Thursday, December 21st, 2017
Who says pastels are just for spring?
Pastels are popping almost everywhere and every season. The interior design industry is brimming with these amazingly refreshing colors. While they are pretty, in the wrong hands, they can turn a tad too girly.
A Single Pastel
If you want just a simple update this holiday season, then all you need to do is to pick just a single piece for your home. An example is when you choose a pastel sofa, say, a soft, blue tone. This is neutral enough for any room and it can easily last through the years.
Going monochromatic with your pastel is a great idea because it means – you mean business. If you are obsessed with the beauty of gray-green, then find a way to incorporate it into every piece that you would pick for a particular room in your home.
Pastel Pairing
Or you can make a statement by using multiple pastels. To play with pastels, use a tone that you particularly like then bring it the room that you like most. Find two or more of this same seating unit to complete the pairing.
Dependably Pink
What could be more pastel and candy-like than pastel pink?
A room can be pretty in pink without being saccharine. Pick modern pastel pinks in florals and soft solids. Find textiles with these hues for the ultimate fusion.
It is always best to try smaller pieces at first. A few pastel pink accents should be enough to jump-start your pastel adventure.
If you have a chiefly gray or any neutral-colored room, then it would be easier for you to slink into your pastel mode. Pastel pink is naturally at home with shades of gray.
Pastel Cabinets
Pastels are a great way to soften or freshen up a room. But more than just pastel cushions or throws, you can make better and bolder use of these colors by painting your cabinets with them. When you do this, you are introducing an interesting amount of texture and depth into a room.
Pastels have been dominant in the past years and for a good reason. Dusted heathers, as well as blues, work amazingly well on cabinetry and architecture. Praline hues have a calming effect because they have a gentle sense of simplicity in them.
Your pastel-painted cabinet could be your one hero piece.
Sugary Shades on Homeware
Pastels are always on the interior design menu. Don’t think that they are limited to spring. If you want a pastel holiday this year, then, by all means, go for it.
Frosted hues are going to look great with your Christmas decorative elements. Just imagine how beautiful your pastel blue would be with your silver bells, frost, and hollies.
Use pastel tableware. This is the easiest way to add pastel to your kitchen and the dining room. There are many decorating stores and shops that sell these colorful wares. When running out of ideas, just go for pastel accessories such as planters and throws.
Pastel Mix
Pastels are whimsical hues. They may have been used more in spring but they can also become popular this holiday season. Find pastel accessories that you can pair with your bigger furniture pieces. A light blue decorative bowl will look perfect with a traditional lamp with green shade.
Pillows in different pastel colors add a wonderful touch to a chair, couch or a bed. Consider the hues that your room currently has. Pick colors that jive well with these current colors.
Light yellow and purple are amazing hues to work with when you want to create a comfy and serene environment.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, pastel, pastel color palette, pastel color scheme, pastel palette, pastels
Posted in 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Winter Season | Comments Off on A Pastel Holiday
Wednesday, December 20th, 2017
If you’re still categorizing pastel colors as hues only for girls’ bedrooms or nurseries, then you’re hugely mistaken. There is so much more to these awesome colors that can freshen up and uplift the natural beauty of homes. Gone are those days when they are just paired with equally neutral colors. These days, they can go with pretty much any color that you can think of including black.
Here are many other pastel pairings that will surely amaze you –
Pastels + White Elements
Pastels are growing to be more and more stylish each year. These wonderful soft colors can be infused in a bedroom that’s chiefly white. When you do so, more often than not, the result is a wonderful modern yet sophisticated room.
Just imagine the delicious ambiance that pastel green walls can provide to white furniture pieces. Or if you prefer it the other way around, place pastel furniture inside a mainly white room.
Pastels together with white walls can make even the smallest rooms appear spacious. This is also one of the reasons why pastels are becoming more popular. While they are light-colored, they are far from boring unlike the usual neutrals that dominate many homes. Just picture a unique mint green or sunny yellow bedroom – ain’t it awesome?
