Archive for category: The Etc. Of Interior Design

Pantone Announces Tangerine Tango 2012 Color Of The Year

Pantone 2012 Tangerine Tango

This is what the Pantone 2012 Color experts say.

“The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, (my ever favorite pink) encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.”

Tangerine Tango Window Treatments

Over the past, few years orange has surged in popularity in both the fashion and home decor industries.  I have noticed a much larger selection of all shades of orange/tangerine in fabrics and trims.

Here are a few favorite window treatments and rooms featuring Tangerine Tango, the 2012 Color of the Year.

Tangerine Tango Window Treatments -Embroidered Tangerine Tango Silk Swags. 2012 Color of the Year. See more on the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com - Marie Mouradian

Tangerine Tango Window Treatments - Relaxed Roman shades. 2012 Color of the Year. See more on the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com - Marie Mouradian

A calmer tangerine tango is these walls with a faux finish. Warm wood blinds control the sun and privacy. The custom relaxed Roman valances are made of a lighter tangerine tango dupioni silk.

Tangerine Tango Window Treatments -Moreland Valance in Tangerine Tango. 2012 Color of the Year. See more on the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com - Marie Mouradian

Asymmetrical Moreland valance in Tangerine Tango perks up beige walls

Tangerine Tango Window Treatments- Banded Arched Valance over a Roman Shade. 2012 Color of the Year. See more on the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com - Marie Mouradian

Keystone fabric in Tangerine Tango accents this simple arched valance. The band of cream and accent of teal cord make it fun.

Read more about tangerine tango for your interiors and the details of an asymmetric Moreland valance.

What do you think of this dramatic and edgy color?

Would you be able to live in a Tangerine room?

Have you purchased anything in this trendy color yet?

Expect to see lots of Tangerine Tango Window Treatments in 2012

Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll show you how to transform your house into a home you will love in 2012.

Window Fashion VISION

Window Fashion VISION magazine

Window Fashion VISION arrived in the mail! Coffee break is defiantly going to be longer than usual. Delving through the latest trends, design, details, fashion and inspiration may take the entire afternoon. There will be no regular blog post today. 

Do you have a VISION for your windows? Contact me today to begin transforming your house into the home you love to live in.

Custom Pillow Styles

Sharing a few favorite custom pillows I’ve made.  All are unique, one of a kind custom pieces of art.

Custom pillow styles in rose and cream. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Pillows in all shapes and sizes for a Sterling, MA window seat

Custom pillow styles in gold, blue and rust. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Pillows for a sectional sofa in Princeton, MA

Custom pillow styles in gold, sage and rust. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Color block pillows for a Paxton, MA family room

Custom pillow styles in gold, black and rust. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Exquisite Custom Made Pillows for a Worcester, MA TV room

Custom pillow styles from an antique crazy quilt. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Pillow made from antique crazy quilt for a Concord, MA living room

Custom pillow styles in black, white, lime green and pink for a teen's window seat. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Fun pillows for a Princeton, MA tween bedroom window seat

Custom pillow styles in black and gold for a chaise lounge. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Multi Fabric Pillow for Back of Chaise in Worcester, MA

Custom pillow styles in green, cream and rust. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

European Shams and Decorative Throw Pillows for a New Hampshire guest room

Custom pillows in beige, black and burgandy. Plaid. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Tailored Bed Pillows and Throw Pillows for a New Hampshire guest room

Custom pillow styles in blue, cream and rose pink. Floral, chick, mini print with ruffles and neckroll. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Daybed with Ruffled Pillows and Bolsters in a New Hampshire teen’s room

Custom pillow styles in gold, beige, orange, and rust. European shams color blocked and patchwork. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Extra Large Sofa and Floor Pillows From a Collage of Fabrics for a Boston Back Bay townhouse

Custom pillows in gold, black and rust. Decorative trim and fringe. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

A mixture of fabrics and trims create this rich pillow collection for a Sutton, MA family room

Custom pillow styles in gold, black and rust. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Each pillow is unique with its own personality in this Sutton, MA family room

Custom pillow styles in yellow and blue. Pillows have lots of trimmings, tassels and twisted pleats. Custom pillows are the essential accessory to home decor. Visit the blog WindowDesignsEtc.com Marie Mouradian

Twisted pleats, gathers, scallop fringe, decorative cord, tassel trim, rosettes and brush fringe are just a few of the details that make these pillows “Jewelry of Decorating” for a Brookfield, MA home

If you need help and your decorating brain has gone to fluff, pillow fluff that is, then contact me and I’ll create just the right pillows for your room. Yes!…….you can have them for the holidays too!  Oh and they make a FABULOUS gift for the person who has everything.  Let’s have some pillow talk!

