Another Layered Art Idea

While writing my last post, I searched high and low for other examples of layered framed art so that I could better illustrate the concept for you. Interestingly, the only images I found were these few, all from the same source. First, the one you see above, is from a Pottery Barn catalog. The frames are hung using wires or string, but neither the pic nor the catalog description are clear about what they're hung from. Could be a rod or a picture moulding high on the wall. I like that the casual looseness of the arrangement is brought back together by the use of similar black and white subjects all identically framed.

Next, this salon-style installation in a mix of Pottery Barn frames lit by one of their rail lights. As casual as the first image was, this one is made even more so by the variety of frame styles and their contents. See the curiously "popped out" numbers 5 and 9 in the middle? They led to the discovery of a nifty new-to-me gizmo, also from, well, you know where. Called a "frame riser", it allows you to layer photos, art and mirrors over each other without them having to touch or attach to each other. And, surprisingly, it holds up to 25 lbs, so you can layer pretty much whatever you want...

...and create your own free-form scrapbook wall of memories and inspiration. This image is also from our friends at PB and I find it quite charming; especially for a family room or home office. Follow their lead if you wish, but, please, use your own uniquely special mementos, not the store-bought kind.

Color and Pattern by the Barnload

In my post last week about color and pattern, I mentioned that I was scheduled to attend a class on just those subjects over the weekend. And so I did. I showed up at 10:00 am this past Sunday and sat in on the "Decorating with Color and Pattern" class at my local Pottery Barn store. Now, before you other designer-types get all skeptical and cynical, let me tell you right up front that I really didn't learn anything new. And I totally get that a class like this is, above all, a brilliant marketing tool.

But I can really appreciate how the average home decorator, who doesn't have a formal or even self-taught education in design, could be helped by the tips and rules presented. After all, as a non-gourmet cook, I have been drawn into the cooking demos at Williams-Sonoma countless times and picked up a couple of good ideas that my super-chef friends would sniff at. So it's the same concept, right? (Same company too! No surprise there.) And besides all the pretty merchandise and the review of design fundamentals, it was a lot of fun!

Our class was led by sales associate Briggett. She was funny and personable and really knows her way around a pile of pillows. She gladly answered questions and deftly demonstrated all the design concepts she presented--with new fall season Pottery Barn merchandise, of course! At presentation's end, several attendees followed Briggett around as she broke down the demo area asking her advice about their particular situation. She was happy to give them as much time as they needed. And I saw several classmates standing there with me at the cash wrap counter taking advantage of the 10% discount coupons we received (another genius idea from the PB Marketing Dept!)

All things considered, it was a fun experience and a nice way to start my Sunday, followed by more shopping and lunch with my husband (who did not attend the class but milled around for an hour enjoying the scenery and a Jamba Juice smoothie... he'd want me to make that clear!). Decorating, shopping, good food and great company... a pretty perfect day actually!

I know you're wondering, so here, in no particular order, are the "rules" of decorating with pattern and color the "Pottery Barn way" (and, truth be told, the PB way turned out to be basically the same as everybody else's way):

Refresh with Color
Updating with color is an easy way to change the mood of your rooms whether you do it to match the season or the latest trend. By switching out such things as pillows, throws, area rugs, and decorative accessories, you can get a whole new look quickly and easily.


Begin with a Neutral Palette
The neutrals in your spaces are typically the larger areas that can't be changed without major effort or expense. Wall colors, permanent floor coverings, primary furnishings and window coverings can be considered "neutrals". Not neutral in color, mind you; they can be whatever colors you decide to make them. What's neutral about them is that they form a dominant base, the backdrop, upon which to add other colors and patterns. So you'll probably want your neutrals to be solids. That beautiful floral sofa you had to have fifteen years ago or the highly patterned wallpapers you filled your home with, aren't as easy to redecorate around and are likely to date themselves long before they wear out.


Find Inspiration for Your Color Choices
Collect tear sheets--pages from magazines with images of spaces that appeal to you. Mark pages in any design books you have. After a time, you'll begin to notice repeating elements in your preferences. Look closely at favorite fabrics or a rug or artwork already in your home. What is it you like so much about them? Color combinations and patterns you like will reveal themselves. Take note and move on to making choices for your home.

Paint Colors Should be Personal
Ignore trends. Yes, they'll help you find your way but if the trend is toward chocolate brown walls and you don't think you can live with that much color in one large space, don't. Use a color for your walls that comes from your tear sheet file (light aqua and pale grassy greens are popular right now in combination with brown), then use chocolate tones in pillows and accessories.

Pick Your Patterns
Back to your tear sheets again. Notice which pattern combinations strike you. A large floral paired with a stripe and a couple of solids? Mixed up plaids and prints? Notice the placement of patterns in the rooms you like. Is the pattern on the floor? At the windows? All over the place or even nonexistent? Combining patterns is all about color and scale. Follow the example of an appealing room.

Mix and Match with Care
In the fall, home accessory colors will be darker, richer and follow the tones of the natural settings changing all around us. Likewise, in the spring, stores will feature colors that are lighter, brighter, fresher. If your home is designed in colors that relate more to one season than another, take care when buying new items in the opposite season. Lemony spring yellows will probably look out of place next to the golds and ambers more common in the fall.

