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. 

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 - Pillows

A few small pillows can have a big impact on your decor

Fluff up your decorating plan with pillows.

Pillows seem like a small detail in a decorating scheme, yet they can add so much color, texture and personality to the look of your home.

With pillows, size matters! And so does shape. In addition to square or rectangular pillows, consider unusual shapes, such as round, triangular, oblong and oval. It’s almost always best to have more than one throw pillow on a sofa or bed. Two is most common, but you can also go with three or four.

Adding pillows is an easy way to add color and interest without adding stress or a large budget. For maximum impact and decorating harmony, consider these attributes when you select decorative pillows:

• Use complementary fabrics rather than the same material as your sofa.

• Use colors that are compatible with the rest of your interior elements in the room, such as rugs, carpeting, window coverings and upholstery.

• Mix patterns and solids if you’d like, but avoid more than two patterns because the look may become chaotic.

• Layer different textures with multiple pillows, including smooth silk, soft velvet, rough tapestry and even fuzzy faux fur.

• Think about embellishments on your pillows, such as embroidery, beading, tassels and fringe.

Think about comfort and your budget when you purchase pillows. Feathers and down stuffing feel soft and sensuous, but they tend to be more expensive and don’t hold a stiff shape. Synthetic fills and foam hold their shape better and are more reasonably priced.

​Selecting the perfect throw pillows for your rooms will puff up your home décor beautifully.

Light & Bright

After

Before

New Fabrics and Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Wood Shades

We recently were asked to help a client in Plano to help her freshen up her home. This is always a fun sort of project. Helen had many pieces that she wanted to keep but was tired of how dark the room looked. I agreed, it was dark! The first thing to go would be the window treatments. She had old Honeycomb Shades that were in bad condition. They were so old and dingy they felt like bounty paper towels. And she had a DARK cornice with a design that dropped down 6” between each window. It was so dark you could not even see the design on the fabric. She said she did want to keep was her breakfast table and chairs because they are a timeless design and the chairs are equipped with a nice cinnamon colored fabric. So this is where we started.

Helen had the walls painted a beige color from Sherwin Williams and had new carpet installed. They are currently in the process of having a built in made for the television.

We found a striped fabric from Fabricut that had a cinnamon color as well as other earthy colors, only they were bright and easy on the eyes. We restyled the cornice making a straight cornice design and reupholstered it with the stripe fabric. We then found a woven shade from Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Woods collection that had an organic feel. We put a liner on it and used it for privacy. Next we reupholstered one of their very comfortable chairs with a solid soft green chenille fabric and add a lumbar pillow for support.

We also added a taller sofa table that hits the sofa closer to the top and selected a taller lamp and floor lamp that is more the style of the new design. Adding height to the room created a new aesthetic that flows well with the new design of the room.

What is left? We will be reupholstering the sofa and adding two throw pillows. Then we will hang a long iron arch with an earthy wreath above the fireplace and we will add just a few finishing accessories. Helen has done some “shopping" in her own home and has found a number of accessories and pictures that will work with this new design. I love this because it is a blend of the old with the new, keeping things that are important to our client. We will add follow up pictures when the room is complete.

Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Shades

You need to stop by Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake to see the new fabrics in the Provenance Woven Woods line up. We are so excited to see so many new fabrics and all the colors there are available. You can motorize these shades using the PowerView motorization and control them from your smart phone or tablet with the PowerView App. Today people want to open up their homes to the outside and using Provenance Woven shades is a perfect way to do that.

Our Designers can help you design a space just for you.

March Into Spring

March into Spring.......
With window covering by Hunter Douglas and Custom Draperies

We can see the start of warm weather ahead of us and it is time to freshen up your home just in time for Spring. And what better way then changing out your window coverings or adding Custom Window Treatments. I love to open the windows at the beginning of Spring and see nature at it's glory and to smell the freshness of Spring. 

A Great way to open up your home is to update your window coverings! 

Silhouette, Pirouette, and Roman Shades

When customers ask us what we would do we always suggest shades. These include Silhouettes, Pirouettes, Roman Shades, or Roller Shades all from Hunter Douglas. These are products where you can easily lift them all the way up and let the sun shine in. 

Silhouette transforms light. Like the subtle cast their name suggests, Silhouette window shadings, with the Signature S-Vane, create beautiful and ambient light ande shadow. Soft fabric vanes are suspended between two sheers, diffusing softened light deep into a room. Tilt the vanes to achieve the privacy you desire while maintaining UV protection. These shades can easily be rolled all the way into a cassette to give full view of the outside. 

Stringing design, dramatically filtered light. With Pirouette window shadings, the look and feel of a traditional fabric shade is enhanced, the gentle pull of a cord lets you change a room's lighting in a whole new way. Soft, horizontal fabric vanes close to filter natural light, or open to give you a perfect outside view. Our revolutionary invisi-Lift system allows the vanes to float gracefully, and even opened they offer UV protection and reduced glare through the sheer backing. 

Vignette and Design Studio Roman Shades offer a simple, uncluttered look. Luxurious fabrics and soft folds give the shades a clean, crisp look. The range of styles and help you create a warm, inviting, and beautiful space. Offered in Top Down/Bottom Up design, this product is versatile and functional. Create amazing light scapes with this design and control the light that enters your home. We love the way this product adds style and beauty to any room.

Sophisticated but uncomplicated is how we describe Roller Shades. For a look that is both custom and classic, our Designer Roller Shades offer a clean appearance in a beautiful range of fabrics and have a variety of design options and operating systems. 

There other Shades from Hunter Douglas that also fit this bill including Duette Honeycomb Shades, Provenance Woven Shades, and Solera Soft Shade.

Stop in to see us at Read Design in Southlake or Plano let one of our designer help you select the perfect shade for your home. And because we are a full service Interior Design Studio, we can help you with Custom Window Treatment. We can even pair them to Hunter Douglas Shades. With the thousands of fabrics available, we are sure that we can find the perfect fit for your home. Here is just a few ideas.