Pillow decisions, what to consider. Window seat with five pillows Sterling, MA

Let’s talk pillows. How do you use them in your home? Sterling, MA window seat with decorative pillows.

Pillow Decisions

How many pillows do you have in your home? (No, I’m not talking bed pillows here)

Where are they?

What sizes and shapes do you have?

What’s your favorite decorative pillow?

What’s on the inside, the fill?

When was the last time you cleaned your pillows?

Do you even know how to clean them?

How do you use your pillows?  Are they just pretty to look at or do they serve a purpose?

I’m working on an article about pillows.  I have lots of great photos of these home decor jewels to share.

I really want to hear from YOU!  How do pillows play a part in YOUR home? Please leave a comment below.

If you need help and your decorating brain has gone to fluff, pillow fluff that is, then contact me and we’ll create just the right pillows for your room. Yes!…….you can have them for the holidays too!  Oh, and they make a FABULOUS gift for the person who has everything.  Let’s have some pillow talk!

Blue, red, gold throw pillows. New Hampshire.  Pillow decisions

Pillows in every size and shape to move around for your comfort. New Hampshire family room.

Every Fabric Has A Story

The Scalamandre zebra is a pattern that has quite the story to tell. Earlier this month I attended Design Boston 2011 at the Boston Design Center. Between all the inspiring speakers, I was snapping pictures left and right. All the showrooms had the best of the best displayed.

Scalamandré Wallpaper and Umbrellas at the Boston Design Center showroom. Zebras on red and yellow. Scalamandre zebra. See more at www.windowdesignsetc.com by Marie Mouradian

Vignette® in the Scalamandré showroom featuring the Scalamandre zebra at the Boston Design Center

The Scalamandré showroom caught my attention with this bold art deco wall-covering of zebras and arrows.  I love the playfulness of the motif and the tension the color combinations bring.  Not to mention, zebras are my daughter’s favorite animal. (I brought her home a mouse pad with this pattern on it that was in my goodie bag). Yes, even designers get goodie bags when they go to design parties!

Scalamandré Zebra Umbrella. Zebras dancing across a yellow background. See more at www.windowdesignsetc.com by Marie Mouradian

Zebras and Arrows dance across this Scalamandré umbrella

Scalamandre Zebra History

Researching the design for this blog post has taken most of this snowy New England afternoon.  What a story this is!

The wallcovering was originally designed by Flora Scalamandré in the 1940’s for Gino’s Restaurant in New York City.  A kitchen fire destroyed the wall-covering in the 1980’s forcing a re-release of the classic design.  In a haste to reopen the restaurant, the new wall-covering was put up despite one tiny flaw.  One of the printing screens left out a stripe on the baby zebras back side, making it look like its pants were falling down!

The New York establishment became an American tradition frequented by celebrities.  The tradition ended in the closing of the restaurant in 2010 but the iconic zebra lives on.

Now don’t zoom in on these pictures looking for the missing stripe.  The pattern was reproduced again in 2007 with the missing stripe back in the proper place. There’s a little controversy over leaving the mishap in the pattern or correcting it.  What do you think?

Scalamandré has continued the popularity of their iconic zebra pattern. The Scalamandre zebra is available in wallcovering, fabric, umbrellas, tote bags and even mouse pads.

Would you like to have some zebra fun in your home?  How fun would this paper be for a powder room, one wall of a child’s playroom or a few pillows for the sofa?

Contact me today to begin transforming your house into a home you love to live in.

Black and white zebra clipart. Scalamandre zebra. See more at www.windowdesignsetc.com by Marie Mouradian

Pour yourself an Irish coffee and we’ll play a round of cards. Best of Luck!

