Are you looking for a fresh color to accent with for the new year?  Well, the 2012 color of the year has been announced by Pantone and has been named  17-1463 Tangerine Tango. This bold color is both energetic and spirited and cannot go unnoticed!  Called both exotic and friendly, this color is sure to make a statement in the coming year!




“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”





Over the past several seasons, orange has been an important color both in the fashion world and in interiors. 




Beyonce wearing a beautiful Tangerine Lanvin gown in Los Angeles to the M TV Music awards.

 

This photo is from the Kravet / Lee Jofa Fabrics showroom in the Washington Design Center, and showcases how tangerine can be successfully incorporated into interiors- even the bedroom.




This bold color also serves as a great accent for art and accessories.  These tangerine vases are mixed with silver- fabulous pieces from Global Views, an accessory company that stays right on top of the trends.





Beautiful wallpapers are emerging in this great color, like the pattern Orissa from Thibalt.





If you are looking for a fun way to spice up your new year, Tangerine Tango is the perfect color to get you there! Hope you have a happy and colorful New Year!

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The Boho Chic look is so fabulous right now- such fresh and vibrant colors that are so welcome this time of year!  Consider bringing this look into your interors with accents that will freshen up any room.  What is Boho Chic?  The definition from Wikipedia say that boho-chic is a style of fashion drawing on various bohemian influences.  What is bohemian?  Well, it is described as a way of living unconventionally and very artistically & spirited.   I love my interiors to have an artistic and spirited look to them!

We are receiving fabrics in daily that can bring this look to life in your home.  We have some fabulous fabrics that fall in line with this style.  Fresh and bold colors as well as sultry neutrals in patterns and prints will make a huge statement with a small investment. 

Pillows are a great way to seasonally change out the accents in your room.  They also can make a statement in your outdoor living area such as in the photo below from a job we completed in Mexico. 




Trimmings also can be a great way to emphasize this look.  With vintage styles and bright colors, trim can bring the boho look to a plain window covering. We have many spools of beautiful trims in stock for this!

 

If the bold boho look is too much for you, there are beautiful fabrics that lend themselves to this look.  Here is a master bedroom that we did that showcases a beautiful bed in amazing fabrics that could lend themselves to the boho flair.



I hope you can stop in to see our beautiful fabrics and trims, and I would love to help you to incorporate this look into your interiors!

Happy designing,

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An Inside Story

Window treatments such as valances and draperies don’t always have to be mounted outside the window casing.  In some situations, mounting window treatments inside the window casing is a good thing.  Beautiful molding or other architectural elements might be better left uncovered, while a fabric treatment still could enhance the window and overall feel of the interior of the room.   Below are a few examples of jobs that we have done where inside mounting the window treatments was a great option.

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Are you seeing GREEN this time of year- not from St. Patrick's Day, but from the tree pollin that has settled all over your patio furnishings?  Don't dispair!  Sunbrella fabrics are to the rescue!  These great fabrics clean up like a dream, and that green stuff will be gone in no time!  Sunbrella offers velvets, chenilles, jacquards and more all which make the outdoor fabrics now look like lush indoor fabrics!  Outdoor trimmings also are available to enhance your cushions, pillows and more.  Great Drapery fabrics and sheers are available also, which can turn your outdoor dining area into a true retreat.



To clean Sunbrella fabrics, there are many options.  You can spot clean, hand wash, machine wash or even get out stubborn stains with a solution of bleach and water.  Do not dry clean them however!  Sunbrella fabrics have a special finish that enhances water repellency, and this finish will last for several years.  This finish can also be refreshed with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard after a thorough cleaning.   I just finished cleaning my own cushions, and they look as good as new, even after being outdoors for several years now.  I simply took the inserts out, and popped them into the washing machine.  By putting the covers back onto the inserts wet, the covers dry perfectly to the shape of the insert, and they look fabulous.  Sunbrella fabrics are so great due to their colorfastness.  Superior Sunbrella color pigments are added during the production of fade-resistant Sunbrella fiber. The end result is Sunbrella yarn and fabric with color throughout that won't fade or wash away – even with extreme exposure to the sun or cleaning with bleach! Sunbrella says it like this:  think of a carrot with color through to the core that can't be peeled away. In ordinary fabrics, dyes are added to the surface of the yarn or fabric. The color only penetrates the outer layer and washes out or fades away over time. Think of a radish which is red outside but white in the middle.  The color in Sunbrella fabrics penetrates all the way to the core, ensuring years of vibrant color and performance.

Sunbrella fabrics are also great to use indoors for very durable and super cleanable upholstery, drapery, bedding and more. The other great news, is that Sunbrella fabrics are fully recyclable, and they have received the GREENGUARD certification meaning that they contribute to healthy indoor air.  I recently went to hear Joe Ruggiero, designer & HGTV star speak about how he uses Sunbrella fabrics for his new indoor furniture line, and the look is truly beautiful. 

Woodlands Fabrics & Interiors offers a large selection of special order Sunbrella fabrics, and we also have several in stock bolts as well. We hope you will consider us to help to make your outdoor area a true retreat that is also easy to maintain!



