The Right Rug

One year my friend Ray took me to NYC for New Year’s, to stand with a crowd in the snow slush and watch the ball drop, and to visit his Grandmother. It was the latter that made the trip worthwhile. On New Year’s Day, after circulation had returned to my toes, we headed off for lunch and a long visit with Ray’s Bobe. She lived on the Upper East Side, with a view of the Guggenheim, in a beautiful old building with a curb-to-door canopy entrance and a jolly doorman wearing a flat-top cap and white gloves. 

We took the tiny elevator to the 4^th floor, found her place, knocked, and the door flew open, “BUBELE!” she squealed, with both arms reached out to Ray. They wallowed in a loving embrace while she mumbled Yiddish in his ear. Meanwhile, I was visually scanning the environment and happy to report, this was no “doilies on the headrest” kind of grandma!

Bakhtiari Persian Rug

The foyer was compact, with a beautiful old cherry parquet floor and a teardrop pendant casting a red glow. To the right was an opening to the wondrous living room, a virtual football field that looked like Geary’s Far East gift department. A six-panel Coromandel screen lined one wall, a gold statue of the Hindu deity “Ganesh” stood on a pedestal and the vase on the mantel, I soon learned, was a real Ming! However, most enthralling was the flooring: a patchwork of the most exquisite Oriental rugs covering nearly the entire floor, all different sizes and beautiful rich colors. I was mesmerized! Ray’s grandparents were world travelers, who apparently, thought a souvenir was an enchanting piece of art crafted by the natives, NOT a coffee mug with “California Redwoods” stamped on the side. Go figure.  

Tribal antique Persian rug.

I learned all about the “Oriental Rug” that day. For example, an Oriental rug is defined as a rug hand knotted in Asia, China AND Russia, Turkey, Nepal, Tibet, India and Pakistan. A Persian Rug is also an Oriental rug, but they are made only in Iran and woven with a “Persian knot,” not a “Tibetan knot,” the knot used in all other Oriental rugs. Each rug’s particular pattern, palette and weave are linked with the indigenous culture and weaving techniques are specific to an identifiable area or nomadic tribe. The more formal the pattern the more urban the area in which it was made. 

Tree of Life antique rug.

Geometric designs are typically tribal. Each family of weavers would place elements in the rug’s design to record their history, coupled with the colors and images, where every plant, animal and color in the rug has a particular meaning supporting the rug’s story or marking an event.   

The Oriental rug will always be a classic, elegant piece of art, appropriate in ultra-traditional environments as well as contemporary ones. Each rug is unique and beautiful in its own way and always, timeless design.

What? You say your budget won’t allow an East-bound shopping trip for flooring?? Not to worry Designers, Design Alliance saw that coming! We know your clients love their hard floors, so we stocked up on rug vendors.  Honestly, one more rug vendor and the fabric samples will have to forfeit the throne! 

Thatcher rug by Feizy.

Hard floors and area rugs go together. An area rug creates a boundary, defines an area, anchors an element, brings color and personality to a monochromatic space and creates a soft place to play, as seen here, with the tasteful “Thatcher” rug by Feizy, defining the margins of this seating area, sans walls.

We are confident at Design Alliance that designers will find the right rug in our growing inventory of options. Fluffy ‘n soft, dense ‘n wooly, long ‘n shaggy, woven ‘n flat, natural ‘n scratchy, in countless colors, patterns, styles and types of rugs. Check out these new products from our area rug vendors:

Schooled by Jaipur.

JAIPUR, pronounced (jay-poor) our newest rug vendor, is a grassroots driven company, with their rugs, pillows and poufs made in India. Cutting out the middleman, Jaipur works directly with the weavers in their villages, bringing jobs to empower these people in underdeveloped rural areas and offering literacy education to the oppressed woman weavers and their children all across India. Very Cool. 

Bough Out by Jaipur.

They are a product of their process, meaningful and with purpose… and sometimes fresh, fun and colorful, like Jaipur’s “Schooled,” a whimsical ride on a glass bottom boat. OR the happy orange and seaweed silhouette “Bough Out,” a great outdoor loop in six colors!  

Mumford by Jaipur.

Also, the crisp navy/white contrast of the “Mumford,” a luxurious wool and silk plush pile, would make the perfect, fresh transitional floor. 

JAUNTY original rugs are designed and woven by village weavers throughout India. Unique designs and rich colorations mark the Jaunty rug. Jaunty is another company aiding the 40,000 artisans of India, bringing hope and opportunity with weaving and hand knotting.  

Jaunty's Heritage.

Jaunty's “Heritage, one of their Classics Collection, grounds this traditional room with a warm, detailed design and pattern repeat in hand-tufted wool.

Jaunty's Vanguard.

Awaken your space with vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow splashed in the center of the room, with the “Vanguard” area rug. Reminiscent of abstract modern art, it anchors the room in an edgy vibe. 

Montage by Jaunty.

The “Montage,” Jaunty’s bold geometric design, wears a confident palette of pea green, sky blue, cream and two shades of taupe. This unique presence fills the room with movement and an interesting, stylish energy, in an otherwise simple, quiet environment. 

Bleeker by Feizy.

FEIZY pronounced (FAY-z) offers the affordable “Feizy Home Collection” and “Feizy Fine Rug Collection,” for Old World museum-quality rugs. At market, the Feizy Showroom was stunning: massive rugs hung from the ceiling like giant pieces of amazing artwork. Lively, like an open air market with warm smells and the sound of the ghalam pot, while wandering around, and at your service, were very cute salesmen, wearing muslin pants, Nehru jackets and sandals. Very theatrical. Not unlike this showy art rug, “Bleecker” not an easy rug to work with, yet a perfect choice for this white-on-white room to take it to the next level. 

Feizy Barbary collection rug.

Then there is the natural beauty of the “Barbary” collection, inspired by the Moroccan Beni Ourain rug: simple, striking and plush! 

Hastings by Feizy.

Eye catching, as the bird flies, this kaleidoscope rug “Hastings,” brings all the colors of the garden to order. 

SURYA RUGS are colorful, creative, organic and young. Along with, poufs, pillows, framed artwork and lighting, Surya, respects the commissioned designers, with collections that are lux, is fearless in unique design with woven paper rugs or braided leather and organic, with undyed, all natural rugs that just feel hand made.

One of Surya's Gypsy collection.

Speaking of organic, check out Surya’s “Landscape” collection “Gypsy,” inspired from an aerial view of Earth: rugs that look like topography or ocean breakwater or the land cracks in Death Valley or this cool slice of rock!  

Harlequin by Surya.

The “Botanicals” collection takes this trend in rug design over the top, with huge, stylized floral designs, some childlike or modern or giant roses you can smell! Here is the striking “Harlequin” in raspberry and lavender, a design that calls for very little furniture.

Dunes by Surya.

Who doesn’t love the shag? This hairy, groovy, young, contemporary rug, leaves the room a little disheveled, like tousled bed head.  “Dunes” is roll around soft and beckons you to get down and be with the rug…a shag rug really does make a room feel like it’s a “no stress” zone and all who enter must chill!

But wait, there's more! Our area rug vendors don't stop here. We have the 100% wool collection by Hibernia, J. Mish, Godfrey Hirst and Fabrica. Or our custom rug lines by Delos, Janelle and Creative Accents.

Our point? We have area rugs! Lots of area rugs. So if you're not lucky enough to possess your own hand-knotted antique Oriental, we've got your floors covered!

Let There Be Lighting

Designers, don’t you just love what has happened to lighting? This once utilitarian accessory that quietly blended into a room via the palette or as an accent to a theme, is now demanding attention in a big way. It’s as if “lighting” took a course in self-esteem, found itself, and now is coming out as the unique, uncompromised individual light that it is. Be it a gigantic, crystal-draped, Swarovski-encrusted chandelier for the glamsters or a bare bulb and socket on a wire for the no frills industrialist, there is a light that will speak to every taste.  

The Madamoiselle by LBL Lighting.

