Accessories are like jewelry for your home.  Without them, your home will feel naked & as if something is missing.  Check out a few of my favorite budget friendly accessories that I showcased on GMT last Friday.

When setting your budget for your room design, make sure to leave ample room for the accessories.  Accessories include rugs, lamps, art & decorative items that help tie your whole look together.  A good rule of thumb is to allow 1/3 of your overall budget for accessories.  You may end up spending more if you find a few items that you just can’t live without.  Or, you may end up spending less if you take your time to find really good deals.  Whatever the case, it’s a good idea to set money aside to complete your room’s look.

A few quick pointers to help you get you started:
*Pairings &  groupings of items can help create balance & symmetry in your room.

*Remember size & scale: choose items that are in proportion with your furnishings.  Small items will quickly get lost on a larger piece & larger items will overwhelm a smaller piece.

*Vary the height of items by using books to stack accessories.  Height variations add visual interest & allow your eye to peruse the space with a steady flow.

*Make it personal:  Pick up treasures on your travels that can be used as accessories in your home.  Displaying items that are meaningful help tell a story about you & your family in your space.

Can you over do it?  Absolutely!  You don’t need to cover every inch of wall or table top space with art & other accessories.  Less really is more. 

Carefully select items that help relate to the color story & style of your room.  A pair of lamps, a fabulous piece of art & some unique blown glass  may be all you need to dress up a console for your entry or family room.

*Top photo is from IBB Design Fine Furnishings & bottom photo is from the home of an IBB client.

The kiddos will soon be out of school & begging to play in the pool all day everyday to beat the heat.  If you’re looking for inspiration for your home’s color palette, why not consider a few sizzling summer colors?  Last week on GMT, we chatted about one of my all time favorite color combinations ~ Turquoise & Tangerine.  It sounds so chic just rolling off your tongue, but when you combine the two hues with crisp whites or other neutrals it instantly satisfies your need for exceptional eye candy.  Whenever I’m around the powerful color duo, I dream of sitting on a beach in the Caribbean drinking a Hibiscus Martini.

Watch the segment here to get a few ideas on incorporating these summer inspired colors into your home.

You read it right!  Gray does not have to mean boring, drab or dreary!  Gray is actually quite the glamorous neutral.  It serves as a wonderful back drop for colors that pop like a sunny yellow or feminine lavender.  I also loves shades of blue like aqua with gray.  Picture it with Hermes orange.  I’m using that color combination for a client in Dallas right now.

I featured a swanky sitting area of gray & yellow on GMT last Friday & created quite a buzz about the hot neutral.  Watch the video here.

Make no mistake, gray is certainly hot on the scene right now, but it’s a timeless neutral that has been used in interior design for generations.  It’s always been a favorite especially amongst those who love the look of Hollywood Glamor.

Benjamin Moore makes two of my favorite shades of gray to use.  Wickham Gray will lightly wash your walls with a subtle yet fresh gray.  Dior Gray,  on the other hand, will give you instant drama with a rich blue undertone.  It’s simply stunning.  I actually walked into my friend Shelly’s house recently only to discover that her master bedroom is painted in this stylish gray.  I’ve also specified it for an upcoming project for a client’s office.

So, my fellow design devotees, I encourage you to embrace this neutral color & get glamorous!

Last Friday on GMT, I gave viewers some helpful pointers on things to look for when shopping for upholstery.  I have to give a big shout out to my Twitter friend Carl for suggesting a very helpful pointer to give everyone.  Thanks Carl!  Watch the video here.

Let’s use the photo above & discuss few things to keep in mind concerning cushions when you’re selecting upholstery for your home.

1. Upholstery Styles:
   Here we have a tight back sofa by Hickory Chair.  A tight back has a very structured & tidy look.  There are no back cushions to fluff.  We added a few throw pillows for comfort & to soften the look.  Decorative pillows are always a great way to add a punch of style.
2. Cushion Type:
   Multi-cushion box seat:
   Multi cushions are great for durability.  You can flip & fluff them as needed.  This comes in handy when you need to flip a cushion to hide a stain that won’t come out.  A box cushion is shaped like a box & generally finished off with a welt cord.
3. Chairs:
   Here we have a dark wood frame with upholstered loose “T” cushions also by Hickory Chair.  A “T” cushion simply wraps the arm of a chair or sofa to form a “T”.

Today on Good Morning Texas, I gave a few quick tips for choosing the perfect coffee table for your room.  It’s important that you select a coffee table for your home that not only has form & function, but also makes a statement in the room.  Watch the segment here.

Rectangular leather tray coffee table (pictured left) by John Richard.  4 upholstered bunching ottomans by Design Guild.  Both available at IBB Design Furniture Showroom.

Tips for selecting the perfect coffee table
1.  The standard height for a coffee table  is 17”-19”  (Contemporary designs often use lower tables.)

One of my all time favorite coffee tables!  This eglomise stunner is by John Richard.  I especially love the shape & legs on this table.

2.  Positioning your coffee table:
Place at least 18” away from your chairs or sofa ~ you want it to be within reach but you need to have enough clearance to easily walk by without feeling like the space is cramped.

I love this leather ottoman coffee table by Century.  The nail head detail is to die for!  The tufting & rich chocolate leather invite your guests to kick up their feet & relax.  Do you remember seeing this on GMT recently?