Pastels + Traditional Prints
How about filling a sunny room with fresh pastels and traditional elements? The former is quite cheerful and so they are the perfect elements that would balance the rest of the old-fashioned elements.
Classic prints such as lattice, checks, and seersucker blend pretty well with any pastel color. They can also help make the place appear more laidback.
Unique Pastels
When talking about pastels, don’t automatically go for pastel pink or blue, or their cousins green and yellow. There are so many other tints of pastels that you can experiment with. Don’t be bound by just the classics. When you’re feeling up to it, you can also use purple or the incredibly chic pale mustard yellow.
Pastels + Earthy Pieces
You just gotta love pastels because they pair up with just about any style and color that you can think of. If you love rustic, earthy pieces, then pastels are just as wonderful with them. Try pairing a leather chair with some pastel elements, say, some pastel throws or a pastel area rug. Even a unique sculptural lamp with pastel shade would look great with wood furniture.
Dirty Pastels
‘Ever heard of dirty pastels?
Pastel colors are supposed to be soothing, washed out or soft. But when you choose to be unique by combining pastels of different tints and shades, you could come across something more interesting – dirty pastels.
Some of known dirty pastels include #c3a3a3 (which has a red value of 195, green value of 163, and a blue value of 163), #baa0a8 (RGB of 186, 160, 168); #aa97ab (RGB 170, 151, 171); #9492b0 (RGB 148, 146, 176); and #929fb0 (RGB 146, 159, 176).
Pastels with a tinge of brown or gray also work well with the serenity of pastels. If you want to achieve a seamless look, paint the trim with the same color family as the walls. Don’t always go for standard-issue neutrals.
The Pastel In-betweens
Another strategy to make good use of pastel colors is to surround them with white and then to use an accent that is saturated with the same hue. An example is when you use pale pastel pink with deep coral for a romantic yet not-too-feminine look.
Pastel Contrasts
Periwinkle. This is an interesting color that will make red accessories stand out. If you want to follow this same pattern throughout your home, then pick a pastel color for your walls and then finish with a stronger, bolder color right across the color wheel (e.g. pastel pink walls go well with turquoise accents).
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, pastel, pastel color palette, pastel color scheme, pastel interior design, pastels
Posted in 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Modestly Pastel
Friday, December 8th, 2017
Isn’t it amazing to stock up on food and other necessities when winter is approaching? Your mind goes through the wide-ranged checklist consisting of warm socks, bottles of wine, flashlights and batteries, and even some new board games. Having knowledge that you have all that you need during the winter season is a great way to jump-start your holiday coziness.
Stock #1: Firewood
If you have a fireplace or a wood stove, then it is a must to stock up on dry wood. This is essential, nay, crucial to your warmth during those cold, cold days.
Wood even looks amazing as a decorative element since it looks amazing when neatly stacked in a corner or right by the fireplace. If you don’t want to worry about critters, though, it is best to have the logs stored in a wide shed outdoors. Be sure to prevent snow from seeping through, or you’d be burning damp logs for the rest of the holidays.
If you happen to have a covered porch, then this is also an amazing spot to place your wood pile. This view is also a wonderful way to welcome your guests as they pay a visit to your family during the holidays.
Stock #2: Winter Clothing
While you may have the most fashionable line of coats and boots, it also pays to have the types that are for day-to-day wear. For 2017 Winter Fashion that’s wearable, you can have a pair or more of ski jackets. These slope-worthy jackets can even look good with slacks and pointy heels.
Winter is also the season for extra-long sleeves. Say yes to Rihanna’s sleeves that extend past the fingers. If this is too flimsy for you, then you can always go for the reliable puffer coats. They can be fashionably cool while offering you the right insulation for the coldest season.
This is also the moment to bring out your turtlenecks and wear them underneath long dresses. It’s a winter wardrobe that’s sassy and comfy.
Of course, winter is the season for boots. So make the Spice Girls swoon as you rock those winter boots. Warm socks should also be a part of your winter fashion. Your feet deserve to be warm during winter so stock up on thick, plush socks. Find the ones that are non-slip so that you can wear them while in your slippers.
Stock #3: Throws and Cozy Bedding
Winter calls for a different set of bedding. Think of thick layer of wool blankets, flannel sheets, and duvet covers. Add in some colorful throws or throws in neutral shades if you wanna go Scandinavian.
There is nothing better than to curl up to a ball and read a novel while you’re tucked cozily underneath these fresh sheets. Of course, don’t forget the warm mug of hot choco.
Stock #4: Books, Candles, and Wines
Being snowed-in is the perfect time to catch up on your reading. Set up a lovely bookshelf near your reading nook. Don’t forget the table or task lamp that will make your readings more comfy. Plump up a huge pillow and just lie on the thick, carpeted floor.
You can also read in front of the fireplace as the firewood crackles busily. Then pour yourself a glass of wine as you read the misadventures of your favorite heroine. If the fireplace is non-existent then just recreate the warm glow of the fireplace with lots of candles.
Stock #5: Bath Oils
What could be more relaxing than to have a warm, aromatic bath after a long, cold day? You can even do your readings in the bathroom. Just prep your bath put in the scented bath oils then prop your book, candle, and reading glasses.
After bathing, it’s time to enjoy some board games and puzzles with your family.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, prepping for winter, winter interior design, winter interiors
Posted in 2017 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Winter Season | Comments Off on Stocking for the Holidays: The 5 Simple Snowed-in Pleasures
Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017
How do you feel around the color orange? This hue is an energetic and strong color because, to begin with, it is the fusion of two powerful colors – red and yellow. No wonder, orange is attention-grabbing which is why it is often used in ads.
People look at orange and they feel suddenly happy, bright, and uplifted. Too much of it and it can be overwhelming, too. Just like purple, this bright and standout color is a controversial one. You either love or hate it – there are no gray areas or feelings for it.
So how do you use orange so that you won’t appear vulgar or blatant?
It is crucial that you understand how the feelings associated with orange are not universal, meaning, culture and other factors also play a role in how you perceive this color.
The way you perceive orange also plays a role in how you are going to successfully use it in your home. If orange is linked to autumn then, in your mind, you will feel positive feelings about it. It could be inadvertently linked to activities done during the holidays.
Orange can both be energetic yet spiritual. If there is one universal thing about orange, it is that it almost always become the center of attention. This is a color that is definitely begging to be looked upon.
Orange Interiors
Just imagine carrot-colored area rugs or apricot bathroom tiles – all these achieve a reputation of being retro-chic. Are you going to be in when you decide to use orange at the end of this year?
Oh, absolutely. Just try not to think of this exciting color as something that you should avoid. Use it, instead, to your advantage.
Orange + White
Just like lime green and banana yellow, if you do paint your walls with a vibrant color such as orange, of course, every activity there will be equally vibrant. Don’t let this color make you overexcited, though, as it can be toned down to compliment other color schemes.
The most basic way of doing this is to opt for the simple combo – orange and white. Time to break up those orange carpets with white details then keep repeating the look with white cornices and whitewashed woodwork.
If you like the idea of having an orange accent wall, then be sure to keep the other three plain. Break up this look by placing whitewashed cabinet right in front of that exciting accent wall.
Not too many people decide to use orange in their bedrooms but should you do so, be sure to use white linen and mix with orange and white pillow covers. White and orange drapes also work well in a more relaxed environment.
Orange Living Room
An awesome way to use orange is for it to add the necessary warmth in an otherwise cold ambiance. Just imagine a reception room with an orange accent wall – it’s like screaming welcome, we love having you here!
Predominantly white living rooms badly need a breath of energetic orange. Mid-orange tint should do the trick and should be amazing enough to create a little excitement in any boring space. Add natural light and you can even get away with two orange accent walls.
