How to Go Crazy with Patterns

Occasionally, when I'm feeling sentimental, I'll dig deep in my my pile of home magazines to read something from the past. Last week, I ran across an issue of the late, oh-so-great magazine Domino from February 2008.

What were we dreaming about just two years ago? Lots of stuff we're still dreaming about, actually - like exuberant color and energizing patterns.

One of the better features from the magazine was a profile of three rooms, each covered head-to-toe in an aggressive pattern. The rooms were accompanied by a few tips on how to decorate with serious patterns without overwhelming.

The room at the top right, covered in Vivienne Westwood-inspired red and white wallpaper and matching black and white upholstery, is in the London town house of lingerie magnate Serena Rees (she owns Agent Provacateur). Rees' advice for decorating with pattern? "I just keep adding, adding, adding!" She explains that when the room was wallpapered and filled only with furniture in the same pattern, it felt hard, but with the addition of a couple of rugs, it evolved into an unusual sort of calm chaos.

If you like the look, why not try it with Pearl District fabric and wallpaper in Classic Red and White:

On the much more feminine side, Domino contributing style editor Chassie Post went wild for butterflies in a Manhattan loft. She covered the walls (and doors) with a busy butterfly wallpaper, then topped that with large artwork. On the advice of her childhood friend Miles Redd (also a favorite designer of ours) she also painted the floor and ceiling a delicate robins-egg blue, offering a bit of a respite from the pattern:Her advice is this, "If you are using a small pattern, consider the background carefully, because that dominates. The white behind the butterflies is calming - purple would have really changed the feeling."

She's right. We also love how she balanced the busy, sweet pattern with accessories in black and white geometric patterns, like her fabulous zig-zag rug. We'd add a pillow or two into the mix - maybe the Linoak on Second pillow in Cream, Black, and Hampton Blue:

The third space featured is the animal print haven of LA decorator Mary McDonald. She's outfitted her home in floor-to-ceiling leopard. The tiny print covers the walls, the curtains, the furniture -everything. With small spots and gradual variations in color, the print is positively hypnotic.

McDonald says that one of her big design influences is Scarlett O'Hara - she loves how the character would "get knocked down, get up and just keep trying." She points to Scarlett in her own home, saying she's still got plans for the ceiling, and to paint some cream-colored columns ebony so they sink into the background a bit more. She recommends that no matter what, you just keep going!

We love animal prints and would like to see a room designed around this Flinstones-meets-Rock Star pendant in Sand Dollar, Chocolate, and Croissant Tiger:

Of course, every space, every pattern, and every personality require slightly different treatment. How do you go crazy with patterns? Any tips?

[Photo credits: Rooms from Domino magazine (February 2008). Fabric, pillow, and lamp from Alluminare.]

6 Strategies for Getting Organized in the New Year

The start of a new year is an ideal time to make - and keep - a resolution (are we sick of those yet?) to really get organized. Even if an Apartment Therapy-style "cure" is too grand of an aspiration for you, there are lots of smaller, more manageable ways to make the organization thing happen at home.

We found that these six simple steps are inspiring us to look around, clean up, and stay organized in 2010:

1. Take It One Room at a Time

There is nothing more daunting than trying to organize an entire house all at once. Break it down into smaller pieces, though, and it's not so scary. Start with an easy room - a guest room, maybe - and move on to bigger challenges (the hall closet - yikes!) as you gain confidence.

2. Beautify As You Go

Small changes can be just the thing you need to stay motivated. We incorporate very easy decorating in with our hardcore cleaning to stay motivated - it helps when the end result is something really pretty! For example, if you're rearranging a cluttered bookcase (like the one above) why not line the walls with fun wallpaper at the same time?

For that bookcase, we'd add the Avalon wallpaper in Light Spring Grass and Baby Blue:

A little paper goes a long way towards creating a fun - and organized - space.

3. It's Only 20 Minutes

Reorganizing an entire house, or even just a room, takes a while. If you've got a spare week to tackle it, that's great. But if you, like most people, have a lot going on, consider setting aside just 20 minutes a day to accomplish organizing tasks. You'll be amazed at what you finish in one week - and you won't even miss that time!

