XOXO,

Marie

Happy Valentine’s Day

The bedroom is the most important room to a romantic couple.  It is your own little sanctuary away from family and work demands.  Your bedroom should be calm, clean and uncluttered.  The decorations set the stage for the mood of the room.  Paying attention to some simple details will transform your room from just a place to sleep to a lush romantic getaway.

• 1. Get rid of the clutter. A cluttered room makes for a cluttered mind. Eliminate the distraction of bills, laundry and kids toys.  Pack away everything that does not say “love” into boxes and put them someplace else in the house.  (Under the bed works fine too.)

• 2. Make an inviting bed.Invest in the best mattress that your budget allows.  You spend 1/3 of your life in bed; you might as well be comfortable.  Splurge a little on your bed linens.  Sheets that are worn and scratchy are just going to be irritating.  I like cotton flannel to keep us warm in winter and luxurious cotton sateen for summer.  Add a down filled or fluffy fiber filled comforter for an inviting look.
  

  Romantic bedding with lots of pillows and a custom throw

• 3. Pillow talk. In addition to your sleeping pillows, add lots of throw pillows in various shapes and sizes.  Use luxurious and sensual fabrics.  Pillows create the romantic ambiance of a bed that you just can’t wait to jump into.

• 4. Candle light. Place lots of candles around your room. Use different sizes and colors.  Be sure they are in a safe and fireproof place.  Light them all, turn off the lights and feel the warmth and sensuality of flickering light.

• 5. Something pretty to look at.Flowers are nature’s gift of romance.  A few simple flowers will brighten up any room.  Float rose petals in a glass bowl.  Keep the decorations simple but meaningful.  Dig out the valentines you gave each other in the past, frame a picture of the two of you when you were first dating, add anything that has special meaning to both of you.
  

  I saw these flower over on Design Sponge. Click on the photo for a closer look.

• 6. Heavenly scents. Entice even your nose in the bedroom.  Studies show that vanilla is the most appealing scent to both men and women.  Burn scented candles, put out a bowl of potpourri, lightly spray the sheets with your favorite perfume.

• 7. The sound of music. Do you have a special song?  What played at your wedding?  Special music will trigger happy memories. Make a play list on your ipod and plug it into speakers.  A favorite CD you both like will work too.  No radio stations with interrupting commercials.

• 8. In case you get hungry.Bring in a tray of plump juicy strawberries, smooth dark chocolate and tickling bubbly champagne.  In addition to how yummy they taste, the colors, shapes and textures are beautiful to look at too.
  

  Even cupcakes can be romantic. My daughter Amy made these.

• ½. You. The most important thing you can do for your partner is take care of yourself.  Get plenty of rest (just not tonight with this romantic bedroom you’re creating!), eat healthy foods, get some exercise and spend time enjoying what you love to do.  I have given you all the necessary steps to decorate your room for romance.  Now go find your other half!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When it’s time for you to transform your house into a home you love,        contact me.

Copyright 2012 Window Designs etc. by Marie Mouradian

A place to sit, read, dream and reflect

This anti room off a formal living room was designed as a garden room with three walls of windows and a tile floor.  The Worcester Massachusetts homeowner wanted a warmer feel for quiet conversation and reading.

The window treatments are mock relaxed Roman shades.  The bottom swoop makes them more relaxed than straight fold Romans.  The shades are stationary so they are more like valances.  The fabric is a rich chocolate-brown dupioni silk.

A Hunter Douglas Silhouette window shading protects the furnishings from harmful UV rays while still letting in the light.

The room gets its pop of color from the love seat that is reupholstered in the warm fiery shade of Tangerine Tango.  Down filled pillows of the window treatment fabric are trimmed in black brush fringe to pull the room together.

What do you think of this room?

Where would your armchair adventures take you?

On the work table-Dust board covered in matching fabric.

Unless decorative hardware is used, most custom window treatments are mounted onto a dust board that is attached to the wall.  I believe every aspect of a window treatment should be custom so I cover the board with matching fabric.

Yes, I am that particular about the details and hey you never know who might be peeking to see how your gorgeous new window treatments are installed!

