The Naked Decorator » Design Trends

Decorating With Ceramic Garden Stools

Veronica — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 05:20:37 +0000

Gumps.com

Ceramic garden stools are all the rage these days. You see them used for their traditional purpose in outdoor spaces as garden stools. But they are also being taken indoors and are used in very creative ways. The choices of shapes, color and patterns are overwhelming, and my guess is that they are here to stay! Well at least for another 1000 years!!!

Yes, believe it or not, barrel- or drum-shaped garden stools have been used in China for at least 1,000 years, and most likely evolved from the Buddhist garden tradition of using natural elements like tree stumps as seats. traditionally Chinese homes were built around a courtyard with an emphasis on the landscape and gardens, so outdoor living and furnishings were essential. This casual seating was used both indoors and outdoors. Typically the indoor stools were portable and made out of wood, while the outdoor stools were made from stone, glazed stoneware, or porcelain to withstand the elements

Gumps.com

Ceramic garden stools have been a hot trend within the last year or so. If you love the look but are unsure how to incorporate them into your decor, here are a few quick tips to help you.

As a side table between two chairs

afaeryorchardproject.blogspot.com

2. Tucked away beneath a console to be used for extra seating when needed

www.citygirlchic.net

3. Bunching two or three as cocktail tables, or just a surface to place a drink, decorative items or just putting your feet up

bungalowhomestagers.com

4. For outdoor seating or side tables

www.porterhousedesigns.com

5. To add a decorative touch or a pop of color in a bathroom

www.mydesignchic.com

decorology.blogspot.com

Ceramic garden stools make a great addition to almost any room of your home. They are light weight enough to be easily moved around, and uness they are antique, they are reasonably priced to where you can afford to go bold without a major financial investment.

Wisteria

Where would you use a ceramic garden stool or two in your home? Please comment below

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Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Design Crush: Fabric Wrapped Casegoods

Veronica — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:43:02 +0000

Kravet Furniture

More and more I have been noticing the new trend of fabric panels on casegoods, like dressers, chests, tables and desks. I am downright obsessed with this new trend. I wasn’t able to make it to High Point Spring Market this year, but from all reports, fabric wrapped case goods were a big hit.

Kravet Furniture

Bungalow 5

Fabric, leather or vinyl wrapped furniture is a great alternative to plain casegoods and a great idea for refreshing damaged or outdated pieces. They are perfect when a bit of softness is needed in a room full of wooden furniture. They are great for adding color and texture, and a bit of interest in a room. Fabric opens up many options for customizing each piece and adding a unique quality that will support the look, color and theme of your decor.

Can you see this piece in a chic lodge look?

Addison Design Blog

Or this Noir Furniture piece as a casual nightstand in casual beach cottage or global influenced room?

Noir Furniture

The fabrics used to wrap these casegoods are usually fabrics, leathers or vinyls with a noticeable texture like burlap, linen, faux python prints, faux ostrich prints, and faux croc prints. Of course the sky is the limit as to what fabrics are used, but lighter delicate fabrics like silks and satin should be avoided, and a bit of visual or physical texture is very desireable

Here are a few pieces that have my head spinning in a good way

This python print wrapped bench definitely makes a wonderful statement in a room. This one is providing me with some inspiration for a hall bench in my new home

This handsome geometric print fabric wrapped console from Drexel Heritage is quite a conversation piece. You can actually choose from hundreds of fabric choices on their website and customize your very own console, cocktail or end table. Click here to see the many options

Drexel Heritage

Notice the beautiful faux ostrich texture of this chest. The cream color works so well with the light gold wood accent and hardware. Simply scrumptuous!

Ryan Korban via Pinterest

If a global inspired pattern is more your thing, this ikat patterned fabric adds a very unique touch

Sarah M. Dorsey

This lace wrapped beauty from Recaptured Charm, adds a soft, subtle feminine charm and elegance to this room

Check out this one! What a fun, unexpected way to use lace.

The wonderful nailhead detailing always adds luxury and richness to each piece

Bernhardt Furniture

Here’s another snakeskin wrapped piece shown as the anchor piece in this beautiful vignette.

Or if you prefer a more subtle approach to this trend

Studio A

The Window Scene Website

Here a few more I just had to include. This masculine chest from Uttermost is perfect for an industrial chic look with its faux leather fabric

Uttermost

Style Beat Blog

Sterling Industries

This one isn’t fabric, but can be an easy DIY project using a black and white stripe fabric

Speaking of DIY, Centsational Girl blog has a step-by-step guide to taking a plain Ikea dresser and adding fabric for a fabulous seaside inspired piece.

So if you own a tired piece of furniture that you were getting ready to put out on the curb, think again. This fabric wrapped furniture trend may be just the right touch to take it from drab to fab.

Is fabric wrapped furniture for you? Please leave me a comment below, I’m dying to know .

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Simple Things I Adore: Skirted Tables

Veronica — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:23:46 +0000

Designer: Amanda Nisbet

Would you believe that the beautiful skirted table pictured above probably started out life as something like this?

Or this?

