Hot Interiors! Cool Trends..

Nov. 1, 2008 - PRLog -- Glamour is back in our homes in a big way, according to SNS Consultants lead Designer, Stephanie Allen. While a neutral palette for your big ticket items such as flooring and sofas never goes out of style, luscious jewel tones and textures are emerging as the key accents for 2008. "There is definitely a surge towards black and white,” Stephanie said. “This is a sumptuous look and lends itself to dramatic accessories like chandeliers. The plantation style is still popular with a lot of natural products such as bamboo, cane and the use of rich, earthy colors;, we’ve also taken the opportunity to do something a bit different and the trend to glamour couldn’t have come at a better time. We try to showcase a range of very livable decorating options to demonstrate how homes reflect their owners’ personalities. The black and white theme is a classic and reminiscent of the Manhattan apartment style. It’s a real blend of the traditional and modern, which is coming through very strongly in all the international design magazines at the moment.”
Don’t dust off the antiques just yet though! “When we talk about traditional looks and pieces of furniture, we are really referring to comfort – not the scroll–armed sofas and swag curtains of years gone by,” Stephanie said. “Sofas, for example, are softer but still have sleek lines – the fabrics and colors remain very contemporary. We’re not advocating a return to chintz! Your goal should be to develop a comfortable, livable space that reflects your personality. Interior design now is eclectic – combining your favorite colors, fabrics and pieces and expressing yourself.”
Stephanie said you can get great ideas for incorporating the latest color schemes and accessories in a cohesive way in your own home. “Talking to someone about a black feature wall in a bedroom, for example, can provoke some odd responses,” Stephanie said. “Many people are afraid of using strong colors but they get inspired when they see the black and white color scheme in a home, or a vibrant feature wall in an entry foyer. We show them how to break up the starkness of a base color scheme and add warmth.”
There are more color choices now than ever before, thanks to a huge range of home decorating products. If you can’t warm to black and white, Stephanie said another major trend coming through is blue. “We’re using shades ranging from an almost charcoal blue through to aqua. We’ve used these vivid shades for emphasis – where appropriate to really play up the architectural strengths of a home – and also as an accent color in areas like children’s bedrooms. Children love color and encouraging them to help select the shade for a feature wall in their room can be an easy and inexpensive way to update the look of the room. It also gives them an opportunity to be part of the decorating process.”


Trends in décor often follow the lead from fashion designers. “Metallics are big in fashion and also very strong in interior design,” Stephanie said. "The luster of gold or silver is being used in everything from curtain fabrics to bed linen – it is amazing how fashion dictates what happens in home decorating products now and that has resulted in an enormous range to choose from.
While the Balinese/Oriental look also has been a favorite in recent years, Stephanie said African–inspired interiors are the next big thing. “The color palette is dramatic – blacks, reds, yellows. Fabrics have more texture and there are a lot of subtle patterns coming through. The effect is quite rustic. Tribal elements are often introduced with artwork rather than the faux fur animal prints of years gone by.”
Whatever your inspiration, Stephanie has a few tips to ensure your home looks great all the way from the front door to the outdoor room – that won’t break the budget. “When it comes to color, I like to work with a palette  of three complementary shades – one dark, one light and I always try to introduce a warm color. Let’s take black and white as an example. On their own, they can look a bit clinical. I like to throw a taupe shade into the mix. People love the drama of black and white but the warmth of the taupe makes it more livable. Adding accents and accessories through your home is easy – you just pick up on the color in cushions, lampshades, in works of art or even rugs. Choose neutral shades for the things in your home that are expensive to change or replace. That includes things like your choice of tiles and carpets just as much as major furniture purchases like sofas. You can update and enliven any area of your home with a few, inexpensive items. Change the look of your living room with new scatter cushions or a lampshade. The quickest way to change the mood in your bedroom is a new set of bed linen. Again, follow through with a lampshade and cushions or perhaps add a sheer curtain at the windows. The bathroom gets an instant lift from candles, new towels or even a vase of flowers. Paint a feature wall. If you later decide it really isn’t the color for you, it’s easy to start over.”
If you have any questions or would like to take advantage of a complimentary phone consultation. Please contact us. www.snsconsultantslv.com  or 702-575-0733.

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Formed in 1999 by Lead Designer Stephanie Allen SNS Consultants is a Full Service Interior Design firm. SNS Consultants is also a wholesale provider of home furnishings, accessories and window coverings.