Design Reviews From The Floor Up ~ Silver Screen Surroundings

March's Design Reviews From The Floor Up introduces you to ::Silver Screen Surroundings::, another inspiring site from interior decorator Linda Merrill, owner of Chameleon Interiors in Massachusetts.

[Her company was included in a Washington Post article titled eDecorating - Web-Based Designers Click With Budget-Conscious Clients Who Want to Tackle Rooms Fast.]

Linda's background encompasses both visual and performing arts, something I learned when I profiled her original ::Surrondings:: site in Design Reviews From The Floor Up ~ Surroundings. That's when I discovered ::Silver Screen Surroundings:: which focuses on "Movie set decor, set decorators, and how to "Get that Look"." What a fabulous concept!

And, given the recent Academy Awards Red Carpet events, this seemed like the perfect site to share with you.

Linda asks: "Have you or has someone you know taken inspiration from a movie set for your own home decor? Would you like to share your images? Or, do you have a suggestion for a movie you'd like to see covered? Drop me a line at: linda.m.merrill (at) gmail.com."

What I love is how Linda dissects the onscreen decorator looks, demonstrating how to achieve them in ::Silver Screen Surroundings::. From Coco Chanel, to Benjamin Button to Marie Antoinette, and everything in between. Plus, she includes visuals that make my heart sing!

[I also love that Linda includes a Tutorial: Screen grabs when you need them! Thank you!]

Be sure to check out ::Silver Screen Surroundings:: and let me know which movie set decor inspires you the most. While you're there, explore the ::Movie Decor Cool Links::...

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.'






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Carpet, Allergens & Energy - Myths Debunked

worlds tumbling like specks of dust originally uploaded by psyberartist.

With spring allergy season right around the corner, I'm prepared for the worst. Not in terms of physical symptoms - that's all taken care of with prescriptions and plenty of Kleenexes. Rather, in terms of the onslaught of terrible myths surrounding carpet and its relationship to allergies.

You see, there's misinformation - and lots of it - in the hands of influencers - like doctors - claiming that carpet contributes to allergies, when it doesn't. Quite the opposite.

Don't believe me? Then read Carpet Alleviates Allergies where I share links to real studies debunking the carpet myth. There's more in Beware of Autumn Allergens… Advice for Carpet, a post from Paul Friederichsen.

Through TalkFloor.com's Flooring News, I came across another story on the subject titled Shaw Educates on Allergens & Energy.

Visit the website and you'll notice an article titled Carpet can help you breathe easier which concludes with "In a recent paper, "Carpet, Asthma and Allergies - Myth or Realty," Dr. Mitchell Sauerhoff, Ph.D., DABT, examined numerous scientific studies and other research contradicting some long-held beliefs on carpet's alleged negative characteristics.

Sauerhoff concluded, "...based on the available science, carpet does not cause asthma or allergies and does not increase the incidence or severity of asthma or allergies symptoms. In fact, with respect to asthma and allergies, multiple studies have reported fewer allergy and asthma symptoms associated with carpet."

Other carpet myths worth debunking:

+ carpet is difficult to maintain. Personally, I consider it a lot easier to regularly vacuum my carpet than to have to lasso and corral pesky dust bunnies.

+ carpet is outdated and boring. Wrong! Totally wrong! Check out all of our stories on carpet style to realize how wrong that one is.

+ carpet emits harmful chemicals that cause health problems. The Carpet & Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program sets high indoor air quality standards for carpet.

+ carpet is bad for the environment. A great deal of effort is going into CARE - Carpet America Recovery Effort - with a focus on Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. At the same time, carpet plays a significant role in cushioning our lives and protecting us from injury, and helps insulate your home, thereby contributing to decreased energy consumption.

So, are you willing to reconsider these carpet myths?

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10 Carpet Decorating Tips From The Floor Up

home-decorating originally uploaded

by About A Storybook Life.

I thought you might enjoy these 10 Carpet Decorating Tips from Karastan who shared them in a decorating workbook during the Thom Filicia Decorating From The Floor Up national tour.

