Connecting You with Designers, Advice and Updates

Design Inspiration: India Hicks

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:51:00 +0000

With most of the U.S. covered in mid-January gray gloom, it's time to start thinking about something a lot more fun: the beach! This time of year, as the "resort" bikinis make their way onto racks at the store, visions of Caribbean jaunts, complete with sunny days and balmy evenings dance in our heads.

We want a pina colada.

This is also the time of year when we look around our houses and think, "Why can't I be more like India Hicks?" Hicks, the host of Bravo's Top Design, creative collaborator with Crabtree and Evelyn, young mom, and former model, is the embodiment of cool, beachy style. The daughter of celebrated designer, David Hicks, India has twisted her dad's style a bit to make it her own, outfitting her Harbour Island, Bahamas home with lots of white, plus splashes of color and patter. She mixes comfortable furniture with heirloom pieces and her one concession to living a the beach is wood floors.

In short, she's great design inspiration, especially during the gray days of winter.

This shot of Hicks' Harbour Island living room shows off her commitment to white mixed with interesting pieces and little shots of pattern. We love those chairs in the back of the room on the left. They provide just the right amount of action in a mostly serene room.

In our own houses, we like the idea of simple chairs, covered in a fun, but understated fabric, like Giraffe in Chocolate and Sand Dollar:

In one corner of the room, Hicks added a bright pink chair. We love the way it contrasts with the lime green plant life (we love that dog, too!) and the shot of color it adds to the space.

At home, it's easy to add that shot of color with throw pillows. We love the Maven pillow in Cream, Pink Berry, Classic Pink, and Tutu:

We love the sunny pink color - it always makes us happy!

In the bedroom, Hicks continues the serene, beachy palate with white linens, white accessories, and a pretty upholstered headboard. We love the addition of bright red flowers, too. Wouldn't they be great to see first thing in the morning?

That gorgeous headboard might be out of our league, but we'd create the same feel with accessories, like the Pamda pendant in Ochre and White. The clean pattern is calming and the simple colors are all about the sandy beach.

We're still waiting for India Hicks' personal invitation to visit her family on Harbour Island. Until that day comes, we'll relax ourselves by incorporating bits of her style into our own homes.

[Photo credits: Hicks home: Domino magazine courtesy of Mimi and Meg. Fabric, lamp, and pillow from Alluminare.]

How to Go Crazy with Patterns

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:39:00 +0000

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.]

What's New at Alluminare

noreply@blogger.com (Alluminare) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:11:00 +0000

1. We've brought down our ship times. Our longest ship time was once up to 6 weeks for items fabricated from custom fabrics. Now, due to major adjustments in our processes, our longest lead time is now 4 weeks from start to finish.

2. We've updated our home page with a smashing new design. We've given it a brighter look and more dramatic style. You can preview new colors and patterns right there on the home page in room views! (Your saved and recently viewed items did, however, move down the page a tad.) We do nearly all development in-house, so it was a fun project for us all to take on!

3. We added a color browser on the home page. One click, and you can browse all of our custom patterns by color, then once you've found a pattern you love, you can view all products in that pattern and color combination.

4. And finally, we have updated our phone system. In short, we've made it easier to give us a call - our staff is small and well-versed in our products. So while you may need to leave a message because we're busy working with other customers, we will call you back straight away and can help in detail.

5 Easy Ways to "Green" Your Life

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:10:00 +0000

Going green is about more than just adding some kelly, lime, and forest to your decor. While we can't resist the color (how about that Mallory pendant in White and Margaritaville? We love it!) we're also all about incorporating the other kind of green into our homes and our lives.

Adding a little environmental friendliness into your daily routine is actually pretty easy. It's just a matter of changing little things, one at a time. If you're looking for a place to start, here's a great list of six simple things you can do to make that change:

1. Put Your Computer to Sleep

We'll be honest here - we don't turn our computers off every night before we go to sleep, and that is a huge waste of energy. There's a very simple way to get around that, though. We've changed our computers' power settings so they "go to sleep" if they're left alone for 20 minutes. That's long enough that the computer won't power down when we don't want it to, and we save some energy (and money!). Check out the "systems and maintenance" section of your control panel to adjust your power settings.

2. Dim the Lights

Along the same lines, you'll save energy if you put your lights on dimmers (every little bit counts) and even set them on timers. Timers are a great resource, too, if you travel a lot and need lights to turn on and off, so your house doesn't appear empty.

3. Take a Shower

A 10 minute shower uses about 25 gallons of water, while the average bath uses between 30 and 70 gallons. That's a big difference, especially when you're heating the water! While we certainly appreciate the restorative powers of a nice hot bath, there's a lot to be said for showers, which can be invigorating or relaxing. And then there's the outdoor shower, like the one pictured. That's a real treat!

4. Trickle It then Turn It Off

When you're washing your face or brushing your teeth, you really don't need to leave the water on full blast! This habit is an easy one to break -it's just a matter of remembering. Consider sticking a little note on your bathroom mirror ("turn it off!") as a gentle reminder. Soon enough, you'll be turning that faucet without even thinking about it.

5. Plug It

Speaking of faucets, if you've got a leaky one, it's not just annoying, it's also a water-waster. Fix those random drips and drabs and you'll be doing yourself - and the environment - a favor.

These aren't the only easy energy and water-saving tips out there. What are your easy green strategies? Please leave them in the comments!

