My Design Secrets

* Inspired by Grayson Handy’s worldwide travels, Flowers For The Home presents over 100 simple and stylish floral arrangements for both everyday and special occasions. 

* Congratulations to Shari D. from Ontario for winning the Flowers For The Home book giveaway!

Handy’s floral designs draw on the cultures and traditions of China, Japan, India, and Morocco; the enchanting French and English countrysides; the diverse terrain of Mexico; the lush tropical rain forest; and the always charming American South. 

Handy discusses the basic floral design principles from each of the nine featured locales – ranging from color palettes to indigenous materials – and provides step-by-step instructions and tips for assembling many of the eye-popping displays.  The specially commissioned photography will encourage the reader to create many of these delightful bouquets, now and for years to come.

* Courtesy of Rizzoli International Publications (With a special thanks to Jessica!) 

About the Authors/PhotographerGrayson Handy is the creative director of New York’s Prudence Designs and Events. Handy and Arturo Quintero’s renowned flower shop, specializing in event planning, caters to top magazines and celebrity clients. Paulette Cole is the CEO and creative director of ABC Home, a New York–based store that carries sustainable-designed furnishings. Ellen Silverman’s photographs have appeared in many cookbooks, including Neiman Marcus Taste, as well as in numerous magazines. Tracey Zabar is the author of Charmed Bracelets.

Would you like to win a copy of Flowers For The Home? 

To Enter Simply…

1. Tell me about your favorite flower.
2. If you are receiving this via email, go back to the site to enter.  Replies by email will not be accepted. 
3. One entry per person.  You have until 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, December 16th to enter.  One random winner will be chosen and announced soon after.   

I started My Design Secrets more than a year ago with one goal in mind:  Help people who love home decorating by giving them professional advice and easy access to the best online interior decorating sources.  After receiving a lot of wonderful feedback and learning that close to 100,000 people visted the database last year, I realized that My Secret Database was the answer to many of your decorating prayers!  So, I  was determined to continue sharing my interior design advice and resources.

A couple of months ago, I announced that we would be making some upgrades to the website.  Now, the time has come!  We wanted to make My Design Secrets even more useful, interesting, and fun for all of you decorating enthusiasts. (And for those of you who don’t know, my husband, Tim,  is the what turns “me” into “we”.)

So, here is what’s in store…

Improvements to My Secret Database *

The new database is PHENOMENAL.  When it comes to home decorating, My Secret Database blows any search engine out of the water.  Take that Google!  Here’s why: 

• Search through hundreds of online retailers for the product(s) you need and in the specific style you want.
• View a wide assortment of photos of specific products from the vendors in My Secrets Database. 
• Check out the the handy $-$$-$$$!  These icons will help you stay within your home decorating budget.

*While we wanted to keep doing all this for free, a girl has got to make a living!   With all these great new features, we are confident that you will recognize what a great value it is.  So starting this Wednesday at noon, My Secret Database is going to become a membership only site.  We are sure you will agree that the nominal charge of $9.95 per month is a fair price for access to this incredibly valuable, time-saving database.

Hot New Topics and Inside Tips in the Blog (Free)

The blog will continue to be free of charge and will offer my professional design tips as well as introductions to some of the hottest new decorating sources on the web.  I have lots of great ideas for new topics and, as always, you are welcome to make suggestions.  Feel free to search my existing blog entries covering over 350 decorating topics!

Great New Giveaways

We know you all love a Great Giveaway, so those are definitely going to continue.  We have some great ones lined up for high quality paint, gorgeous home furnishings, and fabulous interior decorating/design books.  And remember, your paid membership will automatically enter you into the giveaways.

Thank You…Thank You…Thank You

I have appreciated your support over the last year and sincerely hope that you will find these upgrades very helpful as you continue to put your personal decorating stamp on your home.

~ Lorrie

This is a great ensemble for the blue lovers out there. Some might be tempted to paint the walls a light blue, but the natural tone shown is classic and really allows the bedding to take center stage.

Your bedroom is a great place to use your favorite colors and to change them up periodically.  Because most bedrooms are primarily casegoods (beds, dressers, tables), most times the color is brought in with bedding, window treatments and paint.  Since there are so many great ready-made bedding sets, this gives you so many different options!

This room features subtle bedding and a rich wall color that balance each other out. The paint color is Valley Forge Brown, a Benjamin Moore Historical Color. This is my favorite collection of colors.

As a designer, I create interiors that have a pleasing color flow by spending time creating a great color palette and then working from there.  Now this doesn’t mean you cannot use bright accents or deep, rich tones in some rooms.  I just don’t want to walk in a room and be bowled over by the color (minus kid’s rooms, which get special treatment).  

The coral and aqua tones in this bedding are beautiful, but not meant to be on the walls. The buttery walls are the perfect backdrop.

So how do you get the designer look without going too far?  It’s pretty easy but you have to make a choice.  Are you going to bring in the color with the bedding or the walls?  By making this choice early in the process you will help yourself in a number of different ways:

1. You will have a clear direction when choosing bedding and paint.
2. You will achieve a look that is much more cohesive and has a polished designer look.
3. You will make it easier to change just the paint or the bedding down the line for a whole new room.