1. Should your floor set or steal the stage? If you have created emphasis above ground, you may want to keep your flooring neutral. If the room decor is neutral, spice things up with a vibrant colored carpet or a vivacious patterned rug.

2. There are four styles of carpet: plushes, textures, patterns and berbers. Deciding first if you want your carpeting to be soft, sensible or hard will help you figure out which type of carpet is best for you. Note: Carpet depth is not necessarily an indicator of quality. A shallow pile with uncut loops is actually best if strength and durability are of utmost importance to you.

3. If you plan to use carpet in an area where you regularly entertain, you might want to consider a stain-resistant patterned carpet or one that has cut and loops for this space.

4. The family room of an active household will get heavy use by kids, friends and pets, so a woven carpet with uncut pile would be the most practical choice for this space.

5. In choosing a rug size for the dining area, a good formula is to add 30 inches to each side of the table dimensions for chairs with arms, and at least 24 inches for chair without arms. This way, everyone will have plenty of room to push their chairs back without moving off the rug.

6. When it comes to room and hallway transitions, if you are switching colors, continue the predominant color strain in a lighter or darker shade. If you are switching materials, a more radical color switch works better than something that nearly matches but varies slightly. For instance, do not try to match carpet to the adjacent tiles.

7. Create balance: all of the features in a room have visual weight [windows, fireplace, columns, etc.] that engage the eye. Be sure to take these into account when arranging rugs and furniture so that there is a sense of equilibrium throughout the room.

8. If your room isn't perfectly square, you might consider subdividing it into one or more "inner rooms." You can use the edges of your furniture and rugs to form the appearance of these inner rooms.

9. Even sight lines are very important when arranging furniture. If your sofa and chair backs are not matching, try raising the height of the lower one with higher back pillows. If you end table seems too low visually, try stacking books or magazines.

10. To make a room feel warm and welcoming, try colors such as orange, red and yellow. Cool colors, such as violets and blues, make objects, walls and ceilings feel farther away, and can help make a room feel larger. To make a cavernous room feel smaller, use a warm dark, matte color.






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Ultron Color Trends - Designer Insights Summary

And, now, a summary of the insights we observed from the four designer workshops conducted in 2008 around the country in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York.

Eight to 12 designers were invited to each event and asked to bring inspiring color chips, samples, magazine articles, photos and swatches. Ann Hurley acted as facilitator and guide for the sessions.

[For background on these fascinating designer events, read Ultron Color Trends - Designer Workshops. You see, Ultron carpet fiber brought together seasoned designers in a first-ever series of four workshops to discuss color trends.]

Observations:

We felt we got a true vision of “globalization” on a national basis—we were surprised how few regional variations were noted. This has been accelerated by the Internet. Now, anyone can immediately view the newest fashions that walk across the runway, creating a much more trend savvy customer as well as consumer. 

Companies like the corporate IBMs or retailers such as Nordstrom strive to achieve a consistent brand image and corporate identity, whether it’s coast to coast or on a global scope.

Overall Seattle had the more muted, earthier colors with Chicago and New York having cleaner, richer accents colors.

Yellow and red were consistent colors from all areas as well as chocolate brown and variations of the blue-greens.

Designers in both LA and NYC mentioned the importance and “lack of” good blue/grey and navy color ways in carpets. This color family is often not what the designer might select, but a client driven decision due to corporate branding directives.

Greys, especially charcoal, was mentioned in every market location as a good neutral to add a distinctive look, yet not as hard edged as black.

The designers also mentioned the need for carpets that coordinate with fabrics and the mixing or layering of fabrics with the textures.

They mentioned they liked a somewhat safe or neutral color way with a bright accent thread running through the carpet, like a bright red or yellow. 

It’s all about color, textures and mixes—and unusual color combinations with just the right accent!

For the detailed findings from the previous Ultron Color Trends events:
+ Los Angeles Workshop
+ Seattle Workshop
+ Chicago Workshop
+ New York Workshop

What do you think? Are you inspired to develop your own take on Neutrals, Blues-Greens, and Orange-Red-Yellows?

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Ultron Color Trends - New York Designer Event Insights

In this post, brace yourself for fascinating insights from designers in New York, the last stop in this series about color and color inspiration...

“Dress in black but don’t design with black.”

For background on these insightful designer events, read Ultron Color Trends - Designer Workshops. You see, Ultron carpet fiber brought together seasoned designers in a first-ever series of four workshops to discuss color trends. The events took place in 2008 over an eight week period in four cities around the country: Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York.

Eight to 12 designers were invited to each event and asked to bring inspiring color chips, samples, magazine articles, photos and swatches. Ann Hurley acted as facilitator and guide for the sessions.

Here follow color family details and insights from the New York session:

Neutrals

Cream/Ivory is a crisp, classic color that adds elegance and sophistication to any space.

Use charcoal instead of black.

Lavender & golds lend a sense of sophistication; a bit of throwback to classic palettes of the past with a modern twist.

Chocolate brown has been popular with the emerging earth colors due to “green” design. It is a safe accent to the standard “beige” design which occurs in many corporate offices. Ties to beige and grey.

Bold patterns emerging everywhere – bold patterns are better with high contrast. Improved technology in materials allows white to be used more. Saw black and white carpet for the first time recently.

Chocolate brown/taupe is sophisticated, timeless, and elegant. It can be punched up with bright colors. Works well with metallics.

This charcoal is a great saturated neutral grey that makes for a wonderful backdrop for various colors.

Browns as neutrals warms things up and creates a rich, more homey atmosphere – less stark.

Chocolate is an enduring range that is classic with orange, purple, gray, & charcoal.

Regarding the color “burnished,” every palette needs a darker or medium value neutral to mix with colors. Warmth is always important.

Earth Tones – popular because they all go well with green. Also because they ground us with nature, as we gain awareness of our planet.

There is a whole range of gray tones that support and magnify other colors and accents extremely well. These colors are also beautiful, however, in their own right. Different grays often contain subtle infusions of color that harmonize themselves very well with a supporting palette and therefore are a staple.

Blues-Greens

The inclusion of bright, energetic colors will continue to grow worldwide….both in interior and exterior environments. It is the use of color as a statement that provides a sharp contrast to the more stark and rigid spaces we often find ourselves in. Also a growing force in product design.

Very aquatic in its tone, this teal reflects a trend toward water and depth. It is another base tone which works well against accent colors and has a subtlety of color which can be diaphanous under different lights.

Green is a playful color, bold and stands out. This particular bright color would work well in a children’s facility; it would also look fantastic used as an accent in furniture pieces. This color is fresher than the moss green we have seen in past years.

Green is a favorite color and even though being “green” doesn’t mean you have to use green - clients are choosing it. It tends to be more of a juicy “green” – even emerald. Still a “clear” color and not diluted.

Companies like blue…. this blue is more neutral and less “regal”. Sort of sky blue - less reds on it - less navy. The color selected was based on branding.

Ice Blue is fresh, crisp, serene, and clear. Contemporary and genderless.

Optimistic, playful, fresh, crisp. Can be dressed up or down. Works with light wood and dark brown. Punch it up with white/ivory.

More clients are requesting blue lately – Navy being mixed with Black & White - Intense color use with bolder patterns – influenced by fashion.

Bolder fabrics. Heavy blue influence due to corporate branding.

Provides richness and a sense of newness and freshness. New take on an old color.

Teal Blue will always be a classic favorite among designers. It is a calm, soothing color that makes people feel comfortable in their surroundings.

Yellow- Orange- Red

Ruby Red is a color that evokes a sense of passion and richness. It is a bold color that certainly makes a statement in any space.

Taking our cue from Fashion- Fall 2008 – sumptuous fabrics, opulence has returned - jewel toned accents combined with “warm grey” interiors.

Purple is the new orange, and red before it. It grew popular last year, and will see a boom in the retail and hospitality markets.

Yellow was under utilized last year. It gives pop and brings life to areas which may need a little energy. A fashion forward color.

Yellow is everywhere in fashion; cooler woods maybe because of “green” resources – yellow works better with less red woods - Furniture manufacturers are changing veneers and using less stain.

Cultural – Global Movement

It’s a “clear” but saturated orange. Very warm but not oppressive. Most orange in carpet is muddy.

Purple, a complex color (neutral). Purple with camel, caramel or tobacco, purple with orange or yellow.

Red and cream seem a fresh approach for using both these colors – classic.

Plum is a very powerful color; it’s clean and sophisticated. Dark plum, in particular, appeals for its heaviness. It can make a large statement. Dark plum is very rich and has always maintained formality and richness. There is a noble quality to it. Off-sets accent colors very well. A strong base tone.

For the findings from the previous Ultron Color Trends events:

+ Seattle Designer Event Insights
+ Los Angeles Workshop

+ Chicago Workshop

The next and last post in this series will recap and summarize the findings of this fascinating 4-city designer insight event.

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Ultron Color Trends - Chicago Designer Event Insights

In this post, brace yourself for fascinating insights from designers in Chicago about color and color inspiration...

“Color can’t be in isolation.”

For background on these fascinating designer events, read Ultron Color Trends - Designer Workshops. You see, Ultron carpet fiber brought together seasoned designers in a first-ever series of four workshops to discuss color trends. The events took place in 2008 over an eight week period in four cities around the country: Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York.

Eight to 12 designers were invited to each event and asked to bring inspiring color chips, samples, magazine articles, photos and swatches. Ann Hurley acted as facilitator and guide for the sessions.

Here follow color family details and insights from the Chicago session:

Neutrals -
This brown, a neutral, nature inspired color, is versatile and sophisticated. Various shades of this color will work as a strong neutral base for any palette and can be used on large surfaces – floors, walls.

It’s clean and simple, and when used with stronger neutrals, the look is rich and sophisticated. It could be used on large areas – walls as well as upholstery, and window treatments.

What could be more attractive than the color of Earth itself? We’re always looking for that perfect dark brown: not too red, not too dull….. The smooth warm tone of this brown is a perfect compliment to any blue or red or neutral.

Warm neutrals with texture help evoke a feeling of hospitality or home; they bring warmth to a space. These colors can be used as a base or provide an accent when used with lighter colors.

Fashion influenced this color direction for the brown family. Warm neutral greys are used with a splash of bright color (e.g., gold) creating an interesting balance of light and dark. Warm neutrals set a back drop or create the environment/surroundings to allow other elements to come through and be the focus.

Tortoise Shell. Coco Bean/Rich soil/bronze.

White will remain “hot” as a major influence of room color and product materials, but will be warmer to avoid the stark retail look of the past few years.

“Graphite” is the new "Chocolate.” It will be used as an accent and blends well with the retro-grey washed woods that are becoming popular.

With 80s retro becoming popular, a cool grey mid-tone will come back as a complement to white dove, graphite and currant red palette that was popular in the 80s but warmed up for the ‘08s.

Layer of neutrals-tone on tone variations (underlying palette in most schemes).

Blue- Green

Water colors. The color of froth at the end of a wave - effervescent - fresh & clean.

Aqua in glass accents, where the intensity varies by region and is influenced by water.

This yellow green color is a nature inspired neutral color. It would work well as an accent on upholstery, window treatments or accent walls (also an accent end in carpet).

This nature inspired neutral could be an alternative to rich greens, but can also be used with rich browns and burnt oranges. Sophisticated and universally appealing, it’s clean and simple, and when used with stronger neutrals, the look is rich. It could be used on large areas such as walls, as well as upholstery and window treatments.

Fashion has often led the way for the color and texture of interiors. It's certainly setting the stage with this vibrant yellow – green midst dusky hues of the forest trail. These colors are also seen in the whimsical art-nouveau T-strap shoes, again painting with the vibrant colors of nature.

Biomimicry – Nature influences design and color choices. This vibrant green color adds a pop of color or accent to any space. Green signifies growth, renewal, health and environment. It could be used in combination with almost any neutral color.

Yellow- Orange- Red

These red colors are intense, and enhanced by the richer wood colors. They would work as a strong accent color in conjunction with rich browns for upholstery, window treatments or small accent walls.

With eco-friendly fervor spreading across the nation in every market sector, everyone is finally getting on the sustainability band wagon. People are realizing that they are going to have to step-up and join in the green movement or they are going to be left behind. It’s affecting our decisions daily. This red color is based on nature’s vibrancy; a bright and natural color that has energy and confidence. The bright orange-red color of a blood orange relating to the color of the hibiscus in the background is the new eco-red and it’s “sustainably stylish”.

Red is always popular but will move away from the orange hues and into berry tones.

A trend from fashion is a dark navy and dark plum with a black tint.

Next, the findings from the New York workshop.

For the findings from the previous Ultron Color Trends events:
+ Seattle Designer Event Insights

+ Los Angeles Workshop

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Ultron Color Trends - Seattle Designer Event Insights

In this post, brace yourself for fascinating insights from designers in Seattle about color and color inspiration...

“Don’t go for fashion; create a space for people to work.”

Ultron Color Trends - Designer Workshops gives you background on these designer insights. In short, Ultron carpet fiber brought together seasoned designers in a first-ever series of four workshops to discuss color trends. The events took place in 2008 over an eight week period in four cities around the country: Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York. Eight to 12 designers were invited to each event and asked to bring inspiring color chips, samples, magazine articles, photos and swatches.

Ann Hurley acted as facilitator and guide for the sessions.

Here follows color family details and insights from the Seattle session:

Neutrals

Charcoal is an incredible neutral that can be used in place of black all the time. It has richness to it, without the starkness of black. Very sophisticated – can go with cool or warm.

This linen is a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous “warm white” and an easy choice for a field color on interior walls – goes great with hot oranges & orange-reds, as well as dark browns.

Clients love beige, and that will never change. Safe, versatile, available -- it’s classic. Luckily beige also has lots of texture and pattern options.
Warm grays are the happy alternative to black. Warm grey is edgy but still safe.

This dark charcoal color works well to bring drama and intensity to a space. It is severe in depth, but not as stark as black. It works especially well juxtaposed against the warmth of many oranges and yellows. It is also reminiscent of a very raw, industrial aesthetic with steel and iron, which makes it feel unexpected in an interior environment.

Oil black is power, money, greed, waste, ethical, political. Timeless. Attitude based on which color it is paired with.

Brings the atmospheric weather indoors. Soft, tranquil color. Joseph Albers in brown.

Blue- Green

Light blue grey. It’s sophisticated and rich without being ostentatious saturated and a potential classic – could infuse a lot of life into traditional interiors.

Grass green is natural and invigorating – it’s a color seen everyday, but it’s somewhat unexpected in an interior. A “feel-good” color.

Ah! Aqua. Like the acidic yellow it seems to be all over fashion and design. Instead of being excessively teal like the 1980s, it is now redefined, more soothing and androgynous. It’s a bold color that both sexes can agree with.

Clear blue green is a traditional color but with the twist of sheen and transparency. Color that holds up to tropic sun. Use with whites, blue, silver in resin panels, glass, accessories.

Sapphire blue is drama, night sky, mysterious, dreams. Use on floor, wall, upholstery. Use with sparkle silver, or pearl white.

Yellow- Orange- Red

Acid Yellow is a great accent color – unexpected, emulates light, and looks great with cool neutrals.
Influenced by pop-art painting. This is one of those colors with punch for modern office spaces.

Acidic yellow/chartreuse is all over the place… NY fashion week Spring ’08, Paris Fashion Week Fall ’08, it’s everywhere? Giving a nod to 1970, but giving it a more cutting edge techi/spin, makes it a very sexy color.

Rust/Bronze is one of those great colors that bring an interior and exterior color scheme together. It can be both masculine and feminine depending on how you use it. It adds a lot of depth and saturation as an accent.

Clearly an important accent in fashion and home. A hopeful, optimistic color. Rebellious Mauve.

Next, the findings from the Chicago Workshop.

In case you missed it, here are the findings from the Los Angeles Workshop.

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Ultron Color Trends - Los Angeles Designer Event Insights

In this post, brace yourself for fascinating insights from designers in Los Angeles about color and color inspiration...

“Color is about art and architecture……"

Ultron Color Trends - Designer Workshops gives you background on these amazing events. Ultron carpet fiber brought together seasoned designers in a first-ever series of four workshops to discuss color trends. The events took place in 2008 over an eight week period in four cities around the country: Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York.

