The ‘tufted’ look is one of the hottest style trends in home furniture design right now... not just on sofas and chairs, but on headboards, too. Depending on the design, it can just as easily create a 'tailored traditional' as a 'classic modern' look.
Born of practicality, button-tufted upholstery was originally employed to secure, or tie-back, fabric and padding to the frame of a sofa or chair. Upholsterers threaded through layers of fabric, then secured the end of their thread with a button (or knot), creating a ‘tuft’. The technique was especially common if padding was extra puffy.
Tufting also helped upholstery conform to shape of the furniture, and exaggerated any curves. It also offered an easier way to work with less pliable materials (leather, in particular).
Tufted patterns were carefully chosen, with fabric-covered buttons placed in waved, square, hexagonal or diamond formations (a diamond pattern is shown in this chair by Hotel Maison).
The depressions created by tying back the buttons simulated little pillows on the surface of the furniture’s seat or back. One could say this was the first pillow-top seating… or at least an instant way to make a hard seat into a comfortable one.
A particularly English look, tufting reached its peak of popularity during the opulent Victorian era, when overstuffed sofas and chairs needed to be tamed to avoid losing children under all those puffy cushions…
Tufting was, and is, still loved for its look. It adds a rich three-dimensionality by casting dramatic light and shadows on the surface… enhancing the innate character of the fabric. Tufted velvet looks softer and velvetier, tufted leather suppler, tufted satin shinier.
But though comfortable and even tidy-looking, many people who own tufted furniture bemoan its high maintenance. Dirt and lint can make themselves at home inside the tufts and become a dreadful chore to clean. The ‘war of the belly-buttons’ is how some describe it!
Famous furniture designers in the 20th century helped solve this problem by creating less deep impressions and even eliminating the button. It’s ironic that modernist furniture and room designers should have be interested in this traditional look, but they rarely passed up a simple geometric pattern when they found one, and tidy tailoring was right up their alley. Tufting became a sophisticated, classic modern 
idea... ideal for urban home decor.
Modern furniture often features tufting just on the back (rather than the seat) of a sofa or chair to give it a cleaner look and to help reduce maintenance - making it a better choice for casual living rooms and family room designs. Tufted patterns are also simplified or less dense. Straight rows of tufts, like the sofa shown here from American Leather, tend to be preferred over fancier diamond patterns.
Hotel rooms... they're no longer just a place to grab some zzz's before hurrying home. Even today's mid-priced hotels are becoming a place of retreat and refuge... inspiring many a master bedroom remodel! More and more of us are eager to recreate the exotic, peaceful or chic style we experience at new or remodeled hotels - whether inspired by a landmark city hotel, a one-of-a-kind boutique or an exotic resort.
Ironically, at the same time home-owners are trying to emulate gracious five-star interiors, hoteliers are painstakingly trying to emulate a residential feeling, with warm, home furniture design elements being added to create a feeling of home, even in large suite hotels.
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nterior designers Miles Redd, Rela Gleason and Juan Montoya would concur with these style trends. Speaking at the recent Architectural Digest show in New York City, each of these renowned designers believe travel is having a profound influences on what we want in our own homes.
When asked to list some of their favorite hotels (for fabulous design inspiration... as much as for quality service , there was no hesitation ranking the four hotels below among their favorites. (Warning: if you're planning a trip - none are these hotels are inexpensive.. but they do offer great design inspiration - check out the bedroom design pictures on each hotel's web site.)
Claridges Hotel, London. One of London’s finest (some say the finest) in the heart of Mayfair, this is a sumptuous, luxurious retreat. Claiming an important part of city’s history - with stars, socialites and crowned heads of Europe having stayed here for over 100 years - it seems some of the world’s greatest designers have also left their mark. The hotel's design mingles original Art Deco elegance with some modern twists.
Penninsula Hotel, Hong Kong. The Grande Dame of Hong Kong, this magnificent heritage has a prominent position on the Hong Kong Harbor and a unique blend of classic and modern design (including avant-garde designer Phiippe Starck's famous Felix bar on the top floor). The hotel recently embarked on a guest room renovation that promises a luxurious mix of 'classical modern design' and 'chic simplicity'... and a strong residential aesthetic that will meld 'distinctive design and practicality inspired by luxury yachts, motorcars and private jets'.
Lanesborough Hotel, London. Another timeless London landmark, this one's in the Knightsbridge area, overlooking Hyde Park. Reminiscent of Britain's legendary private clubs, this hotel offers a gracious Regency-style decor... combined with the gracious style and warm hospitality of an early 19th century residence.
Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley. Tucked into a private canyon, this ranch-style resort sits on a 157-acre site, complete with ancient oaks, hills, stream, private lakes and private vineyard. Along with a rich culture of food and wine, the resort's serene indoor and outdoor spaces meld natural textiles and original artwork, fireplaces, private patios,... and a tantalizing spa that takes advantage of natural healing mineral waters.
Architect and builder Phil Kean told
us his goals were to re-interpret the Classic White Box homes of the 1960s and 70s made popular by famous architects (and famous furniture designers) such as Le Corbusier and Richard Meier. But this house is more than modern and efficient; it’s also pretty to look at.
The home's mid century modern architecture took advantage of Florida’s climate with movable glass panels and motorized screens that provided a seamless flow from indoor to outdoor spaces. A contemporary room design layout focused on functional and transitional spaces, with impeccable attention to quality details, light wall paint colors and a serene living environment. A zen quality was seen in structured stone walls, streamlined cabinetry and a unique mix of water and fire elements that never strayed from their contemporary perspective.
Universal design features (design for homeowners of any age) were found throughout, including wide, unobstructed hallways and an open floor plan that invites unlim
ited movement within the space. There was even an elevator… expected to be a growing trend in homes designed for older homeowners.
Perhaps taking a cue from Le Corbusier that a house should be a machine for living, the home integrated technology and a high-end automation experience… including wiring for telephone, internet, audio and video communications, advanced lighting controls, motorized shading and a smart-phone controlled security system.
The landscaping reinforced the house’s strong lines and shapes. Next to a covered lanai a pool was a full outdoor kitchen, lounge furnishings and seating areas, and artificial turf (instead of a grass lawn) that will require neither pesticides nor maintenance! Only Florida-native plants will provide food and habitat for local wildlife, fed by a storm water-harvesting irrigation system.
At 4,191 square feet and a multi-million dollar price tag, this mid-century modern-inspired home is arguably outside the range of most consumers! But the point of the ‘New American Home’ tradition (now in its 29th year), is to be a dream house, or a design laboratory of sorts, demonstrating the latest concepts, materials, design, construction techniques and a good organization idea or two that can be replicated - in whole or part - in a house anywhere and in a range of sizes or budgets.
Located in Winter Park, Florida, the New American Home 2012 (built by the National Association of Home Builders) is a spectacle of modern design ideas, including fewer boundaries between indoors and outdoors, an open floor plan, a flexible approach to room design layout. and a good organization idea or two!
Architect and builder Phil Kean intended to re-interpret the Classic White Box homes of the 1960s and 70s made popular by architects such as Le Corbusier I (also one of the more famous furniture designers of the modern era). Ironically, many of the contemporary interior design ideas from half a century ago seem right in line with 21st century living. Some of home's highlights:
Contemporary style. Relaxing horizontal lines and glass walls and balconies looked sleek and quietly sophisticated. Clutter was carefully tucked away; highlighting furniture placement and its sculptural quality.
Spa inspiration. The appeal of home as retreat was translated in dramatic fire and water elements, plenty of natural light (and a heavy use of white to enhance it). The master suite claimed the entire upper floor, complete with 
private loft and work-out room; each area boasting dramatic views of the outdoors.
Integration with the outdoors. Interestingly, the home’s main entry wasn’t into a foyer; but into an outdoor courtyard, complete with pool, deck, outdoor kitchen and lounge furnishings. Wrapped in glass balconies, the interior’s views were all oriented here, revealing the growing trend to integrate outdoor views into indoors… and to treat outdoor spaces as the new family room.
Flexibility. The home was displayed as a 2-bedroom floor plan, with four additional rooms that could be converted to bedrooms; a timely feature that's appealing to empty nesters or multi-generational families living (or expecting to live) under one roof.
Openness. In authentic modern style, rooms flowed together, enhanced with low, sleek furniture silhouettes, large window walls onto the courtyard and a kitchen as elegant as the formal spaces around it. But at a time when dining room interior design is being integrated with kitchen and family room design, it was interesting to see a separate dining room.
Storage. The beauty of modern design is in its clever use of built-in storage… including in this case a hallway of storage cabinets off the kitchen, separate his-and-hers closets and a custom furniture design dresser built into an alcove in the bedroom. 
A machine for living. It was Le Corbusier’s idea that a house should be a machine for living. Though not an overly popular idea at the time, by 2012, the idea of home as machine has come into its own. In this year’s New American Home, hi-tech and automation features were everywhere… and nowhere, with wires and controls cleverly tucked away.
