Keeping Your Holidays Simple and Elegant

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

The Holiday Season is upon us. As we all know, it’s important to be organized and have a nice presentation of your home for family and guests. The mood is everything. Here is my personal outline for getting ready for the Holidays.

First is the guest room. I find it is most important to replace mismatched bedding, update with new pillows and add welcoming cozy comforters. A few simple touches is all it takes to make your guests feel part of your home.

Next on my outline is the guest bathroom. Change out the towels with fluffy white ones for a spa-like feeling. Then add scented soaps and candles to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Another highlight should be your family table. The best place to start is with the tableware and place settings; I always like to start with white china as it’s a simple touch and enhances the presentation of the food. Add in some inherited crystal or silver serving pieces that have been passed down through the generations. It will add to the history and fine memories of loved ones that are no longer with you.

The Holidays are about coming together, and nothing says that more than your home during this season. With a little love and attention, you’ll set the stage just right and memories will be made.

Enjoy your Holidays, and as I always say, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin 

My Day at The Boston Design Center

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

My day at The Boston Design Center where I visited the new Cowtan & Tout showroom and had the opportunity to view all the new, exciting fabric and wallcovering collections! Visit The Four Walls to inspire your pre-holiday home redesign.

"It's a great day" at the Phillip Jeffries showroom visiting my dear friend Jill. The selection of the grasscloth and texture wallcovering was quite impressive for the upcoming season!

"Going Green!" - 2016 Color Trend - Emerald Green

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Being in the wallcovering and the interior design field, I’ve been noticing recently a large amount of the color emerald green introduced in all the new designer wallpaper and fabrics. I, as a May baby, have always been partial to this color as the Emerald is my birthstone. It represents nature and is a powerful color because it makes a daring design statement. Emerald green never goes out of style, and it fuses well with almost any pastel. I have also noticed this color hue has made its way into the fall season with regards to the fashion industry; this particular shade looks well on any lady wearing this powerful and rich color. So, a suggestion; "go green" in your fashion and with your home decor.

And, as I always say, folks, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin

Decorating with Faux Bois

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Lately I have been noticing in the new wallcovering collections the look of Faux Bois. Its meaning is "false wood." This rustic look seems to be quite the design trend inside the home. I find it a fabulous way of bringing the natural outside beauty into one’s living space. Thibaut, an upscale wallcovering company introduced this look in their latest collection, Texture Resource IV with a pattern called Eastwood. A varied collection of wood grain in nine different color ways. How fabulous for one wall in a family room or as an accent wall in an informal hallway!

Not only is the tree grain motif appearing in wallcovering, it appears in furniture, fabric and home accessories.

You don’t have to be a lumberjack to enjoy the idea of a Faux Bois motif. And, as I always say folks, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin

In The Navy!

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

               

With the winding down of summer in a few weeks, I always try to hold onto my great summer experiences with some fabulous nautical elements that can carry me through the year. Maybe it’s because of my passion for sailing that I have always tried to incorporate a nautical theme, for they are a classic in the home. They can be used naturally in your family’s beach cottage, or in spots not by the ocean. For example, in a boy’s bedroom incorporating striped wallpaper or in a guest bedroom, and maybe the use of some toss pillows in a family room, paired with an interesting fabric.

               

The color navy is a great classic, that, when paired with white, makes any room crisp and clean. And did you know, the color term ‘navy’ comes from the uniforms worn by the British Navy back in the 19^th century.

              

So folks, bring in a nautical theme in your decor, it’s fun, sophisticated, and brings the outside in! Enjoy the rest of the summer, and, as I always say, ‘Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

               

Robin

"Getting Trim"

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

For today’s design blog we will be talking about “getting trim.” No, folks, we will not be talking about how to get thin or your workout or weight-loss routine. We will be discussing paint color that is ideal for woodwork, chair rails and baseboards.

My choice as an interior designer and wallcovering expert has always been white; yes, just plain white! Be it an off-white or a grey white which always appears crisp and clean looking. The reason is simple. Whether you paint or wallpaper, a crisp white or off-white paint trim sets off wallcovering and any wall paint color. By using a contrasting color trim just seems to be too busy and calls attention to too many details in your living space. Also, a color trim choice will lock you in when you are choosing fabrics or floor coverings. It just simply makes the living space too busy and complicated.

White trim is a classic choice, and goes with traditional decor or a contemporary theme. If you take a look in most design magazines you will find that white trim is favored by my fellow interior designers.

So folks, if you want to keep your home up to date, choose white trim. And, as I always say, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin

To Upholster or Not To Upholster...That is the Question.

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

To upholster or not to upholster? That is the question…

As an interior designer and owner of the Four Walls Wallpaper Studio, I am asked by my clients quite often, is it worthwhile to reupholster a sofa, or dining room chairs or any piece of furniture in the home for that matter. Unfortunately we are seeing more low-end furniture that is being fabricated with inferior materials, and not to mention toxic chemicals that are being applied in the seat cushion stuffing. When reupholstering a quality piece of furniture that is either one you’ve purchased through an interior designer or inherited from your family, it is in my opinion the best option to reupholster it. The reason why I feel this way, is the mere fact that the framework used is better quality and more concern is placed in the construction and quality of the wood accents used on the arms and legs of chairs and sofas. I have recently been involved in the redesign of a client’s living room where I had suggested reupholstering two Bergere chairs of excellent framework, which I like to call “good bones!” I suggested to my client to use a contemporary, hip, bohemian Ikat as the fabric choice. The end result gave my client a unique look that can’t be replicated in today’s furniture market!

So readers, when you’re visiting family and they want to give you a piece of their old furniture, don’t say no, look at it from a different design perspective. Older is sometimes better!

And, as I always say folks, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin