Fall HPMkt 2012: Part V
Posted on November 19, 2012 by mhorgan in Blogger Spotlight, Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design, Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
At Fall Market 2012, we continued to showcase what Drexel Heritage is known for: customization, high-end upholstery and finishes and the ability to take a personal and specialized spin on traditional and classic designs. Below, are some of examples of Drexel’s custom designs that our friends at Apartment Therapy recently shared on their blog. We hope these pieces featured will show you how a classic design can look completely new and will inspire you to be your own designer with Drexel Heritage!
Drexel Heritage’s Tweed Upholstered Wingback Chair
A handsome cut of menswear-inspired tweed upholstery, tailored for a wingback chair from Drexel Heritage.
Drexel Heritage’s Tie Dyed Wingback Chair
They’ve been designing and selling furniture since 1903, but that hasn’t stopped Drexel Heritage Furniture from taking playful risks, like this colorful tie dyed upholstery wingback chair.
Maxwell spots a color trend (fuschia!), and in the process snapped several of our editorial staff (Janel, Jason, and Chris) taking the tour at the Drexel Heritage showroom.
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!
Arrested by Color
Posted on October 26, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design
Denise loves her blues!
In New York, our creative team, Denise and Carl, were repeatedly arrested. Arrested by color, that is. The colors that caused the most commotion were the usual suspects: red, green and blue. But seen with a designer’s eye in a vibrant NYC milieu, they’re anything but ordinary.
Intoxicating Reds: According to Denise, “red has graduated.” Literally! She further explains, “We’re seeing a broad palette of reds – from quiet pink, blush and rose to live-out-loud fuchsia, raspberry and cherry – all interacting together. The mix is the thing.” It’s a new mind-bending approach to monochromatic!
Not-Your-Granny’s Green: Green is making a comeback. “After all,” Denise comments, “green is the ultimate perennial – the color of nature. But a new incarnation is just starting to emerge.” Denise took note of this in Fifth Avenue windows and SoHo boutiques. Green is bubbling across a broad palette – from jade and Anjou to pistachio and puce.
Wild Blue Yonder: “I can’t be impartial about blue,” Denise confesses, “It’s my personal favorite, and I love where blue is going now.” The expansive palette is once again in play. Blue-infused charcoals and smoky lavenders seduce. Indigo and turquoise demand attention. True blue is the color of water and sky, evoking a sense of harmony, fluidity and flow where ever it goes.
No one is neutral about color. What hues turn your head and trigger your imagination? Drunk on reds? Green with envy? Singing the blues? Tell us about your favorites. How are you are using the colors du jour to freshen up your wardrobe and your home décor? Stay tuned for the conclusion of this mini-series, where Denise and Carl revisit familiar patterns with a fresh eye.
Cool + Warm = Hot!
Posted on October 12, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Trendy Tips
Two distinctly different masterminds lead our creative design team. First, meet Denise. Her style is cool, hip and feminine with a European slant. We also want you to know Carl. His style and manner is warm, friendly and funny with a penchant for detail, detail, detail. It’s interesting that this “cool and warm” commingling design combo is also playing out in the world of design on the streets of NYC. Let us explain.
In a traditional design approach, harmony is achieved by bringing together colors with a similar value. For example, icy blues, dove whites and silvery sages might reside beautifully in one cool and collected palette, while those dusty taupes, teals and tawny browns are in another neighborhood.
The rules are changing. As a design team, Denise and Carl meld two style perspectives and approaches. In fashion, so-called cool and warm tones are mixing it up, and the result is anything but lukewarm – it’s hot! “It’s really refreshing,” Denise notes. Her favorite: a warm espresso dialed up and down across a diverse spectrum. “It’s already an important accent color in our line, and I think there’s room for expansion. Stay tuned.”
The new hues are not limited to fabrics and textiles. Wood furniture is traditionally brown, “but who said so?” asks Carl. Most of the Drexel lineup is available in more than 40 custom paint and finish colors ranging from Tangerine and Apple Green to a Smoke, Linen and Fog. The design team is “in the lab” now calibrating new paint color introductions inspired by travel and fashion trends.