4. Toss, Donate, Store, Save

Be honest. You need to get rid of some stuff. It's hard parting with your things, though (especially those jeans you've had since college). We won't lie - saying goodbye is always difficult, but the process is a little less painful if you're very straightforward about it. In each room, create four piles. One to save, one to store, one to donate, and one to throw away.

As you go one, you're likely to get less and less sentimental, too - so consider reviewing the "save" pile before you finish!

5. Move Those Lamps

One great space-saving technique involves removing floor and table lamps and replacing them with hanging pendants. We love the way this red shade brings out the warm elements of the room below: But we might love the room even more if that lamp was gone. We'd replace it with a Marseille pendant in Brick Red, Burnt Orange, Hampton Blue and Blueberry:
We like the way the pattern ties together the cool blue of the tile and the warm terra cotta shades in the rest of the room. By eliminating that standing lamp, the room would feel just a little less cluttered.

6. Treat Yourself

Nothing motivates quite like a treat. Promise yourself something great - for the house, for your family, or just for you - and set a goal, such as "all the bedrooms reorganized." You'll be amazed what you can accomplish with that goal in front of you!

Do you have any additional organizing tips to share? Any success (or horror) stories? Please share them in the comments. And happy organizing!

[Photo credits: Bookcase and Room from Houzz.com. Wallpaper and Lamp from Alluminare.]

5 Easy Ways to Freshen Up Your Home for the New Year

Every year after we haul our Christmas tree out to the recycling bin and pack away all of our decorations, our house looks a little, well, sad. Add that to the regular new year push to make everything feel fresh and brand spanking new, and we're ready for something new at home.

Fortunately, giving your home a bit of a facelift doesn't have to cost a million dollars, or take months and months to complete. We're a fan of simple, easy, inexpensive changes - like these:

1. Change That Wall

We love the hallway at the left - it's very pretty and calming with it's sky blue door and sweet little bench. But wouldn't it be even more fun to walk into a punch of bright paint, or even a single wall covered in fun wallpaper? We'd play off the blue door, covering the wall that's visible to the outside with Maven paper in Gray, Baby Blue, Light Spring Grass, and Sand Dollar:

The paper is fun and punchy and the colors strike a perfect balance between energetic and muted. We love it.

2. Sweep off the Table

Check out the tables around your house. The kitchen table, the living room coffee table, the dining room table - even your nightstand. What's on them? How long's it been there?

One quick way to change the look and feel of a room is to straighten up those tables (put away that stack of magazines!) and to swap out tired accessories for something new. Bud vases, coffee table books (bought on sale), shallow bowls, even new coasters - these all bring new life to a space.

2. Turn the Light On

Whether for the table, the floor, or the ceiling, new lamps and lampshades can add a whole new feel to a room. Take the kitchen at the left, for example. It's a pretty, clean kitchen with great natural light and a fantastic floor. We love the green accessories. But it feels just a little boring, right? A little underdecorated?

We'd swap out those simple globe pendants for something that's a little more fun and a lot more colorful, like Linoak on Seventh pendants in Spring Grass, Light Spring Grass, and White:

All of a sudden, spring doesn't feel so far away, does it?

4. Throw It Down

It's easy to forget about the floor. After all, we walk all over it. But adding a new area rug to a room is a fantastic way to change both the mood and organization of a space. Consider a new shape - round rugs are hot right now - and don't be afraid to add color.

5. De-clutter

Easier said than done, we know, but removing clutter should be on everybody's new year's list. There's nothing quite as refreshing as waking up to a house that's blissfully empty of mess. Take this room for example: Imagine how much nicer it would look with about 50% of those books donated to a favorite charity - a few fairly empty shelves would go a long way towards making this space more peaceful. We'd also switch out the plain white pillow for something a little brighter, like the Crosshatch pillow in Cantaloupe and Aurora Red: Fun, but not overwhelming.

What are your plans this new year? Any big projects in the works? Little ones? Please leave a comment - we'd love to hear about them.

[Photo credits: Rooms from Houzz.com. Wallpaper, pillow, and lamp from Alluminare.]

Bottoms Up! Celebrating the New Year in Style

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is, historically, one filled with parties and fun outings, culminating in a big bash New Year's Eve (and quieter brunches and open houses on New Year's Day).

Our favorite celebrations are the ones that take place not out in a bar or restaurant, but at home. And our favorite homes are ones that are well-stocked for entertaining, with pantries full of fun snacks (we love these bacon-wrapped dates and these potato chips topped with goat cheese, red pepper jelly, and bacon) and well-stocked bars.

