Design Trends

Opposites Attract

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

I was lucky enough to stay at my favorite hotel recently, The Edition in NYC. Oh, how I love this place! While staying there I am always inspired by the interior design. So much so, that in the moment, I am mentally redesigning every inch of 1865 City House.

What makes it so appealing? It’s the repeated use of contrast. Or in other words “opposites”. Light colors with dark colors. This is the best tool in a designers tool box!

Contrast works in paintings:

Renoir – At the Opera

Contrast works with food presentation:

Art of Food

Contrast most definitely works at The Edition:

travelforsenses

At The Edition light oak floors paired with dark wood entryways and beautiful dark oversized beds create contrast at its best. The high contrast concept is implemented with variations on the same theme all throughout the hotel. Even the artwork is great vintage black and white photos in glossy white or black frames.

Here are a few examples of contrast for interiors:

Goodlifeofdesign

Kadvacorp

Decoist

Contrast (light vs dark) is important when designing a room. It is an easy way to make a statement and add personality to your spaces.

Even monochromatic rooms can be visually exciting when paired with strong accents in constrating colors. A room without any contrast can be quite boring. I recommend taking a step back, or better yet photograph your spaces to ensure they are inviting, interesting, and have a good deal of contrast. Often it is just a matter of adding a few dynamic colors to update the entire look!

Looking Up

Posted on July 8, 2017July 8, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

I have been to NYC more times than I can count (lucky, I know!). Still more often than not, I end up with a sun burn on my neck. Crazy, first because I should remember to use sun screen, and second, because I look like a tourist – at risk of all touristy pitfalls – but I digress.

I am always looking up in NYC to see the amazing architecture. The same is true in Interior spaces. The ceiling is often overlooked but a great opportunity to add a statement.

Here are some great options to consider:

Simply paint the ceilings

Decorpad

2. Add wallpaper

lushome

3. Apply Tin

Blogspot

4. Add a coffered design

5. Or add your own design

Decoist

So basically, just when you thought you were finished decorating (btw you are never finished) “look up” the opportunities are endless!

You Had Me at Small Batch . . .

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about paint, Benjamin Mooore has introduced their “Century Collection”.

This stunning new paint line is pre-mixed, small-batch paint, in a soft touch matte finish. The depth of color is amazing!

There are 75 colors in this collection and even the paint decks are hand painted to give a true representation of the color.

Here are a few examples of the look:

Impressive, right? The price is a little high, approximately $125.00 per gallon, similar to the cost of wallpaper for a room. I can’t wait to try it!

Time to Fake It

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

June, so many beautiful and amazing flowers! Early last week I bought a bouquet of Peonies. I wish I had photographed them, so pretty! In my opinion Peonies are the frangance of summer! But alas all good things must come to an end. I awoke today to a vase surrounded by fallen petals. So sad.

I adore fresh flowers, my garden is planted with the intention of having cut flowers for display inside my home.

However fresh flowers and plants need tender loving care and have an expiration date:

This being said, I will admit to the purchase of fake flowers and plants. These beauties can fill up an empty space and require no care at all. However best to keep them on the small side, as it is harder to find larger arrangements that look natural.

Here are some of my favorities fakes:

Of course there is nothing like the real thing, but once and awhile it’s ok to fake it.

Please Wait to be Seated

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

Chairs – let’s be honest. We all have “our” chair. Growing up I remember my Dad had “his” chair. We all knew it was off limits when he was home. It was a comfy recliner. It’s funny how these chairs become part of your personality.

Just think of popular tv shows and movies:

Joey and Chandler from Friends had their BarcaLounger chairs:

Agent Kay and Agent Jay from Men in Black and their Iconic Egg chairs:

Morpheus and Neo from The Matrix had Red Leather Wing Chairs:

Personally, a wing chair is my chair. I actually own three. They work for me. Just like black dresses, I keep telling my self “no more, you have more than enough.” But at the end of the day you can’t have too many black dresses – or wing chairs. Here is a definition and a little history about wing chairs:

wing chair
[ˈwiNG ˌCHe(ə)r]
NOUN
a high-backed armchair with side pieces projecting from the back, originally in order to protect the sitter from drafts.