6 Strategies for Getting Organized in the New Year

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:17:00 +0000

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

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:10:00 +0000

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.]

Calm It Down: Blue Bedrooms

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:37:00 +0000

Who doesn't love blue? It's a calming force, physiologically, slowing metabolism. Symbolically, it's associated with trust, loyalty, intelligence, and stability. It's intellectual and it imbues spaces with a feeling of cleanliness and peace.

It's all those traits, plus the fact that its different shades work with design schemes from classic to modern, that makes us simply love blue in the bedroom.

On the classic and simple end of the design scale, we love the pretty wooden daybed in Wedgewood blue in the photo on the right. Combined with pristine whites and cool grays, the room feels beachy and calm and very, very relaxing.

We'd accessorize with lighting that's similarly simple, playing up the color's neutral properties with a three-cylinder pendant lamp in Bungalow Dots in Cream, Hampton Blue, and Chocolate Milk:The simple pattern works with the pillows' stripes, while the cool combination of colors is in sync with the rest of the room. Calming, from start to finish.

One of the things we love about blue, though, is the variety of shades and the different moods they can convey. The electric blue headboard at the left, complemented by a fish with bright blue accents, has a coastal vibe - so that's calming - but its coupled with preppy energy.

We'd add even more color, taking a cue from the bright pink monograms on those pristine white shams. We think a Signature Leaves lamp in White and Crimson would be a perfect addition to this room's strong feminity:

We're all about the eclectic look right now and we think blue provides a great base for funky, interesting spaces. The bedroom at the right is the epitome of "eclectic," from the oversized Expressionist painting on the wall down to the rug and its Middle Eastern influences.

We think the lapis wall acts as a sort of neutral in this space, providing a calming respite from the intensity of the patterns and painting. But that doesn't mean we wouldn't tie that blue into even more accessories.

In a space like this one, we say, "Load up on pillows!" We love the pile on the bed already, but we'd also add one of our own - Folk Heart in Cream, Hampton Blue, Chocolate Milk, and Sage:

Another of our favorite blue traits is the color's ability to work so well with a variety of accent colors. We especially love how pale, pale blue looks next to intense, pinky reds - like in this smart spare bedroom:

Pale blue, black, and red don't necessarily sound good on paper, but neither does that crazy combination of super-symmetry, stripes, and butterflies. And in the end, all of it works, and the blue provides a background that keeps the rest of the room from venturing into harsh territory.

We might even swap out the fussy throw pillows (though they are pretty) for something a little more tailored, but add a lamp in a similarly feminine and busy pattern, like Napa in White, Gray, and Aurora Red (at right).

Blue - it's as diverse as colors get. But from the most electric to the sweetest and calmest...what a color for the bedroom.

[Photo credits: All rooms from Houzz.com. All lighting and pillow images from Alluminare.]

Bottoms Up! Celebrating the New Year in Style

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:55:00 +0000

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: Global Harvest

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:59:00 +0000

2009 is rapidly drawing to a close and we're busy exploring all the great new design trends we're likely to see in 2010. We've looked at the trend towards fun, lively interiors and the trend towards incorporating "weathered and treasured" items in the home. But those are just the tip of the iceberg.

A number of trends we're seeing for 2010 are likely to take hold in part because they really work together. When designing rooms, we can incorporate two or three trends at once without the room looking weird or overly decorated. In fact, in these cases, two trends are even better than one.

Two of our favorite new design trends offer the perfect example. The first, Global Village, is all about desigining with, well, global themes in mind. Our friends at Sherwin-Williams call this trend "rooted" and describe it this way:

"Rooted," embodies the rich, earthy colors associated with African, Aboriginal, and Native American cultures. Jackie Jordan, the director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, says inspiration comes from members of Ethiopian tribes who paint their bodies with green and red pigments sourced from volcanic ash, as well as weeds, grasses, and shells. The deep teal and ash gray of African wildlife and landscapes, as well as the bright designs of the locals' textiles and beads, also serves a launching point for new designs.

And the San Francisco Chronicle reminds us that a carefully curated "well-traveled" look works on a lot of levels. We like it best when globally-inspired items are mixed and matched with simple and traditional pieces, so the room doesn't look overly "designed." The comfortable sitting room at the top left is a great example of this style working. We might even add a little more color with a Bridgehampton Strip pillow in Ochre, Hampton Blue, and Pumpkin:We love the way the strong colors in the pillow complement the rug, but the simple stripe doesn't overpower the rug's elaborate design or any of the amazing pieces in the room. In fact, it lends a little bit of a preppy edge to the space, keeping it from veering into kitschy territory.

We think Global Village is a match made in heaven with another trend - Harvest. While it sounds a little hokey, this trend really got to us. Here's how the UK publication UpWorld describes "harvest" in the home:

Natural - Innocent - Conservative. Think white linens with attention to detail, restrained but textural, sentimental. Wholesome and innocent, this style will have a slightly sophisticated edge through the use of neutral colours such as beige, ivory, black, taupes and caramels. Formality is mixed with informality. This style is all about family and acknowledges where our food comes from. Think rural, wheat fields in the sunshine, farm houses - abundance of an earthy kind. The current ‘Classic Contemporary’ interior style will evolve into this.

Since we're always designing with family in mind (after all, isn't that who uses our spaces?) this trend appealed to us. We love clean lines and calm colors in comfortable, family-friendly spaces like this one:

And wouldn't this space look great accessorized with a Linoak on Second pendant in Pumpkin, Cream, and Light Hampton Blue?

love the way the warm colors are set off by the cooler shade of blue. Overall, we think it conveys that feeling of home and harvest - in a cool, modern way.

Best of all, of course, would be to mix the two styles. Pepper a room with souvenirs from fabulous family trips, like amazing rugs or framed artwork painted by roadside artists, then accessorize with big cushions and warm throws to encourage family lounging. Add a low table and a bunch of appetizers (inspired by those trips abroad, of course) and you've got yourself the perfect mix of a couple of great design trends.

[Photo credits: Family rooms from Houzz.com. Throw pillow and pendant lamp from Alluminare.]

Design Trends for 2010: Weathered and Treasured

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:39:00 +0000

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.]

Design Trends for 2010: Let's Have Some Fun!

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:33:00 +0000

It's the end of the year and we all know what that means - lists and predictions. We've seen a million lists predicting all sorts of things for interior design in 2010. Some we agree with, some are no-brainers, some we question. But they all get us thinking.

From now until the end of the year, we'll highlight some of our favorite trend predictions for the design world, starting with this one: 2010 will bring us a lot more focus on fun.

Bright colors, crazy designs, and a devil-may-care attitude will dominate design next year, and the timing couldn't be better. It's tough out there these days, so why not add a little levity to your surroundings?

We'd get the party started with a funky Folk Art pendant lamp, in Caribbean Sea, Coral, Purple and White (at left). The lamp's trippy vibe and cool color scheme would add some peace, love and fun to any space. It reminds us of this energetic space, where pattern and color work together to create a vibrant room perfect for hanging out (whether you're canine or human): Fun need not be confined to the interior either. We love Arakawa + Gins' East Hampton Bioscleave House, an ambitious building, is dedicated to fun both inside and out: We love the Bauhaus elements of the building - it's boxy shape and intense colors. We'd match it with a Commonwealth lamp in Pale Buttercup, Classic Red, and Basil:Strong colors and geometric shapes add up to a fun, modern look.

On the other hand, we're finding decidedly un-Bauhaus inspiration in the stills for Tim Burton's new Alice in Wonderland movie:
The movie, like the story, is sure to have some dark elements, but it also incorporates a twisted shot of fun. We'd recreate it inside with a floral Serendipity throw pillow in pastels (Light Spring Grass, Bab Blue, Pink Berry) with just a touch of shadow (Chocolate Milk):

We like a side of whimsy with our fun, too, which is why we can't get enough of Vanessa de Vargas and her design company, Turquoise (pretty apt name for 2010, too, huh?).

Her spaces are bright and feminine, with cheeky touches, like these fancy silhouettes painted in bright colors on plain white walls. In our house, we'd accessorize with simple, but bright and fun lighting, like the Duo pendant in Pink Berry and Light Spring Grass:

There are a million ways to inject fun into home design - these suggestions are just the beginning. What's your favorite fun design element? Please share in the comments.

[Photo credits: Dogs on sofa from Apartment Therapy, Bioscleave House from Inhabitat, Alice in Wonderland still from Dalliant & Dainty, Vanessa de Vargas rooms from Houzz.com, All lighting and pillow from Alluminare.com.]

New Features This Week at Alluminare

noreply@blogger.com (Alluminare) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Quick blog post to let everyone know about new features and designs.

1. Strikeoffs now available! A strikeoff is a custom printed piece of fabric with your chosen colorway and pattern. We also include all of our custom colors. The overall size is 24" x 24", and the pattern itself is 12" x 24" - big enough for fabulous little things like napkin ring holders or curtain tiebacks. The way to get a strikeoff? Below product pictures on detail pages and in the wizard, there is a button that says "Order a sample" - just click that and your pattern, scale and colors are all set for you!

2. A coupon code is now available. The form to fill out is at the bottom of most pages and can be found also by clicking here.

3. Want to know what other people are designing? We've added links from our product pages so you can see what people have saved in the material you are considering and the product you are considering. We use it in-house to see what folks like the most, but thought our customers would like to see this as well. Take a look at the most recently saved items in Libby Unwin's Lineoak on Second for instance.

4. Rose Leaves from Zoe Brench, Fan Leaf from Jessica Gonacha Swift. Jessica also has 3 patterns online, so we have made a widget that displays her favorite ones. The widget can be installed on websites/blogs/etc. to show Jessica some love!

5. Guides are now available for dining lighting, kitchen lighting, ceiling lighting and bedside table lighting. Just go to "Design a Product" then to "Guides" and choose a guide (this is on the main Alluminare site).

5 Unexpected Ways to Use Upholstery Fabric

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Fabric...it's not just for sofa covers anymore.

We still love it on sofa covers, of course, and used in all the traditional ways, like fashioned into Roman shades (as the Serendipity fabric pictured above in Sage, Light Spring Grass, Tutu, and Classic Pink has been).

We just don't think fabric's usefulness stops with the traditional uses. That's why we've compiled this list of six great alternative uses for upholstery fabric:

1.Table Linens

Most upholstery fabric is a little thick to use as a tablecloth, though it works nicely as a cloth for an outdoor table (think picnic, plus the table). Plus, table linens don't start and stop at "tablecloth." With just a little cutting and hemming, you can make great placemats and runners out of just a few yards of inexpensive upholstery fabric. Crate & Barrel, eat your heart out!