Twin Tone It
‘Tired of using orange as mere accent color? Then you’re one of the bolder few. Go ahead and use it alongside other vibrant hues such as yellow and red. Mid-orange walls work well with sienna ceilings just as yellow ceilings also work with a single orange wall.
Orange Details
Now, down to the details. Your guest bedroom, for instance, can be the home for orange, brown, and gray hues. Orange will dominate, of course, especially when you use it at the center of the activity such as when it is an area rug or a lampshade.
Detailing works for chairs, too.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, orange, orange as a design element, orange color psychology, orange in interior design, orange interior design, orange interiors
Posted in 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Orange Picks for Your Home
Tuesday, September 5th, 2017
Pantone, the color-management company, announced on the advent of 2017 that the Color of the Year was Greenery. This is a refreshing shade, one that revitalizes the homeowner’s senses without difficulty. It is a color that symbolizes beginnings.
Pantone Greenery can also be a striking shade. If you don’t look carefully, you might mistake it for lime green. It can strike a punch especially when you compare it to the colors of the year in 2016 – Serenity and Rose Quartz.
Pantone Green and Mother Nature
This year’s chief color practically begs everyone to notice the beauty of nature once more. People can reconnect with Mother Nature and should even begin to look at nobler purposes in life.
Pantone Greenery should also be relevant in the sense that the world is now slowly embracing green living.
Green living, also known as sustainable living, is a lifestyle wherein the people who sign up to do it bring balance to Earth’s natural habitats, resources, and biodiversity. Sustainable living points out that humans are very much a part of their surroundings, thus, they are affected by the Earth’s movements and environments.
More and more people are enamored by the practices that have little to zero impact on the environment. These people agree to the reduction of consumption and waste and they carry over these practices to their living arrangements.
A nature-centered lifestyle also means finding sustainable means to redo or redesign your space. This means using low to non-VOC paint and green flooring. You see, your home is where you socialize, cook, relax, and where you raise your kids. Of course, you would want it to be inviting and nurturing.
Remaking your space means changing the colors as well. You can begin by using Pantone Greenery. This is a culturally-significant hue that you can use in small doses throughout your home. If you choose a larger palette for this hue, then Pantone Greenery is also perfect.
Green, after all, is the fusion of yellow and blue; yellow which is the color of the sun and blue which is the color of the skies and the waters of the Earth. You could never go wrong with green as it is the visual anchor that represents rainforests, jungles, grasses, and trees.
Decorating your bathroom and kitchen with Pantone Greenery is a wonderful way to make these rooms come to life. Imagine having the walls of your bathroom splashed with this refreshing color. If this is too bold for you, then you can just have the bathtub and the sink come in this color. If these, too, don’t work, then you can have just a few accent pieces brought in.
Psychology in Greenery
Apart from beginnings and freshness, green is the color of safety, harmony, and fertility. It can affect you and your family mentally and physically. It is youthful and relaxing so it can easily alleviate depression, anxiety, and nervousness.
Green has the same amazing coolness that blue offers. It is directly related to energy and nature which is why it is chiefly used to advertise or promote medical products.
Pantone Greenery on Greeneries
The greenery effect can be carried a notch higher as you bring in potted plants or greens in vases. This is an effortless way to bring joy into your home without visually overwhelming anyone.
Plants can be placed on table tops or shelves, even on bedside tables. It is an effective way to break the boring color palette that is usually seen in homes. A stark white home can also look less unadorned if you bring in those potted greeneries.
Tags: greenery, Greenery for 2017, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Pantone color of the year, Pantone Greenery
Posted in 2017 Trends, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Greenery for 2017: Making Sense of Pantone’s Color of the Year
Wednesday, July 5th, 2017
(Fourth of a Six-Part Series)
Of late, more and more homeowners have become braver and bolder in terms of their color choices. Even interior designers have experimented with different color palettes. These just prove that your home can also be dressed uniquely and in the most unexpected way possible. You could use the hottest colors right now or create a signature shade that is just oozing with who you are.