Even in this modern nursery, the bold green walls pair perfectly with the lighter bedding.

Where are you going to use color?

Walls - If you go with the walls, then go subtle with the bedding.  Choose white, ivory or pastel shades.  Neutral patterns are great; reserve colorful patterns for smaller areas on pillows or the bed-skirt (no bedspreads please).

Bedding- If you find a colorful bedding collection that just pulls you in, then go for it.  Keep the walls subtle with neutral earth tones or whites that have a slight colored hue.  Don’t go bright white, the contrast with the bedding will be too harsh.

Take a look at the photos I have included here and you will get the gist.  Many times the hallmark of great design is knowing how to pull back a little and not using every decorating idea you ever had in one room. 

If you are proud of the design you have created in your own bedroom, please send us a photo (questions@mydesignsecrets.com) so we can all see!

~Lorrie

 

Win this Gorgeous $32o Lamp!

Today I am happy to welcome guest blogger and interior designer, Jeani Ziering, to My Design Secrets.  This is Jeani’s second contribution to our website.  Jeani is the owner and lead designer of Ziering Interiors in New York.  She has been designing interiors for residential, corporate, and hospitality projects for over 20 years.  She has also has written for and edited design magazines and publishes the Dr. Decorator Series on her site. 

Enjoy!  ~ Lorrie

We are all weary from the stressors of today’s economic climate.  Bad news seems to be all around us.  In troubled times like these, finding sanctuary in your home becomes more important than ever.  And when money is tight, we have the creative challenge of figuring out how to enhance our home décor without breaking the budget.  The use of color provides an easy solution to this problem.  Color is one of the best decorating bargains available.  The power of paint allows us to transform our living environments at minimal expense. Your paint brush is your decorating magic wand. Change the color of your walls and you can create a new room without changing any of your furnishings.

In the beige wall version the room is calm and classical.

Take a tired room with a huge beige sofa, beige rug and beige accessories.  Paint the room a contrasting color and… Viola!  You will feel like you are living in a brand new place.  For the slightly more adventurous home enthusiasts, the use of a boldly colored contrast wall will make your furnishings “pop” and give your place instant drama.  This is illustrated in the photos above and below.  The art deco styled sitting room designed by Jeani Ziering and Jennifer Huson of Ziering Interiors shows how the same room looks with different wall colors.  Same space.  Same furniture.  Different color.  Different mood.  The only thing that changed is the wall color.  Neither color is right or wrong; they are just different.

In the red wall version the room becomes bold and dramatic.

Color can also be used to camouflage architectural problems. Dark colors protrude and light colors recede.  Take a long narrow room and paint the end wall a dark color and you will create the illusion of a wider space. If a ceiling is too high, it can be visually lowered by painting it a darker color than the walls.  Conversely, if the ceiling is too low, it can be made to feel higher by painting it a lighter color. A trick for small rooms is to paint the walls and the ceiling the same color so that the space will visually expand. In rooms with angled ceilings, the use of the same color on ceilings and walls will make the angles disappear.  Paint can be used to make a small space feel larger or to make a large space feel cozier.

White and black are not colors. White is the presence of color and black is the absence of color.  However, black and white are important decorative tones. They add drama and definition and enhance the colors around them. White trim and ceilings are a decorating constant. Touches of black are a popular decorative element regardless of the decorative style. The combo of black and white provides decorative drama and always tells an exciting design story. When mixed with a colorful background or accent colors such as bright yellow, lime green, lilac, pale blue, or other tones, this high contrast design combo is always a sure fire decorative hit.

Silver is not a color but a metallic tone. Black is not a color but the absence of color. The mix of non-colors of black and white as well as the use of metallic tones create very potent design schemes. This is illustrated in the headboard and night table by Andre Originals where black and silver are combined for a very dramatic visual effect.

Color Trends are tricky.  Fashion-wise I play it safe.  Whether it’s leopard spots or shades of purple, I pick a few key accessories, pair them with my old classics and I am good to go.  But colors for home decorating can make your head spin.  The words “long term investment” and “short-term love affair” come to mind.

I just popped around to a few websites to see what the experts are saying and the predictions are often contradictory.  One “expert” says that greys, blues and greens are going to make us feel safe and grounded during uncertain times.  Another chimes in that red is the “go to” color and Pantone claims that the color Mimosa ”Embodies Hopefulness and Reassurance in a Climate of Change.”  I don’t know about you but a Mimosa is a brunch drink not the color of my walls

This pouf (ottoman) from West Elm is the perfect accent to this room. The bright color and soft look are a great pairing.

All of these predictions and forecasts are interesting and help us develop new color palettes.  But they are certainly not the hallmark of good decorating taste which brings us to my simple advice when it comes to color trends…

The colors that embrace you, inspire you and charm you are the ones you should use in your home.

So, what’s the best way to use color trends to your advantage?  I have one word and it’s… ACCESSORIZE!  This is especially good news because it’s an economical approach to freshening up a room.  Think of some of your favorite “off beat” wardrobe items that you only wear on special occasions; the red beaded necklace, the emerald green clutch or your patent-leather pumps and apply the same principles to your room.  Small thoughtful touches of color and texture in a room are a great way to freshen the look with lasting results.