Determine what size & shape is best for your room.  Ask yourself these questions:

1.  Will the coffee table align with a pair of chairs, a sofa or a sectional?
2.  What shape works best for my room/furniture layout?  Do I need a round, square, rectangular, or irregular shaped coffee table?  Rounds & squares work well with sectionals.  Use an oval shaped coffee table when a rectangular would work, but the space is a bit cramped.  The rounded edges help you gain a few extra inches & open up the space.
3.  What surface do I prefer?  Wood top, glass top, stone top, or upholstered?  Glass & other transparent tops can make a smaller room feel bigger.  An upholstered coffee table can help create a more laid back feel that will invite your guests to kick their feet up.

This glass top rectangular beauty is by Century.  Using a glass or transparent top can help open up a room.  Rectangles align well with sofas.  A good rule of thumb is to have your coffee table be 1/2 to 2/3 the size of your sofa.  This helps create visual proportion & allows access to the coffee table from each seat on the sofa.

Today on Good Morning Texas, I featured a sofa by Century that has everyone around IBB white hot!  With style that seems to channel Chanel, this beauty will have you swooning when you see it in person.  The hand painted white chairs & leather cocktail ottoman are also by Century.

Watch the video for the segment here.

Last week I featured my 4 tips to start your bedroom makeover on GMT.  You can watch it here. I figured you may like to have a little additional eye candy to help inspire you.

Tip #1
Start with a fabulous bed!

This stunning upholstered bed is one I designed & made for a client.  It’s graceful curves, tufting and nail head trim detail make it a real statement piece for their bedroom.

Monochromatic beauty from the pages of Elle Decor.  Every fabulous bed deserves a fabulous bench.

Check out this hottie ~  a luscious red velvet headboard.  I always love a red, black & white color scheme.  This one is executed so well because they let the showstopping red headboard stand on it’s own with only a few smaller doses of red in the bedroom.  This allows the black & white to balance the rest of the room.

I’m a sucker for a great iron canopy bed.  I had one very similar to this one in college.  I also had sheer drapery panels hanging from each of the posts.  It makes your room feel like a quaint little getaway.  This bedroom could easily fit right into my home.

Tip #2
Don’t skimp ~ get yourself some magnificent bedding!

Gorgeous bedding by Alessandra

I love the idea of using drapery to frame a bed.  It’s just so romantic.

Another stunning bedroom featured in Elle Decor.  They layering of the different hues of blue has a tremendous effect.  The cool crisp linens are so calming and peaceful.

Tip #3
Lighting is key!

Add color to your bedroom through the use of lovely lamps like this orange beauty.

I love putting chandeliers in bedrooms.  This piece is perfect for all of you lovers of contemporary design out there.

The gorgeous chandelier in this bedroom is the perfect compliment to the rest of the regal setting.  So classic and luxurious!

Tip #4
Select great nightstands! Remember ~ they don’t always have to match.

I heart these vintage suitcases stacked on top of each other to create a bedside table.  Muy fabuloso!

How cool is this?  They used a small ottoman with a silver tray on top to create a nightstand.  I also love the combination of pink, black & white.  This looks like a room I would create for my daughter for her teenage years.  I think I would do a fabric Roman shade instead of the woven wood window treatment.

On the bright side… How about bringing out the colors of your color scheme with a hand painted bedside table.  This yellow is so bright & cheery.

If you’re looking for that special something to liven up your decor, a fabulous chair or pair of chairs can easily do the trick!  I recently highlighted my top 5 favorite chairs of the moment for Good Morning Texas.

Watch the video here.

Favorite Chair #1

This leather & hair on hide upholstered chair with antique brass nailhead trim would work wonderfully in a study featuring a rich warm brown color palette.

Favorite Chair #2

I LOVE this jewel tone beauty from John Richard!  The rich colors paired with gold leaf detail make this chair such a luxurious treat!  This has been a very popular chair at IBB.

Favorite Chair #3

Now, you all know that I am a sucker when it comes to a fabulous piece featuring eglomise!  So, it’s no wonder this stylish number (again from John Richard) made my list of faves!

Favorite Chair #4

The color of the year for 2010 is turquoise, but how about a richer deep teal for a pop of color?  Use these comfy chairs to add style to a family room, study or swanky sitting area.

The embroidered branch pattern on this Sherrill chair is to die for!  We contrasted the outside of the frame with a sumptuous chocolate brown velvet & then added some additional eye candy by using polished nickel nail head trim to finish off the look.

**All of the above chairs are available at IBB Design Furniture Showroom**

Greetings design lovers!  It’s still winter time & there’s nothing better than a cozy environment during the cold winter months.  Today on Good Morning Texas, I gave a few pointers to help you create a warm interior for your home.  I showcased a yummy sofa from Century in a leather/fabric combination, a rustic (yet sleek) coffee table from Henredon, & two different chair options to help bring the look together.  The whole setting makes me want to escape to the mountains in Aspen or Vail!

Click Here to watch the segment.

Have a fabulous & cozy weekend everyone!

You’ve probably heard by now that turquoise is the color of the year for 2010.  Do you love it?  I do!  I’m a huge fan of turquoise!  Get inpsired & find out how to incorporate this fabulous color into your home decor.  Click here to watch & learn!