Don't Second Guess It, Let It Go!

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

As we wave goodbye to winter and say hello to spring, it’s time to let go of the old items that no longer have a place in your home. You know, those extra remotes that don’t work, outdated throw pillows and extra blankets you never use or the area rug you keep tripping over. Then of course, the knickknack decorations that don’t add any important design appeal and, last but not least, the dead plant in the corner of your living room.

How do you get rid of them? The only way is to declutter your space. My method, as an OCD neat-freak, is to start room by room. Look at an item and ask yourself if it is contributing anything to the aesthetic of your home or simply taking up wasted space. In your kitchen is where you notice clutter most. If you’re not using an item or appliance on your countertop, get rid of it and give your kitchen a clean, sleek look. For your living/family room, make a pile of items that you aren’t sure about; go through it and ask yourself if each item holds design appeal or sentimental value, or if it has become what is affectionately known as ‘junk.’ If the item doesn’t add anything positive, let it go. As for your bathroom, clear out all old towels and linens, and the remnants of used soaps and shampoos.

This is going to make space for the things you love and highlight the overall design of your home. You’ll finally have room to show off both the room itself and everything that brings it to life. Cluttered and messy spaces make us feel nervous, so spring cleaning your home will not only lessen anxiety, it will also showcase your house and the things that make it a home.

As my most favorite designer, William Morris once wrote, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Spring is the perfect opportunity to take his words to heart, so don’t second guess it, let it go!

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

Best,

Robin

'Pure Morris'

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Today I want to celebrate the 183^rd birthday of William Morris, the founder of Morris & Co. The company, founded in 1861, is one of the premier wallcovering companies in Europe. Their style is classic arts and crafts hand-blocked bold designs with bright colors. Their new collection, called ‘Pure Morris’ is like no other collection from the past. It incorporates classic Morris prints with tonal, textured beading elements and more neutral colors, making the collection more ‘transitional.’ It reaches out to clients that own classic Victorian homes, which enables them to incorporate their contemporary tastes. ‘Pure Morris’ pays homage to the man who started it all with a modern and contemporary twist, and it is an honor in my thirty-odd years in the wallcovering and design industry to work with such an esteemed company.

Come on in and see the tribute, check out other styles as well. And, as I always say, “Don’t be afraid to decorate!”

Best,

Robin

The World of de Gournay

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Samantha Heard, the Senior Project Manager with de Gournay, and the New England representative Michelle Arsenault for Webster and Company, located at the Boston Design Center. For those who are unfamiliar, de Gournay Wallcovering is rich in history. The company was founded in 1986 by Claude Cecil Gurney in the efforts to search for artisans to restore the antique wallpaper in his own home. He had realized that this sort of restoration was a lost art. Traveling to China he sought out artists whose families had generations of experience, thus creating de Gournay, a design firm best known for its incredible and luxurious hand-painted wallcoverings.

The company has showrooms spanning from New York, Europe and China. These hand-painted murals are created today by artisans who have more than fifteen years of training. The wallcoverings, which I had the pleasure of viewing were created on different unusual backgrounds such as silk and metallics. Some of these panels incorporated hand-stitching to enhance the dimension of the mural. It is fascinating to see the eclectic images that appear on each mural. I had asked Samantha how long it takes to create one panel. She had told me that sometimes it takes over a hundred hours with several artisans working on just one panel. Truly in my opinion de Gournay murals are timeless, elegant and sophisticated, and if you are lucky enough to incorporate them in your home you are actually owning a fine piece of art.

My many thanks to de Gournay, Samantha Heard, Michelle Arsenault and the fine showroom of Webster and Company for sharing these incredible works, which the Four Walls is honored to show its clients.

Best,

Always,

Robin

“Say Hello to Your Foyer!”

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Today’s post involves my most recent project, a new and beautifully updated foyer for one of my clients. I feel the entrance hallway is the most vital element in one’s home, because it reflects the tone of the rest of your house; in short, it is the first impression.

All great foyers and hallways start as an idea. My client’s image was for something elegant and have it make a significant statement. The wallcovering with a matte silver background gives a contemporary and updated look, while the chinoiserie floral pattern is in keeping with the colonial style of the home. Brunschwig & Fils is the name of the wallpaper design house, the pattern is ‘Bird and Thistle’; it is taken from the Winterthur Museum collection. B&F have taken their iconic style and have redesigned their entire collection with a more contemporary feel.

As an interior designer, the concept of and overall “design flow” is critical in keeping with the style and theme of your home. The reason that wallpaper has always been my favorite element in any interior is the fact that it can fill a room with fantastic character. Whether that be traditional, contemporary or eclectic, your home should feel seamless from the foyer all the way around.

With Spring just around the corner, it is time to think about a “new feel” for your home. So stop by The Four Walls and view all of the new Spring Collections.

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

Best,

Robin

DESIGNING WITH LOVE

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, today’s blog will feature the subject of designing your bedroom with your ‘sweetheart’ in mind. When I ask couples, both married or unmarried, what they are looking for in a master bedroom design they almost always tell me that they like the look of a simple master bedroom. By this they mean not busy wallpaper and the popular choice is a simple tone-on-tone geometric or an extra-fine grass cloth texture. Another request is a master bedroom that encompasses straight lined furniture and not over crowded. When it comes to the fabric for the bedding not too over-printed, simple and plain fabrics with lots of texture are the top choice. With respect to the window treatments, I like to suggest a tailored look for example, roman shades or simple panels with a stunning rod and decorative finials. When selecting the area rugs almost always something with a printed geometric design is always easy to live with. An area rug with a dash of color keeps the master bedroom design interesting!

Basically, today’s master bedroom suites are always designed with a peaceful and restful existence in mind. It is my belief with today’s busy pace almost all of my clients request ‘simple yet stunning’. When this design concept is used it results in a sexy master bedroom suite. Remember… “Simple can be sexy!”

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

Best always,

Robin

 

(Landry & Arcari - area rugs)

(David Hicks - wallcovering)

(Kravet - fabric)

Go With The Flow

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

Hope that everyone had a fantastic Holiday and New Years! Today, I would like to talk about a common design issue that I see all too often when I am working with my clients. This concept is the color and design flow from one room to another, as well as the colors involved in various rooms in one’s home. As an interior designer a flow in any room involves the following basic elements of design: they are naturally color, scale, texture as well as pattern and balance. Light in a room is of the utmost importance because, it can throw off color elements in any room decor. I always suggest to my clientele that the rooms should flow it should not feel disjointed and when you look from one room to another I suggest to add and drop color from room to room, so each area of the home is not repetitive. If you like a few colors, keep to them and do not add too much color, as a room can get too complicated. Remember, the colors of your home are a personal choice. Do not get swayed by living with a suggestion from a friend or even your own interior designer!

Because the homes today are built with an open floor plan this flow concept is critical to a successful interior design layout.

When the element of wallcovering is used, for instance in a hallway, it is best to continue the same pattern throughout so that you keep the space continually flowing. It you stop at the corner of a hallway and add paint as the continuing factor it will look like you ran out the wallcovering and the total look will be unfinished. Accent walls with wallcovering, are a planned application and are a fantastic design choice when used with the correct coordinating paint color.

Lastly, your fabrics and furniture selections should also have a flow. You should be able to take your dining room chair and bring it into your living room space if you’re entertaining and run out of seating. The upholstery fabric should meld into the room. Please don’t misunderstand me, “you don’t have to match your dining room to your master bedroom fabrics!” Being too matchy-matchy is not a good look either! The key is to look at the entire picture.

So remember folks, in the dictionary the definition of flow “is to have a smooth continuity.”

If you stand in the hallway of your home and the colors, fabrics, wallcovering, and scale of furniture feel to move smoothly to your eye then your home has a design flow!

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

Best Always,

Robin

(Photo courtesy of Houzz)

(Photo courtesy of Candace Olson)

Texture Wallcovering in Practical Form

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

I hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family!

Today I would like to talk about a new concept that has recently evolved with one of the wallpaper manufacturers that I have worked with over several years, York Wallcovering. I have been waiting a long time for one of my vendors to come up with a washable textured wallpaper that does not look like a dentist’s office or a hotel lobby, and they have! This new collection just arrived in my store, and is by one of my most favorite designers, Candice Olson. The name of this wallpaper collection is called Moonstruck.

A fine collection of vinyl textured wallpaper that encompasses tone-on-tone geometrics with a contemporary flair. These designs are easy to live with because they are in my opinion, timeless. Because this collection is made of a lightweight vinyl, they are washable and the seams do not panel like in a natural grass cloth wallcovering. What’s also exciting is the fact that these wallpapers are fabric backed and removes easily if you decide to change your wallpaper in the future. I’ve also found while working with my clients that this new collection coordinates with any fabric you put with it or any furniture style.

So folks, stop in and take a look! Let me clue you in, my fellow decorating aficionados, wallpaper is in, and it’s now user-friendly.

So, as I always say folks, don’t be afraid to decorate!

Best always and Happy Holidays!

Robin