Gourd lamps have a retro look that has been popular for a few years. The updated colors make them the perfect way to update your palette.

How to Punch Up Your Color Palette with the Latest Trends

A color palette is a range or scheme of colors used on a particular project or in a room.  So you can replace one color in your palette or completely start over.  But first a few tips:

• If want an accent color to stand out use warm and cool colors in your palette. (Red & Green, Blue & Yellow)
• Use what you have.  An old chair is an old chair, until you paint it white and add great upholstery :-)  See some great Before and After’s here.
• Be bold in the living room.  Let a colorful ottoman replace an outdated coffee table.
• Artwork allows you to bring color and favorite themes into a room.
• Lamps in the latest shapes and colors update a room instantly.

It’s fun to bring a new color into your home and color forecasts are great sources of inspiration.  But on the whole, give the most consideration to the colors you feel comfortable with each and every day and caustiously approach those that are developed by high-paid marketing teams.  After all, you know what’s best for your nest

~Lorrie

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These eco-friendly wall panels by Inhabit are a cinch to install and are removable. Instant texture and drama in a snap.

Today I am dedicating my post to those of you who had your first dusting of snow this week.  I know it’s bittersweet; so pretty and peaceful but also the beginning of the truly cold weather.  I used to live up North so I can sympathize.  So in the interest of optimism, let’s celebrate winter with a glimpse of beautiful items all dressed in white.  They are modern, crisp and beautiful any time of year but small accents can freshen up the interior of your home, where you are bound to be spending a good bit of time in the next few months…

I love these White Birch Branches from Nettleton Hollow. A cool new way to decorate for any holiday. Three branches for $12.50.

This marble top end table from Layla Grace is a French antique reproduction that would make itself at home in the bedroom or living room. On Sale for $475.

The Amelie Pillow from Blissliving Home is not pure white but I could not resist the misty forest image.

Le Klint pendant light from Lightology. Made of white PVC, it glows like a wonderful ball of ribbons. Don't be a afraid to throw a little mid-century modern in with your traditional pieces!

Remember that white adds great contrast to any color and a small dose brightens up any room.  A little dab will do ya!  Enjoy your weekend:-)

~Lorrie

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I have seen many chests that are "all mirror." I like the balance of combining the painted finish with the mirror. Neiman Marcus $1589.

A little bit of Silver adds some sparkle and life to most any room in your home.  Dressers, light fixtures, accessories and mirrors all fit the bill; and this is not a passing fancy.  Silver furnishings have been featured prominently in well-designed interiors for many years.  Antiques and originals can cost a pretty penny but there are also many companies producing pieces that are affordable and eye-catching.  

Gilded Twisted Ball Finials & Rod in Silver Leaf from Restoration Hardware - They are on sale right now starting at $7.99.

This Lilac and Silver Chain Stitched Pillow from Beautiful Pillows and Home would make a lovely accent on an ivory sofa. $184

Some simple tips:

• Re-frame a favorite piece of artwork with a silver frame.  Go with polished silver for a contemporary look or antique silver for something more traditional.
• Change the knobs on your dresser with something sparkly.  It’s an easy fix with a lot of impact.
• Choose a silver drapery pole and rings which draws more attention than stained wood. 
• Accent tables are meant to be just that, accents!  Why not select one that stands out?

These gilded bamboo look nesting tables from 1st Dibs are beautiful and would surely come in handy. $720

These coral prints from Shades of Light with mirrored frames achieve a great balance of simplicity and old-world charm. $248 for 4.

This wall sconce is based on a design from Federal times. The mirrored back reflects and multiples the light. From Shades of light $189.

Keep it subtle and don’t overdo it; all it takes is a small dose.   Maybe it’s time to find some room in your home for a Sliver of Silver:-)  Shop My Secret Database!

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The violet Calvin Klein duvet cover in this bedroom I designed works really well with neutral beiges as well as sage green, cream and gold.

Purple is a big color in fashion this year.  From purses and belts to shoes and scarves.  This means that you will see a lot more purple in home fashions next year.  If you want to be ahead of the curve and add a regal touch to your home, then consider adding a little purple to your palette.  Small, thoughtful touches of color (a rug, a lamp or just a throw on your sofa) are what makes and interior really come to life.   Here are some purple picks.

1. Cone II Mini-pendent in Purple from Lightology – $164 
2. Delphinium Table in Violet from The Artful Home – $875
3. 21″ Butter Border Blossoms from Altamira Lighting – $400
4. Purple Linen Pillow with Ivory Embroidery from Beautitful Pillows &  Home – $220
5. Jill Dining Chair from Maine Cottage in China Blue Luxe Yuri – $1,290
6. Petunia, 1925 – Poster by Georigia O’Keefe from AllPosters.com – $31.99
7. Feather in Plum and Cream Rug by Thomas Paul from Design Public 5′x8′ – $680

Shop for great accessories in your favorite colors in My Secret Database!

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