Deep Blue Accents

CREATE A FEELING OF POSITIVITY

Deep blue, similar to the color of the night sky or a beautiful sea, suggests a mood of calm and harmony. This beautiful color comes with several names and nuances, including: Cobalt, Royal Blue, Navy, Indigo, Lapis, Mediterranean Blue and Midnight Blue. 

Deep blue complements almost any design plan, from the most modern look to Asian décor to traditional and Victorian styles. 

CONSIDER THESE COLOR COMBINATIONS

Deep blue works as a beautiful accent with neutrals such as grey, ivory, white and beige, and it even pairs well with lighter shades of blue. On the cool side of the color spectrum, deep blue is beautiful when combined with periwinkle, lavender and pink. 

Deep blue can also help to bring attention to other colors in a room, especially complementary warm hues, such as copper, rust, tangerine, lemon, and ochre. 

WHERE TO USE DEEP BLUE ACCENTS

Consider using a deep blue tone in the following ways: 
– In striped, plaid or gingham patterns
– For a dramatic accent wall in your powder room or foyer
– Paired with soft and gauzy white fabrics for a summer décor
– To create a nautical or beachy theme
– To build an Asian look with ceramic stools, lamps and vases
– To invent a Moroccan style with patterned tile, fabrics and rugs 

Create peacefulness in your interior plan this year by adding a touch of deep blue. 

Paul’s Place

We’re nearing the end of another design project and we’re thrilled with the way its turning out! It all started with Paul stopping by our showroom in search of Hunter Douglas window coverings for his new spec home. Upon walking in he saw that we are not only certified Hunter Douglas specialists, we are full service interior designers. He said to us “this is great! A one stop shop!”

We began the project with the window coverings. He likes softness at the window and has a more casual, transitional style. His biggest concerns were light control and privacy. He also wanted easy operation, functionality and of course style. Our first recommendation was that the operation system be UltraGlide Click and Walk Away because it is an easy to use lift system when PowerView isn’t an option. Our second recommendation was to use Silhouette Shadings because they offer the most light control options and have that softness Paul so wanted. In the closed position we took care of the nighttime privacy concern, in the tilted position we combated daytime privacy while keeping the view, and when he wants a completely unobstructed view he can simply roll the shades all they way up into the headrail. Our final recommendation after getting to know Paul was to use a bold color on the shades and not do a “safe” white. We set out to his new home with samples in hand to find the perfect color. We chose a “greige” with a deeply textured sheer called Brio Basilica from the Alustra Collection of Silhouette. It goes perfectly with the with tile in the kitchen, the trim on the outside of the house, and the texture creates another design demention. Because the home is open concept, we decided to put the Silhouettes in every room. What an amazing look and in complete agreement with Paul’s style.

Our next step was to design the drapery panels to compliment the shades and frame the windows. We found a beautiful fabric with a pattern that was in keeping with the other design elements of the home. These soft treatments really make a point to draw out the colors of the shades and add a flowing pattern that makes a statement.

Then we moved on to finish out the home with a clean, uncluttered look.

In their dining room, we put together a 72”round table that comfortably seats eight. We custom made the upholstered chairs that accompany it. The chairs are simple in design, but the nail heads give a hint of sophistication. We finished off this room with a large mirror and a pair of sconces.

The entry in this home is huge so we used a console table that is unique in design and large enough to fit this space. It can even be used as a buffet if they have a big party. You won’t find this piece just anywhere! We topped it with 3 candle holers and 2 tall lamps. We also put artwork above with neutral colors and hints of gold.

In the study, we found this beautiful bookcase to put behind his desk.

In the living room we pulled together a large rug that has all the neutral colors of the home in it, 2 throw pillows and 3 panel art. We are planning on adding more drapery panels for that added softness in this room as well.

This has been a very fun project and we have enjoyed working with Paul so much! We are so happy everything is pulling together nicely and we love the clean look.

If you are buying a new home or just want to give your home an update, give us a call! We would love to help you create a space that you will love to come home to.