We love the idea of turning Tribeca fabric, pictured at the right in Crimson, Silver, and Gray, into festive holiday table coverings.

2. Transform a Party Space

One of the quickest, simplest ways to transform your home from the place you live every day into a fantastic party space is to drape your walls - any walls - with fancy fabric (such as the classic Duo in Silver and White). Creating an indoor tent, you'll hide all manner of messy sins and create a really special place that will wow guests.

This is a perfect way to dress a house up for a grand-scale New Year's Eve party, or even a wedding.

3. Kids Crafts

Save all your scraps - even the tiniest ones - and share them with your children, or donate them to local childcare facilities or preschools. The collage art kids can make with leftover upholstery fabric would make even Marcel Duchamp smile.

4. Purse It

Upholstery fabric is hardy and pretty and that's a great combination for an everyday bag or purse. Follow these basic instructions, adjusting for your own size preferences, and maybe add a different material, such as wood, for a handle.

We'd make a fun, summery bag out of Maven fabric in Crimson, Tutu, Light Spring Grass, and Classic Pink. Perfect for the beach, the boat, or daytime margaritas on the deck!

5. Flowery Fun

We love the blogger and Etsy shop owner This Recycled Life. She has tons of suggestions for making use of stuff we find ourselves left with - like leftover upholstery fabric. Of all her suggestions for fabric, our favorite is her pretty fabric flowers. They'd make great gift-wrapping or decoration, and they're a fantastic way to use those leftover scraps (or even to buy fabric for, actually). We like the idea of making flowers out of Rose Leaves fabric in Silver, Cream, Blueberry, and Baby Blue:

Leaves on fabric - it just works for us!

How do you use your leftover fabric? Any fun projects to add to our list? Please leave suggestions in the comments!

5 Creative Holiday Decorating Strategies

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:59:00 +0000

What's your holiday style? Traditional or uber-modern, there's no wrong way to decorate for the holidays - it's just fun to make a space festive and jolly.

Generally, our holiday decorating styles gibe with our everyday decorating styles - modern sticks with modern, traditional with traditional. But there's no rule saying you can't mix it up.

We've identified five holiday decorating themes that are pretty great on their own, but are also mix-and-matchable.

1. Traditional All the Way

There's a lot to be said for the traditional red and green, for loading the tree, the mantle, and every shelf around with greens and shiny balls and fake snow. Pottery Barn offers fantastic inspiration for this type of decorating. Their more-is-more seasonal approach is classic and pretty - and just short of over-the-top.

We especially like the little touches from Pottery Barn, like these engravable stocking holders: We'd add a pretty, festive throw pillow to the mix, too, like the Fan Leaf pillow (in cream, Classic Red, Light Spring Grass, and Army) at the top of the post.

2. Trendy with Color

Turquoise is the color of 2010, but it's already showing up all over the place - including on Christmas trees. This turquoise and silver tree is pretty and fun, and the silver elements tie the look back into traditional holiday style:

And wouldn't that tree look nice in a beachy room that's home to a Cottage Garden three-cylinder pendant lamp in Caribbean Sea and white? We think the lamp also strikes that great balance between vibrant and traditional:

Perfect for a beach house where the whole family gathers to celebrate the holidays.

3. Fun and Funky

You know what else would work at that beach house? Bright colors, unusual textures, and out-there objets repurposed as decoration. We love the feather wreath and trees in the photo at the left - they remind us of boas (always fun!)

We'd love these trees even more with crazy decorations, like colorful Mardi Gras masks or colorful vintage postcards.

4. Pale and Shimmery

Red and green aren't the only Christmassy colors out there. We love interiors decked out in gold, silver, and white, like this pretty fireplace crowned with blooming paperwhites:

We think this room would look even lovelier with drapes made of Mallory fabric in ginger and white:

We love the feminine pattern in gold and white - it's fresh and festive and pretty (plus, it works after the holiday season, too!).

If pale and shimmery is your style, and you're feeling extra festive, why not try to emulate the stairway from Chanel's Spring 2009 show? The oversized paper flowers aren't terribly complicated to put together (though maybe a little time consuming). And they certainly are pretty!

5. Classically Minimal

We started this list with the maximalist, Pottery Barn approach to holiday decorating, so we're closing it out with traditional's other extreme - simplicity. That's exactly what we see in this comfortable room, dressed with just a few fresh greens: Add a gorgeous lamp in holiday shades, like the Ever After pendant in white and Classic Red, and you've got a perfect, and perfectly restrained, holiday-themed room. Whatever your style, enjoy decorating - and happy holidays!

[Stocking holders from Pottery Barn. Turquoise, feather trees, fireplace, and greenery from Coastal Living. Chanel stairway from The House that Lars Built. All other photos from Alluminare.com.]

Pantone Names Turquoise the Color of 2010

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Just last week, we were waxing poetic about color trends - specifically, trends of the past, with a look ahead to what the future holds for blue and brown. Well, the color experts at Pantone must have felt their ears burning because this week they've announced their "color of the year" for 2010: Turquoise!