So in honor of the new year, we're checking out some of our favorite bar set-ups, like the one at the left. This room, which is designed by Amy Lau, has such a cool, retro look and - wow - what an amazing bar! We love the way it's hidden from view, but totally convenient. Love that cocktail cart, too.

We think the room is cozy as it is, but it would be even cozier with the addition of a throw pillow or two. We think the Kenya pillow in Brick Red, Burnt Orange, Blue Iris, and Ginger would pick up all the great colors in the space (check out the inside door of the bar) and give the room a little extra warmth:

Cocktail carts have such a great vibe, don't they? We love this one for its sharp angles and 1930's feel:

We also love those crazy birds (the owl, especially) on the black laquered plates hanging on the wall. They're perfect next to the strong red chair. We think they'd be even more perfect with an intense pendant lamp, like the Granted pendant in Black and Dark Goldenrod.

The goldenrod perfectly complements the warm elements of the pictures and the black keeps the overall look strong and powerful.

When we think about wet bars, our thoughts often go to spaces with a decidedly retro vibe - but bars come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. We think this serene butler's pantry makes for a great bar area: We love the cool color scheme and the subtle texture of the linen walls. Can you imagine a more peaceful spot to fix a New Year's morning mimosa?

In a space like this, lighting is especially important. After all, you need to see how your cocktail looks! We love all the natural light that huge window brings in during the day, but at night, we'd brighten up the spot with a three-pendant lamp in Robin's Egg Blue:

We love the way the blue works with the vase tucked in the corner of the room and we think the simplicity of the design complements the room as a whole.

We love making the most of every inch of the house, so we're always excited to find useful nooks tucked away in surprising places - like this small bar area, nestled in a large built-in armoire. We think the space might have been originally intended for a big TV, but the owners repurposed the spot when they upgraded to a flat panel.

Whatever its original use, we think turning the space into a bar is a fantastic way to turn "dead" space into something useful and attractive.

We like the dramatic black paint, too, but would like the walls even more with a cool pattern on the walls, like Yin Yang Paisley in Black and Silver:We think the paisley is even more dramatic than black paint alone - so it's perfect!

Whatever your plans for New Year's, we hope you have a happy and safe one!

[Photo credits: Bars from Houzz.com. Lamps, pillow, and wallpaper from Alluminare.]

Design Trends for 2010: Weathered and Treasured

This week and next we're looking at some of our favorite design trends for 2010 (check out "have some fun" right here). Today's trend comes to us courtesy of the design folks at Sherwin-Williams, who have predicted a couple of cool new trends for 2010. Our favorite? They call it "treasured."Here's how they describe the treasured look:

"Treasured" is the third trend, where natural aging and weathering enhance the design. Jordan cites the Rough Luxe Hotel in the United Kingdom, where the original layers of peeling paint and ancient wallpaper are still visible on the walls. This "less-than-perfect aesthetic" also includes the use of distressed leather, vintage tapestries, found objects, and patina.

Pretty cool, right? We love the mix of luxe and rustic, the fading star-Grey Gardens aesthetic.

That's why we fell in love with the kitchen at the top of this post. It's modern in terms of technology- the stainless steel confirms that - but all that rough wood just looks like it has a story behind it. We'd pair it with a pendant lamp in a pretty print that might look old-fashioned, if it weren't for the very current color scheme, like the Suzani pendant in Cream, Blueberry, Light Spring Grass and Gray.

Sometimes we think that Paris has a corner on the "treasured" look. The city does, after all, lay claim to one of the greatest flea markets in the world in La Marche aux Puces. And where better to find items that bear that fabulous patina than at a flea market?

Plus, Paris is home to rambling old decaying mansions with rooms like this one:

The room above is in a Parisian home that's used these days mostly as a movie set. Easy to see why, right? We love the look of faded luxury. It's almost as though you can see the years peeling away from that majestic mantle.

A space like that demands equally regal lighting. Our vote goes to a three-pendant lamp in Silver and Sage Modern Damask:

The treasured look isn't all about rough wood and damp chateaux, either. Consider this antique sugar chest, topped with a vintage cocktail shaker and a very bright, modern (and funny) painting:

The chest has definitely seen its fair share of use, but careful care has helped it retain luster that makes it a good match for bright colors and a fun, Jetsons-like mid-century aesthetic. (We admit, we're a little stuck on this sugar chest, since it's in our own dining room!)