Light & Bright

10 years ago we were busy helping a customer in Plano with their new Town Home. They were lucky to have a great view of a creek from a large window in their kitchen , but it was the only window in the living area other than a couple second story skylights. Their design was more of the Old World look. The Kitchen cabinets were dark, the wood floors were dark and the paint was a golden color. The home was pretty… just dark.

A few months ago the new owner called us for a consultation. “What would you do to give this home a more transitional look” was her question. Our answer. “Paint and that includes the trim”. We also wanted her the paint the kitchen cabinets and that included taking off an Old World Appliqué on the vent. Also new paint on the Fireplace , change out the granite in the Kitchen, new lighter rug and change out the Old World lighting fixtures.

Wow what a difference!! We had the trim painted Extra White and used a very light gray on the wall. I think this changed the look of the room the most. She had the cabinets painted the same Sherwin Williams Extra white. And we changed out the back splash and counter tops. Also many of the globes on the lighting fixtures and added a 72” contemporary ceiling fan.

Now for the finishing details. Those include hardware for the Kitchen cabinets. We are also adding a New Roman Shade for the Window and Door. We are using Vignette by Hunter Douglas. The fabric is the new Cascade Fabric in the soft gray fabric and we will use PowerView lift motorization. One reason Vignettes are so good in situations where the patio right on the other side is their clean construction. There are no rings and cords showing to the outside like many Roman Shades. 

We will also be adding a rug from Loloi rugs. It is a contemporary design using grays, whites, and blues.

We were all pleased with the finished look. Let us know what you think. If you are looking to update your home, gives us a call. We would love to help you get a new light and bright design for your home.

We service Dallas to Fort Worth and all areas inbetween including Colleyville, Grapevine, Westlake, Dallas, Highland Park, Prosper etc.

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Master Bathroom

Upgrade your master bathroom to a five-star retreat.

A spa oasis will help soak your stress away.

We all love a beautiful spa bathroom when we’re on a luxury vacation. Why not enjoy that luxury every day of the year while we’re at home too?

You can create a spa experience in any size bathroom although bigger is almost always better! Think neutral colors because they lend themselves to the calmness and serenity you’d like for a spa retreat. Also consider coordinating colors with your master bedroom for a seamless transition from sleep to serenity.

Here’s where you can start:

• A beautiful, elegant soaking tub

• New sinks, countertops and backsplashes

• Exquisite new hardware, including pulls, handles and faucets

• A soothing paint color that makes you feel calm

• Soft and luxurious bath textiles, including towels, washcloths, bath rugs and bathrobes

• An elegant vanity (preferably a double vanity if you have room)

• Stunning framed mirrors, instead of frameless wall-to-wall mirrors

• Layered lighting for both function and beauty, and maybe even a skylight to bring in natural light

Even more ideas to enhance your spa experience include:

• A steam shower

• Plenty of towel racks, and even heated towel warmers

• Soaps, scrubs, lotions and fragrances that please YOU

• Beautiful smelling candles and aromatherapy

• A built-in bench or movable chair or stool

• Built-in storage, to keep chaos to a minimum and maintain a zen calm feeling

Begin and end your days in luxury and comfort. Plan for a master bathroom redo this season. You can’t help but slow down and relax. 

The Summer PowerView Motorization Event!

From Saturday Jun 30, 2018 to September 10, 2018, Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake will host a number of Motorization Events including 2 Thursday "Wine and Design" focusing on PowerView Motorization by Hunter Douglas. There will also be Exclusive Promotions, coupon giveaways, and a drawing at each Store for the New PowerView Hub. Stop by and you will also receive the new Art of Window Dressing Book.

So lets get in to it.........PowerView Motorization. Part 1

Smart Home, Smart Living

With PowerView Motorization from Hunter Douglas, the worlds most beautiful window treatments are now the most intelligent.

This innovative wireless system lets you move any powered Hunter Douglas window treatment according to the schedules you set. Perfect lighting, energy efficiency, everyday convenience- its all delivered automatically with PowerView.

Technology. At your Service.

PRECISE OPERATION
Whether you want to move the shades up or down, or tilt or traverse them, PowerView Motorization gives you precise and convenient control of your beautiful Hunter Douglas window treatments.