Green. Sustainability was incorporated into every aspect of the design. The home’s green building products and methods earned it “Emerald Status’ under the National Green Building Standard, the highest step on the green certification ladder.
(Photos by James F. WIlson / courtesy of BUILDER Magazine. More images available at www.tnah.com)
Founding editor of Domino magazine, Deborah Needleman, was at the recent fall furniture market in High Point to discuss style trends and her new do-it-yourself decorating book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home. (Needleman is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Wall Street Journal magazine.) Needleman's new book includes, among other things, chapters on cozifications, quirk, glamifications, and ways to add history and a personal narrative to your home. In speaking about her latest venture, she focused her comments on the beauty of rooms that are (and look) heavily lived in. These were just some of her suggestions on how room designers and home enthusiasts can create that perfectly imperfect home...
Bring back the table cloth
"It may be impossibly to have to many tablecloths," Needleman believes, adding that vintage or drab linens in grays and other earthy hues are as delightful as bright and cheery patterned ones. "The only rule is, no synthetics, please." But instead of confining tablecloths to backdrops for fancy dinners or formal dining room interior design, Needleman encouraged a more daily use of table covers as backdrops for stacked collections of hardcover books and tablescapes.
Low hanging art and leaning art
In response to the common malady of pictures hung too high, Needleman recommended thinking less about where on the wall a picture goes, and more about where it hangs in relation to the furniture below it. "Art needs to engage in a dialog with the stuff near it. She also added that nothing looks worse than a room that looks 'set' and just 'sits there' year after year. A dense configuration of art with a dense configuration of furniture encourages us to move things around, avoiding a static home or dull furniture placement.
Adding a personalty chair
Of all furniture types, chairs probably have the most personality, Needleman says. An odd chair is the most individual of all. Unusual-looking, solitary, chairs were termed 'personality chairs' by famous American designer and socialite, Sister Parish, who insisted on putting one in every room. In addition to adding quirk, the odd chair can hold a stack of books, a bunch of flowers or a lamp, becoming as much occasional table as chair.
A bit of quirk
"Quirkiness in decor shows that you don't take decorating, or by extension, yourself too seriously," says Needleman. A more easygoing living room furniture arrangement or a looser view of room functions, with things not where they're supposed to be, makes us feel comfortable and more in tune with our surroundings, she believes. A table for dining in front of sofa, framed pictures leaning against the wall or a polka-dotted chair next to striped furniture are just a few examples.
Showing instead of stowing
Creating a personal narrative lets our home tell a story about us. "The English are so good at this," she admitted, supporting this with images of charming pictures of table decorations and tablescapes, dense walls of books, candid snapshots grouped as art and salon-style picture arrangements. Real life decorating should embrace this kind of visual chaos and serendipity.
The Perfectly Imperfect Home is Needleman's second book, published by Clarkson Potter, $30. Her first book was Domino: The Book of Decorating.
Given all the famous furniture designers from France in the 18th century (and since!), it's no wonder that France is once again inspiring global style trends for home. But it was this year's interpretation of contemporary design at the recent Maison & Objet show in Paris that was especially fresh - minimal, yes, but infused, as always, with the chic elegance that defines French taste.The most significant contemporary furniture and product trends drew on three key influences: the clean, minimalist lines of Bauhaus and mid-century modern design, the organic, minimalist lines of Japanese design and the rustic, minimalist lines of vintage factory, or industrially-inspired design.
Read more about these home furniture design trends in a Minimalism in Paris blog I wrote for PAZ design.
Most European countries claim a Golden Age in their past (one of those it-was-the-best-of-times eras that spreads trends and good ideas for the future). But leave it to France to claim one Golden Age every century since the Renaissance… making Paris much more than just a place to see Monet, Montmartre or Mona Lisa. The City of Light continues to be the ultimate inspiration for interior design.
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen’s cinematic love letter to his favorite city (after NYC, apparently), offers insight into each of these Ages. The story follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), an American screenwriter, who longs to live in the Paris of the 1920’s… Picasso’s girlfriend, Adrianna (Marion Cotillard), who longs to live in the Paris of the 1890’s… and a private detective hired to spy on Gil Pender, who longs to live in the Paris of the 1700’s.
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gnoring (for the purpose of this blog) the movie’s conclusion that the best Golden Age may be the one you’re living in, here are four… yes, four, Golden Ages in French design that the film visits…
The first Golden Age, the early 1700s (a.k.a. Baroque) was Paris at its most opulent. This was the era of Versailles, silk trading, fancy mirrors, chandeliers, crystal and flamboyant paintings. Interiors were sheer elegance: everything that didn’t move was gilded or carved; sometimes both. Things lightened up (a little) during the subsequent Rococo era, but curvaceous and comfy furniture was the preferred look of a string of Kings named Louis. (A good look inside Versailles occurs at the end of the movie, in a funny scene where the modern-day private detective interrupts Louis XIV having lunch in the famous Hall of Mirrors, above.)
The second Golden Age, the 1890’s (a.k.a. Belle Epoque) was Paris at its most bohemian. This was the era of Art Nouveau, can-can dancers at the Folies Bergere, Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas and Manet. Interiors were a bit intense; rich reds, dark wall paint colors and heavy clutter... undoubtedly showing influence
s of England’s Victoriana, but also revealing France’s own propensity to collect pretty things. Velvet curtains and chairs mixed with oriental rugs, fringed lamps, sinewy Art Nouveau metalwork and organic glass lamps that marked the era of casual, eclectic Bohemian looks and lifestyles. (We get a short look inside a remake of the Moulin Rouge in the film.)
The third Golden Age, the 1920’s (a.k.a. French Moderne or Art Deco) was Paris at its most chic; a time when Picasso, Dali, Hemingway and other artists and writers gathered in Paris’s cafes to discuss their ‘modern’ ideas. Interiors still showed traces of the bohemian Art Nouveau. but we began to see French fascination for more luxurious, exotic or new materials and simpler lines. Fashions were streamlined by the likes of Coco Channel and glamour was back. (Check out the awesome 20's fashions in the film, including and the shimmery toss pillows and Greek-inspired fret pillow on the chaise longue inside Gertrude Stein’s home, right).
The fourth Golden Age, the 2010’s (a.k.a. Post-Modern) is Paris at its most contemporary. Bohemian flea markets still charm, but 21st century Paris interiors have lightened up. Hotel rooms and restaurants, even in very old buildings, reveal that 20th century modernists did, more-or-less, win their less-is more argument. Gilded frames, big mirrors and flamboyant paintings 
haven’t disappeared, but they’re set against lighter, plainer walls and much-lightened room colors and moods. Velvet seating in restaurant or dining room interior design is tailored and paired with sleek plates and smooth wine goblets. Louis XV chairs are lightened with paints rather than stains (a French country practice) and rural toile-inspired fabrics look sophisticated in their simplicity. The mix of fancy-and-plain, old-and-new, and country-and-city perfectly describes the style trends of today… once again, placing Paris at the heart of a new Golden Age in design.
If you haven’t seen the movie, it's worth a watch. This is an entertaining, quick synopsis of some of the best of French interior design history... not to mention the artists and writers who helped inspire it.
The French menu of small room furniture is plentiful... all of these are found all over Paris. Here are some of the more popular choices!
BRASSERIE TABLESThey’re everywhere in Paris. Small café tables with a heavy iron base and marble top with brass edge (or laminate top with steel edge)... and they're as sturdy as a French lamp post! With a center pedestal base, it’s easy to fit plenty of rattan chairs around it.
RATTAN CHAIRSOne of the most innovative and famous furniture designers of the 19th century, Michael Thonet designed the first bentwood chair in 1859. French artists Renoir and Lautrec showed it in their paintings, and Picasso kept one in his studio. Paris cafes made them famous, especially rattan bistro chairs for outside, complete with a checkered weaved seat and back.
FOLDING TABLESThis practical, versatile invention at the end of the 19th century was an instant hit at French cafes... and still is! Folding tables are space– savvy and ideal for small areas (or for a private dinner for two)! They’re easy to collapse, store in tight spaces or move where needed. They're also perfect indoors, next to a chair or bed.
FOLDING CHAIRSAlong with the folding table, simple folding chairs were a street cafe favorite. They were easy to pack away (and still are!), allowing cafes to avoid fees for a permanent terrace! The lightweight design looks good anywhere (also indoors!) and in custom colors. Choose a wood finish or nature-inspired color to blend in... or a custom color that matches or contrasts the table.
METAL TABLESThey’re known as opera tables and it’s easy to see why. The elegant, lightweight lines of this elegant table makes it perfect for Parisian gardens, terraces and balconies… or in an elegant garden in your back yard! Like the brasserie table, the center table leg design makes it easy to fit lots of chairs around. They're available in any variety of colors!