We'd love to see the wall behind the chest papered in something just as bright and fun and with the same retro vibe as the cocktail shaker - something like Maven in Light Spring Grass, Caribbean Sea, Pink Berry, and Sand Dollar:The bedroom is a perfect place for a single piece of furniture that's both treasured and repurposed, like this amazing bed made from antique doors:
The bed is such a showcase piece, we wouldn't want to overwhelm it with lots of accessories. But wouldn't that warm wood, with all its age, look fantastic with a couple of Napa throw pillows in Cream, Hampton Blue, Light Spring Grass, and Dark Goldenrod:

We especially like the way the Dark Goldenrod picks up the warmth of the wood.

What do you think about this trend? Are there any pieces in your homes that fit the "treasured" profile? Please share in the comments!

[Photo Credits: Rustic kitchen from Apartment Therapy. Paris apartment, sugar chest, and wooden bed from Houzz.com. All product photos from Alluminare.]

10 Ways to Get Creative with Wallpaper

Wallpaper - it's not just for walls anymore, and we like that!

Napier wallpaper in Cantaloupe, Pale Buttercup, and Light Spring Grass

Working with wallpaper is easy and whether you have scraps left over from a recent home project, or you order some just to play with, it's a great tool. There are loads of fantastic, unexpected ways to use wallpaper in home design and gift and craft-making - here are ten of our favorites:

1. As pictures. We love the look of wallpapering just parts of walls - wouldn't the dining room below look so fantastic with Traditional Damask in Sand Dollar and Croissant, just inside the mouldings?

But why not take it a step further and skip the mouldings altogether. To get a similar effect without the architectural elements, frame large panels of wallpaper in pretty picture frames and hang them on the wall.

Framed wallpaper comes in handy, too, when staging a home for sale. As any home stager will tell you, personal photos are one of the first things to go. Unfortunately, removal of photos often leaves rooms looking barren - but replacing photos with pretty wallpaper lets your frames shine (without the distraction of your kids' graduation shots).

2. As the Christmas Tree. Nothing beats a real Christmas tree, of course, but sometimes it's just not practical (we're looking at you, tiny apartment-dwellers who travel during the holidays). We love the modern interpretation of the Christmas tree-as-wall-decoration:

And we think that Padma, in Light Spring Grass and Basil, is the perfect wallpaper for this year's "wall tree":

3. As ornaments. Festive wallpaper, a little wood or cardboard, some glue, and some string, and you've got yourself a great homemade Christmas tree ornament.

4. For gift tags. Again, a bit of festive wallpaper can go a long way. Who wouldn't hope their name was on the back of a cute tag made with Dasha wallpaper in cream, Aurora Red, and Light Spring Grass:

5. To cover a bulletin board. Bulletin boards, of all shapes and sizes, deserve to be pretty. Covering store-bought cork with wallpaper is as easy as firing up the staple gun or glue gun and cutting the paper to fit. Just a few minutes, and you'll have a fantastic new home accessory.

If you're feeling daring, you might even go for a shape. We love these silhoutte boards:And we think they'd look fantastic in a fun room covered in preppy Baby Blue, Blueberry, Light Spring Grass, and Pale Buttercup Brookhaven Stripe:
6. As placemats. Brookhaven Stripe (above) would also make a fabulous placemat for a casual summery table. Cut the paper in a 13 inch by 9 inch rectagle, clean up the edges with hot-glued grosgrain ribbon, and you've got a perfect picnic mat.

7. As shelf-liners. Whether its the pantry shelves in the kitchen, or the back of a simple white bookcase, we love the look of wallpaper-lined shelves. Wouldn't shelves covered in gray, silver, and Pale Lavender Tulip wallpaper be fantastic in a young girl's room:

8. As bookmarks. So simple - just a cut the paper, fold it over, and glue it, and you've got yourself a nice, sturdy bookmark.

9. As bookcovers. In his home on Harbour Island, designer David Hicks covered all of his books with plain brown paper. We love the sentiment, but would go for something with a little more spunk (maybe even that Tulip wallpaper, to match the shelves).

10. To scrapbook. You scrapbookers out there know who you are - you probably already have bins full of paper scraps all over your homes. Wallpaper is the perfect addition to the scrapbooker's arsenal - it's hardy, it's fun, and it's totally customizable.

What are we missing? How do you get creative with wallpaper?

[Christmas tree on the wall photo from Apartment Therapy. Silhouette bulletin boards and great moulding photos from Houzz.com. All other photos from Alluminare.com.]

Color Trends: A Retrospective

We've had a bit of a color debate going on around Alluminare. Our big question? Brown and blue: hot or not.

But more on that (and other current color trends) later this week. We escaped from our modern day trend debate to take a little trip down memory lane. Today is all about color trends from the past. What they were, what they remind us of, and how they hold up today.

Back in 1999, Serena Fenton published an article called, "Architectural Follies," in which she listed the most popular color combinations in school media centers and libraries from the 1960s through the '90s. As it turns out, those color combinations are good examples of the colors that ruled those decades. We couldn't help but check them out.

It all started in the 1960s, when avocado and harvest gold famously ruled the day, kitchens adopted a look that felt outdated a few years later. But how would it hold up today?

We actually like it. Green and orange feels pretty fresh right now, especially when it's punched up with white accents, like in this Brickell three-cylinder pendant lamp in cream, Army, and Pumpkin:

A few years later, in the early '70s, colors shifted to the primary section of the color wheel, when designers latched onto strong yellows, blues, and reds. We tried the combination out on a Commonwealth two-cylinder pendant in Bright Yellow, Blue Iris, and Classic Red:

The combination is fun for a kid's bedroom or playroom, but we find it a little strong for the kitchen (though using just two of the three colors would look great).

In the mid-70s, the look got a little funkier, with electric blue and Kool-Aid orange energizing interiors. We like the combination now, too. The Linoak pillow (at left) in cream, orange, and Wild Blueberry is a great modern look - fresh and fun and clean.

And then came the 80s - the days of pastel and wine and roses. In the early '80s, Fenton cataloged a great deal of gray with mauve and jade - we can just picture the early '80s wedding parties decked out in those shades.

We've modernized the combo, with a drum pendant in gray, Classic Pink, Tutu, and Forest:

We think the clean stripe saves it from looking overly saccharine, creating a lamp that would work in a variety of modern homes.

Of course, things didn't get any less pastel as the '80s progressed and Miami Vice, with all its linen blazers and candy-colored t-shirts, came on the scene. In fact, Fenton called the late '80s palette "Miami Vice pastels."

Even though the show went out forever ago, we think pastel color combinations never get old, especially not in little girls' rooms or feminine living rooms. The Granted pendant in Light Plum and Light Spring Grass would look just as perfect in any of those spaces today as it did during Don Johnson's heyday:

In the early '90s, girly shades were finally out, when interiors followed fashion with an emphasis on deep earth tones. They're still relevant, too, especially in traditional homes and masculine rooms, like libraries.

We love Beach Vine wallpaper in Rosemary and Ginger (at right) - it's warm and welcoming, and just as relevant today as it was fifteen years ago.




Fenton's research ended in the late '90s, with her assessment that pale citrus shades were all the rage. It's only been a decade, so we thought the combination might look dated, but as it turns out, we still love the look of lighter versions of sunny shades, like this Maven pendant in white, Pale Buttercup, Cantaloupe, and Light Spring Grass:

We think it hits exactly the right spot and is perfect for a sunny kitchen.

What are your favorite eras for color combinations? Any great color memories you've tried to recreate at home? Share with us in the comments.

Facebook Giveaway: Win the Pillow Featured in This Old House

We've got two very exciting announcements today. First, several Alluminare products have been featured in the December issue of This Old House magazine! Second, our fan page is up and running on Facebook!

In This Old House news, we're one of the magazine's "secret sources" for 2009. The This Old House team knows that personalizing your interior is always a good idea. To help their readers do just that, they recommend "5 ways to get a custom look" - including designing your own lighting, upholstery fabric, wallpaper, and pillows on Alluminare.com.

The article fatures Napa wallpaper and a throw pillow, both in sand dollar, ochre, white, and charcoal gray. It's a great combination - a fresh and fun play on traditional florals:

We couldn't agree more with This Old House - Alluminare products are a great (and easy) way to add some custom flair to any home. We love all things This Old House and couldn't be more excited about being included in the issue. Check it out on the newsstands now!

