Each year the definition of excellent design gets a little further away from those matching bedroom suites where the nightstand, dresser, armoire, and bed frame are the same polished wood boasting identical brass handles; this makes me elated. Dare I say it’s my favorite 2011 shelter trend? It seems when interiors get more eclectic, they get more intimate and personal. Each piece in your home can be something you love, even if your mustard yellow side chair doesn’t quite match the goldenrod pillows on your couch.

Freedom from the demands of matching allows your imagination to run wild with the possibilities of your personality. You can find a tufted sofa to catch your elegance and combine it with a sleek solid wood side chair – an improbable match to make your own.

The best part about these eclectic spaces is the complete originality. When you peruse local flea markets and thrift stores for furniture and accessories, you’ll never walk into your neighbor’s house and find the same dining table (complete with six matching chairs and an analogous hutch for added boredom).

This deliciously cohesive interior full of conflicting components was created and designed by Jarlath Mellett (photographed by Patrick Cline for Lonny). The soft tones and understated elegance is the perfect illustration of how to mix without matching. Plus, the soft tones and calm palette is in stark opposition to the chaotic Bohemian stereotype that usually flutters to mind when the word eclectic is involved.

If matching an ornate old world chandelier with modern streamlined upholstery makes your pulse quicken with anxiety, devour the EcoSalon Style Clash series by Kim Derby. Ms. Derby will painlessly guide you through mixing and matching.

Stay tuned as I guide you through the rest of the 2011 shelter trends.

The post The Downfall of Homogeny appeared first on EcoSalon.

Michelle Adams started a little shelter publication that forever changed the method of design inspiration delivery; Lonny took root, followed by an explosion of online real estate housing shelter magazines.

Last week I shared my thoughts about shelter trends for the eleventh year of the new millennium. Online magazines made my list of predictions for 2011, carried over from last year, which was riddled with shelter magazines who found their home online.

Shelter magazines have been enticing design lovers with glossy musings for years, but recent years have seen a multitude of magazines fold (collective sigh in remembrance of Domino). As 2011 unfolds, peruse a few of these publications. Tread carefully dear readers, after all, how much is too much? Here’s hoping 2011 continues to lure design lovers with quality publications. I vote for quality over quantity.

Here’s a card catalog of my favorite virtual publications.

Adore

Anthology

Ivy & Piper

Lonny (Tour Michelle Adams’ apartment here.)

Nesting Newbies

Pure Green

Rue (Here’s a peak inside the gorgeous pages of Rue.)

Standard (EcoSalon loves Standard.)

Sweet Paul

Psst. Most of these magazines are also available in print, in case you just need to hold the glossy pages in your hands.

For more 2011 shelter trends, scroll through this.

(Image from Lonny.)

The post Stop the Press – Wait, Don’t appeared first on EcoSalon.

John Robshaw is a master of many things – textiles, tradition, color, pattern – and (apparently) it was all by accident. Mr. Robshaw was experimenting with traditional Indian block printing techniques and building pieces of glorious artwork when a friend suggested using his creations for upholstery. The aesthetic of John Robshaw’s textiles and products was born.

As any textile lover knows, Robshaw’s ability to flawlessly combine pattern, texture, and color through fresh evolutions of ancient techniques is the epitome of perfection. Robshaw has embellished his home with the same creative mixture of elements. This visual feast of ethnic pieces sprinkled with Robshaw products is the country home of the wildly talented designer. Though the property lies in bucolic Connecticut, the history of India lines the walls and floors.

Mr. Robshaw, I am available to grovel at your feet (and house-sit) at your earliest convenience.

This sumptuous home was featured in Lonny. Be sure to devour the original article – the block printing tips are irresistible.

For more Lonny inspiration, delve into this interview with Michelle Adams and then tour her charming apartment.

(Images via Lonny.)

The post When India Touches Connecticut appeared first on EcoSalon.

This Thursday, as you gather round the table and devour your traditions, take a moment and offer a little ambiance to your guests of honor. As you prepare to verbalize your many blessings, set the stage (and table!) to celebrate. Here’s a heaping serving of inspiration on a silver platter – just in time for you platters of yams and pumpkin confections.

It seems the clever creatives at Sweet Paul have imagined a handful of stunning ideas to inspire your entertaining. When crisp winter intersects with harvest notions, the result is a gorgeous combination of pristine white and sultry pumpkin silhouettes (image above). Your culinary efforts are sure to glisten on this simple and elegant palette.

If you love the produce aisle and crave a little more color on your table, seek natural hues with interesting shapes to adorn your holiday gathering. Artichokes, beets, carrots, and radishes are vivid and lovely.

Or capitalize on Mother Nature with the habitual shades of amber and orange. Fall leaves can be gorgeous, as this natural setting with rich wood styling depicts.