Sometimes lighting is a key “style statement,” giving a safe, undefined design a distinct personality like the “Mademoiselle” by LBL Lighting (left). No matter how you apply it, lighting has become a whole new kind of art for the home, like this statement piece (below): a custom ironwork with raw edged petals and stems creating an incredible primitive flower cluster floating above this sophisticated, island style veranda.

Custom ironwork chandelier.

At Design Alliance we are doing our best to find and align ourselves with creative, forward thinking lighting manufacturers. A favorite “To the Trade only” is Currey and Company, the host of our July 10 “Lunch and Learn.” Designer Linda Good attended and said it best; “…Curry might be a higher price point, but they set the trends that the other companies copy.” Linda is right. 

The Antiquity by Currey & Co.

Currey helps maintain their cutting edge creativity with collections by commissioned designers like Shannon Koszyk and her sexy, dark, Goth designs like the “Antiquity Chandelier” (left)—the perfect backdrop to black lips and nails.  

The Silvo by Currey & Co.

Or from the Marjorie Skouras Collection, which looks as if it’s made from the random shells found on the beach that day. The "Silvio,”a shell chandelier, is enchanting. If you have not studied the Currey catalog, check it out. It could have the winning piece you need!     

                                                     

The following are lighting companies we love and recommend for their quality and uniqueness:

Arbo pendant by Hubbardton Forge.

Hubbardton Forge is not your great-great-Grandfather’s blacksmith, but a very hip lighting manufacturer today. For example, this intriguing hanging fixture (left) is an inherently modern design in its simplicity, but the drum shade fails to block our view entirely, revealing a crudely assembled bonfire, glowing from inside. 

Corona by Hubbardton Forge.

How about this sculptural pendant, (right): the impression is subjective, but I’m torn between a slick asymmetrical “bob” cut, cupped around a face or the necessary bow of the legs on a large-bodied spider…bottom line, don’t let the name fool you, Hubbardton Forge has amazing fixtures worth a look.

Vertigo by Corbett.

The quirky, daring, literal Corbett Lighting is like emotions defined through lighting fixtures?! With names like “Tantrum,” “Recoil,” “Spellbound,” “Bliss” and to the left a pendant named “Vertigo.” The movement in this light is undeniable, swaying right-left-right, like the big finish finale at the “Hula Hoop Championships.” Vertigo is active, but orderly as form follows function in this alive fixture.  

The Falcon by Laura Kiar for Arteriors.

“The Falcon” wall sconce by Laura Kiar for Arteriors (right) is not only reminiscent of the Atomic Age designs, but gives a nod to designer Curtis Jere’s iconic wall sculptures.   

The Raven by Arteriors.

Fast-forward ten years and the “Raven Lamp”(left) by Arteriors captures the silhouette of the 60s, with its curvy column base and ombre grey finish, cased in blown glass. A sensual table lamp, totally on trend.

Plymouth by Hinkley.

The diverse Hinkley Lighting portfolio adds this romantic, oversized, open pendant (right) to the collection. Bringing a certain antebellum charm, this stylized carriage lamp profile gives the ‘ol Country Manor a transitional twist. 

Also from Hinkley, is this delightful chandelier (below). A whimsical cluster of gold coins or bunch of bubbles pauses for a picture as it passes through a reverse drum shade. So charming and adorable they decide to keep it and name it “Barolo.”

Barolo by Hinkley.

Let’s stop for a minute and talk about lighting placement. In my opinion lighting is one of the most important elements in any design. The proper lighting will illuminate the entire room, light the traffic patterns, provide task lighting in necessary locations and offer an appropriate atmosphere option. Every corner should be lit. 

However, we are no longer dealing only with table lamps. The trend for today’s lighting is skyward! The chandelier and pendant are the show stoppers, the sconce and the floor lamp have become utilitarian and the torchier is “out.” The retro placement of the main fixture centered on the ceiling is the trend. A big, wide semi-flush fixture , a dramatic statement chandelier or a cluster of pendants pouring into the room or hanging low over the coffee table or end table or night stand, these showy placements will give your design a current look.

Fascination 4-light pendant by Varaluz.

Want young, contemporary, wacky creative and sustainable? Yes! Then you want Varaluz, the all eco-friendly, super fun fixtures made from recycled materials, hand crafted and painted. What they say about themselves, “…we make cool designs with a conscience.” I love, love, love this “Fascination” collection, the coolest, unique island lighting (right)!

Pinwheel pendant by Varaluz.

The “Pinwheel” collection, made from recycled aluminum, is tiny pinwheels attached to the ball. Change the light bulb color and it glows in your chosen color (left).

   

Pique Five by TREND.

Lastly, the always energy conscience TREND lighting. Amazing contemporary designs inspired by the past… arty, mid-century style and atomic age  reference. The “Pique Five” (right) is a great pendant for clusters. Designs inspired by the sophisticated future, the “Constellation” (below), is slick, clean and stylish; a statement piece that will gather crowds.

TREND Constellation pendant.

 

Eclectic Fusion

Eclectic design. A thoughtful collaboration between different furniture styles or a decorating free-for-all? What do you think, Designers? Frankly, I’m not sure anymore, so I looked it up and Webster’s said, “Composed of elements drawn from various sources.” Gee, that was unsatisfying, so I went online and asked for the definition of “eclectic design” and several sources said basically the same thing: “…it is a planned design scheme with furnishings that relate to each other through color, shape, finish, texture or scale.”

That’s it? That tells me I can throw a random assortment of mismatched furniture in a room, paint them all red (so they relate), and that is good eclectic design? Or a room full of furniture shaped like a football, or really teeny, tiny furniture… that’s simply not enough of a guideline for such an important, game-changing trend to be executed properly.

Excuse me while I climb on my soapbox. Okay now, my point is where is the emotion here? Why wouldn’t this set of application “rules” include “should have a similar feeling” in the eclectic choices you make? Am I the only one who has to tag my designs with a mood projection so that when I’m looking at finishes, accessories and furniture, I can quickly assess its compatibility with the surrounding elements?

Think about past trends like the Tuscan look or Shabby Chick and the prolific accessory business it spawned. Nothing was spared that ochre antique or weathered white finish. God forbid we should hunt down a real vintage birdcage or invest in an antique Italian oil jug when they were pumping these illusions of authenticity out so cheaply.

I digress. My point is that our clients want atmosphere in their home. If asked, “What is the feeling you want in here?” they may just say, “Oh, make it warm and inviting.” But what they are really thinking is, “I want my guests to walk into my kitchen and feel a mild day in the Tuscan countryside where we will spend a leisurely afternoon visiting over wine and pasta al fresco next to the grape arbor.” They want to feel something and they want their home to project that feeling to their visitors. I say add it to the list.

Lately, I’ve frequently been stopped in my tracks by pictures of confusing room design claiming to be eclectic. For example, this airy room setting on the right has a beachy feel. Maybe it’s the Sisal rug or the starfish on the table, but the white-on-white with a pop of coral says “fresh” to me. Then you see this huge dark presence looming over the room. Who invited him? This lovely vintage breakfront full of old books looks as natural in this room as wearing a civil war costume to a beach party. Maybe if painted periwinkle or apple green with a white interior and less serious accessories it would blend in better and forgive the fact that it is freaky tall.

The primary reason I believe we need more guidelines is that this is not a trend that will run its course and then fall out of fashion. This is a trend that has given us permission to disregard the soul of good design, creating an atmosphere. If any chair goes with any chair and any light fixture can hang over any table, then the best we can expect emotionally from any eclectic room is the initial shock of seeing another rule broken. In the room above, luxurious Leontine monogram linens dress this bed with a padded silk taffeta headboard and matching bed skirt and a Thayer Coggin “X” bench sits at the foot of the bed. Hmmm, it needs artwork. I know… molded plastic panels with a mirrored finish from the 70s will really complement that bed!

That bedroom is an excellent example of the potential slippery slope of an “anything goes” attitude. Everything doesn’t go with everything, period. You have to be sensitive to the feeling you are creating and only invite furniture and accessories that will enhance your intended atmosphere. This, by the way, is not always easy to do. It’s disturbing to sit in a totally decorated room and feel nothing, like the bedroom above where you don’t know what to feel.

The amazing refurbished barn to the right, with a raised living space, first floor, center, makes an architectural frame around this eclectic mix of furnishings. Unified by food colors, this modern pumpkin-orange slipper chair is relating to the classic Bergere chair in tomato-red mohair. The mid-century coffee table relates to the 17^th century oil painting, both with “century” in their name. The bottom line here is that nobody is talking. The pieces do not do each other justice and the individual charm of each piece sits dormant. It looks like furniture waiting on a loading dock to be picked up.

Eclectic design could be exciting, with a whole new world of combinations to create, provided that the basic principles of design are respected within the concept. Different is good. The contrast amongst the different styles is exactly what highlights the individual beauty of each piece. The merits of one particular chair could be lost in a room full of antiques. However, when paired with a modern table, the chair and table are each suddenly more exceptional.

One eclectic application I love is this grand contemporary home built in the round with a main sky-lit hallway where rooms branch off. The strong bold architectural design feels futuristic to me—like a passageway on the Star Trek Enterprise. What softens this potentially sterile environment are these pieces from the past: a distressed statue from the first century greets you at the top of the hall, a smattering of weathered queen Anne chairs act as docent, while the key piece, a dresser circa 1900, looks like it was found in an architectural dig. This eclectic application is rich with texture and history, making this foyer an interesting space.

To the right is another room that makes sense to me. It’s like a nature play… the tree trunks play the table base, the giant sea urchin is starring as the chandelier, Hansel is lending the 18^th century Italian chairs to the production and the apple blossoms are playing in the background. This whimsical collection of organic elements is charming and becomes legitimate due to the sophisticated color palette.

Tell me Designers, what do you think of this “Cattelan Italia” ad below? Good or bad eclectic design?

Lastly, when it comes to staying current on design trends, exploring what’s new and to finding inspiration, I don’t go to the Internet. I refer to print publications. Always have. I trust the longtime editors of Elle Décor, Veranda, House and Garden, etc., to have integrity and what I read is what they say it is.

The Internet is an open forum with no quality control. It is stuffed with closet decorators who decorated their own home and now they have a website. I see some whacky room that an energetic wanna-be has posted and I think, OMG! Is sponge-painting coming back? No time for that nonsense. These last two images are from such a website. When searching for “eclectic design” this list of six different “eclectic” rooms came up. Here are two examples:

Formal Eclectic Living Room

This formal living room has a mixture of both traditional and modern contemporary furnishings. The upright piano is very traditional, yet the artwork on the wall above it is quite modern. The corner china cabinet, chair, coffee table and area rug are all very traditional while the fireplace, window treatment and ceiling design give the room a modern look. The color red is repeated in the artwork, valance and area rug.

Eclectic Fireplace

This traditional looking brick fireplace has an eclectic display featuring a traditional pendulum clock with matching brass candle holders. These vintage accessories are mixed with contemporary accents including an Asian figurine, a crystal and porcelain egg, a modern glass vase with elegant pink orchids and a house plant in a brass pot. The brass and live greenery help tie it all together.

A Night to Remember

Years ago, while working on an event installation in Santa Monica, I needed to stay another half day, but I had not planned nor was I prepared to spend the night anywhere. Fortunately, this handsome, hip gay couple I had just met that day kindly offered me a bed and I accepted.

I was very impressed as we arrived at their amazing Zen-style home in Malibu Canyon. The long, low profile structure with a primarily-glass façade, sat above us at the end of a wide, natural slate stair path with an easy ascend.  Aligned for the romantic canyon view, this serene environment was thoughtfully enhanced by pristine, Asian-inspired indigenous landscaping and various water features.

The interior was equally impressive with its decadent spaciousness and stark, unembellished rooms, walls and surfaces. I had a delightful evening drinking wine while, touring the home, hearing “their story” and watching them prepare and roll our sushi for dinner, at which time I switched to sake. The evening came to a close with a scary good chocolate confection and a tall, “…oh you have to try an espresso from our new machine!” drink—the perfect bedtime snack! 

By 11:30 pm I found myself in the guest bathroom with a pair of white cotton men’s pajamas, a bar of travel soap, a toothbrush and paste. I stood there with my confusing wine-coffee buzz, staring at this sexy, doorless shower with a glass wall and a full length window, an overhead rain faucet and only an exterior wall of bamboo for privacy… yikes! In front of me was the counter—a rough cut, floating 8”-thick slab of cement with a shallow basin bowl cut into it. A single bath towel lay folded on the top… nothing else, nothing! No drawer, medicine cabinet, trash can, linen closet, nothing! I glanced over at the toilet paper and thought,"this is the last they will see of you."

The bedroom, equally as sparse, had a floor-to-ceiling window with a black rock garden on the floor in front. The bed was a single mattress on a black ogee base with one pillow and matelassé coverlet, all in shades of river rock. Wall-mounted above the bed was an ornate carved Asian screen and a single, caged light hanging off-center with a pull chain you could reach while prone.

As I lay there with my face tightening from the travel soap wash, my body wallowing in wine and my brain in a coffee conference, I began to worry about my morning routine—the shower show, my dry skin, MY HAIR! Clearly, these wash-and-go pretty boys didn’t know from beauty maintenance. This was evident because they had no STUFF! Due to the fact there was nothing to watch, read or write on, I decided to defuse a possible night of worry and homesickness by taking a 1:30 am shower in the dark and on the back of a receipt, found in my purse, I proceeded to list all the things I would need to make me feel comfortable and at ease.

That unscheduled sleepover turned out bittersweet.  What could have been a great story about my night in Malibu with the “beautiful people” and their fabulous Zen retreat, instead was tainted by my panic and over-reaction to a night without my stuff. 

Bottom line, I now realize the importance of a properly appointed guest room. I would never want a guest of mine to feel as misplaced as I did that night, so I created a checklist of all that should be addressed when preparing the guest room for your planned and unplanned guests.

Firstly, the room itself should be light and pleasant; try not to fill the room with all the clients’ left over stuff. It should feel as spacious as possible. If they have a view, even the backyard, create an airy window with full length, lightweight curtain panels and, on the same window, have an additional blackout treatment, like blinds or blackout drapes.

The bed should look and feel cozy, with a lightweight blanket and coverlet or quilt, at least two pillows (one soft, one firm, down and foam) and maybe a neck roll. Also keep an extra blanket and pillow in the closet and add a throw at the end of the bed for a nap. Use 100% cotton linens and the highest thread count the budget will allow. If the mattress is boring, add a feather bed topper or a slab of memory foam—guests will appreciate the bed’s soft hug!

The nightstand should be clear of all personal items and have an alarm clock, a tray with water carafe and glass and/or a bottle of water, a vase and some fresh flowers from your garden, Kleenex, candles, matches and a bedtime snack, like a small bowl of fruit or a tin of cookies. Paper and pen should be available and a note directing the guest to the power bar access to charge their phone and maybe the Wi-Fi password. 

Below the nightstand or in an adjacent basket, have a collection of books and current magazines or books about the local history, events and activities. The lighting should be suitable for reading in bed—a table or wall-mount swing arm lamp works best. Add a night light along the path to the bathroom. A portable CD player or an iPod dock is a nice touch too.

The closet should have plenty of extra hangers and clear bar space, plus one or two empty drawers if possible. Although I always prefer a big, wide mirror over the dresser, if space does not allow, add a full length mirror on the back of the door. Invest in a luggage rack if there is no trunk or bench to set a suitcase on and hang a big fluffy robe in the closet for guest use.

The bathroom should have one bath sheet, two bath towels, washcloths, hand towels and a bath mat. Arrange a selection of pretty soaps to choose from, shampoo and conditioner, a new toothbrush and toothpaste, hand lotion, sun block and a blow dryer. You could also set a basket of all their travel size toiletries on the counter and bath oil and candles around the tub.

