Cassandra Carter Design Studio: Living Room

Showing posts with label Living Room. Show all posts

Friday, November 8, 2013

One Design Rule You Should Break

Gone are the days of matchy-matchy finishes in one space or even in an entire residence. Old school wisdom tells you not to mix metals but I see no reason why silver, gold, bronze, brass and copper cannot beautifully co-exist in a space. You see it everywhere from fashion to interior design and people who are breaking this rule are creating beautiful interiors. I'm sure whoever came up with the rule of not mixing your metals is probably rolling over in their grave at this notion, but today, we are throwing out this rule and giving you tips on how to successfully mix and match metals in your home.

TIP #1: DON'T LET ONE METAL TONE DOMINATE
     If 90% of your room is in silver and only one or two items are in a gold tone they may seem a bit out of place. Even the playing field and scatter various metals throughout the space and you will achieve a more timeless, collected look rather than looking like your trying too hard.

TIP #2: USE YOUR COLOR SCHEME
     Use your color scheme as a guide. In a neutral room you can use gold tones to add warmth and comfort or use polished silvers to give it a more modern feel.

TIP #3: SELECT METALS TO COMPLIMENT YOUR EXISTING FURNITURE
     If your furniture already has chrome play it up with accents of gold or bronze and a few silver accessories.

TIP #4: CHOOSE A DOMINATE METAL
     I know what you're thinking..."didn't you JUST tell me not to pick a dominate metal?" Yes, yes I did. I'm not crazy though, this tip is for those who may not be ready to jump in and just want to get their feet wet. If you're still not sure about mixing metals then start with picking a dominate metal and mixing textures and finishes. For example, mix polished silver with a brushed or hammered silver or pewter.

Don't be afraid to try new things and mix and match! I'd love to hear your opinion on mixing metals or if you have any questions about how to do it successfully! Happy mixing!

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Monday, January 7, 2013

New Year, New Trends!

Hello? Tap, tap, tap...is this thing on? Did 2012 really just come to an end and the first week of 2013 too? Where does time go!? Well dear friends, I'm so sorry to have abandoned you as I graciously took my maternity leave...for six months. :) I have thoroughly enjoyed being home with our precious baby girl while learning to be a mom, but as it always does, reality is calling me back and now I think I'm ready to welcome it with open arms. I have missed so much over the last few months that I don't even know where to begin! So if any of you have ideas of things you would like to see or design questions you want answered, shoot me an email and I will try to incorporate it into the weekly posts. For now, I'll just give you a heads up on trends to look for for 2013.

This year I think we will continue to be surrounded by color, but perhaps with more deep and saturated hues than what we saw in 2012. The Pantone color for 2013 is emerald green which to me screams jewel tones. We will also see warm modern vintage interiors {sounds like an oxymoron I know, but it's not ;)}, photo-realistic fabrics, lots of high gloss and shine, and modern/painterly florals in fabrics and wall coverings. In fashion week for Spring/Summer 2013 there were an abundance of stripes used so I wouldn't be surprised if you also see that flowing into your interiors this year as well. But hey, who doesn't love a good stripe and it's a great way to create movement in any space! So there you have it, my two cents on what to look for this coming year. :)

I know I am looking forward to the new experiences, new clients and new friends that this year will bring and couldn't be more excited to see what it has in store for me! And I can't wait to watch this cute girl learn and grow!

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Green Spot: Dutch Mountain Home

I stumbled upon this article in a news feed that featured an "ultra green" home and felt it deserved its own post. In all of quirkiness (such as a teacup chandelier in the dining room and the use of recycled trashcans for the legs of the kitchen island) I fell in love with this house. It is literally nestled into the ground, which helps to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A large glass facade is the only visible exterior of the home which helps to warm its concrete shell. The house was sculpted from the lark wood of the immediate surroundings and produces more energy than it consumes. The best (or to some possibly the worst) part of all is the beautiful vintage Jaguar bookcase/liquor cabinet. The homeowner felt it would be a sin to keep his gas guzzling car after building such a sustainable home and that selling it would do more harm to the environment than keeping it; so he got creative. :) The car was transformed and installed before the roof was completed. Now it hangs on the wall almost like a trophy. Could you transform such a prized possession into something completely opposite of its original use?

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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Are you going green today? I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe St. Patrick's day! Don't forget to wear your green today and also do something "green." :)

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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Timeless Trend

Trends in interior design always come and go, but there are a few trends that are timeless. One of these is tufted upholstery. I'll admit, I'm a sucker when it comes to tufting! Can you go overboard with it? Definitely! Your home does not need to look like puffy marshmallows threw up all over it. But a piece here and there can add interest and texture to any space. One thing I love about this timeless trend is that it transcends all styles. It works perfectly in traditional spaces, contemporary/modern styles or as a transitional piece. If you are using tufted upholstery in the right way you can't go wrong! Just remember to use it sparingly. For example, if you have a tufted sofa in your living room you do not want to have tufted chairs, pillows, and/or ottomans (especially if they sit right next to each other in the space). If you have a couple of tufted pieces in one room make sure they are spread out and not grouped together. Here are some of my favorite examples of tufted upholstery:

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Sunburst Mirrors

The sunburst mirror is one of the ultimate transitional pieces. Whether your home is traditional, contemporary, or a mixture of both there is a sunburst mirror for you. They are the perfect accessory or focal point and make a beautiful statement. They come in countless shapes, colors, and styles and honestly I don't know if I've ever met a sunburst mirror that I didn't like. :) So if you don't already have one in your home decor you should definitely think about adding into the mix. It will work well either in your living, dining, bedroom, or entry way!

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Tangerine Tango or Wythe Blue?

In December Pantone announced tangerine tango as the color of 2012. The bright reddish orange color is supposed to to help energize and and keeps us moving forward in 2012. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum, Benjamin Moore announced wythe blue as their paint color of 2012. It is a soothing, relaxing hue that it supposed to provide stability, trust and comfort. So which hue do you feel is more appropriate for 2012 and want to incorporate into your home? Personally I'm feeling the orange and the bright, energetic feel it brings into my home.