Called the wing back, easy chair or fireside chair, the wing chair as we know it developed over time. Wing chairs appeared in English manors sometime in the late 17th century and soon thereafter appeared in colonial houses in America.

Design
The basic wing chair consists of four legs situated in a squat little square. A long back with slight incline and high arms on each side surround the square. Two small ears, or wings, flank the sides above the arms. Since its inception, the design of the wing chair has changed little.

Purpose
The wing chair sprang from necessity. Residents of stone-cold English castles and chilly New England houses huddled around their fireplaces, seeking to soak in as much heat as possible. The angular shape of the wing chair retains warm drafts from the fire.

Noahsnet.com

Here is my favorite wing chair at the 1865 City House:

Somewhat vintage, and so comfortable! Like Goldelocks this one is “just right” for me.

Whats your favorite chair style?

Denial

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

What’s the old joke, “Denial, it’s not just a river in Egypt.”? Ha ha ha, right? I had one of these moments when I realized I have been living in denial regarding my minalmalist quest. I was feeling overwhelmed with all of the springtime maintance of my home, and decided it was time to put my minimalistic goals into action. It was time to downsize yet again! I came up with a list that looked something like this:

#1. Essential sprucing up details to make 1865 City House market ready for a quick sale. A couple intense weekends, an it could be done!

#2. Loft type rentals close by. Many great options. Some so appealing!

#3. Essentials to keep. This is where it got real. Choosing just a dozen or less furniture pieces, yikes!

Artwork, even harder, and the China, if you follow me you know I have this China obsession:

So end of story, it’s not happening at this minute in time. I have often blogged “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for an interior designer to become a minimalist”, so very, very true. And of course “minimalism is a different thing to different people; it’s all a matter of perspective.” Even truer.

So I will continue to edit my “stuff” and I will complete my sprucing up list, at a more leisurely pace however. And by the way, I just picked up this beautiful china set from a friend…

That’s all for now, Happy June!

How to Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

Posted on May 20, 2017May 20, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

Where you spend your time each day and night should be a place you love spending time in. But so often people will wait until they own a home to decorate. So here are some five easy ways to give your rental a great look without upsetting your land lord:

With the help of a YouTube video it’s pretty easy to switch out your overhead lighting. This can make a huge difference! When it’s time to move just reinstall the old lighting fixtures and take the new fixtures with you.

The Possibilities are Endless

2. Although painting the walls is often prohibited, many companies make removable wallpaper. Just adding it to one accent wall can make a big difference.

Removable Wall-coverings

3. Purchase furniture that is versatile. A chest, console, armoire, or bookcase can be used in an entryway, a bedroom, or even a dining room.

Chest

4. Renters are often afraid of putting too many holes in the walls to hang art. Although a little wall spackle and touch up paint can correct this problem, large scale art and mirrors can just lean against the wall – a great solution!

Leaning Art

5. Lastly, window treatments. My favorite inexpensive window treatments are rings with clips. This makes any fabric (a table cloth, twin sheet, canvas drop cloth) a window treatment. Just keep it neutral, prints can look too distracting from the outside.

Rings and Clips

Hopefully these tips will make your rental a place you can truly call home!

You Say Minimalism, …I Say Maximalism…?

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Lynda Armstrong Caccamo

Ok, truth be told, I appreciate both. Last year, I read and blogged about The More of Less, a great book by Joshua Becker about the joys of Minimalism. It really inspired me! Recently I watched a great documentary, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, which I highly recommend! It runs just a little over an hour, you can find it on Netflix. As a result of this documentary, I am editing yet again; it must be a Spring thing!

However, anyone who knows me would probably not think “Minimalist”. I always tell my friends minimalism means different things to different people. Some people might think 6 pairs of shoes is excessive, some may think 6 is the bare minimum. It’s all a matter of perspective.

Yet, Maximalism in design is on the rise! Interiors are definitely becoming more layered and colorful. Maximalism’s motto is “more is more”. I am ok with this idea, but just remember there is a big difference between maximalism and clutter! Be careful! A successful Maximalist room is well planned, with special attention to mixing patterns , colors, and styles.
Here are some of my favorite minimalist and maximalist rooms: