2014 Interior Design Trends...Gold mining

Gold is back and coming on strong!

From small doses to all out all over...gold is becoming a scene stealer!

 Mixing metals is no longer taboo...this is a question I often get from my client's  "Can I mix metals?" ANSWER: YES!

Living room by Kimberlee Jaynes Designs Inc.

 I used gold-kissed starburst mirrors traveling up the wall over the fireplace, a gold accented rug and pillows on the chair and sofa to complete the look. Gray,brown and gold look fabulous together ...don't you think?

WOW the gold sofa below is over the top...but it works perfectly in this city apartment with steel gray walls. Like the fashion runway...some of the styles are over the top...you can pull in a metallic pillow or ottoman to freshen your look without overwhelming your current decor. Have fun...go gold mining!

Sofas 101 ... Made Real Simple

As we move indoors from our summer outdoor living...we may decide that some key foundational pieces need to be replaced! A new sofa could be  just what your room needs. Its best to understand the styles and shapes of sofas and the message they send. Then you can choose the right sofa for the feeling you want to convey.

Below is an excerpt from one of my favorite magazines Real Simple. They make sofas 101 easy to grasp.

When I was hired to create a living room for a couple in their early 40's ... Their first words were "We don't want Biege! And we want to be wowed!" So using high contrast colors and designing high backed sofas I was able to create HIGH impact... Just what my clients wanted. Sofas can be a real statement piece in your home. 

Photo: www.kimberleejaynes.com

I just finished this job today...It's all in The Mix.

I think my client was surprised when I confessed that her home was the most fun that I have had designing for some time. And you ask why? Because they let me mix it up like nobodies business!

This couple has a sophisticated style. They also understand how important it is to mix.

Mix Styles, Colors, Patterns and Proportions.

I started with the Italian white lacquered dining table and used a Danish modern 1960's buffet topped with a gorgeous piece of white Carrara marble. The host and hostess regency chairs are Italian black lacquer with black and ecru colored demi -slipcovers. The side chairs are brown leather. To keep it all from floating away, my client and I designed the multi colored striped rug.

Then to throw it off and keep it from being too matchy ...we introduced the raw wood light fixture with Mercury glass bulb. The black and white photos are from my client's Europen travels. The yellow wall color ties into what is happening in an adjacent room. (I will share more photos when the photographer takes some shots in April.) I want to thank my clients for being lovely people to work with and trusting me and being open to the process of interior design!

Buy Vintage...It's Eco Friendly!

This photo is from the photographer James Salomon in his residential portfolio.

(House of Turquoise is featuring him on her website http://www.houseofturquoise.com/ .)

With all the hip, slick, "eco" brands emerging into the market it can be difficult to keep in mind that pre-owned goods can be the most green purchase of all. Vintage and second-hand furniture requires no additional resources to manufacture, is often locally sourced (cutting down on transportation), is pre-off gassed and eases the load on the landfill. Quality vintage furniture can also have an excellent resale value (sometimes selling for the same price it was bought) which certainly can't be said for most new furniture, green or otherwise.

Lighting is the true star of any room decor!

Lighting is as important to your room decor as the furnishings that are in it!
Take a close look at the photo...there are three light sources.
1. Ambient light (overhead can lighting)
2. Hanging chandelier over dining table.
3. Table lamps.

Create "pools" of light in your home.
To see the "before photo" visit www.kimberleejaynes.com