This not so attractive table is called a decorator table. Mostly made from particle board, this table usually comes in sizes of 24″, 28″, 30″ and 36″ in diameter, available at big box stores, and usually come with a piece of glass cut to fit the table top. As you can see, despite the name, there is nothing decoratory (that’s not a real word ) about this table, but it can be a great avenue for some real creativity with the help of some beautiful fabrics.

Personally, I prefer to use a more heavy duty option like a conference table since the particle board tables can be rather flimsy. Also the glass that comes with the cheaper version is usually very thin. A thicker piece of glass makes for a stronger table and of course, will hold up a lot better over time

San Francisco Designer Grant K. Gibson

Grant K. Gibson

Skirted tables can be a beautiful asset in a room. They add a certain romantic elegance, especially when draped in beautiful silks or linen fabrics. They look absolutely luxurious when tailored with inverted box pleats and embellished with beautiful trimmings or a contrast fabric. If not done well however, a skirted table can look like a sloppy mess, so choose your fabric type, pattern and color carefully. Also, be mindful of how the items are arranged on the table top. Please see my recent blog post about creating beautiful vignettes for some great tips

Photo: Tom Scheerer

They make wonderful vanity tables or sink skirts in a bathroom, and work great as nightstands, consoles tables, kitchen cabinet skirts, sidetables, or in the laundry room to disguise the washing machine and dryer. They are also wonderful for hiding wires or stereo equipment in a living or family room. I especially love the rectangular skirted tables with a very tailored cover and thick glass on top. Used in an entry hall, it serves as a great place to set up a wonderful vignette of special mementos. Another great use for a skirted table is in a dining room – as a dining room table. Yes, this is where I usually get the most resistance, especially from male clients. The softly draped fabric over a plain box adds instant warmth to a dining room, and is a wonderful addition in a room with alot of wood pieces. It is a great way to add some softness and richness. When a dining table has no real architectural interest or has seen better days, a skirted table can be a wonderful solution.

The Clifton Home

Designer: Jan Showers

Photo: Gretchen Leigh Clark

Photo: Scot Meacham Wood

Cote de Texas Blog

The preferred fabric is a heavy weight linen or silk. The heavier the fabric, the more luxurious the drape; just like a wonderful drapery fabric. Avoid using really thick upholstery fabrics. Skirts should be lined and preferrably interlined. The best lining to use is blackout lining. This adds to the weight, which adds richness, and the sun won’t shine through and expose what’s covered underneath. A 3″ puddle is ideal unless it is a tailored inverted box pleat skirt – in which case a 1″ floor break works fine. The puddling allows you to pull the skirt up with your hands and let it fall to the floor in graceful, effortless folds – such a beautiful effect!

Designer: Mark Lohman

Kelley Interior

The design possibilities are endless for skirted tables. You have the ability to pick your own fabric for a well coordinated look in a room, and even change fabrics to your hearts desires, or decorating seasonally. But just in case you are not yet convinced, here are some more images of beautiful skirted tables.

Photo: A La Mode Blog

Jenny From The Little Green Notebook Blog

Palmer Weiss

Wisteria.com

How about a skirted table that is a bit more unique and fun?

Bryan Ferry via Pinterest

So the next time you are looking for a simple solution to add a strong design statement or just to fill the corner of a room or entry hall, consider a using a skirted table. As you can see, they are definitely not your grandma’s polyester tablecloth.

To satisy the DIY weekend warrior in some of you, I wanted to share this article by Maggie Rose Interiors that guides you step-by-step to creating a no-sew skirted console table. Enjoy!

Please don’t forget to comment and share!

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Decorating with Black

Veronica — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:56:00 +0000

We all love black, right? Well did you know that black is not a color, but the absence of color? When we wear black it is sophiscated and powerful and down right sexy! It even makes us look thinner, which is always a good thing. Black is stabilizing, strengthening, authoritive, sophisticated and powerful. So if black is all these wonderful things, why are so many people afraid to use it in their homes?
Black is a very versatile color in home decorating; it makes colors paired with it pop a bit more, it’s grounding in a room, it breaks up patterns and lends a bit of weight to a room, and gives the eye a place to rest. The safest way to use black in a room is through accessories and lightweight furniture pieces…but who wants to play it safe all the time? Painting an accent wall in black is a great way to walk on the wild side. Black paint is often used as an accent for front doors for colonial style homes or trim in old victorian homes. But black can be so much more than that. Try painting an accent wall and the result can be very daring and dramatic. The key to using black as a paint color is making sure that you use a matte finish and an absolutely black shade. Many black paints have blue in them so that’s something to watch out for. Treat it just like you would when picking out other paint colors, by applying a small sample on the wall and observing it at various times of the day in different lighting. If you still don’t like it…. it’s only paint.

If you are afraid to commit to black as a paint color, then try using it in small ways that will have impact in the room. I believe that every room needs a bit of black, and I often try to repeat it in three different areas of the room. Some great ways to introduce black are through picture frames, a lamp base, small accessories, an accent table or chair, fabrics and trims on pillows or even in an area rug. Check out these pictures and see what you think.