METAL CHAIRSInspired by garden chairs found in Paris squares during the late 1800s, Louvre chairs aren’t as delicate as they look! Sturdy enough for public places, their simple, airy design (complete with plenty of French curves!) celebrates life in the garden or on a flower-filled patio or balcony. Color it cedar green for classic elegance, or carrot for fun!
And finally, what's a French bistro look without a pretty, colorful awning or umbrella! For a smaller bistro table, smaller bistro umbrellas are ideal. At just 5- or 6-feet in diameter, they offer just the right scale and sun protection. Choose a colorful fabric (red is the favorite in Paris, or a provencal pattern from the south of France for extra charm.
For more backyard bistro ideas and photos (including bistro recipes and tabletop ideas!) and lots of outdoor room planning ideas, check out the current issue of our home decorating magazine.
(To check out more outdoor furniture ideas, visit American Country Home Store or order their free catalog. They offer an impressive paint color wheel of options for customizing metal bistro chairs and tables to your favorite hue!)
Every spring, cafes in Paris throw open their doors, push chairs and tables onto the sidewalk and serve their delicious bistro fare outdoors, or, en plein air. Cafe, or bistro furniture, is the hallmark of Paris sidewalk cafés, brasseries and the city itself. For more than a century, Parisians (and want-to-be-Parisians!) have huddled around charming bistro tables to eat, drink and discuss the events of the day. It was also on bistro chairs that the likes of Picasso, Hemingway, Fitzgerald and other famous artists and writers once perched to wax poetic. Just one look at bistro furniture today and our thoughts turn to our own artistic side, our romance life, accordion tunes and La Vie en Rose.
Obsessed with beauty, famous for comfort and the ultimate arbiters of good taste, the French have always insisted that outdoor furniture look as good as anything inside. (France, in fact, has given us many famous furniture designers over the years, with their impeccable tradition of quality, graceful shapes, intimate scale and exquisitely detailed design, whether using wood, cast iron, colorful metals or exotic rattan.)
Bistro furniture has inspired our own ideas about furniture placement on patios and decks in North America. Many of our most romantic notions about eating en plain air, in fact, have a French vibe... from elegant Louvre chairs in Napa wineries to folding bistro chairs in New York’s Bryant Park.
With its light-weight design, bistro-style furniture lifts our mood, beckons us outdoors and makes the perfect small room furniture, indoors and out
Given that all outdoor furniture isn’t created equal, when in doubt, we say go French! Such elegance is actually incapable of looking trendy, tacky or tattered over time.
Check out our 5-page backyard bistro article in the May issue of our home decorating magazine. We partnered with American Country Home Store, our favorite source for original, French-made bistro furniture to offer some great photos, ideas and must-haves for creating the charm and practicality of French bistro design in your own home.
If you love watching Paula Deen cook up a storm, check out her kitchen design photos and dining room interior design ideas in this month's issue of roomplanners magazine. You'll also find photos of her new furniture line, plus our exclusive interview with this entertaining lady.
But what would a feature on Paula Deen be without a few timely recipes? She let us loose on her massive recipe collection in order to share a few with you. (Where does one start?!). Here's what we came up with, taking cues from the southern belle herself.
"Nothing makes me happier than to put on a pot of collards and stink up the neighborhood," Paula told us. So, our first criteria was to find one of Paula's famous collard recipes and do likewise. We found one with ham too, so if you're among those with leftover ham this Easter, check out Paula's Simple Southern Ham and Bean Soup recipe.
Ditto for the Chicken and Asparagus Crepes. It's perfect for any leftover asparagus, and you can easily substitute leftover ham for the chicken. It's also perfect for a spring brunch.
In Paula's tradition of making lemonade out of lemons, we opted to celebrate April's showers (more like torrents, this year...) instead of merely waiting for May flowers. Try her Wilmington Island Marsh Mud Cake!
Check out these recipes (plus others) inside the Savannah style issue of our home decorating magazine.
Filled with passion, opulence and controversy... on-screen and off, Cleopatra was the most expensive movie ever made at the time and also the longest ( 238 minutes!). Elizabeth Taylor, who played Cleopatra, became very ill during the film and was nearly replaced. Following the release (it was dubbed a rather expensive flop, but did well in subsequent years), the director was fired and and Taylor and Burton left their spouses for each other.