Every year, color trends are decided upon in both the fashion and design industries. These are forecasted first, then created in design studios. Pantone is an example of this. Pantone colors are the hottest in the furniture and fashion communities so it is no surprise that the trendiest styles often trickle down to homes.
The Trendy Colors of 2017
So which hues should you gear towards?
Plum is a rich hue that has made a lot of designers and homeowners drool. You can instantly glam up a space when you pair this interesting color with gold or any vibrant hue. This is unexpected hue to use inside a bedroom or a modern kitchen but it is something that you can try.
Lavender is one of the most reliable spring colors. Though it’s already summer, you can still use as an unexpected wall adornment. Do the ombre method and you’re on the right track.
Red is also red hot these days. It can be a fall color but it can also work for summer with a little adjustment on which hues you pair it with. It can be the partner of crisp white, deep blue or light gray.
Mint is one of the lightest tints of green. This can be used on retro glassware, platter, or the major furnishings against a neutral palette.
Caribbean blue is also hot. This is the right color to use this summer as it evokes feelings of seaside vacations. Try this as a bold accent or against neutral palettes. The softer shades of blue would do to fill your walls with a classic color.
Paisley is also a light tint of blue. It’s not just a term used in English design which uses boteh or buta which have Persian origins. Use blue paisley as an accent hue. Even if this was trendy back in 2015, nothing can keep this color down in terms of being loved.
Metallic colors are also hot, hot, hot! Check out weathered brass and how it can liven up your own home. The polished version of brass gives an ‘80s retro vibe that is simply difficult to ignore. Brass accents will also surely steal the show in any transitional kitchen.
From metallic and fun, why not go to the more consistent yet still trendy hue that is Earl Grey. This color – even when used sparingly – lends coziness and warmth. Use it inside the bedroom as a combination of blush pink, burgundy, soft orange, or the deeper shades of lavender.
Pumpkin or the color orange is a warm hue that is perfect for summer and all-year round decorating. Use it as a major color and you can have creamy beige as accents and hints everywhere else.
Stripes and summer are synonymous. Think of beach homes and preppy habitats. Stripes are versatile and depending on the combinations, it can be classical or modern.
Coral – the burnt type – is the classic peachy shade of pink. Use it during spring or summer – or whenever you want to – it is just perfect.
Watercolor technique is also hot this 2017. It is best achieved through a structured ombre-inspired wall color or wall treatments. Use it also as a drippy pattern which is unexpected so it is amazingly unique. Go ahead and swirl and twirl.
Tags: fashionable colors, hot colors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, trendy colors, trendy hues
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Thursday, June 8th, 2017
What could be a more calming thought than to spend your summer vacation in one of the most relaxing places on the planet? The Greek island Santorini is one such place. Designing your Greek dream home takes a lot more than copying the look of Santorini off a magazine.
More often than not, Greek homes are nestled on a cliff. The home’s structure is almost always made of natural stones (some are even made of volcanic stones). The red stones which are often collected from the mountains tend to blend beautifully with the outdoors.
Picture the living area with low tables and heirloom-looking furniture pieces. Visualize also some cotton hand-woven rugs in their proper areas. These will also look great when installed upon handmade floors (usually a mixture of white sand and cement.
When you’re looking from a Greek isle, you are likely to see blue skies and turquoise waters. You will see vivid, panoramic views so Greeks didn’t even think of fighting it. The scenic beauty is too hard to resist anyway so you might as well frame it.
Greeks decided to build their buildings, hotels and even their homes right around the dramatic, picturesque views.
Maximizing the Hot Sun of Greece
Since Greece is best known for its scorching hot weather, a lot of homes are made of stone. This is so the heat is effectively blocked throughout the year while cool air is still blown in. Most Greek homes are also plastered with white stucco or painted white.
White walls are also effectively used to deflect the hotness instead of absorbing it. The whiteness of the walls also automatically provide a more serene and relaxing ambience. Most of the island homes open up their interiors to take advantage of the summery weather. A lot of doorways and windows are open.