AUTOMATED LIVING
With the PowerView App, you can quickly create customized Scenes that control all the shades in your home, operating together or in any combination your desire. Then, just schedule those Scenes to automatically move your shades to your preferred positions.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Use PowerView Motorization to move your shades according to the sun 's daily patterns. Having your shades in the right positions can reduce solar heat, gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter, and could help you lower your energy bills.

SECURE
Adjust your shades for added security while you're away via the RemoteConnect texture on your smartphone or tablet.

CHILD FRIENDLY
Simple cord-free operation is aesthetically pleasing and safer for homes with children and pets.

STYLISH
With the widest array of innovative styles, colors, and fabrics in the industry, Hunter Douglas window treatments embody beautiful form and function.

BATTERY POWERED
Most PowerView window treatments are battery powered, so they're easy to install, operate, and maintain. The battery pack is hidden behind the Read rail, so there is nothing to mar the beauty of your window treatments.

This is the Beginning of PowerView. In a few days you will meet the PowerView Family.
But now if you are buying a new home or if you are making improvements to your current home, stop by either Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake and let our qualified designers show you all of the Window Shadings that can be powered. They can show you fabrics that will work with your life style and give you ideas on how to set your scenes. They can show you the latest trends and current styles. We are a Family business and are excited about all that is new with Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization.

We service all of these areas. Plano, Dallas, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Allen, Celina, Prosper, Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Richardson, Carrollton, Frisco, Little Elm, Lewisville, McKinney, Preston Hollow, Trophy Club, Fort Worth, Farmers Branch , Park Cities, Rockwell, Roanoke, Arlington and everywhere inbetween.

Windows With Bad Views

Here in the Dallas, Texas area new homes are popping up everywhere. It is truly amazing. However, sometimes it seems as though the home building are piling these large homes one of top of the other. It almost feels like you can reach your arm out and touch your neighbor! We recently helped a client in Plano who had exactly this problem. Her home is stunning, but the distance between her home and her neighbors was less than eight feet. The view from her three large dining room windows were a brick wall along with the neighbors air conditioner unit and meters. This was definitely an issue as no one wants to look at that mess while eating a lovely family dinner. What a sore sight!

Our solution for this bad view is simple. We did not want to cover this windows with blinds or shutters as this was the only light entering this room. We still wanted to keep it light and bright. So instead of putting something heavy, we decided to go with a sheer drapery. It is a dining room, after all, so the drapery is a perfect way to dress up the room and solve the visual issue with the view. The sheer fabric we chose has a delicate pattern for added interest and style. The fabric is from a beautiful line in the Kravet Collection. We used a zip rod from Design Elements so they can pull the draperies open if they want to. This window treatment lets light diffuse into the room while hiding the ugly view and dressing up the room. Style and function! What a beautiful combination. If draperies aren't your thing, there are other window treatment options to explore. 

If draperies aren't your thing, there are other window treatment options to explore. 

In a room with more light, you might consider plantation shutters in the 4.5 inch louver. You can tilt the louvers slight to let plenty of light in while still hiding the unwanted view. Keep in mind, shutters will always take away more light because it is a heavy and solid window treatment, so make sure you have plenty of windows and an airy, large room.

Another option would be to look into Pirouette or Silhouette Window Shadings from Hunter Douglas. These two unique products offer the versatility and control most people love. In fact these are my absolute favorite window treatments to use in homes and ten times out of ten, my clients are thrilled. Silhouette shades with the Signature S vane will transform light. Fabric vanes float between two sheers that create a beautiful and functional look. This innovative design will defuse light and soften the view outdoors. They allow for daytime privacy and offer 88% UV blockage in the tilted position. Pirouette shades with its striking design will dramatically filter light in a way you've never seen before. Unless, of course, you're familiar with the product! These shades will give you a softened view to the outdoors along with giving you the look of a traditional fabric shade. Both of these beautiful window coverings come in a variety of fabrics giving you many textures and colors to choose from. It is easy to find the right fabric for your space.