  *The top 2 photos in this article are from jobs completed by Woodlands Fabrics & Interiors and Charpell Luxury Interiors using Sunbrella fabrics.  The chair photo is from Joe Ruggiero's new furniture line featuring Sunbrella fabrics. **Technical info on Sunbrella fabrics from www.sunbrella.com

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Are you looking for that special something to make your room come to life and feel pulled together?  It could be as simple as adding some unexpected detailing to your windows.  Often times, transom windows are left untrimmed, untreated and are crying for attention. Tub windows are often left frosted and looking drab.  Don’t let these eyesores go untreated!  One of our favorite ways to combat these design challenges is with the product Tableaux Faux Iron.  

Tableaux is a very beautiful and versatile product.  First, the Tableaux product can be custom sized to any opening, therefore it can be made to fit exact size specifications.  Second, the designs are unlimited.  Standard designs are available to choose from, or any custom design can be incorporated and custom created. Would you like to have your family crest or initial in the design?  Do you love fleur de lis or lion heads?  No problem!  If you can dream it, Tableaux can make it.   Various mounting options also can be used for inside, outside or wall mount applications making this product very versatile.  The price point is also a plus, as Tableaux is a very affordable and well priced. Tableaux can be specified for indoor or outdoor use.  And to top it all off, it is a green, environmentally friendly product!  Tableaux is made from 100% recovered and recycled wood fibers and formaldehyde-free resin, therefore is much lighter than iron and is water resistant. 

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Are you needing a fresh look for your interiors but don't have a huge budget or a lot of time?  Look up!  Your lighting fixtures offer a great opportunity for making a huge impact on the look of a room.   Get creative and think outside of the box!  Use multiple fixtures for a fun look, or make a statement with one fabulous piece.

 

Don't be afraid to mix up your styles a little bit- many of the new contemporary fixtures are a great and fun way to add a pop to a traditional room.   Hammered metal chandeliers are a fun way to add interest, and their glow when the light is turned on creates a fabulous mood!

The boho look is so popular now, and lighting can really set the mood with this theme.  These fixtures take on a dramatic look when the light eminates through the pierced electroplated copper and nickel openings with small amber beads giving them a sparkling glow.




This Florida room had ceiling fans in it that were never used. What a great opportunity we had to change the fans out to beautiful chandeliers.  This simple change allowed the room to become a fabulous place to relax and entertain.

 
BEFORE                                                                                    AFTER



Lighting can also offer a chance to bring color and texture  into a room.  There are some fabulous new colors arriving on the lighting scene.

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Set your home's interior goals and intentions for the New Year!  Click on the read more button below to see this Master Bedroom's transformation by Woodlands Fabrics & Interiors!

This January, set a resolution list for all that you hope and intend to get done for your home this year.  Planning ahead can save time and money in the long run, and can help to avoid stress due to unrealistic expectations.  This month I will be featuring several easy home improvement ideas to consider for your interior design wish list.  

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Showcase your mantel this year in a fabulous way by mixing in lit garlands, beautiful floral stems, ornaments and more.  Get creative with your accessories and have fun!  Beautiful stockings can set the tone for the holidays, and will be treasured by your family for years to come.  We like to make patchwork stockings with lush fabrics, trims and jewels with beautiful embroidery.   We are taking orders now for custom stockings for next year and we would love to make them for you!

A trick that we like to use is to secure your mantel decorations to a board that is covered in fabric to keep the items in place.  We staple over the stems of the garland to hold in place, and then weave in the floral stems, lights, ornaments and more.  Especially if heavy stocking holders are used, securing them to a board will help to keep them from falling if little hands are tugging on the stockings.  At the end of the holidays, it is also helpful to wrap the mantel garland on the board to store for next year.

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Are you wanting to take your holiday Decorating to the next level?  We have some great tips and tricks of the trade that we would love to share with you.  

Every year, we begin our holiday decorating for our clients the week before Thanksgiving.  It is a fun and festive time to begin the creative process of transforming a home into a holiday oasis.  I will be writing a series of blogs over the next 2 weeks to share some of the tips and tricks that we have learned over the years.  

The first step is to take the time to go through your existing decorations and weed out the old tired decorations that need to go.  Donate them to shelters, Goodwill, etc.  Spread a couple of sheets out and lay everything out to analyze what you have and create a "keep" and a "go" pile.  Determine your overall desired look- don't be afraid to add multiple trees throughout the house to allow you to use those special ornaments while also having a "designer" tree in another room.   Decide if you want garland on the stair banister, around the front door, on the mantles.  Make a "wish list" to use for shopping.  Take photos of the existing pieces you have to take with you.  If your existing artificial garland or tree is looking a bit tired, but new is not in the budget, purchase several pine stems to disburse through it to give it a face lift.  Lightly spray  with a great pine scented room spray.  (Frasier Fir from Thymes is our Favorite)  I also like to spray an unscented dryer sheet when packing up after the holidays and toss it in the bin with the garland.

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