Proportion, proportion, proportion

I love men's dress clothes and the "science" behind putting the right suit, shirt and tie together. Even selecting the right color shirt to compliment your skin tone is a learned art.

There are the different suit jacket lapels and the number of buttons to consider. The variety of shirt collars can send your head spinning. The right tie knot with the right shirt makes the outfit and don't forget about mixing shirt and tie patterns (which I think is great fun).

I recently saw this page in the Lands' End catalog and believe it or not, it made me think about interior design.

Per the catalog, "new Varsity collar. This brings back the shorter collar shape of the first Original Oxford. (Its collar points became longer over the years, to be proportional to wider ties and lapels.) Now, with narrow ties back in favor, it's time for a collar that works in perfect sync with them."

How does this tie into design? (Pun intended.) Proportion, proportion, proportion.

If you have a large scale sofa and chairs in your living room you need a coffee table that has some weight so it fits the proportion of the furnishings. If you have a large wall you need large art. A small, narrow wall needs small art. A large seating area needs a large area rug. A big table can hold a large lamp base with a big shade, whereas a skinny lamp will get lost in that same space.

In any kind of design proportion is a big factor in making or breaking great design. Take a look around you today—at all types of design and see what you see.

Now I have to run to the Lands' End department in the Columbia mall and check out the new shirt collars!

"Because I just felt like it"

There are a lot of interior design principles, theories, rules and guidelines. They come in handy to help make or explain decisions to clients.

There are times when those guidelines fail me and my ultimate reason for making a design decision is based on my eye and a gut feeling about what works. Try as I might, I can't always explain these things as well as I'd like.

Imagine my delight when I read an interview with interior designer Bunny Williams in the Aug. issue of House Beautiful.

(room by Bunny Williams as shown in Aug. '09 House Beautiful mag.)

The room shown was featured on the cover and was the topic of this discussion.

HB magazine: "That red chair throws it [the room] off, doesn't it?"

Bunny: "Somebody asked me why I put it there, and I said, 'Because I just felt like it'...."

(There was a bit more to her answer, including that "nothing matches, but it blends.")

I love that response because sometimes I feel the exact same way!

Do you love or hate the chair? Leave a comment and let me know. I love that she angled the mirror down so it reflects the room.

Now I have to catch up on the Sept. issue of the mag. and it's neat cover insert — a color card!

Happy decorating!

decorating quiz - what's YOUR style?

I just ran across this neat decorating quiz through retailer HomeGoods, called StyleScope.

Visit the website and take the quiz for yourself (you can also enter to win a $5,000 shopping spree!).

I took a few minutes to take the quiz and they said I'm Bohemian Classic.

"You have a refined sensibility and bring a sense of history and tradition into your decor. You appreciate how symmetrical arrangements and beautiful, well-crafted pieces create a solid foundation to a room. But you like to shake up this restraint with objects and accessories that express your personality and your love of other cultures. When traveling, you seek out unique objects that reflect what you love, and you use them in a sophisticated way. You want people to feel comfortable in your home, and cozy chairs, ethnic fabrics, unique pieces, and even a little touch of quirk or humor give your house a laid-back, Bohemian flair.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect."

Some of this sounds right, but the color pallet they gave me wasn't exactly my vibe. Fun quiz though.

Report back on your results. Do they fit your current style? Help you define your style? Or, did the results surprise you? Or, inspire you!

I want to know. Really!

stashing the toys!

This is for all of the parents out there who are reading this!



happy decorating!