Worcester Craftsman Home Dining Room

A game table and window seat provide extra seating in this Worcester, MA dining room.

The room is long and narrow.  The dining table is at one end, leaving plenty of room for a four-person game table that doubles as extra seats when entertaining. The window seat gives even more seating or the perfect spot to curl up on for morning coffee.

Worcester Craftsman home game area with window seat, custom area rug and relaxed Roman shades.

Game table area with silk taffeta relaxed Roman shades, tapestry window seat cushion and custom area rug reflect the client’s Irish heritage.

Irish custom area rug in Worcester Craftsman home with four leaf clover design.

A one of a kind custom area rug was designed to reflect the client’s Irish heritage. A simple coordinating carpeting material made into the area rug design make this a very affordable luxury.

Window seat area in Worcester Craftsman home. Featuring relaxed Roman shades with bead trim. A tapestry window seat cushion, pillows and craftsman stained glass.

Window seat with tapestry cushion and silk down filled accent pillows. The bay window features stationary relaxed Roman shades that pick up the colors of the stained glass artwork.

Relaxed Roman shade detail in a Worcester craftsman home.

Stripe silk taffeta relax Roman shades that have lining and interlining form soft and bunchy folds at the bottom. Glass bead trimming catches the sunlight.

Contact me today to transform your house into the home of your dreams.

Lift up your daily rituals with flowers. Pink Peonies from Trader Joe's

The addition of fresh flowers turns everyday tasks into nurturing daily rituals. Trader Joe’s has cut flowers, like these pink peonies, at very reasonable prices.

Note-I wrote this article on daily rituals for my clients a few years ago.  I have reprinted it here because we all need a little reminder to keep nurturing rituals.  So here it is being introduced to.  If you would like to copy it would you please show me some love and link it back to me for credit?

Hugs,

Marie

Daily Rituals Turn The Everyday Into Something Special

There are some things you do every day without even thinking about them.  No matter how jam-packed your day is, you still get out of bed, grab your cup of coffee, shower, make breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, open the mail……and get back into bed at the end of the day.

You probably have never heard “Life is in the major events” We have all heard “Life is in the details”.  It is not the big party, the final project or performance that defines who we are.  Who we are is in the details of how we live our daily life.

Think about the things you do every day.  No one knows how to care for you better than yourself.  You may think, “I have no time for me”.  Before you can care for anyone or anything else, you must be nourished yourself.

Pay attention to the simple details of daily tasks.  What can you do to make them into a time of pleasure?  Use all of your senses; how does it feel, look, smell, sound and taste? Creating daily rituals will turn the everyday into an event.

Waking up, coffee and showering

Do you wake up to the screeching of an alarm clock or do you wake to your favorite music?  When you open your eyes, do you see a pile of unfolded laundry or a picture of a favorite vacation spot?  Do your feet hit a cold floor or do they sink into a lush carpet?

Do you sip your morning coffee or tea from a beautiful cup while watching the sunrise as you write in your journal or do you leave yourself so little time that you’re drinking from a styrofoam cup while battling the morning traffic?

Do you dry off with a scratchy towel while hearing about last night’s shooting on the news? Do you cuddle up in an absorbing robe while you sing your favorite song?  Do you use your husband’s soap or do you have a favorite shower gel of your own?

Lunch, mail and evening

Do you scramble around trying to figure out what to feed the kids for lunch and end up eating soggy chicken nuggets while standing in front of the microwave or do you feed them so they can get in for an early rest time and you sit at the table having a salad from a Tuscan bowl while reading a chapter of the latest best seller?

Do you have mail piled up on the counter? Is it there for so long there is no space to make a sandwich? Do you sit in a comfy chair with an antique letter opener and beautiful file folders to open the daily mail?

Do you crawl into bed too exhausted from the day to even care that you have mascara stains on your pillow from not washing your face or do you use a basket in the bathroom with your face cleanser and favorite night cream, light a candle, sip a seltzer water from a wine glass and think about the beautiful day you have just had?

With a little planning and personalized details, daily tasks can become a time of enrichment for you.  The way to live a happy and fulfilling life is to make the daily 95% of your life beautiful and pleasurable.

When you are ready to transform your house into a home you love, contact me.