(Lots of interesting trivia about this movie at IMDb).Movies about ancient civilizations were vogue in the 50s and 60s. Cleopatra (1963) came on the heels of epics Quo Vadis (1951), Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben Hur (1959). But Cleopatra's movie set design... and the stunning images of Taylor on them (right), offers an impressive look at the luxurious lifestyle and interiors of Egyptian royal life... still inspiration for classic design today!
Egyptians left clues about how they lived on tomb paintings, so movie set room designers were able to replicate authentic room design layouts. (Along with the Romans and Greeks, Egyptians birthed classic style's simple geometry and sweeping lines and shapes.)
As Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor mesmerized us with her beauty... and those colorful outfits! (She had 65 wardrobe changes in the filming!) We often think ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations didn't use that much color (a result of looking at their faded ruins today... or mistakenly believing that rich color was a more recent invention). Nothing could be farther from the truth. Ancient civilizations loved color and used it with abandon.
Notice the rich, spicy reds, oranges, sapphire blues and amethyst purples blended with bold metallics; gold being the favorite. Applied to silky sheer curtains, cushions and draped robes, the effect is regal and dramatic.
Below, notice the design motifs still used to symbolize classic design. From left to right, the curved shape of the Queen's headware (#1) still inspires sweeping sleigh beds, chaises and Louis Philippe furniture design. The striped design of the rod Taylor is holding (#2) and the fluted column behind her (#3), inspire the bold stripes and fluted textures still associated with classic design. The x-shape on the railing (#4) is pure neo-classic, while bold borders (#5) created emphasis. Ring-style hardware (#6) emphasized the simple, pure geometry loved by the ancients.
As far as furniture, the ancients didn't have an over-abundance of it. But they get points for making what they had look good!
Notice the simple table (#1), a chair similar to the famous Egyptian klismos chair (#2) and the quintessential reclining lounge still spawning sleigh beds and chaises today (#4). Egyptian and Roman torchieres (#4) inspire today's up-lit floor lamps, and again the classic x-shape on the chair (#6), resembling director's chairs today. An x-shape base on tables and chairs was a Roman favorite too - it was easy to collapse and move. Finally, a handsome table (#6) mixes a marble top with brass accents.
Finally, what would our view of antiquity be without images of the ancients bathing in blue water or lounging on cushions to eat grapes and drink from golden goblets.
Cleopatra, with and without Anthony, didn't fail to fuel our romanticized view of the royal's indulgent life back then. Taylor's bathing scenes (#1 and #2) and bedroom design pictures weren't shabby, and the movie included scenes of Burton and Taylor lounging together (#3) and alone (#4) on luxuriously stacked cushions. And what would any classic interior be without luxurious drapery lining the walls and dividing public and private spaces.
Nearly 50 years after the movie was released, this timeless movie is a must-see... or worth a re-see for a look at the time and place that birthed the classic designs of today... long with a compelling look at two powerful women - Cleopatra and the woman who played her!
I finally visited Fallingwater! It's a little out of the way and I couldn't make it fit any car trip I'd made since moving to the U.S. twelve years ago. But on a trip back to NY from Cleveland last summer with my sister, Connie, and niece, Karly - we altered our route to make it happen. (.. it's an hour outside Pittsburg.)
Pictures don't do the place justice. This is Frank Lloyd Wright at his finest. It's a must-see for all design enthusiasts, even if you're not of the most fervent Wright-fan variety. In my opinion, Fallingwater beats even the beauty of Oak Park (IL) or Taliesin West (AZ); other sites of famous Wright architecture... partly because of its organic, one-with-nature ambiance, partly because of its remarkable cantilevered architecture over a waterfall.
The tour guide recommended seeing Fallingwater in all seasons. In spring, the falling water falls so fast and heavy that you can hardly hear yourself speak. Summer is lush, fall is a painter's canvas, winter is Christmas-card worthy. Sadly, since it took over two decades to get there the first time, visiting twice isn't likely... but good to know. ALSO good to know? There's a live cam at Fallingwater-cam.
As famous furniture designers go, Frank Lloyd Wright was most-known for the built-in bookcases, cabinets and benches he integrated into his architecture. His 1930's work at Fallingwater doesn't disappoint with its modern-lined shelves and cabinets in warm woods. Rooms are surrounded on two or three sides with windows; bathrooms have a Japanese zen quality worthy of the best feng shui decorating.
When it comes to color, Wright consistently chose hues (and building materials) from the surrounding site to create an organic quality, inside and out. In his early projects, (Prairie houses in Oak Park, IL), autumn colors predominate: warm shades of red, gold, brown and yellow-green. At Fallingwater, Wright used a more limited color palette (and a limited number of materials) in order to create an even more organic, o
ne-with-nature look.
