Feathers in Glass: Season Simply
By Erick Martinez.
Shiroco’s Fusion Decor / SHIROCOS.COM
Fall is a great time for antique shows. Vintage mixes with the leftovers and great deals can be found. I traveled to another town recently and found that they had a fantastic mix of seasonal vintage pieces that seemed surprisingly affordable and went well with all kinds of décor.
Not to mention that I found some exceptional hand-made holiday decorations created mostly by women of today and yesterday with talents in their hands.
All of which goes well with this year’s theme of frugality. At the store I do it with displays in my windows, drawing people in with little more than fun and interest. In your home, the experts say less is more and experiment with making the most of things you have.
Modern goes very well with Spanish. Both have made their splashes recently so why not figure out how to put them together, blending cultural ways? Old wood furniture makes exceptional display spaces for contemporary crystal wear or reclaimed, recycled or re-directed aluminum that is now presented as a better substitute for silver (it can be chilled and baked in, actually).
Vintage and country. But have you tried to integrate some bold and refreshing colors? Talavera is a standby though I’ve actually recommended neon bright touches or flashy tones in hand weaves. The choice of unusual colors makes this classic combination seem easily more stylish.
I look forward to fall and the holidays. The kitchen is the place to start because people hang out there. Then look at the living room. Then style the dining area. Food is going to command much attention so décor should supplement that fun not be too over the top.
Bathrooms and guest rooms are the final places you want to design. What you do there should reinforce the impressions guests have already developed. Experts say this is what gets people to remember what you did.
In my store I freely offer mixed approaches and I usually start with a small budget. The window display gets it going when they come in and finalizes the impact as they leave.
Designers are suggesting that the big secret of this season is keeping spaces uncluttered. Gather and bunch high-impact items and let the openness reflect frugality highlighted with class. No sense rubbing in the hard economic times. Build on what’s on everyone’s mind and reward it with something different.
Recently I came across feathers in glass ornaments. They are soft, sensitive, warming. But they take up so little of the beautiful room they command!
Today’s economic times give us the chance to play with new possibilities. It’s kind of like finding oneself in a room filled with different flavors of honey and cheese that can be paired together in delicious delights of your own making!
