Remember your paint colors.

Your design tip for this Thursday is:

Remember your paint colors!

Thought this was a great way to keep track of all the paint colors in your house.  

You will be faced with touching up your existing color or someone asking you what the beautiful shade is in your dining room at some point.  

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlawrencedesign
LIKE J. Lawrence Design on Facebook here.

Inspiration IS everywhere.....

It's Inspiration Wednesday!  

I take photos of inspiring things often.  They are almost always something that inspires a design idea.  When a client is starting from "scratch" in a room I will tell them that we need an inspiration idea.  It could be their favorite painting, a hobby or interest, favorite color or animal.  When you are trying to find a "jumping off point" for a room,  look around you.  

Inspiration IS everywhere.

This grate in NYC is so beautiful.  I love the pattern it forms and 

I want to design a fabric with this pattern.

This beautiful lunch I had with my husband reminds me that grouping and grids create beautiful organization and impact.

This photograph of a dolly varden that my son caught inspires a warm grey/fleshy pink/ white color scheme for a room.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlawrencedesign

LIKE J. Lawrence Design on Facebook here.

Color Trends: To trend or not to trend?

It's an Emerald Green 2013

Just in case you have been living under a design world rock:  Emerald Green has been named THE color of 2013

 Color trends have become a design timeline, defining style eras of the past. A color trend emerges,  fashion and interior design worlds take notice, fabrics are produced in massive amounts until all you feel like you can find to cover your new sofa is the current color trend. Department and discount stores then carry home goods in the color trend. Everything from bookends to dog bowls are manufactured and sold until 1 in 5 Americans have the same home color scheme, and we are all sick of it and move on to the next color trend.

Some trends have stuck more than others. Some have stuck so much that we may never be able to a certain combination of colors together again. Walk back in fairly recent history with me to the mid 80's and early 90's. Remember Hunter Green/Burgundy/Navy? Or even as recently as the 2000's with the Aqua/Chocolate trend? All of these are beautiful colors, but will we ever be able to pair these combo's again?

Clients frequently say to me: "I want my home to look classic and not dated in 10 years. How do we achieve this?" One of the main things you avoid are color trends in large amounts. Stick to a classic, neutral palette for your big ticket items and accent with color trends. The color trend images below will show you what I mean.

 Ahhhh.... Hunter Green/Burgundy/Navy. 

                                                           I feel like I should be watching 

The Cosby Show and getting a spiral perm.

 Aqua/Chocolate of the 2000's

This is a gorgeous room, but a huge commitment to the emerald trend.

Here's how to "trend" without a huge commitment.  Accent pillows and accessories.

Great way to color trend!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlawrencedesign

LIKE J. Lawrence Design on Facebook here.

Design Tip Thursday

J. Lawrence Design will be blogging info every day of the work week, starting NOW! 

Each day will have it's own theme. 

• Color Me Monday
• Inspiration Tuesday
• Organized Wednesday
• Design Tip Thursday
• Cool Find Friday

Today is Design Tip Thursday! 

  

Our very first design tip is fun with trims. A little trim goes a long way in making a design impact for your room. And THEN, when you pair fabulous trim with a creative application (such as on this pillow),  you achieve MAXIMUM design impact. Be creative with trims on pillows, coverlets, upholstery, drapes, lamp shades, etc. It will design-reward you tenfold.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlawrencedesign

LIKE J. Lawrence Design on Facebook here.