If that sounds good to you, check out the colors Pittsburgh Paints came up with to honor Wright's skill at blending architecture and nature. Neutral paint colors meet nature's paint colors in their Fallingwater palette... making choosing paint colors that feel one with nature easier.
The colors are authentic too: this 13-hue paint color wheel was culled from the fabrics, walls, furniture and surrounding landscape at Fallingwater when Pittsburg Paints teamed up with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to repaint this historic home in 2006.
Hollywood's favorite backstage room, the place presenters go to relax before taking center stage, is named after the color most known to make us feel good and breathe easier. The greenroom also makes the perfect foil to the red carpet, where there's pressure to look good and avoid the worst-dressed list.
Though it's called a green room... this room often isn't. That held true for the 2011 Oscars, where brown vied for top relaxation-color choice.
The room design layout of the 2011 Oscars' Architectural Digest Greenroom, was a meeting of 1940s Hollywood luxe and quiet library. Wood paneled walls surrounded a relaxed living room furniture arrangement with sophisticated colors (browns with golds and blues).
The look is transitional - lightly contemporary, lightly classical, including accent chairs that look inspired by one of America's most famous furniture designers, Duncan Phyfe (who perfectly merged contemporary European ideas and classic lines back in the late 18th century). Other classic influences are the traditional art prints in frames worthy of an art gallery and the quiet oriental rugs.
The interior designer for the 2011 greenroom was Michael S. Smith (who was also appointed by President Obama in 2010 to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House).
In designing the room, Smith says he was influenced by movies of the '30s and '40s that established what we think of as Hollywood glamour. Integrating it with a library look was based on his belief that it would help take Oscar-night pressure down a notch.
"There's something so comforting and cozy about a library... about a paneled room," Smith said. "At the Academy Awards where there's so much bustle and activity going around and kind of so much energy in the air, it felt that a library would be a great retreat to kind of collect your thoughts before you go out and have to be on screen for millions and possibly billions of people."
The room colors and moods were chosen to create a sense of coziness, of comfort. Nothing too warm, too too hot or too cold, Smith said "... just very comfortable and very relaxed".
As for the contrasting red carpet outside... perhaps Justin Timberlake's comments sum it up best. "On TV, it may look red," he advised, "but it's really sort of pink".
Country style. Just the word takes our stress level down a notch.
It certainly doesn't get simpler than American country rooms with their rustic, rugged warmth. And you can't beat French country rooms for mixing Parisian elegance with weathered, rural materials. But English country rooms capture us with their sheer charm and personality. From unique flea market finds to garden variety furniture, their eclectic mix of materials and antiques creates a casual, lived-in atmosphere where personal comfort is a priority! 
English country rooms are loved for their unique soul... whether an unexpected nook or cranny, old-fashioned wallpaper or wide painted baseboards, the likes of which they don't make anymore! The style's roots are distinctly romantic, inspired by the cluttered charm, love of nature and nostalgia-for-the-past we attribute to 19th century Victorians who loved nothing better to spend time in their country-style cottages and gardens.
English country furniture looks a little worn; as if inherited by past generations or unearthed from an antique store. Anything vintage, collected or inherited is prized, especially if aged or in a slight state of disrepair. Over-stuffed sofas, feather-filled duvets, antique furniture finishes, floral wallpaper, botanical prints and faded colors offer a refuge from the modern world. Antiqued or painted finishes mix with cast iron patio furniture, straw accents or seasonal slipcovers. A sitting area or living room furniture arrangement always comes together in an unstructured, eclectic way.
While no famous furniture designers are attached to this style (Victorians were rather eclectic; mixing and matching ideas from any era), the icons of English furniture traditions are always welcome - from a Chippendale highboy to a Queen Anne wing chair, though they're usually painted or antiqued in some way to add character and age. Twentieth-century remakes of Victorian ideas are also welcome. England’s Laura Ashley and Rachel Ashwell both popularized romantic ideals from the Victorian era with tea-stained floral prints 
and shabby chic furnishings... often updated with a little white paint.
So... is an English country interior design style right for you? YES... if you like to:
Express your personality. Objects in english country rooms look like they’ve been collected over a lifetime. Each is cherished for its unique character, the story behind its acquisition or the person who used to own it.
Mix formal and informal. Slightly dressy and slightly worn, english country rooms spiffyup what’s too informal and tone-down what’s too high-brow.