As if the This Old House excitement wasn't enough, we've also been plugging away, launching our Facebook fan page. Facebook is a fantastic way to stay in touch - and not just with old friends. Become a Facebook fan of Alluminare and you'll be the first to hear about upcoming sales, new products and designs, and what's going on behind the scenes at Alluminare.

And how do these two things relate, you ask? With a contest, of course! If you're one of our first 100 fans on Facebook, you'll have the opportunity to win the pillow featured in This Old House! Here's the official contest announcement:

Become a Facebook fan of Alluminare, and post your quick, easy, and affordable DIY home improvement tips on the wall of our new Facebook Page. One lucky person will win the pillow featured in the December issue of This Old House Magazine's Secret Sources 2009 feature! (A striking Napa pattern in white, ochre, sand dollar and charcoal grey- worth $100) The contest will be open until we reach 100 fans on Facebook.

The tip need not be involved - in fact, the simpler the better! Do you have a go-to tool that can solve just about any problem? What are your quick fixes at home? How do you keep organized, or update your design on the fly? Share your tips with the Alluminare community and you just might win that pillow!

We've Got Wallpaper!

Great news! We received our custom wallpaper in the mail last week and we couldn't be more excited. We received an email on October 1st stating that our custom wallpaper had been shipped via FEDEX and we were given a tracking number.



2 days later - my door bell was ringing and I was greeted by a Fedex employee handing me a large tube! Oh the excitement! I don't think we've ever received a tube in the mail before, so it was my first time having to tackle opening it.



The suspense was killing me, but I wanted to appreciate each and every aspect of getting this in the mail. You all know how it is when you order something and when it arrives you're just bursting at the seams. I finally started pulling the wallpaper out and my first glimpse at it was filled with glee.



Then I noticed instructions. Alluminare actually sent me very helpful instructions detailing how they recommend I proceed when attaching it to a wall (or any surface for that matter)! SO helpful!



Lastly, I laid the wallpaper over our sofa and was so happy with the outcome. I'm so anxious to finish up other projects in our guest bedroom so I can turn this into a headboard.



How have your experiences been when receiving your custom items from Alluminare? I'm sure you all were just excited as we were!

(Images: Kristen Lubbe)

Color in the Kitchen

We've been thinking about painting our kitchen- but better yet, why not wallpaper? We're just having trouble deciding on what colors. As fall is approaching and it's getting colder; we can't help but be attracted to fall colors. Red, Orange, Brown, Tan, and Yellow. Here are some options we're considering for our kitchen back splash:

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Modern Damask, Milk Chocolate, Cantaloupe, Largest Scale. 10-inch shade length
Our personal favorite!:

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Napa, Chocolate Milk, Cantaloupe, Gray, Charcoal Gray, Large Scale. 10-inch shade length

We're sort of in love with the fact that there's a color called Chocolate Milk. Doesn't that just look and sound delicious!

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Giraffe, Buttercup, Croissant, Medium Scale. 10-inch shade length

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Tribeca, White, Burnt Orange, Cantaloupe, Large Scale. 10-inch shade length


We're completely sold on the idea that using Wallpaper instead of paint (especially for the back splash). It's a much better solution. With all of the amazing patterns and colors what's not to love?

Custom Wallpaper used as kitchen Back Splash

Wallpaper used as a back splash is a super easy way to add color to your kitchen. Not just that, but it's really easy to clean and definitely easier to install than tile. A very important thing to keep in mind, is that it's fully customizable.

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Fan Club, Spring Grass, Light Spring Grass, Margaritaville, Large Scale. 10-inch shade length
In stark contrast to the traditional way to purchase wallpaper, with Alluminare.com the wallpaper comes in sheets, not rolls. When you're in the checkout, you simply tell us what dimensions you need. Measuring can be tricky and when buying paper in a one size fits all roll, you end up with a lot of extra. While that can be good for extra arts & crafts, not everyone is crafty. Measure the area you need wallpaper and we'll send you the wallpaper! In most kitchens, you won't even need to cut anything.

