Floral Patterns...

Sometimes floral patterns have no place in interiors, it all depends on the style of a room or a client’s preference. However, a well-selected floral motif can bring great interest and dynamism to a space. Whether it is a contemporary or a traditional interior, the use of floral patterns can be crucial to its successful completion. Remember: “Everything in moderation”. On this picture the feel of the room is very classic and serene. The palette is very understated, stone and truffle with pale celery, off-white and dark brown accents. Solids have been used in the furnishings that require the largest yardage: sofa and draperies. The sofa pillows display more solids or geometric patterns but it is the ottoman in the center of the room that introduces the lively note with its two-tone large repeat floral pattern. Another solid would have made this room dull and uninteresting. Notice that the palette was respected to the end. In other words it’s all a matter of “geography”, where to place the stroke of pattern that will give life to a room. Sometimes, I will choose to use the floral pattern on draperies, particularly if view is not that interesting, I call that: “one out of two”. Now…if you do want to use more than one floral pattern in the room my recommendation is that you select patterns with large, medium and small repeats to avoid competition between the fabrics.

(Fabrics by Kravet)

Selecting Furniture Styles

One of the most important and challenging considerations in selecting a piece of furniture is looking at its legs. Legs are much more than the supporting structure of a piece of furniture: they are definers of style. Legs can make a chair look light and graceful or hefty and regal. Traditional styles have been perfected through centuries and often provide us with the most outstanding, refined and proportionate examples of legs. This picture shows a dining set and buffet with ball and trumpet legs and cross stretcher base, a style developed by Spanish woodcraftsmen from the Catalonia region during the XVI Century. When designing a room it is important to keep in mind that highly detailed legs bring a lot attention to themselves, therefore it is preferable to use solid, tone on tone or mildly patterned fabrics that won’t compete with the richness of the wooden pieces. (Fremarc Furnishings)