From the keyboard of Peggy Pardo…

I’ve always wanted to paint stripes in my house, but alas, for now I’ve had to satisfy that urge through fabrics and other textiles. I love the bold look of stripes splashing across the walls. Your eye can’t help but follow. Look at these lovely examples I’ve found for you…

Source: Coastal Living
Photograher: Laurey W. Glenn

Source: Elle Decor
Photographer: William Waldron 

Source: Apartment Therapy

Source: Elle Decor

Source: Blount Design

Source: Elle Decor
Photographer: Pieter Estersohn

Source: House Beautiful

Source: Apartment Therapy 
Artist: Ashley O’Brian

How do you paint perfect stripes? That’s the question Centsational Girl posed to her readers and they answered with some of the best tips I’ve read on this subject. If you are planning on painting stripes, you must read these tips first.

Horizontal, vertical, diagonal or otherwise, stripes create a bold impact. They can be wide, narrow, vary in width, and have any number of colors in the design. They also go with almost any decorating style.

Now I REALLY want some stripes!! Where shall I put them? ……Hmmm…………have to think on this one…..

Have you painted stripes before?

Cheers to all,

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

Springtime is just around the corner; I love this time of year! And the color palettes that come with it! I know that a lot of people would say, “Pink? You’ve got to be kidding me!”, but I happen to be very fond of the color and I’m not a frilly gal. Pink doesn’t have to mean 11-1/2″ poseable dolls or lollipops and candy. Pink can be bold, adventurous and sexy. It can also be calm, soothing and sophisticated. There are so many shades available, that you can find one to suit any mood.

I’ve selected a few photos that may change your mind about the color pink. And if you already like it, you are really going to enjoy these…

Source: House & Home Kitchens & Baths 2010 Special Issue
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Designer: Holly Dyment

Source: House and Home
Designer: Kelly Wearstler

Source: House & Home, January 2011
Photographer: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

This preview of spring has been brought to you by the color pink. You know what they say – everyone looks great in pink! What are your thoughts on this color? Is there a shade you like best?

Cheers to all,

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

Hello Everyone!

Lately I’ve been really loving all the burlap pillows with stenciled lettering that I’ve been seeing everywhere. It’s such a simple look, but adds so much interest and style to a room. The other day I was checking out some of these pillows at one of my favorite sources for decorative items, Home Decorators Collection.

Here are my favorites…

Postmark Pillow

Belle Jardiniere Pillow

Burlap No. 85 Wreath

Burlap Floral Bouquet Pillow

Cafe Pillow

Louvre Square Cushion

In the next couple of weeks Regina and I will be creating a burlap lampshade using a stencil. Don’t you think these pillows would be a nice accompaniment? Perhaps this could be a future project…hmmm…..I wonder…..

Cheers to all,

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

This Saturday is St. Patrick’s day; so I thought it would be fitting to celebrate the color green this week. While I don’t have any green beer to share with you, I do have some fabulous photos of rooms all decorated around or with the color green.

This bath is one of my favorites. I love white and green together, even more so when it’s combined in a pattern as beautiful as this wallpaper. The look is so fresh and elegant. I especially like it combined with the rustic sink base – which is a great way to re-purpose an old farmhouse table. You could recreate this wallpaper using a stencil; I found some similar designs here…

Source: House Beautiful

A bright shot of green cabinetry brings this kitchen to life.  If you want to change your kitchen but don’t want to re-do the whole thing, try painting your island in an accent color. Love the gingham print ceiling…

Source: House Beautiful

Let’s move into the dining room now, shall we. The bright green vinyl on the chairs plays beautifully with the traditional styling of the table’s pedestals – I am so loving the finish on these! I wonder if the walls are done with a stencil similar to this one…

Source: House Beautiful

My last inspirational photo from House Beautiful shows an elegant sitting room in a softer green palette. Hanging the drapery higher above the windows then taking them all the way to the floor brings attention to the height in this room, thus making it appear larger…

Source: House Beautiful

This kitchen was designed by Emery & Cie. The blue and green are so calming. And those tiles. Wow!…

Source: Emery & Cie

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s without Kelly green. This is a bold color, but it works so well with the black and white accents…

Source: Apartment Therapy

Green comes in all shades. The finish on this wall is gorgeous! Regina MUST show me how to do this!…

Source: Traditional Home

By painting the walls, ceiling and trimwork all the same color, this large room feels cozier and more intimate. The large window allows in natural light as well as a view of nature. I am so loving the fact that they added a touch of red in the chandelier…

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

You don’t have to commit to doing the whole room in green. Bring in touches of it, as they did in this room with the green chair and accent pillows. Most of this room is done in neutrals, but the pops of green, yellow and red invigorate it…

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

This had nothing to do with design, but I couldn’t resist this green Kate Spade bicycle. I just want to hop on and cruise around the streets of Paris! By the way, did you notice the Champagne and flowers? Someone has been good…

Source: Adeline Adeline

Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth and harmony. It also represents tranquility, good luck and good health. You can use it as the main color or to add vitality to a neutral scheme. Have fun with it!

What is your favorite color of green paint to work with?

Cheers to all,

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

Let’s see…there’s The Fifth Dimension, The Fifth Element, pleading The Fifth,  being a fifth wheel, Fifth Avenue (the actual avenue or the candy bar, whichever you like)…but today I’m talking about the fifth wall – The Ceiling!

This wonderful piece of “real estate” is often the biggest uninteruppted expanse in the room and the one that most often gets overlooked when working on a room’s design. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to do something awesome with all that space!

To get your creative juices flowing and inspire you, I’ve found a few fabulous ceilings for you to take a look at.