Lighting in the Kitchen

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Kenya, Silver, Robins Egg Blue, Turquoise, Blueberry, Large Scale. 10-inch shade length
Lighting in the kitchen is important for obvious reasons, and we really don't need to be stuck with ugly lighting just because it's a necessity. Pendant lighting makes a lot of sense in the kitchen because it offers a lot of light, and hey- the shades are pretty easy on the eyes.

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Napier, White, Spring Grass, Light Spring Grass, Sand Dollar, Medium Scale. 10-inch shade length
A lot of people have islands in their kitchens. A great place to do a lot of cooking prep, hanging out or serving food. Obviously great lighting is key, because we eat first with our eyes. These 6-inch Drum Pendant lights are an excellent option because they're not only decorative, but effective as well. Placing three of them in a row will give enough light to illuminate the entire area.

6-inch Drum Pendant Light: Metro Circles, Silver, Gray, Charcoal Gray, Large Scale. 10-inch shade length
Another option that has been around for years, but has just recently become popular again is wallpaper back splashes. Wallpaper is really easy to clean and maintain- especially when compared to just a painted wall back splash. Wallpaper also adds a much needed pop of color.

Gold in the Living Room

Gold is one of my absolute favorite colors. Gold comes in many shades, so you can really go as big and bold as you want.


Custom Wallpaper: Ever After, Buttercup, Sand Dollar, Large Scale.



Custom Wallpaper: Beach Vine, White, Bright Yellow, Large Scale.
Gold, Creams and Tans always make a great combination. The light Creams and Tans compliment the boldness of Gold and leaves a refreshing and clean look. Personally, I prefer using smaller and more floral patterns when I'm using Gold in wallpapers. Large, bold prints are usually better suited for bold colors.

It also leaves a lot of options for accent colors and furniture. Gold can be both modern or traditional. It can be both or subtle. There are so many different shades of gold that it's super easy to decorate with. Gold is no longer thought of as only being in your Grandmothers living room next to her plastic covered sofa.

Tan and Brown in the Living Room

In my new home, my walls are currently tan and my leather sofa and chair are brown (we haven't gotten around to painting and/or wallpapering yet) - so I've been trying to get inspired by this color palette. Surprisingly, thanks to customized wallpaper- it's not hard to get inspired by this pair.

Custom Wallpaper: Equinox, Chocolate Milk, Classic Brown, Medium Scale.

Custom Wallpaper: Cottage Garden, Chocolate Milk, Classic Brown, Large Scale.

Tan and Brown are great colors together because one will always help the other 'pop'. They are great for patterns because the design will always shine. There are also a million and one colors that serve well as accents with this dynamic duo (as you'll see below)


Custom Wallpaper: Manhattan, Chocolate Milk, Classic Brown, Ginger, Large Scale.

Custom Wallpaper: Pearl District, Chocolate Milk, Classic Brown, Pale Turquoise, Charcoal Gray, Large Scale.
Accent colors should always be your best friend (I know I probably say that too much) - but I'm serious. Yellow stands out when paired with Tan and Brown (and not in a 70's sort of way). My personal favorite combination is the Pearl District (last image shown). Tan, Chocolate Brown, Pale Turquoise and Charcoal Gray- come on! Perfection.

14-inch Drum Lamp Shade: Turquoise. 10-inch shade length.

I recommend using this lamp to go with any of the above custom wallpapers.

Blue and Tan in the Living Room

Blue and Tan are staple colors. No matter what, you're always going to end up with blue and tan somewhere in your home- so why not embrace the popularity and diversity of them? Due to the fact that they're neutrals, it's super easy to incorporate punches of color.

Wallpaper is making a huge come back, and with a finished product like this, we certainly know why! We're big fans of large prints, and they don't always have to be geometric and boxy. With Ultra Bloom, you can have that fun retro look with flowers! And we aren't talking about grandma flowers either.


Custom Wallpaper: Ultra Bloom, Pale Turquoise, Chocolate Milk, Sand Dollar, Charcoal Gray, Large Scale.
The combination of Pale Turquoise, Chocolate Milk, Sand Dollar, Charcoal Gray makes the final product exude classy, chic, crisp and clean. The color combination is so diverse that you can really add any color sofa to the room. They'll look great with dark or light wood floors, tile or even carpet. You'll have the option of choosing light or dark furniture as well. Oh the possibilities!

For an accent, I threw in a Madras Orange lamp shade. It's a great punch of color that really looks great up against a muted background. Don't be afraid of color.