It’s a given that the bed and bath décor will be adorable when you are done, but the client will really be impressed if you bring it all together and make it “guest ready” for them. When you have completed the guest suite, invite your client to spend the night in the room and make notes and, if it all goes well, to “Like” you on Facebook!

The Big Cover Up

At last! Wallpaper is back. This versatile, style-enhancing tool of the trade has been creeping back into favor after a 15+ year hiatus. What happened to these once-beloved wallflowers that sent them undercover?

Let’s review. It was the mid-1980s and wallpaper enjoyed a long run with the hunter, wine and navy palette when Ralph Lauren created his dark, rich, accessory-laden environments with wallpaper on every wall.

This same period saw lots of big florals as well, from the pre- “shabby chic” floral chintz and pattern mix, to the “English Garden” styling from British designer Sister Parrish. Lest we not forget the scary popularity of wallpaper borders—easy, cheap and tacky.

Bottom line, wallpaper was doing good business in the eighties. Then out of the blue, “do-it-yourself” wall painting techniques became the trend of the day. Sponging, stippling, color washing, spattering, dragging, stenciling, marbling, ragging, fresco and trompe l’oeil were seen everywhere. Homeowners were having too much fun messing up their walls to go back to wallpaper. And poof! Wallpaper was all but forgotten.

Fast forward to when wallpaper made its comeback, with the quiet return of grasscloth leading the way. Its subtle, organic texture was an ideal backdrop for the "Tommy Bahama" Beach Club look and the more refined weaves were a perfect complement to the clean, warm lines of modern furniture and the popular mid-century designs. The grasscloth "look" became huge as the wallcovering of choice for contract environments... and still is today. 

Now wallpaper is showing up in all sorts of interior designs as an accent that promises to make an impact. With the ebb and flow of design trends we’re moving from the ”calm” of the monotone, neutral interiors to a more lively style statement with the popularity of eclectic design. Never before have we been so free of restrictions, fearlessly creating random mixes of style, print, pattern, color and texture. Equally irreverent are the bold, inspired, attention-demanding wallpapers of today and the “paper of interest” for these hip, eclectic interiors. 

I, for one, used wallpaper as my go-to solution for many uninspired areas in the home. For example, cover a small, plain entry in a colorful, bold pattern—and BAM!—you have an exciting welcoming entrance. 

The formal dining room is another great candidate for this wall treatment. For the three-sided dining space, just papering the back wall can be effective. For the traditional enclosed dining room, wallpaper is always good with a wainscot or a chair rail. The big empty dining room cavity can become a stimulating, stylish atmosphere of your making with the right wallpaper background.

My all-time favorite is the powder room or the “public restroom” of a home, basically a sink and a toilet and, unless it is an architecturally interesting space it’s a closet. A beautiful, over the top wallpaper, silk-screened or metallic-detailed, can create a stunning little jewel box for your guests to lock themselves up in.

At Design Alliance we love that wallpaper is back in our tool chest. We recommend you check out the following papers for inspiration on your next project.

WALLTERIORS: Unique, hand crafted, custom papers and they will match your color palette for free!

ABA: Beautiful grass cloth from Canada, with an array of choices from gnarly textures to tight metallic weaves, unique and affordable.

THIBAUT: A complete library of classic, colorful, silk screen papers in timeless traditional designs.

JF: The works of creative thinkers, the coolest papers from whimsical to sophisticated…with an edge.

MDC: Primarily commercial wall covering, with a unique home collection (see the “Eye of the Peacock” in the powder room, pictured below). Need I say more?

Curb Appropriateness

BDA, Before Design Alliance, I lived for 18 years in Belmont Heights in Long Beach, CA.  I loved the heights—they were a tasty smorgasbord of architecture. Each home was beloved by all and each was maintained by its owners with respect for the integrity of the architecture and its style.

