How to Design with Wall Art

Making your house a comfortable living space is important. All too often we loose sight of this in our busy schedules but redesigning your space to make it more “you” can be fun and easy. Look around the room and notice what sticks out the most. What do you like about the room? What colors pop out? Is there a clear feature wall for you to transform into your personal art collection? By covering a room with art that expresses yourself is a great way to freshen up your home!

Deciding on a theme for your wall art shouldn’t contradict the obvious nature of the room, e.g. kid’s art in the kid’s room or sultry art in the master bath. And your options are endless.  Maybe moving around some furniture will open up the room and bring attention to a wall you may have overlooked.

This flirtatious art is arranged by just resting upon two twin floating wall shelves. The look is easy to achieve once the shelves are installed and the pieces of art can be rearranged as you collect your works.

Take a look at the pieces of art you already have, do you seem a common theme? Here the focus is on whimsical illustrations.  Adding some personality by framing some of the kids art or your favorite children’s book cover will make this room meaningful.

Splitting up with collage wall arrangements can enlarge a room as seen in this simplistic dining room. The use of different color and shape frames is illustrated here nicely without being overwhelming.

How to Update Your Surroundings with the Trend in Metallics?

Whether it be the D & D building or 200 Lexington Avenue, the trend is obvious.  We all need to add shimmer to our environments.  There are many ways to incorporate this new accent.  You can create a whole room complete with wall covering, furniture and draperies or you can do one of the items listed above.

Can you imagine living in a house like this?  Maybe, this is too much but it makes you think!

But, more realistically a great way to add shine is through texture.  The first is a wall covering and the second is a furniture fabric

Fabrics that are prominent in the design world are great for draperies to let the shine in.

Of course small pieces of furniture or small spaces look great with this new shimmery desire.

Bathrooms are a great place to add embellishment and the gloss of the metallic paint will benefit moisture in the room.

Whether you do it large or do it small, whether you do it through texture or through paint, just do it!

How to Incorporate the New Trends of 2012?

Now that 2012 is upon us, we see some trends continuing but other ones standing out in the crowd. The continued use of mid-century modern has yielded to a very clean, modular sense of balance. Woods are lighter in tone after several years of dark wedge dominating. We still see a lot of white everywhere which again lends itself to the feeling of openness being achieved today in interior design. This lighter palette adds to a sense of mobility. As the use of smartphones, iPads and laptops cleared the way at the end of 2011, furniture is becoming more mobile. You may want to eat in different parts of your home or apartment. This type of furniture allows you to do so.

Creating an all white kitchen gives you that same sense of mobility and freedom that these two simple floor lamps do.  This is a freestanding kitchen that can be created within the walls of your abode.

The next exact opposite them is color.  Picture yourself in the midst of a tropical rainforest or viewing a rainbow after a warm summer shower.  Incorporate that into your living space.

Tufting as seen in the last years in headboards has expanded to furniture.  Most appear in the classic form but used in a contemporary setting.  But, you still have the option to create a new style of furniture.  The look is chic for sure.

Daybeds are the answer.  With apartments trying to utilize every square inch of space but trying to keep the space clean and open, they have become a great motility for use as a sofa and a night as a sleep solution.

Recycled and Reclaimed will become more and more apparent in kitchens/baths and furniture.  The use of  metals, glass and wood find themselves as new countertops, tabletops and tiles.  What will they think of next?

Duvets are a thing of the past.  Enter beautiful sheets, blankets and throws.  Make that bed look divine with the use of a great coverlet.  Washable is not always the desireable.

Pebble colors are appearing in upholstery along with folded, cascading and molded treatments.

And course animal prints which are omnipresent.  Adding to zebras you will find many others from the “Cat” family.

Ring in the Ne Year with a new room and a new expression.  Here are just some ideas that may affect your next project.  Feel free to call upon Holzman Interiors to make your goals a reality.

How to Decorate using the forces of Hanukkah?

When I look out my window at the Empire State Building, the blue and white theme of Hanukkah conjures up beautiful design using the same color palette.  The crisp white juxtaposed with the bright blue makes for a modern, uncluttered design.  Even the image of lighting the Menorah candles at this time of year, shows what a unique look that white/blue can create.  Here’s a wonderful example of Hanukkah garland.

The same blue can be used throughout the first floor to create an impact.  The white columns help balance all the blue running from one room through to the next.

Or, you can really make a statement with a sleek, modern kitchen and eating area.  The glossy blue is not an option for every kitchen but when done right, it can be so inspirational.

Or take the color into your living space.  A predominantly white environment, shot with a bold color can make your space an exciting place to enjoy.  And, when you want a change, you can just remove the draperies and pillows and start all over again.

Again, not everyone can manage to pull off a blue bathroom, but when you do it right, you will feel like you are at the ocean.  Using blue glass tile will certainly emulate the serenity.

For those celebrating Hanukkah, may you enjoy a wonderful holiday with family and friends!

How To Create A Child’s Nursery

I’ve noticed a pattern with baby birthdays late in the fall season. In the past few weeks my friends were blessed to have healthy, beautiful babies and I have been blessed with time to go visit them at home. Sitting in the nursery, I remember how much I love these types of projects. I find such pleasure in adding touches of theme, deocrating the room with large monogrammed walls, finding creative ways to gender neutralize the room, etc. It is these recent miracles htat have inspired this week’s blog.

Here was a room I did last year in New York City. Baby Jane’s Room