We're not surprised, of course, and we heartily approve. Turquoise is fun, it's lively, and it's a great foil for so many other shades. We love turquoise mixed and matched with other blues, and with sweet or fiery pinks, purples and reds, as in this pendant lamp in Serendipity in Turquoise, Baby Blue, Twilight Blue, and Pale Lavender:

Turquoise is perfect for a feminine pattern like Serendipity because its girlish, but not terribly saccharine. This particular lamp is perfect in a young girl's bedroom or for a pretty living room or master suite, but the color itself would work nicely in boys' rooms and casual family rooms, as well.

We love turquoise paired with other shades, but we like it on its own, too, or matched with crisp white, for a preppy, beachy feel. Wouldn't the Parkside pendant in Caribbean Blue and white look perfect in any Palm Beach condo? Preferably one decked out in Jonathan Adler furniture, with a splash (or two) of Lilly Pulitzer in the closet, of course.

You can be sure that we'll have our eyes out for any new and innovative ways to use turquoise in the year to come.

What do you think about turquoise? Any favorite spots for the color? Or favorite memories (of that great Caribbean vacation, maybe)? Does Pantone's choice surprise you? Please tell us your turquoise stories in the comments.

Holiday Sale Ends Friday!

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:04:00 +0000

As the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Twinkling lights, pretty candles, presents wrapped in shiny paper - what could be better?

That is, it's the most wonderful time of the year once you're finished with braving the crowds at the mall (especially in the parking lot), waiting in endless lines at the post office, and finding that perfect gift for your mother-in-law who has everything (no, really, everything).

Fortunately, we're here to help. How about a Christmassy throw pillow, like the Signature Bubbles pillow in cream, Basil, Sage, and Classic Red for that hard to please MIL? Trust us, she'll love it even more than those slippers you were eyeing.

And you know what makes that gift even better? It's on sale! Through this Friday, December 11th, Alluminare products are on sale, up to 25% off (plus a possible bonus!).

Happy shopping...and happy holidays!

Meet Designer Libby Unwin

noreply@blogger.com (Alluminare) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:07:00 +0000

We're proud to have Libby Unwin as one of our first World-Class designers. Her work is fresh, bold, and with an inimitable style that is unmistakeably modern.

More of Libby's favorites and her bio statement can be found on her profile page. She's generously created a few colorways for us that she thinks you'll enjoy.

We recently had a chance to sit down with Libby, and discuss her design influences. We think you'll fall head-over-heels for her work like we have!

What designer has inspired you most and why?
I have loved Abigail Borg's work for quite some time, and really admire that her work is hand-drawn. I get really excited about Patty Young's designs, especially her colorways. It seems like I discover someone new every day - someone who is pushing the bounds of pattern design, someone who is creating work that astounds and inspires me.

Who do your designs appeal to most?
My designs appeal to people looking for something new and versatile, and who are wanting to meld several themes together in one room. I try to leave room for that one extra color, so the pattern can work with other things going on in the same area.

Where do you see yourself, as a designer, in the upcoming year?
I plan to push on my own boundaries: do more hand-drawn work, venture into high-detail designs, create collections of patterns with innovative colorways.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Everywhere! I was watching TV last night, and a baby was in a high chair with dots on the seat. My brain quit watching the show for about 30 seconds while I was rearranging the dots, adding other shapes, sneaking in a very hot pink, mapping out another pattern, and then another, and then another. All from a couple of dots. It's endless! Sometimes I sit down and draw something that's been percolating for awhile; other times I'm drawing with no direction, no ideas, just a pencil.

What is your favorite room in your home/apt. and why?
We just moved into our first house and lately I am obsessed with the living room. I have plans to fill the room with Moroccan-esque colors and fabrics. I love texture and color working together, and of course, patterns. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

What are your favorite colorways and products? How do you see them being used in people's homes or businesses (like restaurants and hotels)?
Lately, I'm in love with purple, so I think this purrple colorway is gorgeous.

I can see it in an office as wallpaper, and/or as throw pillows in a purple room. Because it's two very versatile colors, the pattern would provide a good backdrop for other accents and decor touches.

I also am drawn to colorways that feel soothing and refreshing at the same time. I would use this colorway as a fabric in a spa's window coverings, in a reading room's lamps, or in an indoor garden's lounging furniture.

The colors are so gentle, but punchy enough to add a "fun" element to the room. Because the colors are earthy, but fresh, you could use rich browns to make the room feel warm and cozy, or add a coral or a blue and make it feel bright and alive.

This lampshade would look killer in my home office.

I've got grass green and bright sky blue with browns and blacks working together. Bright and poppy! I like to see colors bouncing off each other. I love overhead lighting for reading or drawing, and I love the circles in the Stop Drop #4 pattern working with the rounded shade, especially since everything else in the room has very straight lines.

In setting up our dining table last night, I realized I need to make covers for the chairs. The room is gold and red with black dishes, so I am thinking this fabric would look great on the chairs.

I love that on Alluminare's site, I can change the colors of the patterns not only to create new colorways, but even change the pattern itself by using two of the same color. This fabric is Linoak on Seventh with Classic Red on two of the three color options, isolating the small background squares.

10 Ways to Get Creative with Wallpaper

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:46:00 +0000

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.]

Brown & Blue: Hot or Not?