Eight to 12 designers were invited to each event and asked to bring inspiring color chips, samples, magazine articles, photos and swatches.

Ann Hurley acted as facilitator and guide for the sessions.

Here follows color family details and insights from the Los Angeles session:

Neutrals-

Stark white has been seen everywhere in the past 10 years in a very “60’s mod” style, usually paired with bright orangey reds and blacks. This is an icy blue/white, very cool but without the harshness. Pair it with jewel-tones of a warmer hue.

White - The print and digital industry is now using interesting textured paper to print large scale graphics to create more dimensional neutrals and art prints. White is still associated with peace and hope as well as purity - it balances any color in contrast and will therefore always remain a necessity.

Metallic Silver - Technological advances are allowing greater diversity in materials and use. Hospitality is not the only industry embracing this use – Aviation lounges, terminals, institutional/educational are adapting this high tech feel without the “coldness” of the 1950s military era.

BMW Black. Timeless, pure with no metallic flecks and no other color mixture -- simplicity, formality, finality. This color can be juxtaposed to any color in almost any application - and in carpet it can be blended with any color thread. It means different things worldwide – usually very good or very bad!

Concrete-like, warm neutrality. A good “medium” hue that blends well with lighter or darker colors. Good with black, white or colors. It can be used on floors, walls, ceilings, both exterior or interior. Can be on counters, furniture, fabrics, flooring, etc. It’s modern yet “clay-like” (gray clay).

Blue - Greens

It inspires Nostalgia. Most color trends are variations of previous color trends, generally within the past 20-40 years. This color is a softer, more muted shade of lavender than was prevalent in the early 80s. It is reminiscent of the purple and white floral prints that were everywhere in the early ‘80s, but with less pastel-y quality. Pair it with a soft milky white. There have been shade variations of orange, green, blue, brown and pink in recent years, but purple has not been as popular. It will return this season.

This color is a softer, more muted cornflower blue. It evokes memories of sitting rooms, tea rooms painted cornflower blue and adorned with Delft painted ceramics.

It inspires Nostalgia. The soft minty and leaf greens are a variation of both 50s inspired hues, as well as Chinese art deco. Pair it with very soft, very muted pale yellows, grays and pale pinks, in interiors as well as for garments.

Simplicity in a crystalline mood, the power of tranquility and simplicity. The importance of light.

The aqua blue is another color on the heels of fashion/80s influence. It goes extremely well as a compliment to the yellow greens – oranges. Perfect for water related concepts, and more edgy in retail than a navy or purple/blue.

Again, mid century modern is still big – especially in S. Cal. Warmer wood tones are slowly taking over the dark espressos that have reigned the last 2-3 years. It’s also an eco friendly green color, as bamboos and cork are more sought out these days.

Yellow- Orange- Red

It references the imperial yellow glaze found on dynasty-era Chinese ceramics, as well as Moroccan tile. Pair it with brilliant blues, whites and rich chocolaty browns.

For its chameleon qualities: is it green, is it yellow. It can be used on various surfaces. It blends well w/brightly hued colors. It can be used for retail, commercial, residential, hospitality, healthcare.

The yellow green has been here for a while but it won't be going away in the next year yet. It shows up in product, interiors – everywhere. This mid century color is especially popular in LA/California because of the architecture here and trend factor. Used more in retail applications.
This red thread was found in a China factory using centuries – old techniques. Admire the "freshness” of the color. It's amazingly visible with minimal quantity and best used as an accent only and definitely sparingly. For bolder areas – could be used more generously.

+ A respect of the intrinsic identities of other cultures
+ A blend of ancient and futuristic roots
+ The power of international style

Orange - Diversification in cultures and influences of the sun still make this color universal. As foreign countries “westernize” their projects the sunset is still universally understood. This color appears in graphics still as a predominant request for high tech companies, but softer accents for residential and hospitality.

The warm orange/creamsicle color is still here to stay. Used mainly as an accent color, but works well in a variety of projects. It’s inviting, and not too trendy, but being used a lot in retail.

Next, the findings from the Seattle workshop.

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