I’ll start things off with the bathroom ceiling of Om Home creator, textile designer Oorbee Roy. His textile designs were used on the ceiling and vanity. I LOVE this ceiling; what a fantastic color. Note how the design extends down the wall…

Source: Apartment Therapy

Salvaged beadboard was used  to create this unique ceiling. The mix of colors really adds to the charm…

Source: Country Living

Interior Designer Annsley McAleer used the ceiling to bring added interest and pattern to this home office space. You can can get the same effect using a stencil. (I found one that is very similar at Royal Design Studio)…

Designer: Annsley McAleer

Bold stripes liven up the ceiling in the Avalon Hotel. Having the rows alternate makes it even more interesting…

Designer: Kelly Wearstler

In India, tiles are often used to decorate the ceiling. Royal Design Studio has many stencils available that allow you to achieve the same type of look as does The Stencil Library…

Source: Apartment Therapy
Original Image: Mountain Label

NCF Studio created this fabulous metallic plaster ceiling…

Source: NCF Studio

This is a floor’s eye view of a gold leafed ceiling done by Garay Artisans…

Source: Garay Artisans

Ceilings are just as much a part of the room as the walls and floors. They shouldn’t be overlooked when decorating a space. The right color or finish can often be just what a room needs to make it look complete.

Take a look around your home. Are there any ceilings where you can try something different?

Cheers to all,

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

So, I was talking with Regina about some inspiration photos I was collecting on Moroccan design for my guest room makeover. (Can it really be considered a makeover if you never really “made” it the first time?) She told me about a great book Maryam of the blog My Marrakesh wrote; it’s called Marrakesh by Design, and it’s to be published by Artisan Books. I can’t wait to get my copy!

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to share some of the photos I found that show fabulous examples of Moroccan design. Then in another post, I’ll give you some tips on what you can do to create a room with Moroccan flair.

I’ll start with three spaces that are 100% Moroccan. The tile work is exquisite in this first photo…

My favorite features in this room are the amazing arches and columns…

Here is a closer view of those wonderful columns…

 Source: Borsaat

Moroccan design doesn’t always have to be jewel tones. This entire room is done in softer colors; including the intricate work done on the ceiling…

 Source: Elle Decor via Apartment Therapy

Of course, if you want to stay with the jewel tones there are lots of options available to you. I love the wall treatment in this space…

Source: That Bohemian Girl

This bedroom adds a touch of Moroccan design by way of the silk fabric used on the wall behind the bed and the detailed design on the headboard. Did you also notice the ikat fabric on the sofa…

Source: Design by Lisa Fine, Photo by Simon Upton for the November 2008 Elle Decor

Speaking of Moroccan arches, this room makes a bold statement by way of large arches stenciled on the wall…

Source: Designamour

Moroccan arches aren’t the only way you can bring that style to your room. Check out the design used on this wall. It was done with a stencil from Royal Design Studio’s Moroccan line…

Source: Royal Design Studio

Over at Casa Sugar, they created this beautiful Moroccan inspired wall using a stencil…

Source: Casa Sugar

Bringing a bit of Moroccan design to your space can be done with small touches or broad strokes. It’s all up to you and what you want. I’m looking forward to showing you how to create this look so that you can have the Moroccan inspired room of your dreams. As they said in the “old days”, stay tuned for more!

Cheers to all,
Peggy

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From the keypad of Peggy Pardo…

“Madeleine Castaing pretty much had it all figured out – leopard carpet looks good anywhere.”
― Robert Kime, Architectural Digest

Are you looking for something to liven up your room’s decor? Are you ready to take a walk on the wild side when it comes to design? Or maybe at least a tiny step on the wild side? Then you need to take another look (or maybe a first look) at adding animal prints.

I’m not talking about throwing down a bear skin rug in front of the fireplace. There are myriad ways to add animal prints to your space. You can introduce small amounts through accessories or go for a bold statement by doing a wall (or walls) in an allover pattern. The Stencil Library  has an amazing leopard stencil that looks fabulous when done on a full wall…

Source: The Stencil Library

And just because a zebra is born with black and white stripes, it doesn’t mean you have to stick with those colors. Why not try it in pink…

Source: Paint A Lifestyle

Or even blue…

Source: VT Interiors

Regina and her team at Garay Artisans have created some unbelievable finishes that look so much like the real thing it’s hard to tell the difference. In a previous post Regina showed us this great snakeskin finish…

Photography by Lindsay Pardo

Not only does it look like snakeskin, but if FEELS like snakeskin. Here’s a close-up….

In another post she introduced everyone to this wonderful ostrich skin finish…

Introducing animal prints to a room, even in small doses, can transform the look of a room from boring to captivating. And best of all, animal prints will compliment your style whether your room is traditional or contemporary.

If this ottoman was a solid color, the room would still be nice. But in zebra print, it’s spectacular…

Designer: Windsor Smith Home

Iconic designer Dorothy Draper used a striking tiger print to cover the walls of the gaming room in the Casino Club at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia…

Source: Palm Beach Daily News

Let’s not forget the stairs. Here zebra contact paper – yes, contact paper! – was used to transform these steps from ordinary to outrageous. This could also be done using a stencil…

Source: Effortless Style

Amimal prints are even taking bathroom sinks to a whole new creative level…

Top left – Giraffe, Top right – Anaconda
Bottom left - Boa Constrictor, Bottom right - Tiger
Source: Vitruvit

Animal prints can take the form of a small accessory or pillow all the way up to full scale wall coverings. You can even mix several prints together. Use your imagination and go wild!

How and where have you used animal prints in your design?

Cheers to all,
Peggy

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