Feel nostalgic. With a mix of antique treasures, vintage finds and hand-me-downs, this authentic style feels familiar and warm, with plenty of references to the past.
Bring the outdoors in. Fresh flowers, floral wallpaper, straw, wicker, bird cages; you name it, an english country room will always manages to bring the countryside indoors!
The style is ideal for any room, but a special favorite for sitting rooms, bedrooms and girls room decor.
For more information (and inspiration!) on creating an interior inspired by this style, check out our RoomCue: English Country. Each of our do-it-yourself room design guides include the recommended interior paint color chart, materials and styles of furniture, lighting and accessories to create the style... plus dozens of inspirational photos and room-by-room decorating ideas by professional room designers.
France has provided an impressive roster of famous furniture designers over the years, from a string of King Louis' who had a penchant for pretty chairs and commodes... to Ruhlmann and other Art Deco masters who liked the look of modernism but refused to give up their luxury-obsessed DNA genes.
But at the recent Maison & Object show in Paris, French styling looks to be undergoing a little reinvention.
The over-riding home style trends are toward texture. Raw is meeting refined… with rugged woods, industrial metals, nubby linens, faux fur and woven sweater textures seen on simpler shapes that show them off.
Salvaged objects (rather than historic 'period' antiques) are becoming today’s most sought-after acquisitions. Wire-brushed and grainy, distressed woods resemble materials reclaimed from old wood buildings... while industrial scrap metals, cast iron and galvanized steel are seen on table tops, shelf supports and cabinet doors.
Linen, hemp and burlap textures look softened by years of laundering. Washed, bleached and antiqued finishes are replacing stained wood finishes. Chic driftwood, cream and charcoal-colored woods are freely mixed in a room, or even on the same piece of furniture.
The new look in Fre
nch home furniture design is uniquely casual and luxurious. Dyed in the chic colors of the season, a faux fur throw can look as good in a glamorous bedroom as in a rustic French country one! Trust the French to have figured how to pull that off!
I recently had an opportunity to speak with renowned acress, artist and furniture designer, Jane Seymour about her new furniture collections.
Seymour premiered a trio of furniture collections a year ago, including Palace Gates, Cobblestone Road and Hollywood Swank. This fall, her Grand Shore (inspired by grand hotels of bygone eras), and Lakeshore Retreat (inspired by dreamy summer vacations by the lake) reflected current style trends to both more elegant and more casual room colors and moods.
Seymour’s designs are inspired by her passion for art and design. (Seymour also re
cently designed an Open Hearts necklace for Kay Jewelers) She feels strongly about developing unique and versatile furniture collections that offer consumers affordable elegance.
The collections Seymour is licensing to furniture maker, Michael Amini / AICO Furniture could be described as nostalgic and romantic, though her Hollywood Swank collection (left) also has a fair bit of glam... complete with a button-tufted headboard, faux-fur bench, mirrored nightstands and crystal-like hardware. For more on the inspiration behind her collections, including additional living room, dining room and bedroom design pictures, click here.
Seymour is one of a growing group of 21st century furniture designers/licensors who were first famous as actresses and models... including Jaclyn Smith, Kathy Ireland, Cindy Crawford and others.
Craftsman's famous furniture designers William Morris and Gustav Stickley were inspired by the same less-is-more and form-follows-function ideals that inspired modern furniture designers who came after them.
That makes Craftsman home furniture designs and room decor easily updated for modern, urban tastes. Though this rural style set out to be sturdy and simple, Craftsman rooms can be streamlined and stylish enough for the city today!
The easiest way to update Craftsman room designs and colors? Surround the style's rustic, grainy surfaces with modern white or off-white wall paint colors. (Left, Stanley Furniture's Modern Craftsman collection is an exciting, new interpretation of this interior design style. Room designers here paired the furniture with white textured walls; a very chic dining room interior design idea!)
Other ways to update this style?
* use larger, rather than smaller accesories
* add iron or charcoal-colored picture frames, lamp shades or chairs - contrasted with warm, rustic fumed-wood colors
* use botanical prints, monochromatic artwork or mirrors in dark picture frames
* lean, rather than hang pictures or mirrors above mantels, ledges or sofa tables
For more information on creating a Craftsman or Mission interior design style, check out our RoomCue: Craftsman (24-pg, $12.95). Each of our room design guides feature the wall paint colors, materials, furniture, accessories, room design layout tips and interior design advice for creating the looks you love.
View all of our do-it-yourself room design guides here!
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