Set the scene for Valentine’s Day! Here are some easy tips you can use to add romance in the design of your bedroom:
Lighting - Soft lighting is essential for a romantic mood. Candles are great for romance, just be extra careful near your flowing fabrics. Use light sources from all directions. Side table lamps soften lighting with lampshades. Or put your overhead lights on dimmers.
Colours - When you think of love, you probably think of red. Red does increase your heart rate, but a room that is all red can also make you feel agitated – not great feelings for igniting romance. So use red sparingly, as accents in the bedroom. The most romantic and soothing color is pink, but it’s probably the least preferred colour with men. Shades close to pink, like mauve or lavender, are nice compromises that evoke romantic feelings in both women and men. Soft blues with creams are very soothing and romantic, and because they slow your heart rate, they can help you get a great night’s sleep too!
Fabrics - Create the ultimate Four Seasons Hotel luxury with luxurious, sensual fabrics in rich textures like silk, satin, chenille, and linens. Make up your bed in high thread-count cotton sheets, a full, down-filled comforter, and piles of fluffy pillows. Cover your windows with neutral-coloured, sheer fabric panels that appear to be blowing in the breeze.
Entice all your senses - Set the perfect romantic mood with soft music, scented candles and fresh flowers. Or really spoil them with a romantic breakfast or treat in bed - a large bowl of plump strawberries and chocolate should do the trick!
The next time you think about adding more romance in your bedroom, do it through a little redecorating. Have fun with it!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Trend Watch at the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association Show
Our recent visit to the Toronto Canadian Gift and Tableware Association tradeshow brought to light a wide spectrum of innovative international trends. The CGTA Show is Canada's biggest and best gift show, displaying the most comprehensive selection of gifts, tableware, bed, bath, linens, decorative accessories and occassional furniture.
Amidst the hundreds of vendors and importers from around the world, one commonality remains when selecting your signature style preference - choose classic neutrals for your basic, larger pieces (ie. couches, chairs, dining furniture, flooring), and top off with hits of trendy accessories that can be replaced by season (ie. pillows, vases, decorative display pieces, occassional chairs).
Some of the trends that were large at the show:
- Overscaled patterns - Damask still lives, but also look for organic, leafy patterns to be bold.
- Global influences - French-country is fading, British-colonial is alive.
- Wood tones and all things 'green' - slightly lighter tones of wood like ash and elm, or white-washed natural wood. Organically produced fabrics, carpets and furniture were seen like never before.
-"Miami Vice" colours - as interior designer, TV celeb and producer Sarah Richardson mentioned in her trendwatch seminar, and vendor's booths consistently showed throughout the show, the return of pale colours like robbins egg blue, sky gray, lemon yellow, apricot and others we saw in the '80's, will be big in the upcoming seasons.
Whatever you choose, create balance and dimension in your home by mixing up from your favourite trends. Mix old and new. Create groupings to achieve eclectic modern. Most importantly, have fun with your place! It's your greatest reflection of yourself.
Amidst the hundreds of vendors and importers from around the world, one commonality remains when selecting your signature style preference - choose classic neutrals for your basic, larger pieces (ie. couches, chairs, dining furniture, flooring), and top off with hits of trendy accessories that can be replaced by season (ie. pillows, vases, decorative display pieces, occassional chairs).
Some of the trends that were large at the show:
- Overscaled patterns - Damask still lives, but also look for organic, leafy patterns to be bold.
- Global influences - French-country is fading, British-colonial is alive.
- Wood tones and all things 'green' - slightly lighter tones of wood like ash and elm, or white-washed natural wood. Organically produced fabrics, carpets and furniture were seen like never before.
-"Miami Vice" colours - as interior designer, TV celeb and producer Sarah Richardson mentioned in her trendwatch seminar, and vendor's booths consistently showed throughout the show, the return of pale colours like robbins egg blue, sky gray, lemon yellow, apricot and others we saw in the '80's, will be big in the upcoming seasons.
Whatever you choose, create balance and dimension in your home by mixing up from your favourite trends. Mix old and new. Create groupings to achieve eclectic modern. Most importantly, have fun with your place! It's your greatest reflection of yourself.
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