Pay Attention to Textures
In the absence of multiple colors and patterns, textures will take on a starring role. Yes, they're important in every room, but a simple, monochromatic color scheme practically requires them. Smooth, tightly-woven cottons, natural linens and nubby silks each bring their own personality to upholstery, pillows or drapes. Then, of course, there are leathers, flat-woven, hooked and fluffy wool rugs, chunky knits and rough natural wovens like raffia and burlap. And those are just the textiles. Stone, wood, metal, glass... these all add their own unique textures to your space as well.

And So Much More Of course, if you want to really get into the details and nuance of choosing color and pattern, there is so much more to know and I could discuss this with anyone willing to listen all day long. But just so neither one of us has to endure that, here are a few book suggestions for you. Each contains enough basic information to get you started in the right direction.


HOUSE BEAUTIFUL'S THE HOME BOOK Lots of good basic information and inspiration presented in the same stylish manner as the magazine's editorial features. Beautiful photos and step-by-step guidelines illustrate the design process from start to finish including expert Q&A-style advice on the development of a color scheme.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS NEW DECORATING BOOK Again, more basic decorating lessons and advice in a friendly, colorful format. Designs and ideas for real people with real budgets. Color, pattern and texture are each given their own chapters with easy to read lessons and more than enough photo examples.

WAVERLY INSPIRATIONS The fabric and home decor company famous for mixing and matching patterns shows you how they do it. This book is ten years old, so some of the patterns and colorways may be dated, but the information is solid and visual examples are still very helpful. Fun quizzes help you determine your own decorating style.

POTTERY BARN LIBRARY There is a whole series of books available, most focused on a particular space in the home: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Work Spaces, etc. There is also the newer Pottery Barn Home which I understand is a compilation of info from the other books. I know for certain that the Living Rooms version offers good color and texture advice. You might want to take a look at the whole library to see which book best suits your situation.



For obvious reasons, I've used interior images from Pottery Barn's catalog and website. Outdoor images of Victoria Gardens are by La Citta Vita via Flickr. There's been a lot of talk around the blogs about Pottery Barn lately. So clearly they're doing something right... or wrong?... or controversial? In any case, I'll be on to different things next post. Yay!

Mirror, Mirror, All On Sale...

Well, not all, but some. And nice ones too!

For some reason, I have been obsessed with mirrors lately. Comes from trying to brighten up my own look and throw some light around, I suppose. Not sure yet whether a mirror will do it, but I'll be considering a couple of these should things go that way.

In my webmail box this morning was a notice that Pottery Barn is having a July 4th Sale. I cruised around their homepage and can't see how long the sale lasts, so you may have to act fast if there's something you like. On the list of new items on sale today, I found these great mirrors and couldn't resist showing them to you because every one of them is good-looking and there's enough variety to suit just about any decorating style and space. I'm not sure yet that I'll be buying, but maybe one of you can benefit from the affordable pricing. And these are only the ones on their "new sale items" list. There are plenty more to see if you're inclined to look around their entire site. But, I'm telling you, stalk their website regularly if you see something you like that's still full price... just about everything goes on sale eventually! (WARNING: Pottery Barn items that are priced with a 99 at the end instead of zeroes--as in $219.99 vs $219.00--are final sales. You can't return the item and you can't even cancel the sale once it's placed. I got a great deal on a rug that way once, but I had been "stalking" it and knew it was exactly what I wanted.)

First up, the Chevron Bone Mirror, pictured above in a pretty, sandy-colored room and below, up close. Besides the beachy home you see here, I can see this mirror in an ethnic-inspired setting surrounded by collections of Asian or African origin. It would look fantastic in a foyer so you can more easily see, and touch, the inlays. $249.99 (reduced from 349.00)

Next is the Basketweave Rattan Mirror. Great texture on that woven frame. Nice over a mantel as pictured below, or, again, in an entry where its tactile qualities would shine. I can also see this one and three others, hung close together, two over two, on a tall wall in a voluminous living or family room. If you like the tropical look of a Barclay Butera beach interior, this is the perfect mirror for you. $299.00 (reduced from $349.00)

The Rustic Elm Floor Mirror makes a statement. Quietly but with strength. Would look great in many interiors from contemporary to country, cottage or industrial. $499.99 + an additional $40 delivery fee because of its large size (reduced from $699.00)

The Concentric Planked Mirror. This one would be more versatile than you might think at first glance. Now, I love red and think of it as a neutral. So I can see this mirror almost anywhere except the most traditional or period-specific spaces, where something more classic or ornate might be appropriate. If you look at it on the website, be sure to view it in the larger window. The variety of colors and textures in the frame make for great interest even though the shape is very simple. $249.00 (reduced from $299.00)

This is the one that's got me walking around my house with a measuring tape in my hand. The Wooden Door Mirror. Love the honey color of the frame and quarter-circle insets in the corners. Imagine it hung horizontally over a sofa or large sideboard in a dining room. Or just prop it up in the corner, as pictured below, and enjoy how pretty it is. The best deal too, I think, at $199.00 + a $20 delivery fee (reduced from $259.00)

Lots of great sales just about everywhere these days if you have a decorating need and a little bit of extra money. So on this Independence Day weekend, whether it's to Pottery Barn or somewhere else, be a good American and go forth and stimulate the economy!