Four button detail

In order for this style to stretch the entire width of the window a seam is required.  A false placket and buttons hide the seam and become a design detail.  Notice how the pattern matches up perfectly.

The print fabric is a linen and rayon blend from RM Coco , one of my preferred vendors. I have their complete library in my studio.

A jabot is flipped back to show the accent fabric.

Printed fabric is always more interesting combined with a coordinating  fabric that highlights one of the colors in the main fabric.  This classic custom window treatment adds a touch of the stylish Tangerine Tango~Pantone color of the year for 2012.

Micro cord in the accent fabric finish all the edges~another custom design attention to detail. The accent fabric is from Trend it’s available in a variety of colors.

Completed custom Madelyn valances are hung in the studio awaiting installation.

Valances are hung in my studio with special under mount clamps before installation so I can inspect them to be sure everything is just right.  Note-I have placed the treatments in the opposite position they will be installed, the longer cascades will be towards the ends not the middle.

If these custom treatments look this good in my studio, can you just imagine how stunning they will look hanging in your home?  Maybe I’ll reveal that in tomorrow’s post!

Are you ready to bring some Tangerine Tango into your rooms?

Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll show you how to transform your house into a home you will love in 2012.

Tangerine Tango

Pantone's Tangerine Tango

 “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said 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.”

A few more of my favorite rooms and custom window treatments I’ve done featuring Tangerine Tango.

Vibrant Tangerine Tango walls are the backdrop to this cozy window seat with custom-made cushion, pillows and relaxed Roman shades.

The addition of a Tangerine Tango border transforms this custom valance from a neutral brown and beige to WOW! The contrasting banding not only adds a great punch of color, it also highlights the shape of the triangles.

Tangerine Tango walls add warmth and whimsy to this dining room. Heirloom furniture and an art deco light fixture add personality to a room. The custom window treatments are made of a multi color (including Tangerine Tango of course) fabric with a contrasting band of teal. The sheer Roman shades diffuse the light and offer a little privacy.

What do you think of this dramatic and edgy color?

Would you be able to live in a Tangerine room?

Have you purchased anything in this trendy color yet?

Expect to see lots of Tangerine Tango in 2012

Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll show you how to transform your house into a home you will love in 2012.

Tangerine Tango

The 2012 Color Of The Year

According to the color experts at PANTONE in a highly anticipated press release early this morning, “The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, (my ever favorite pink) encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.”

Over the past few years orange has surged in popularity in both the fashion and home decor industries.  I have noticed a much larger selection of all shades of orange/tangerine in fabrics and trims.

Here are a few of my favorite rooms and custom window treatments I’ve done featuring Tangerine Tango.

Tangerine Tango is toned down on these faux finished walls. Warm wood blinds control the sun and privacy. The custom relaxed Roman valances are made of muted Tangerine Tango Dupioni silk.

Asymmetrical Moreland valance in Tangerine Tango perks up beige walls

Keystone fabric in Tangerine Tango makes this simple arched valance fun with a banding of cream keystone and accent edge cord of teal.

What do you think of this dramatic and edgy color?

Would you be able to live in a Tangerine room?

Have you purchased anything in this trendy color yet?

Expect to see lots of Tangerine Tango in 2012

Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll show you how to transform your house into a home you will love in 2012.

Giorgio Armani

The materials-A jewel tone stripe with a golden damask over weave from RM Coco and a decorative gimp for the finishing details.

RM Coco is one of my preferred vendors. I have their complete library in my studio.

A quality custom window treatment will have the edges perfectly finished. In our workroom we add self covered micro cord for a clean and professional looking edge.

At a mere 3/8" wide, this decorative trim, also know as gimp, is the finishing touch to this couture window treatment. Gimp is from Trend Fabrics. This one treatment requires 18 yards of trimming.

Trend has an extensive selection of braids and trimmings.  This gimp is available in a variety of colors.

Decorative trim enhances the edges and highlights the colors in the fabric.

A pair of cascades, the pleated sides of a window treatment, are perfect mirror images of one another. Following the same pattern is essential for custom. The pleats highlight various stripes of the pattern for variety.

Components of a custom window treatment are constructed separately. These pieces are waiting to be artfully pleated, folded and pressed into the finished design.

