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(NC)—The days are shortening, the air is getting crisper, fall is on the way and the holidays and house guests are just around the corner. How about updating your home with the latest trends? Do it with the guidance of Sally Morse, the director of creative services for window fashions manufacturer Hunter Douglas. Her tips come from all the major design shows here and abroad:
Warm neutrals and gemstone colours
Colour is saturated this year. Even neutrals like caramel beige, taupey beige and the like have warmed up. Everyone needs a little brightness though, and that’s why gemstone colours are everywhere. Amethyst purple, citrine gold, emerald green, Pantone’s colour of the year, and garnet red are colours that can be used in various combinations, but also work great as stand-alone.
“If you like it on your neck, fingers or wrists, it will most likely work well in your home,” says Morse.
To brighten up your interiors, she suggests opting for Pirouette window shadings, which offer rich colour at the window as well as a sheer fabric backing that protects against the sun’s harmful UV rays, while still permitting light and a view.
Shape du jour: stripes
“Circles are out and stripes are in,” says Morse, “and they are trendy in any size.” No matter whether they are thin or wide, two-tone or multicoloured, stripes are chic this year and can be very versatile. Mix them with florals or geometrics, or pair them with Ikats, an Asian weaving technique in which a pattern is created from tie-dyed threads, which are very popular in drapery and upholstery fabrics. Stripes can bring a crisp edge to any room – and can make a narrow window appear wider.
Natural materials and furnishings
Linens and cotton are in, so are open weaves, where if it is a shirt or sweater, you have to wear something underneath it. If you don’t want to re-upholster, a wool throw in an open weave works well at the foot of the bed or at the end of the sofa.
Painted woods, particularly in grey tones, are very popular as are distressed woods and rubbed finishes. You can easily paint an old work table in subtle grey or get away from a matchy-matchy look in the bedroom by investing in new tables with a vintage look.
More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca.