Particularly impressive were the upscale homes along First Street, a wide, tree-lined promenade a half-block from the ocean. Every home on First Street was a pristine example of architecture, each different from the next… dark, rich Craftsman homes, stately Italian Revivals, charming California Bungalows, romantic Spanish Haciendas, stylish Mid-Century Modern homes, strong International Style designs (from the Machine Age aesthetic), Greek Revivals, warm, old-school Georgian homes and of course, Art Deco designs. Long Beach is a major contributor to the collection of Southern California Art Deco structures, the most in the United States. OK, I wax… I guess I miss the eye candy!

However, with regard to “Curb Appeal,” one truth was evident in my old Long Beach neighborhood. These home-proud residents not only kept their structures in repair, but they did their research to understand the design of their home and to create the most appropriate exterior presentation possible. They know the landscape, the façade color and the entry all enhance the mood of the structure’s style. There were no careless choices in foliage and flowers, like hydrangeas and calla lilies in a Modern garden or a palm tree in front of a Colonial Revival home, nor did you see inappropriate paint colors, like a Craftsman in pastels or a blue Hacienda. These mistakes are confusing and create emotional sabotage.

In Southern California we are a sea of bedroom communities, where more homes than not are undefined, the result of builders taking creative license with the architecture:  soft arches mixed with classic columns, Italian railings and wood shingled roofs, pediments and dormers on smooth plaster facades, or “The Box” with two windows and a door. Of course it’s easy when you have a fabulous, vine-covered Tudor to landscape, but what about the stylistically undetermined home in a tract with five rotating stylistically undetermined homes around it? Well, that’s where you come in Designer, helping your client find their “Curb Appeal.” It’s challenging, but lots of fun!

A good way to start giving the non-descript home some style is to determine its bent. Begin with the three basic style categories of Traditional, Transitional and Contemporary. Looking at the bones and the overall appearance, what style will it most easily receive?

Note the face of the house, the roof material, the pitch of the roof, the entry door style, hardscape materials and window style. These all are key elements to your style embellishment.

Look for classic features you can play up with the “traditional” home like the black entry door, square panel planters and carriage lamp lighting for the “Town 'n Country” look. Or brickwork, flower boxes and shutters for a “Cottage.”  If it’s blatantly contemporary, play it up for your client by painting it pale grey with white fascia and an orange, flat-face door, flanked with oversized planters and snake grass and a succulent landscape. If it has linear lines and “feels” contemporary maybe add a wainscot of ledge rock and a yucca tree with flax and grasses as a landscape…. you get the picture!

I know, we are all down on the matchy-matchy cliché of style, so think of it as a Halloween costume, where you need all the signals and clues as to who you are supposed to be.  That’s what a mutt needs when it’s dressing up like a purebred. So, once you have clearly defined the direction play it up.

Also, don’t try and make a ballerina out of a football player. If it has a tile roof, it’s not a cottage. A used brick path won’t work on a Spanish Bungalow. Embellishing the house with style clichés won’t make it something it is not. Remember, the key features will tell you which direction works.

Easy fixes are the entry:  changing out the hardware, house numbers, lighting, mailbox and painting the front door an accent color, then flanking the door or edge of porch with style-appropriate planters and foliage. Also, adding a little point of interest, like this stack of cross wood windows at the front door, or a window box of succulents or contemporary planter and abstract flax plant. Always look for interesting features that can be played up.

Of course painting the house is always a wonderful change. Use your “designer gift” and “see” the house in some unusual color combinations: in taupes or greens and grays, with a rich mustard or deep raspberry door. Sage is still a beautiful house color with cream and black accents on the fascia and molding with a red or navy blue door.

Just kidding!

Lastly, consider the landscape. It can make or break your design. Create flower beds, if needed. Make a round planter for a group of birch trees on the lawn. Create an off-center “mound” for interest and plant grasses, or line the path to the door with planters. Study your trees. So many rich colors like red Japanese maples and silver Pittosporum. Tons of beautiful palm species, traditional magnolias and liquid gold trees. If there is not a tree in their front yard, add one—it really grounds the front. Create a little mock-up of your landscaping ideas to show your client and then, unless you are also a landscaper, hire the pros.