Taking Stock for the New Year

Welcome to the new year.  It's cold and grey, with the holidays past and the bulk of the winter still stretching ahead of us.  Still, the design magazines are in full bloom this time of year, and everyone's got an opinion on how to keep your home clutter free, fresh and colorful, and cutting edge for 2010.  Additionally, the trendmakers have their new pallets out, full of crisp new colors for the season.  


Secondary colors are still really hip.  Green, orange, and purple are everywhere--although not just any shade will do.  The greens that dominated last summer are getting sharper, a little more yellow, and less neutral.  To balance that we have more brown/purple tones that range from aubergine to lavender.  Walls in any of these chic purples, matched with crisp white or cream trim and warm earthy-but-retro fabrics in shades of orange (tangerine to techno) and green (neutral-spring to bright lime) are sure to feel fresh and collected.  Additionally, the layered look (still so popular in clothing) is continuing to inform furniture choices for contemporary rooms.  "Matchy matchy" looks dated, but pairing furnitures and rugs with varying provenance and vintage creates that utterly contemporary feel of a room that is casual but still put together in a thoughtful, deliberate manner.  Layering, at its finest.


I predict that by summer, the hottest "new" colors will be really profound neutrals with overtones of green and purple (rather than the traditional brown or tan-toned taupes and creams).  Combine large open wall space in neutral tones and off-whites with really rich accents; instead of going for the (increasingly more) predictable triad of secondary colors (orange, purple, green), add a toned down primary which will act as a second neutral.  This will give you a really balanced but simultaneously visually exciting ambiance to your rooms.  


Also, the idea of an 'accent wall' (remember the tv show Trading Spaces?) has almost burned out, but don't be afraid to combine more than one color on the walls of a room--especially if you have a large open floor plan.  Different colors are perfect for visually defining space, and for highlighting interesting architecture.  However, before you paint that one wall at the back of your living room fire engine red, think about how your color combinations can be a little more subtle, to add sophistication to your home.  Think about working one color on the walls and a color from the same swatch which is a few shades lighter for the ceiling.  Or, if you have a single long wall that traverses the width of your house, try painting that a dramatic (yet neutral) color to add a sense of continuity to otherwise broken up space.  


Alright, I know that not everyone is an ace at visualization.  I promise I'll have pictures of the latest project up soon.  Until then, feel free to contact me for your consultation, or to discuss upcoming colors, at AlacrityCD@gmail.com  


I have new low rates for the new year, so let's get started on sprucing up your home before the winter blues kick in!

A Park Avenue Christmas

Happy Hanukkah,

Merry Christmas,

and all the best

in the New Year!

I am thankful to all of you.

Let's out do ourselves in 2010.

(psssst!  Hey Mary!  THANKS FOR THE TABLECLOTH!)

The Pasadena Project

“When we bought our new house it was glaring 'realtor' white with pink trim. I knew we had to change it, but I didn't know where to begin. By looking through the art and things I had collected, Alison divined my personal tastes and chose colors for the whole house. Although they weren't colors I ever would have chosen on my own, I really love the way they have transformed the space. She helped me rearrange furniture and shop for new rugs and furnishings for the house. It's really become a home--it feels very warm and complete. Our home is on the water, and Alison chose colors that seem to pull the water right into the master bedroom. And I always get compliments on how warm and welcoming the guest bedroom is--even BOYS have mentioned what a great room it is!”

-Sherry, homeowner: Pasadena, MD

Operation Kitchen Rehab, Phase 1

The difference that just paint can make is really dramatic. Check out this kitchen rehab. Save money on new appliances and counter tops. Update your color scheme and freshen up your paint job, and you've got the beginings of a brand "new" kitchen!

The before...

Here are a few shots of the painting progression. The color change from bright cold white to warm cream looks dramatic now, but once the white is all covered over, the cream fades into a pleasant warm vanilla-white. Proof that even subtle distinctions in color can make a HUGE impact.

And finally... the updated kitchen!

Of course you can't just stop with the kitchen when you have a floorplan with this kind of flow. My work spilled over into the hallway joining the bedrooms to the rest of the house. 30 years of kids and living on cold white walls cleaned up faster and more easily you might expect...

And, for a final spot of whimsey, I painted the door to the second bathroom the same green as the built-in secretary in the kitchen. It was perfect with the rich grey-blue we had already put in the bathroom.

Man, what a difference it made in this house! All of the furniture and art in the final images were things my clients already had in other places in their house. Things like that fantastic mirror and the antique secretary/china cabinet had been sitting in corners and odd spots around the house, just waiting to be showcased. Often times, you don't know how much great stuff you already HAVE.

Now we are planning phase two. We will use paint to give the cabinets a facelift (saving THOUSANDS by not replacing them), replace the bare flourescent fixtures, put up a sheer over the window, recover the chair cushions, replace the battered hardware and doorknobs in the hallway and kitchen, and freshen up the appliances with some TLC.

Final total?

New old kitchen for under $1500.

That's right.

You heard me.

Compare that to the cost of gutting and updating everything, then drop me a line.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

alacrityCD@gmail.com

(love the house you're in)