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:38:00 +0000

As we mentioned earlier this week, we cannot stop talking about decorating with brown and blue. It's been holding strong as a trendy color combination for the past few years, but has its time passed?
Well, we for one still think it looks pretty nice. The wedding industry still agrees with us, too. Brown and blue are holding strong as popular wedding colors, with brides choosing flowers, decor, and dresses in sweet and bright shades of both. And at home - wouldn't the Duo pillow, shown above in Baby Blue and Classic Brown, look fantastic in a little boy's nursery? The shades are soothing and comforting, but still feel pretty hip.

But while the color combo isn't exactly out, it might be drifting toward the less trendy end of the scale, as yellows and bright greens take over blue's spot in the, well, spotlight, and cooler neutrals like grey bump brown off the scene. According to color experts from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Pantone, 2010 will be all about those cool neutrals, yellows, and some surprising new shades.

If you love the brown and blue combination but want to update it, one way to do so is to brighten it up with a little bit if yellow. We like the Linoak on Seventh pendant in Baby Blue, Classic Brown, and a shot of Pale Buttercup:

We think it's got all the good things about the brown and blue palette, plus a little energy from the yellow.

But if you're not tied to brown and blue specifically, but like the muted + bright tone of the lamp, lavender and gray are great to play with. Here's the same lamp, still with Pale Buttercup, but adding Charcoal Gray, and Light Plumb in place of the blue and brown:

The lamp has the same vibe, but a slightly fresher feel. Perfect for 2010 (and beyond).

Gray and yellow alone are a great pick, too. One of the nice things about the brown and blue combination is that, depending on the specific shades, it can be energizing or calming - or somehow both at the same time. Gray and yellow have the same magical capabilities. We think Tribeca wallpaper in Bright Yellow, Silver, and Gray would be perfect to fall asleep to or to wake up to:

Of course, if it's still really blue you're after, all you need to do to freshen it up is to make sure your palette is bright...because 2010 is all about aqua and we love it. The Granted three-cylinder pendant in white and Caribbean blue is exactly why:

It's bright and fun and exciting. Beachy, but perfect for a winter white landscape, too. And most of all - it's blue.

Where do you fall in the blue and brown debate? Still fresh? Feeling stale? What colors say 2010 to you? Please share in the comments.

Color Trends: A Retrospective

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:53:00 +0000

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.

Choosing Sofa Pillows: 6 Things to Consider

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Throw pillows are an absolutely fantastic buy. They can dress up, dress down, energize or calm a room in no time. Want to brighten up a space for spring? Choose a few pillows in vibrant shades. Give your living room a holiday feel? Go traditional with red and green or blue and silver.

Throw pillows for the sofa are the perfect decor pick-me-up, in part because they require minimal investment. They're not heavy - no lugging them and if you want to change them out. They don't require a lot of closet space for storage. And best of all, they're not terribly expensive.
That said, it always pays to do some research prior to making any home decor investments, and buying sofa pillows is no exception.
Imagine your living room looked like this:It's a pretty room, but could stand a little embellishment - a little personality. We think it could stand some great pillows. We also thought it would be a perfect way to explain the six items everyone should consider before investing in throw pillows. And they are:
1. Color
With throw pillow color, you can go one of three ways: match your space, stay neutral, or deliberately contrast with your space. In the room above, the palette is fairly neutral, with the only real jolt of color coming from the deep blue painting. With that in mind, we considered the Signature Leaves pillow with a cream background and leaves in three shades - Hampton Blue, Croissant, and Rust:
Choosing the Hampton Blue or Croissant options would preserve the cool, minimal feel of the room, while adding the Rust pillow would add a little spice. Any work - it's just a matter of preference and personality.
2. Size
Throw pillows come in all differen sizes - they're available from Alluminare in 14-inch, 16-inch, and 18-inch squares. Decisions about size depend on the scale of your room and your furniture. To test out different sizes before you buy, try stuffing bed pillowcases with t-shirts and pinning them to the approximate size of the pillows you're considering. That will give you an idea of how the pillows will work with your surroundings.
3. Pattern Style
Picking a pattern is serious business - and it can be more than a little overwhelming. A good first step is to decide whether you'd like all your pillows to be the same pattern, or if you want to mix it up.
Next, think about pattern style. In the room above, you could keep the peaceful vibe with something really simple, like the Duo pillow in Hampton Blue and cream:Or add make the room into a party space with a pattern that's a little traditional, like the Maven pillow in Hampton Blue, Sage, and cream:

4. Level of Formality
The space above feels fairly formal, but a few well-placed pillows could dress it down a bit, making it more of a family room, rather than a living room. Casual pillows come in a variety of patterns, but we often gravitate towards small patterns when we want to make a room feel more homey - like the Rose pillow in Hampton Blue, Tutu, and cream:

The pattern, on the "tiny" scale setting here, adds some warmth to the room.
On the other hand, if formal is the look you're after, a large, ornate pattern, like Traditional Damask in Hampton blue and cream, tells a different story:

6. Level of Modernity
The room above is pretty modern, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work with some traditional elements. For example, the Serendipity pillow in Hampton Blue, Sage, Classic Brown, and cream, conveys an established look, without being stuffy or too conservative for the space:

If emphasizing the modern is what you're after, though, the Avalon pillow in Hampton Blue and cream gives off a Kandinsky vibe that's very cool:

6. Number of Pillows
The last thing to decide is...how many pillows do you want? Most sofas are perfect for two or three, but one really striking pillow works, too. Or, ditch your actual sofa cushions in favor of a bunch of throw pillows for a comfortable look - and feel.
And remember, there's no need to worry too much when you're choosing your throw pillows. You can always start over next season - it's fun!