Centering the fabric pattern is pleasing to the eye and enhances the overall design.

Are you ready to bring some design details into your rooms? Contact me today to begin transforming your house into a home you love to live in.

There will be no regular blog post today. Window Fashion VISION arrived in the mail! Coffee break is defiantly going to be longer than usual. Delving through the latest trends, design, details, fashion and inspiration may take the entire afternoon.

Do you have a VISION for your windows? Contact me today to begin transforming your house into the home you love to live in.

Pillows in all shapes and sizes

Pillows for a sectional sofa

Color block pillows

Exquisite Custom Made Pillows

Pillow made from antique crazy quilt

Tween Dream Pillows

Multi Fabric Pillow for Back of Chaise

European Shams and Decorative Throw Pillows

Tailored Bed Pillows and Throw Pillows

Daybed with Ruffled Pillows and Bolsters

Extra Large Sofa and Floor Pillows From a Collage of Fabrics

A mixture of fabrics and trims create this rich pillow collection

Each pillow is unique with its own personality

Twisted pleats, gathers, scallop fringe, decorative cord, tassel trim, rosettes and brush fringe are just a few of the details that make these pillows "Jewelry of Decorating"

If you need help and your decorating brain has gone to fluff, pillow fluff that is, then contact me and I’ll create just the right pillows for your room. Yes!…….you can have them for the holidays too!  Oh and they make a FABULOUS gift for the person who has everything.  Let’s have some pillow talk!

Let's talk pillows. How do you use them in your home?

How many pillows do you have in your home? (No, I’m not talking bed pillows here)

Where are they?

What sizes and shapes do you have?

What’s your favorite decorative pillow?

What’s on the inside, the fill?

When was the last time you cleaned your pillows?

Do you even know how to clean them?

How do you use your pillows?  Are they just pretty to look at or do they serve a purpose?

I’m working on an article about pillows.  I have lots of great photos of these home decor jewels to share.

I really want to hear from YOU!  How do pillows play a part in YOUR home? Please leave a comment below.

If you need help and your decorating brain has gone to fluff, pillow fluff that is, then contact me and we’ll create just the right pillows for your room. Yes!…….you can have them for the holidays too!  Oh and they make a FABULOUS gift for the person who has everything.  Let’s have some pillow talk!

Pillows in every size and shape to move around for your comfort.

Earlier this month I attended Design Boston 2011 at the Boston Design Center. Between all the inspiring speakers, I was snapping pictures left and right since all the showrooms had the best of the best displayed.

Vignette in the Scalamandré showroom at the Boston Design Center

The Scalamandré showroom caught my attention with this bold art deco wall-covering of zebras and arrows.  I love the playfullness of the motif and the tension the color combinations bring.  Not to mention, zebras are my daughter’s favorite animal. (I brought her home a mouse pad with this pattern on it that was in my goodie bag). Yes, even designers get goodie bags when they go to design parties!

Zebras and Arrows dance across this Scalamandré umbrella

Researching the design for this blog post has taken most of this rainy/snowy New England afternoon.  What a story this is!

The wall-covering was originally designed by Flora Scalamandré in the 1940′s for Gino’s Restaurant in New York City.  A kitchen fire destroyed the wall-covering in the 1980′s forcing a re-release of  the classic design.  In haste to reopen the restaurant, the new wall-covering was put up despite one tiny flaw.  One of the printing screens left out a stripe on the baby zebras hind side, making it look like it’s pants were falling down.

The New York establishment became an American tradition frequented by celebrities.  The tradition ended in the closing of the restaurant in 2010 but the iconic zebra lives on.

Now don’t zoom in on these pictures looking for the missing stripe.  The pattern was reproduced again in 2007 with the missing stripe back in the proper place. There’s a little controversy over leaving the mishap in the pattern or correcting it.  What do you think?

Scalamandré has continued the popularity of their iconic zebra pattern by producing wall-covering, fabric, umbrellas, tote bags and even mouse pads.

Would you like to have some zebra fun in your home?  How fun would this paper be for a powder room, one wall of a child’s playroom or a few pillows for the sofa?

Contact me today to begin transforming your house into a home you love to live in.