Colors that Calm & Coastal Classic Lines to Reclaim!

Welcome into the last quarter blog posting for 2011. As I hear some Canadian Geese flying overhead this afternoon, it's appropriate to say that the year has really just flown by. Autumn is just around the corner from this indian summer we are having here on the West Coast. I have seen hummingbirds and dragonflies all this past week and wonder if they know something we don't know about a delayed autumn season on our coast. Meanwhile rain and storms continue to pound other parts of our world and I am not ready for winter yet. Our Design Market begins in October and despite the inconsistencies of the economy and the weather, the trends seem to be holding the same pattern as last market. Savoring the summer and staying serene through the winter could be our best defense, while reclaiming our natural world in all ways possible. Let's take a look at the trends.



CLEAR COLORS, CALMING COASTAL PATTERNS & CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY LINES


October is our big Market time back east and as usual, the market information I am receiving is plentiful and colorful. Seems our design industry, at least, is still introducing vibrant clear colors, calming patterns, botanical themes, and soothing classic, clean lined furnishings of a more natural weathered and contemporary nature. It almost feels like a repeat of our last Spring Market. It seems no one wants to let go of coastal influences, resort style themes and again, our mother nature's images. I am elated about that! Having grown up on Long Island with water, beach and blue skies all around me and now a Californian since 1973, I am as happy and comfy as a clam around these lighter weathered finishes that look as if they were made right out of our sand dunes' driftwood. Artwork and fabrics with leaves, vines, birds, butterflies, insects, turtles, flowers, shells, sand, grassy dunes, marine life, and water/sky images with graceful sailing vessels are all ingredients of this calming coastal influence.



CLEAR COLORS


We're seeing similar colors to last Spring, just a little deeper version this Fall. The greens are prevalent and they are a little deeper than the lime greens we saw a few months back. Our blues are more turquoise and teal blue now (I still saw several peacock themes from last April), and the combination of red and turquoise is a "hot one"! Grays and neutral beiges are the canvas colors of choice. From my Color Psychology ongoing CEU class taken, I learned once again how light - medium gray is the color of creativity. It will inspire and ignite creativity in a boardroom full of attendees, and support inventive thinking and dreaming. It is slightly more masculine than beiges which may attest for why mens' suits have always been predominently gray! Adding a contrast accent color to a gray sofa (shown below), like a deep lime green or even an orange based red will add unexpected drama. Same goes for using these solid colors with all neutral beige on beige bedding or upholstery.



CALMING PATTERNS: NATURE'S WILDLIFE, BOTANICAL FLORALS, & SEASHELLS


Take a look at these great art images. Each one of them is calming and colorful in their own right, as they are in most cases the natural colors of the actual bird, insect, turtle, or seashell. The more decorative art will always add a bigger punch of color and that's always a good option when most of your upholstery or bedding is neutral. Adding in some decorative medallions or architectural doors, gates, verandas, etc. adds another peaceful element of stability, design and structure. Keeping it natural is always the key. Don't overdo anything. Simple elegance is the rule.



COASTAL CLASSIC LINES, CONTEMPORARY STYLE FURNITURE, & NATURAL RECLAIMED WOODS


We have seen a resurgence of light color woods in both traditional and contemporary classic lines, so I'll address those new introductions in this posting. The dark woods are still very much in trend and always will be. These lovely photos of an antique ivory carved chest or a reclaimed natural wood chest placed next to a colorful floral pattern clean lined side chair will give you an idea of the look I have seen in my market previews. If this "lightening up" trend is beginning again in our furniture world, I hope it will permeate into our economic world soon. This dining room is a fine "weathered european style", using the finest environmentally friendly woods and only American-made finishing materials.



GOING GREEN


It would take more than even one entire blog to really give "Going Green" the attention it deserves. There is so much more to supporting "Green" than any one vendor's contribution. However, this chest of drawers shown supports our green industry in that it is weathered reclaimed natural wood and materials, using a very simple sanded finish with either little or no wax or sealer. That makes it essential to use coasters and placements on these pieces. Occasional wiping with a soft cotton cloth will maintain the unique character of this kind of furniture. I believe we can "feel" the difference being in a room full of more natural materials and woods. There is a peace and a balance that you inutuitively sense. I realize it's more upkeep for the homeowner, but the rewards are great! I would love to talk more "green" here but I'll address that in a future blog. Meanwhile, I am proud to be a professional member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association), an organization which educates about and supports the green industry, with many affiliate vendors with green compliant procedures and products.