You might even consider the Duette Architella Honeycomb Shade with the Top Down/Bottom Up design feature. This allows you to lower your shade from the top for maximum privacy as well as blocking unsightly views while offering light control. Duette® Honeycomb Shades are the original cellular shades, specifically engineered to provide beauty and energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills. Duette shades are available in an expansive range of pleat sizes, fabrics, colors, opacities and textures. Innovative operating system design options such as Top-Down/Bottom-Up and Duette Duolite® make these shades a top choice for any window, skylight or even specialty window shapes like arches, sidelights and circles.

The newest option to haze the ugly view would be to use Vignette Modern Roman Shades with the Duolite option. You can use a sheer fabric to distract, but not cut out light. For two opacities in a single shade, consider the revolutionary Duolite® option. Vignette Duolite combines a light-filtering or sheer front shade with a built-in room-darkening back panel both housed on a single roller to easily achieve the perfect level of light and privacy. My favorite fabric in this collection is called Layla and I can't wait to show you!

All of these beautiful shades come in a variety of lift systems including the PowerView Motorization from Hunter Douglas. Control your shades with the touch of a button or use the PowerView App! The PowerView App unlocks the full potential of PowerView Motorization. Using the App, you can control your shades with a swipe of a finger. Or, create customized Scenes that move the shades to positions you set, and automate those Scenes to operate on their own throughout the day.

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Leather

Make a decorating statement with leather furnishings.

This bold design move shows you have skin in the game.

Consider a touch of leather in your next decorating project. It will be a moo-ving experience that’s sure to enhance your home environment! And most leather design elements are practical too!

Leather adds great texture, softness and color; however, beware that it can be a heavy look, especially in its most typical design colors – dark brown and black. That’s why it’s best to soften a big leather piece of furniture with other elements such as creamy paint colors, cushy throws and pillows, silky rugs and soft fabric furniture and window fashions.

Another way to lessen the heaviness of leather design elements is to select a lighter color of leather, such as beige, white, gray or sage green. Or you can add a tidbit of brightness with green, red or yellow leather!

Complementary materials and textures can also lighten up a heavy leather look. Think:

• Glass or Lucite tables

• Metal chairs and lamps

• Light filtering, soft-looking window fashions

• Bamboo flooring

• Natural grass wallcoverings

Leather is a versatile choice that adds beauty to most any decorating style from a traditional dining room to a classic living room to an ultra-contemporary great room. Think about leather for these design elements:

• Leather sofas and easy chairs, and even recliners!

• Leather dining chairs

• Leather headboard

• Leather-fronted sideboard in the dining room or dresser in the bedroom

• Leather-covered walls in a powder room or home office

Add leather to your next design project and you'll be ahead of the herd!

Home Improvement

Here at Read Design we are more than just window treatments. We are a full service interior design company and our services include home improvement projects as well as remodeling jobs. We do it all from simple painting to new kitchens. Not many folks know about all the services we provide, so we're sharing a recent project we did. It wasn't a big job, but it is always fun to help make our clients homes feel a little bit better than before. 

Recently a client stopped by our Southlake store and inquired about a shade to cover a skylight in their home. They asked if we would be able to come out and see their room because they told us “it needed work”. We are always ready to take on a challenge so Jeff stopped by their home and realized that they had put in a skylight but had not finished it out. No problem! We could finish it and make it look great! 

He suggested that they use the Sky Lift Duette Architella by Hunter Douglas. We would also add PowerView Motorization for ease of operation and convenience. With PowerView, they can purchase the hub and control the shade using the PowerView App! With this app they can set schedules and scenes so the shades move along with the schedule of the homeowner. The Duette Architella is one of Hunter Douglas most energy efficient products and comes in a number of beautiful colors and textures. It is a Honeycomb shade with a cell within a cell creating 3 pockets of air for maximum temperature control. He showed the client the product and they loved it all the features and benefits of it.

The project needed a little more work. Jeff and his crew added a simple molding around the skylight that blended in to the ceiling and, well, the finished project speaks for itself. It looks so nice and clean like it was meant to be there from the start. The Duette Architella Shade looks great inside of it as well! We are so happy with the final result. 

If you are needing help with window treatments, a simple home improvement project, or a total remodeling project, give us a call. Our designers can show you all of the new style and latest trends for homes today! 

Plano - 972.608.4999

Southlake - 817.416.7164

We serivce all areas around the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex