AbbeyK — On Interior Design

How I Choose Fabric Construction

I consider the blends present in a fabric as well as the pattern and color.

 

Cotton does not always hold up as well as a cotton/poly blend. If fabric stretches too much I might reconsider the application. I also look for tightness of weave especially if there are kids or pets. If I put a chenille on a sofa, I get the fabric backed which stabilizes and prolongs life of the fabric. Rayon can give a nice, shiny appearance, but that shine can wear off.

 

But construction and weave do not exist in a vacuum.

I consider where the item is going and how much wear it will get. A delicate fabric is often perfectly suitable in a formal living room or on a pillow.

Brand Spankin' New Look at AbbeyK.com

Have you seen my website AbbeyK.com lately?

Well it's got a fresh look and new work. We even showcase our work on This Old House(R) Newton.

Please do check it out!

Choosing a Rug

Here's some tips from the pros.

1. A hand-knotted "oriental" rug, often has the largest price tag in your room. That's one reason you should find a rug you LOVE.
2. When decorating, if you have the luxury, start with the rug. Take some rugs home that you like for approval.
3. Measure the room to see the size of rug that will fit. You'll need approximately 1 -- 2 feet of wood showing on each side of the rug. Pay attention to clearance from fireplaces, radiators and floor heating grates. Sometimes you will have to have your doors shaved down if the door swing passes over a very thick rug.
4. No one likes to pull a chair back and fall off the edge of the earth, so make sure to have enough room to pull back chairs – and still stay on the rug – on both side of a dining room table. A good rule of thumb: take the width of your table and add 4 feet. An 8' x 10' is usually the minimum for under a dining room table, but that's the bare minimum. A 9' x 12' is more versatile.

To the Trade Only

There are certain products on the market that are only available to a designer or an architect, and they’re not available in retail. These vendors only sell to architects and designers. Ordering furniture, spec'ing furniture, and finding the appropriate furniture is actually not that easy to do.

Many shops at the Boston Design Center sell only to professionals.

For example there are so many components to a sofa, for example, the arm style, the cushion style, the back style, whether there’s welting, which is the piping or not, what stain you have on the leg, which way the fabric is applied –- all of those things need to be spec'd.

The cost of fuel and Interior Design

Forget about the price of delivering product.... it's going off the charts. We are all feeling that pain.

But here's something I learned today. The price of fuel is driving up the cost of nylon carpets. Today I was pulling carpets for a client. I mentioned that I might want to install nylon in the playroom for budget reason.  That's when my sales person mentioned that the price of nylon carpet is skyrocketing.

It used to be that the high-end nylon was a great price conscience alternative to wool. (Wool can get pricey.) Now it seems the expensive nylon is approaching the same price, or sometimes surpassing its wool counterparts.

Why? Nylon carpet is a petroleum product.

So for what is now just a little bit more, why bother with the nylon. Plus it off gasses.

Yet another reason to buy wool.

Fab Wallpaper from Farrow and Ball

Examples are showing up everywhere from commercials to store fronts to design magazines. Look for large-scale florals, bold color, eastern-inspired geometrics and textures! Even traditional styling takes on a new look when the scale is bold.

I love love-love-love anything by Farrow and Ball. Most of these patterns come in a variety of colors. They are amazing in real life. Real paint using traditional techniques. The depth is incredible.

 

A Fresh Look for Each Customer

One thing that I say to my customers is that I don’t come into people’s house and recreate where I live. In fact, whenever I’ve showed people fabrics or styles that are similar to items I have at home, they’re not interested.

It’s really boring for me to recreate the same look over and over and over. Last year, in terms of color palettes, I worked with shades of plum and purple and pale aquas for one client; another home will have golds and reds and greens, kind of a traditional color palette; one  client is doing teal and tan; and another client is doing coral, light green, and light blue.

It’s much more interesting to figure out what my clients like and make it be beautiful. I have to stretch myself with each client to try to figure out to I pull together what they like in a way that will be beautiful for them.

Designing with Young Families in Mind

A lot of my clients have young children and they don’t want a very expensive sofa that they can’t sit in because it’s white and they’re afraid they’re going to stain it.

Or they don’t want a chair upholstered in a silk brocade as it is not only expensive, but it might break if you jump on it or it could potentially be stained with one jelly hand.

Most of my clients want something that’s beautiful but livable. And so for me, that’s really important.

How do I do it, when small children are involved? Performance fabric, solid construction (after all kids are hard on furniture) and patterns that help hide an occasional spill. That and stain treating.

Oh and by the way...If it looks "precious" it probably is.

Color Trends

Colors that evoke nature, opulence, and warmth.

Focus on greens and blues—particularly those that evoke the sea like a soft pale aqua, so restful and calming. Also popular is robin's egg blue. Pair these with grays or tans/camels/tobaccos/and browns for a dramatic effect

Reds, golds, and tangerines bring warmth to your interior. A favorite color in New England is red walls in the dining room. But a deep and dark terracotta can be great too! (I can be a little tired of red in the dining room) Dress up your living areas with throws pillow in silk. Try paprika, or persimmon-colored silk with a luxurious tassel trim.

Light woods like maple are still popular but dark wood tones are back and create a statement! Kitchens with black cabinets are the new rage. Dark cabinets do not make for a dark kitchen if there's enough light from both windows and a good lighting plan.