Are you a student of color? Be sure to share your thoughts, and stay tuned as we discuss more color trends in part three of our trendspotting series.
Juicy News
Posted on October 5, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
We’ve got a crush – an orange crush that is. We’re smitten with this zesty, tantalizing color. It’s the design world’s latest obsession, and our creative team is no exception. From bold paprika to spicy persimmon, this eye-catching shade offers a welcome pop of color to any room in the home and can breathe new life and energy back into tired spaces.
Our friends at Real Simple gave a shout-out to this spicy hue (and our Jacque Table from our Postobello Home collection – thank you!) in their October issue. Editors suggest pairing darker shades of orange with rich neutrals, such as gray, for a sophisticated look, and pairing brighter shades with hot pink or turquoise accents and accessories for a more playful look.
Hey, here’s an idea. Choose from our more than 40 punchy paint finishes, and group our sweet Jacque Tables in pairs of two, three or more! Just look how cute they are together!
A Bite of the Big Apple
Posted on September 28, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
We believe that elusive thing called “creativity” is a state of mind. At Drexel Heritage, we are always looking for inspiration. Sometimes we leave home to find it! We invite you to join our dynamic duo – Denise Alala and Carl Bundy – on a recent creative junket to NYC to see what’s new (what’s not), what’s emerging, what’s next and what’s fresh. Fasten your seatbelt and let’s go…
We love London, Paris and Milan. Truly, we do. But NYC is a mere 90-minute flight from our North Carolina headquarters. One of Denise and Carl’s job requirements (we should all be so lucky) is frequent NYC field trips to soak up the city and go-mingle sights, sounds, colors and textures with Drexel Heritage designs on the drawing board. Let’s get started with two fashion-into-furniture emergent (and evolving) trends:
Still Mad about Geometry: While Denise admits geometry was not her favorite subject in school, she’s a devotee today. “It’s wide open,” she notes, “the geometrics are morphing with new forms – sometimes bold, other times faint, oversized and diminutive.” It’s everywhere from chunky jewelry (think Wilma Flintstone circa 2011) to highly patterned hosiery to home décor. Drexel Heritage fabrics are right on trend this season, as well as our new collection, Synchronicity (which celebrates symmetry, Carl points out), coming later this fall. (P.S. Carl aced geometry in high school.)
In the Wild: Animal prints (Denise says faux is fine – in fact, even better) are a perennial classic abounding on the streets of NYC and in shop windows. “What’s new and so exciting,” Denise observes, “is that the menagerie and color palette is getting really diverse. Animal prints are always present, but this season they’re breaking free, so to speak!” This means a wider cast of characters — zebras, cheetahs, pythons, leopards and the traditional black-brown coloration is giving way to metallics, magentas and a range of other strong, saturated colors. “A little goes a long way,” Denise observes, “It’s a rich potion.”
Starting to see a pattern? Join the discussion. Let us know what patterns, shapes and textures you see – new and emerging. Let’s trendspot together!
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!
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?
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!
Spring Trend Alert: Mixing Bright Colors
Posted on April 26, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting
Spring is a time of beautiful blushes, gorgeous greens and other sunny shades that when incorporated into interior design, create a blithe and energetic atmosphere. At Drexel Heritage, we know that one of the more difficult aspects of decorating is choosing the color palate, so this time, we decided to take a cue from Mother Nature with this spring trend – mixing bright colors.
If we all took a peek outside during the blossoming spring months, we would notice just how many bright hues are paired together. Whether we draw inspiration from the vibrant azalea flowers and their dark green leaves, multi-toned birds or beautifully patterned butterflies, one thing is clear – these energetic color combinations are everywhere!
We combined a few of our favorite colorful pieces from our d emporium collection to outfit this springtide living room. We chose the ultra plush yet chic Andover Sofa in a blissfully saturated shade of blue. The simple, clean lines of this couch really allow the color to take center stage. We paired the sofa with the Andover Arm Chair in an electrifying yellow-green hue. The luxe colors of the custom upholstery perfectly complement each other and will make your living room the most popular room in the house!
Don’t forget to finish the look with a vase of fresh flowers!