Trends and Traditions

03/31/2016

03/30/2016

We have a new web site :trendstraditionsinteriors.com
We hope you will visit it and let us know what you think!

03/18/2016

This project was a turnkey design. Almost everything you see in these photographs was supplied by Trends & Traditions - furnishings, rugs, accessories, lamps, bedding and window treatments. We chose and coordinated the paint, flooring, some cabinetry and fireplaces for this beautiful custom home. Everything was chosen and then the installation happened all at one time - what a great reveal!
Trends & Traditions is the premier design firm offering complete turnkey projects for the discriminating client. All the furnishings, rugs, lamps, art, and accessories are ordered and supplied thru our firm. The installation is coordinated to be installed at one time with our team of installers. Our clients are pampered and do not spend their days running from store to store to look at pieces. Our design team has 35 years of experience designing beautiful, functional interiors throughout the south and specializes in large projects.

05/17/2012

05/17/2012

05/04/2012

A few simple questions can make every room in the house as efficient - and comfortable - as possible.

With the economy the way it is these days, using every square inch of a home is not only practical but smart. People want a comfortable place to entertain as well as a place to retreat from the chaos of everyday life. Gone are the days of rooms collecting dust, as that coveted square footage needs to have a purpose.

For instance, one of my clients had a very formal living room complete with small Louis Phillippe chairs, a gold gilded settee, silk curtains, and Oriental rug. Her children loved to read in this room but there was no space to comfortably do so. When renovating her home, we assessed the function of every room of her home, and this room did not make the cut. Her girls were growing, and her family's needs were changing. We decided to make this space more functional by making it an inviting place to read and visit with friends. Out went the small, uncomfortable settee and chairs as well as the formal drapes and rug. We added two chaise loungers in child-friendly fabrics, a grass rug on top of a sisal for texture, and custom linen curtains that blended well with the dining room adjacent to the area. My client now says that next to her master bedroom, this room is by far her favorite in the house.

So how do you help your clients use every square inch in their home as efficiently as possible? You create a well-designed room by asking yourself - and the family - a few questions when walking through the space for the very first time.

Is this a pass-through room or one to sit down to read, visit or watch television?
Who (children, pets) will use this room? Is it an area where the main upholstered pieces need to be child or pet –friendly?
Does the room function as it needs to for the family? If not, one of the first things to decide is what needs to change to make it more family-friendly.
Is there a type of space missing that is needed for the family? For instance, if you have teenagers you may need a room to hang out, do homework, or watch TV.
How many people at a time do you need to comfortably seat in the space?
How is the lighting in the room, and what rooms are near? You always want to make sure the purpose and design of one room flows nicely into the next.
When walking into the room, what catches your eye? Is there a focal point, or do you need to create one?
Does the space feel connected to the rest to house?
By asking these few questions, you can easily create a home your clients and their family can enjoy for many years to come. After all, every square foot counts

04/22/2012

Have you ever moved a big piece of furniture, only to reveal small 'dents' in the carpet? These small divots, which are caused by heavy and constant pressure, may seem irreversible, but with our super simple methods, you can get your carpet surface back to its original appearance in no time.

03/26/2012

News from the upcoming Spring Market 2012

Jewel tones provide rich, lush looks......
“Luxury” is this year’s keyword, and jewel hues add lavish sophistication to any style. Be on the lookout for furnishings and decorative accessories in regal gold, shimmering blue and green, majestic purple and lush orange.



Gilded age......
“Metals will continue to shine in 2012 but with soft matte overtones,” reports The Chicago Tribune. “Brushed gold will shine next year, bringing a golden versus shiny glow. Metallic and pearlized colors will abound in home accessories and fashion alike.” As we reported last month, all metals will step up, including bronze, copper, platinum and silver, but gold will be the frontrunner -- showing up in everything from wall decor and decorative accessories to upholstery, bedding and rugs.

Into the blue........
Intense blues are strong this year. While blue always has been a favorite among consumers, the look as been updated to a richer, more true blue. For example, the Pantone Home + Interiors 2012 Indigo Effects is inspired by the celestial blues and deep blue indigos of the twilight sky. Sherwin William’s 2012 Colormix features “a pair of functional and treasured blues: denim and water. It explores the darkest indigo to faded-jeans hues, some with violet undertones, as well as the calm, shimmery shades that reflect rivers, lakes and seas.” Finally, Benjamin Moore’s Fluid Blues palette covers a range, from gray-blues to aquas to deep-sea navy.

Emerald waves........
Sherwin Williams’ Colormix casts aside the yellow-tinged greens of the past, instead focusing on “greens that are lush, moody and complex. It showcases the depths of the sea and forest; leafy motifs; rustic natural textures; and organic elements such as algae, moss and seaweed.” Benjamin Moore’s Elemental Greens palette also evokes nature, “from spring’s yellow-greens to the blued grays of woodland shadows.”

Purple reigns..........
Purple still is one of this year’s hottest hues. What makes this color so popular is its versatility. Pantone’s Back to the Fuschia palette calls attention to the bright, bold purples, while Benjamin Moore’s Violet Twilight palette features hues from the “deepest amethyst to a dream-like pale violet,” and purple’s “beautiful blue-tinted variations.”

Fiery orange............
Another versatile hue is orange. Go tropical with citrus, warm with terra cotta or cozy with pumpkin hues. The reddish orange Tangerine Tango, Pantone’s color of the year, is “sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, with a lot of depth to it,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

03/21/2012