To make the room appear exciting instead of bare, these white or frescoed walls have a single woven rug hanging. Your eyes will surely be drawn to that focal point.
Greek Furnishings
Most of the furnishings in Greece are upholstered either with linen or white cotton. This is an awesome way to guard the tranquil mood. At times, the interiors also reflect a rustic look. There are, occasionally, some timbers decorating the ceiling or even the walls.
Stones are almost always exposed in homes and most are even used as wall treatments.
Most of the furniture pieces in Greek homes are French or English antique looking. Most are carved and are dark-hued. The Greeks have adopted the furniture styles of both nations then they eventually added their own touch.
The Greek chair called klismos was introduced all the way back in the 5th century BC. This is still popularly used in many homes in that country today. This chair has a beautiful, curved back and those distinct splayed legs.
Go Eclectic
Many Greek interiors display an eclectic style. This is usually done in hotel interiors and the more modern homes. Modern furnishings are also almost always embraced. Ultrasuede and leather are most welcome. While white walls are still widely used, they are now offset by the colorful, bright fabrics that are used throughout the home.
The traditional Greek style hasn’t died, though. You can still find some homes displaying sculptures as well as other artistic stone objects. It is also common to see woven baskets as storage units. These are all mixed with modern furniture, giving Greek homes a distinctive look.
Greek homes these days are also modest in terms of style and scale. While the Greek furniture styles were handed down by the French and English, they are still distinctive because of the things that they are matched with such as figural sculptures, pottery and antique-looking furniture.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, summer palette
Posted in 2017 Trends, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Summer Season | Comments Off on Greek Interior Design – The Most Relaxing Style This Summer
Thursday, May 25th, 2017
If you’re thinking that sheer curtains are just for older, more traditional homes, think again. Sheers can be used in just about any home, in fact, it would never be unfashionable.
The timelessness of sheer curtains is what makes them work with traditional and even modern interior designs. Any style in between would work well with it, too. Sheers allow a good amount of light to come into homes. They work pretty well as wall-to-wall treatments as they create an awesome backdrop that will anchor the room. Even an architecturally interesting room would remain so as sheer curtains will not hide the beauty of your home’s features.
Sheer curtains also work well with patterns. In fact, they offer a visual relief from the busy prints from other parts of the room. It would be great if you could layer sheers under a block-colored drape. The sheers would provide light filtering as well as a chic look for a more hotel-y appeal.
Sheer curtains will also be able to stand alone. A romantic, airy bedroom will look more so if the windows are draped with sheers and paired with white painted brick walls. If light and privacy are never issues inside the bedroom, then you could hang sheers to show the greeneries outside. Nothing can be dreamier than this.
Sheers look wonderful when they are long and elegant. They look like a flowing element right by the window. They look especially wonderful in a rustic room. If you are not sure about the length, then choose the longer cuts instead of the short ones so that the fabric will slightly pool to the ground rather than left hanging.
Sheer curtains are often displayed in white or an off-white color. But if you are in a better mood, then you can always add a sophisticated flair to your sheer curtain ensemble. A pale wall would do better with pastel or gray sheers.
Be sure to pick a material that has a hint of sheen on it. Either this, or you pair the sheers with metallic items, a sparkling mirror or a glamorous wall décor.
Sheer curtains are also a wonderful choice for harmonizing mismatched windows. Two large windows with asymmetrical shapes would look nicer with gray sheer curtains. These will not feel off as the floor-to-ceiling look would make the windows appear seamless.
If using in front of a wide window, the basic white sheers would offer the needed broken sections. You can also combine these with panels for a fuller, more appropriate length that would reach the ground.
It would also be nice to match the colors of the sheer curtains with that of the textured walls. You can blend the two elements with some soft lines dissipating the structural look of the windows. The light and airy vibe is achieved in this manner.
For a more Bohemian flair, it would be nice to pair pastel plain sheers with patterned ones. Be amazed with the colorful sunlight coming in.
Sheer Materials and Designs to Choose From
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