[Photo credits: Pillow-less living room from Houzz.com; All pillows from Alluminare.com.]

Brighten Up Where You Sleep: Using Yellow in the Bedroom

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:29:00 +0000

By all accounts, 2009 has been the year of yellow. In December of 2008, the color mavens at Pantone decreed the sunny yellow shade "14-0848 Mimosa" the color of 2009. Around the same time, paint purveyors Benjamin Moore chose their St. Elmo's Fire 362, a bright lemony hue, as their breakout color for 2009. Everywhere we looked this year, yellow was the thing.

We've always been partial to yellow, especially in the bedroom. From a psychological perspective, that's no surprise - yellow is associated with optimism and happiness - and physiologically, it's the perfect color to wake up with, since it stimulates the nervous system.

But we mostly love it from a design standpoint. It's one of the most versatile colors out there, with shades ranging from soft and muted to bold and bright, and with undertones of cool green to warm orange and red. A quick look at the variety of shades of yellow available from Alluminare shows off just how wide that range is:

With all of those options, there are tons of ways to make yellow work in your bedroom, no matter what your preferred style. Here, we put together a few looks that showcase shades from different parts of the yellow spectrum:

From Subtle to Strong

Pale, buttery yellows are great for the bedroom, creating a spaces that are soothing and romantic, but not overly feminine. This room looks like a lovely place to fall asleep each night: We'd like it even better if the chandelier was switched out for an oval Ying Yang Paisley pendant in pale buttercup and croissant:

The natural colors complement the rest of the room, while the fussy pattern provides nice contrast to the simple rug.

On the bolder edge of the yellow spectrum, this room (which belongs to Turquoise designer Vanessa de Vargas) plays up yellow accessories for all their worth. We love the bold rug - it would wake us right up - and the modern take on the oh-so-British "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster:We love sitting areas in bedrooms as a general rule, and there's something especially inviting about this one. It begs for a couple of friends, a glass of wine, and a marathon session of dress up in preparation for a big night out. You know what we think would really pull that area together? A two-cylinder Manhattan pendant in Caribbean Sea and white:

Turquoise and bright yellow make a great pair and are ideal for any fun, energetic space.

From Green to Gold

Yellows really show off their undertones, making them even more versatile in home decor. They range from positively lime to deep, rich and gold - and there are a million points in between. We've chosen a few favorite spots along that spectrum to highlight:

Chartreuse can be a hard color to pull off anywhere, but we love how these yellow-green walls work in this preppy bedroom:A fun print on the bed and fantastic pink table lamp give the whole room a burst of energy. We'd make the room even more of a blast with a small Signature Bubbles pendant in Margaritaville, Bright Yellow, White, and Pink Berry: We think that space would be absolutely perfect for an energetic teenage girl, or as an extra room in a lively beach house.

Moving down the undertone spectrum, we've been seeing more and more "true" yellow paired with soothing grays (and even some lavenders). To our eye, this room just begs for a splash of strong yellow color: To get there, we'd replace the clear hanging globes with several small staggered pendants in a somewhat fussy print, such as Traditional Damask in white and Bright Yellow:

Pairing the yellow with white keeps the pendant from overwhelming the gray, and the pattern adds a touch of softness to a fairly masculine space.

Finally, all the way at the opposite end of the spectrum from green, yellows with orange and gold undertones create a beautiful, rich shade that works everywhere from dramatic Parisian apartments to bright San Francisco flats:We'd go a step further with the color in this space, matching the goldenrod bedding with a big pendant in Mimosa and Burnt Orange Signature Leaves: The lamp's strong colors works perfectly with the bold artwork, while the simple pattern of the pendant won't overwhelm the room's whitewashed walls and furniture.

What does yellow make you dream about? What are your favorite shades, or favorite uses? Share them with us in the comments.

[Photo credits: Muted yellow bedroom and gray bedroom from Apartment Therapy. Vanessa de Vargas room and Gold bedroom from Houzz.com. Chartreuse bedroom from Decorate and Renovate. All lamps from Alluminare.com.]

Facebook Giveaway: Win the Pillow Featured in This Old House

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

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!

Hot, Hot, Hot: Red in the Kitchen

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Last week, we were all about spicy, citrusy oranges in the kitchen. This week, we're kicking the heat up another notch, finding ourselves inspired by hot peppers and hot chef tempers. That's right: we're in the mood for red.

There's no doubt that red's a powerful color. It's the color of love, but also the color traditionally associated with courage. According to scientists, it increases blood pressure, makes people breathe quicker, and speeds up metabolism. Great for kitchens - and diets, too.

Red is bold and exciting and not the least little bit shy. As a result, people are sometimes hesitant to experiment with it at home. But don't let red scare you - especially in the kitchen, the center of energy in many homes. Whether you embrace the bold or take comfort in neutrals, a little (or a lot of) red could be just what your kitchen needs. Check out the red in some of our favorite inspiration kitchens:

Traditional Meets Eastern

This kitchen is great - we love its efficient organization and cool black-and-white-and-glass motif. With its heavy moldings and sleek, dark cabinetry, it pulls together the best of traditional and modern design:We think it's missing just a little something, though - that extra accessory that stands out so much it ties the whole look together. That something just might be a narrow love pendant in classic red and silver:Here's why we liked this particular fixture: it's the perfect size (not too small, not too big), the Asian motif draws out the space's clean Eastern lines, and the red adds the energy that the original kitchen is lacking. It makes the prospect of cooking in that space a lot more fun.

