreciation for all that bloggers do for our industry and our society in general. They open up and expose our readers to sights and ideas they may never have conceived or come across otherwise. When I’m not blogging, I have a small boutique design firm in Dallas, and it keeps me very busy. But, when I do get a break, I enjoy traveling and painting.
What is one of your design/decorating ideas or tips?
If you are a designer, the best tip I have is to listen to your client and offer the best design you can come up with for them. Tapping into your client’s mind and lifestyle and really, I mean really understanding them is a rare characteristic and brings so much value to the table.
Another useful tip is to study the color wheel. If you can understand the relationship of colors, then your creativity can flow!
Design Dictionary
Posted on March 1, 2012 by jbutler in Design Dictionary
It’s the details that take a piece of furniture from just blah to voila. For this design dictionary, we’d like to introduce you to some types of decorative detailing (beginning with the letter R) that make our Drexel furniture one-of-a-kind.
Relief Carving
Relief Carving
This ancient style of woodcarving has been used to create sculptural details on furniture throughout history and is still popular today. In this technique, the background material is carved away allowing the design to be prominently raised above the surface. Depending on the depth of carving and the prominence of the projection, there are several styles of reliefs including: low, bas, deep and pierced. Our Armoire of Prosperity employs this relief carving technique, giving the piece more depth and visual interest.
Rope Molding
Rope Molding
Resembling the twists of a rope, this type of decorative molding is a classic technique used to add intricate detailing to a variety of types of furniture. When added to a cabinet or armoire, rope molding instantly adds a touch of elegance. If you want to dramatically display this detail, try our Celladora Celo Poster Bed or Colusa Credenza buffet.
Rosette
Rosette
This design detail is characterized by its carved or pointed circular decoration, formed by rows of leaves in a circle around a bud or center. It has been a common design detail since the early fourth millennium BC, and has been seen in various civilizations throughout history including: Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece and Egypt. The rosette is easy to incorporate into your home with our Casa Vita Russo End Table. And the best part? The piece customizable, so it will blend seamlessly with the rest of your furniture!