If the saturated hues of the traditional feast are the beauty you want to highlight, add a dash of dignified blue and watch the edible harvest hues of the season gleam.

These gorgeous images are from the glossy (virtual) pages of Sweet Paul – both the Fall and Holiday issues. If you are still finalizing your menu, you will devour the recipes that accompany these visual feasts.

Still looking for the perfect details?  Lonny has a great feature on the most glamorous table setting ever.  And just in case you’re the type of host who craves order through seating arrangements, this pumpkin place card holder will bring the perfect allure to your table setting.

The post Harvest Palettes appeared first on EcoSalon.

Explore the depths of black as the Chromatic Theology series continues.

Each post in this series explores an individual hue, but the characteristics of the topic color can be translated into tints and shades. Keep in mind that the effects and emotions we discuss are most prominent and intense in pure, saturated color. To some extent, the distinctive attributes of white will be present in color variations – charcoal, black bean, cast iron, domino, pewter, etc.

BLACK is a powerful color that exhibits strength, dignity, and formality. Black can translate to the epitome of elegance and sophistication. Like white, excess black can cast the notion of emptiness or boredom, except with heavy and depressing implications. Add a dash of casualty by lightening the severity of black and selecting a shade of grey (ranging from dove to deep charcoal). Because saturated black can be imposing, avoid using expansive solid black color in small spaces, or infuse intimacy in a large space by intentionally using large amounts of solid black color. Combining black and white in one cohesive color scheme uses sharp contrast to achieve crisp, tailored results; the same color scheme can be harsh and austere when unsuccessful. If your personality walks on the serious side, but with an added dose of mystery, black might just be the color for you.

Want to get acquainted with the rest of the rainbow? Indulge in the rest of the series with these previous posts.

This wraps up the session on color theory and psychology. Any questions?

(Images from The Style Files, Greige, and Lonny.)

The post Chromatic Theology: Black appeared first on EcoSalon.

Plunge into a gorgeous case of the blues as the Chromatic Theology series continues.

Each post in this series explores an individual hue, but the characteristics of the topic color can be translated into tints and shades. Keep in mind that the effects and emotions we discuss are most prominent and intense in pure, saturated color. To some extent, the distinctive attributes of blue will be present in color variations – navy, cerulean, peacock, indigo, blueberry, aegean, etc. 

BLUE is the coldest color (for more on warm and cool colors – devour this post). Blue demonstrates intense relaxation, denoting simplicity, purity, dignity, and truth. This hue is frequently coupled with intellectual activity; blue is contemplative, thought provoking, and meditative. Saturated or bright, blue can be lively without tension. Blue reflects the calm expansiveness and subtle movement of the sky and ocean. Light tints (robins egg and ice blue) express soothing tranquility balanced with quiet optimism. Darker shades (deep navy and indigo) frequently have a dignified and undeniable presence – sophisticated, heavy, and potentially depressing; these dark shades of blue are often associated with authority, having official implications. Pair regal shades of deep blue with crisp light neutrals to infuse a hint of optimism.

Come back next week for a dose of glamor and drama – violet.

Want to get acquainted with the rest of the rainbow? Feast your baby blues (or sultry hazels) on the rest of the series with these previous posts.

(Photographs from Lonny, A Punch of Color, Michael Eastman, and A Perfect Gray.)

The post Chromatic Theology: Blue appeared first on EcoSalon.

If a repetitive pattern of ostriches gracefully speckled across living room walls intrigues you, then the allure and appeal of unique items, perfect graphics, and pops of color will certainly charm you. Ostrich wallpaper, elegant photography of shiny gold heels, mild yellow chevron fabric, and genuine design all reside in the walls of Michelle Adams’ New York apartment.

Does the name Michelle Adams ring a bell? It should. Ms. Adams is the founder and editor in chief of Lonny Magazine (I think I hear the echo of a collective sigh), founder and designer of the organic textile company Rubie Green, and this is just an abbreviated list of her accomplishments.

Michelle’s gorgeous apartment was featured in the first annual “green issue” of Lonny. The original article is twenty pages bursting with practical glamor (followed by an “Eco Items” spread detailing the sources for Michelle’s delicious furniture, paint, and accessories). Every page boasts beautiful images of each space adorned with practical advice from the designer.

My favorite dose of knowledge Michelle offers:

“The key to any design project is to start with a clear inspiration. Rather than researching to find eco-friendly products and consequently allowing your finds to dictate the direction of your design, you should start with a notion of how you’d like your home to look and then hunt for furnishings that help you express your style.”

Personally, I think these words are not just a suggestion, but a necessity.

If you are as enamored with the musings of Michelle Adams as I am, you will enjoy the original article in Lonny (starting on page 69) and love this EcoSalon interview with Holley Simmons and this decor8 interview with Holly Becker. Oh, and the newest issue of Lonny just came out!

Photography by Patrick Cline via decor8.

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