Shiny and Glamorous

Red lips are all the rage on the red carpet these days - and there's a reason why that carpet's red, too. Red is naturally glam. Choosing red cabinets is a bold move, but one that really works in this glossy, gorgeous space:We'd like the room a little better, though, if there was more lighting over the island! We'd let the red cabinets shine on their own, but accent them with something equally glamorous, like this trio of skinny, sexy pendants in black and white zebra:

It's 21st century glamour, all the way.

Girl Power

Though it's traditionally considered an aggressive color, small doses of red can actually appear very delicate. Consider this kitchen. As it stands, it is more than a little bit delicate and feminine. In fact, its cotton-candy pink motif is downright Barbie-fied:That said, it appeals to the little girl in us, but we'd add some red accessories to eliminate some of the kitchen's "fluff factor." For example, these traditional damask pendants in aurora red and white are a perfect match, and would give the space a little more of an air of sophistication:

Because the shade has just a tinge of pink in it, it really works with the room's feminine decor, but because it's strong, it helps balance the super-sweet pink.

Nearly Neutral

Red walls sound very bold, but thanks to brown undertones, tan hallway walls, and wood floors, this kitchen's overall look is anything but shocking. In fact, it feels fairly neutral (especially compared to the glossy, glamorous kitchen with the red cabinets):We love its homey, lived in look - it seems like a kitchen where a family could really come together. We'd like it even more if the lights over the island were swapped out for a big, boxy pendant like the kingston pendant in classic red and sand dollar:

We love the way the boxy shape and design echoes the artwork in the hallway, and that the colors tie the hall and the kitchen walls together.

There are a million ways to make red work in the kitchen. It works on the walls, as lighting, on tablecloths and dishes, and even in the food (nothing's quite like a big bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce!). What's your favorite way to use red in the kitchen?

[Photo credits: All kitchens from Houzz.com; All lamps from Alluminare.com]

Spicing It Up in the Kitchen with Orange

kit@kitpollard.com (Kit Pollard) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:20:00 +0000

There's no two ways about it: orange is a bold color. Even toned down shades, like cantaloupe and goldenrod, are pretty saucy. Fortunately, we like saucy. After all, what could be more appropriate for the kitchen?

Science agrees with us, too. Orange tends to stimulate mental activity and energizes by increasing the oxygen supply to the brain. Plus, it's associated with healthy food and it boosts the appetite - perfect for anytime you need a little kick to get cooking.

Fortunately, though orange is a striking color, it's not a one-trick pony. Whether your tastes run modern, traditional, girly or sophisticated, there's a way to incorporate the color into your kitchen. Try these on for size:

The Modern Kitchen

This understated Scandinavian kitchen is stunning in its clean modernity - but wouldn't it be boring without the shot of color those pillows add?We'd love to see the space further brightened up with a Duo pendant in cantaloupe and mimosa:

The colors add vibrancy and the simple design wouldn't distract from the room's sleek lines and commitment to minimalism.

The Retro Kitchen

OK, we have to admit that orange sometimes makes us think of all things '70s. The Brady Bunch, Barbie campers, those so-hideous-they're-cool (almost) puffy vests? Yes, we get it. But there's a gentler side to 70's retro, too, and it's one we've embraced in our own kitchen. Check out our orange and green kitchen tools: You know what would look amazing with those? A Tribeca pendant in cantaloupe, sage, and light spring grass:
The colors aren't so over-the-top that they recall the avocado and goldenrod nightmares of the past, but they've got a great retro vibe.

The Feminine Kitchen

For whatever reason, orange isn't usually thought of as a particularly feminine color. It's just a little too aggressive. But strong shades of orange combine fabulously with shocking pink and more subtle shades are great with a whole host of pastels.

We think this kitchen, in all its Tiffany-blue glory, is a great example of how to use orange accents in a girly space:In addition to the colors, we love the marble countertops and the pretty tiled backsplash. We would love to femme it up a little more with a Roma lamp in cantaloupe and sand dollar:

The pattern recalls Laura Ashley comforters, but the colors prove that this lamp is all grown up.

The Sophisticated Kitchen

Speaking of grown-up, it's hard to imagine a kitchen more sophisticated than the one in designer Miles Redd's old apartment. Redd admits that he rarely did more than mix a cocktail in his kitchen, but who needs food when you have black walls and outrageous mirrored countertops? Oh yes, and amazing orange accent pieces:
We think Redd's kitchen would look even more glam lit by zebra pendants in mimosa and silver:

Silver dresses up softer, yellower shades of orange quite nicely - and nothing says Hollywood glamour quite like animal prints!

What's your favorite way to use orange in the kitchen? Any tips for how to make it work? Leave a comment!

[Photo credits: Modern Kitchen from Apartment Therapy; Retro Kitchen from Houzz.com; Feminine Kitchen from Apartment Therapy; Miles Redd Kitchen from New York Social Diary; All lamps from Alluminare.com]