FINISHING TOUCH: ADDING GREENERY WITH BOTANICAL SILKS, TREES AND FLOWERS


Years ago, there wasn't one room I designed in the SF Bay Area that I didn't incorporate at least one real ficus tree, schefflera or yucca palm along with numerous tabletop greeneries. Every foyer received fresh flowers in a remarkable vase we found up in one of the San Francisco showrooms. The room is just not complete without its real greenery. We had a hand full of live plant services who met us at our jobsites, recommended and installed the proper plant for the light exposure. That service then visited regularly to make sure the plant was adjusting properly to its new environment and receiving its water and nutrition. If for some reason the plant wasn't thriving, my plant service would relocate the plant, or replace it with another one. As you can imagine, this is an expensive service. We still have those services but with the lagging economy, I am sad to say, not as many clients wish to pay for this luxury. Therefore, my clients usually opt to have high quality silk floor plants and dried botanical arrangements, green topiaries, sculptures and sik floral arrangements for their spaces. There are quite a few lines out there. Trust your designer to find the most natural and best quality ones.



DESIGNER RESOURCES ARE TRULY THE BEST


As designers, we have a huge library of resources at our fingertips by catalogue and on our trade internet sites. A few of my clients still like to do their own research, and send me photos of what they are considering and then I will find the best look, quality and price in my lines. So, please remember if you have any inquiries or requests, contact me and we can assist you on this design journey and guide the project easily and quickly as your design buyer and/or consultant for all furnishings, upholstery, casegoods, lighting, artwork, accessories, area rugs, plants....and so much more.



CELEBRATE DESIGN!

Design 4 You 4 Ever

Pamela


Pamela Farnsworth Smith IIDA

AVALLON DESIGN P.O.Box 1623 Lincoln CA 95648
Visit our Website: www.avallondesign.com
Blog: www.enhanceyourdesignviews.blogspot.com (You're here!)
Design Inquiries: pam@avallondesign.com
Contact Info: Ph(916) 677-6792 pam@avallondesign.com



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Pamela is an IIDA Professional Interior Designer in Northern California. her most current projects are in the Sacramento area; Roseville, Granite Bay, Rockin, Lincoln, El Dorado Hills, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Napa Valley and Sonoma. Having had a showroom for 16 years in the SF Bay Area in Woodside and Portola Valley, Pam still travels for clientele as requested from Marin to the Peninsula and down to Carmel. She has also owned a design gallery in North Carolina for 9 years, a design office in Arizona for 4 years and worked in the states of Florida, Texas, Virginia and South Carolina designing custom residences, vacation homes, luxury model homes, country clubs and reception sales centers for golf development communities.


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"I didn't choose this career...it chose me when I first moved to California. It lit a fire inside me that has been burning now for over 30 years and thankfully, it is a career that moves and changes with me as I grow myself. Since there are so many branches of design in our industry it allows me to continually learn more information to apply to my projects. My clients are all unique as are their design styles. Reaching our design goals for their living environments is paramount, while creating a sound enjoyable design journey for them along the way. We become a design team. With design in mind and desire at heart, we transform spaces into living art." Pam



All of the photos to the right on this post are Market Introduction photos by each of our furniture/accessories Vendors for our Fall Market. Please contact me if you have any interest in these lines and I will return your phone call or email within 24-48 hours.



Avallon Design offers consultation and concept coordination as well as purchasing for their clients' projects on a Design Fees (Hourly) and Purchases basis. Thank you for your interest. Pamela (916) 677-6792 pam@avallondesign.com



Scroll down further to see my past Quarterly and Monthly posts for 2011 and 2010. Photos may not align with the blog posting but I believe you will get the idea of it all.


Comments and Feedback always welcome. CELEBRATE DESIGN!