Photo courtesy of Perennials Fabrics

Orange is known as the color of creativity, wellness and passion. Sunny shades of orange have been seeping into your surroundings, bringing a sense of action and enthusiasm. It is easy to live with this invigorating color as it harmonizes with everything from shades of gray, green, blue, turquoise and the 2011 color of the year, Honeysuckle Pink.

A fresh start to updating a room is by intruding one upholstered piece in this warm hue. Go for a bold look in your design plan with larger piece of furniture, such as you sofa, in tangerine.  Orange is the color of happiness and celebration so consider painting your dining room walls a shade of citrus. Accessories in tangerine will enliven your home if you are looking for a touch of this shade. One spicy orange lamp or a mix of decorative pillows may be just enough for your taste. A richly lacquered credenza in your entry offers a cheery greeting.

Don’t forget your garden as an option to bring this sunny color to you world. A bed of orange flowers mice with hot pink or purple will decorate your outdoors with a flourish.

The exotic addition of orange in your him delivers a welcome sense of fun and freedom.

"Inside Jobs" Interior Design Column in Su Casa Magazine by Annie O'Carroll

Making Trends Timeless

There is a wide range of influence when it comes to the elements of interior design. Influence is found in nature, fashion, travel, furnishings, architecture, food…it is everywhere. Every now and then a “trend” catches on and can last for years; some trends ultimately will become classic. The modern movement is one such example and is back with a vengeance…truly a classic style. The challenge is to embrace the trend with all its unique elements. The ultimate goal is to execute the trend so the outcome has the same relevance today as it did when it was first realized.

One example is the “Tuscan” trend: at its worst, it used kitschy elements and faux materials, imitating the real thing. If you choose carefully and select particular elements of a certain style or trend, the interiors will become timeless. At the core of a trend we find pure beauty, with well-chosen finishes we add authenticity—this is the essence we want to capture. When we look closely at the interior design elements that came along with the “Tuscan” trend, we identify certain elements that are as timely today as they were in the 90s. These elements include texture achieved with plaster walls, stone floors, or wide wood plank flooring.

Warm color palettes of yellow, terracotta, green and red complement these elements. If you are wondering if this color palette holds up to the test of time, look no further than the “heritage collection” in the Pantone color predictions for 2012. Depending on how these colors and textures are used, they can take you from modern to traditional design. Exposed wood beams and aged stonework are as timely today as they were 100 years ago. When these core elements are incorporated, the interior design will become timeless. Furnishings can easily transition while the backdrop remains timeless.

Photo by Michael Ouellette Designs

It’s about the mix…incorporating architectural elements into your home. It’s very popular right now to talk about the mix. The mix relates to high and low, using reflective surfaces with matte finishes, honed versus polished services, using metals and recycled woods in the same piece of furniture, or combined as in a bathroom. Whether it’s how we dress or how we use design elements, the mix truly creates a distinctive look, which is a reflection of you.

One way to create a personal impact in your home is to incorporate an architectural element. Always choose something that speaks to you. An iron grill can sink into an exterior wall, creating a window. Columns or pottery can be made into lamps. Think about displaying your favorite sculpture or folk art piece in a wall nicho. Use a wood or stone remnant as a fireplace mantel.

The uses for one-of-a-kind doors are endless: When used at the entry, a door provides a design element that will make a statement every time you drive up to your home. I love to use antique doors at the entry to a master suite or, for that matter, at the entry to any special room. Doors can also be made into console tables, coffee tables, headboards or a beautiful dining table top (which work well with a contemporary iron base).

Next time you’re out and spot something unusual, think about its possibilities.

Your interior design plan should reflect your personal style

Please don’t make it look like an interior decorator designed my home!  I hear this plea from many of my clients.  My response is always the same, “Your home is a reflection of you, not me.”  Today, there are no rules, requirements or special formulas for your home design.

The joy of my job is the ability to interpret my client’s vision.  Whether I am involved in the initial design and planning stage of a home or a renovation, I emphasize the importance of planning the best use of space and functionality.  Next, we work on the aesthetics to complete the project.

Keeping your personal style consistent throughout the home is paramount to the project.  Working with your artwork, existing special furniture pieces or a prized carpet and developing a new theme for your surroundings are easily accomplished.

My goal is to develop a plan for colors, materials, finishes, furniture, accessories, and proper lighting to reflect your lifestyle.

My approach is to work with you to develop a superior design plan to satisfy your wishes.  In this economic climate it is important to remember that simply updating the color of the walls, adding a vibrant rug, or a fresh room layout may be all a room needs to achieve a beautiful end result.

Your home is a reflection of your personal inspiration.  We discover a style that best suits your personality and I go to work to make your dream home a reality.

By Annie O’Carroll, Principal, Annie O’Carroll Interior Design

Look outside and you will find just the right palette for your home’s interior design plan. Study the different colors, textures and shapes in nature and you will be inspired by what you see.

Tranquility expressed in a sitting room was achieved with a soft, neutral sofa dressed in shades of yellow and lavender pil- lows. I glanced outside at the homes’ surrounding vistas, and saw the joyful, yellow flowers of the chamisa shrub, their gentle, gray-green foliage and vibrant purple asters. In that instant I was aware of the influence of nature in my work.

My emphasis on our stunning surroundings in Santa Fe will help guide you to make the right choices for your interior de-

sign plan. Sunrise lighting up the velvet blue sky with gold, yel- low, orange and magenta inspires a bright, bold interior. Think of the silvery, blue-green sage shrub against the rich topaz of the earth and the horizon of an aqua sky. This suggests a gently muted palette. Our changing seasons present interesting choices. On a sunny, winter day you may see a dusting of snow on our evergreen trees, a bright crimson cardinal bird and his mate in shades of olive green.

Together we will draw from nature in Santa Fe and create an atmo- sphere to reflect your design style. Santa Fe has been my home for more than 20 years and the spirit of our surroundings continues to whisper to my imagination.

q.
Why Do Certain Slab Materials Show Fingerprints?

a.
Countertops that are prone to show fingerprints are honed granites and darker colored composite materials such as Caesar stone and Silestone. When dark granites are honed it actually opens the pores of the material which allows for easier absorption of oils etc. Polished granites actually tighten up the pores in the material. Along with this polishing the material creates greater reflectivity that is measured at the factory to produce consistent, high quality material. The lack of a polish enables oils to be seen more easily and the darker the material the more probable you will see the reflectivity of the material.  A leather finish provides a variable textured finish and is a great alternative to a polished finish.