Interior Chic - Country Coastal Style

Found this image on Pinterest this week, couldn't find reference to the designer or source - but really loved it, and had to post and write about it, and why it inspires me.

It's that 'worn' look, and it's the light and bright feel that makes me like this. It's also the simplicity of the items used in this interior design, as well as the complexity of the details, such as the texture of the ceiling and the antiqued finishes on the furnishings.

And, it's the modernity of it - while vintage at the same time; seeming so old and weathered.

It's the minimalist appeal, without being too 'cool' - and retaining a sense of 'home'.

I'm also inspired by the coastal appeal, the colors - weathered grays and pastels all-around, make me feel like there might be water nearby.

We also love the tangible element of this interior design - with the textures, mentioned before - on the ceiling and furniture - and again under the bar area with the stones.

While I'm not sure if this would match my personal style for my own home, I'm certainly inspired by this design for all the reasons mentioned - and it comes together for me, that it's the very basics of design that pull this together. Color, texture, pattern, balance, - all making for a unique and exclusive style.

Hunger Games Interior Style

For those who are into the Hunger Games Trilogy, you know that the citizens in the Capitol sport serious style and unique looks such as pastel pink hair, tinted skin, distinctive tattoos and themes with their appearance. We love these creative human stylings, and the explosive colors and visuals of all the fashions.

People are already scrambling to try and 'get the look' - with leading designers like Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Jean-Paul Gautier and more. Check out Hunger Games Capitol Couture here. There's even a line of nail polish in honor of the hot new movie - "Capitol Colors" by China Glaze.

Of course, what we're more interested in - is how to deck out our digs like the retro-futuristic, super clean and super luxurious Capitol of Panem. We are 'Interior Stylists' after all here at J. Douglas Design. We are to Dallas interior design, as Cinna is to wearable fashion. And the palettes are very interesting too - lots of pastels and soft, muted colors - coupled with sleek silvers and bold golds.

Now that the story is being brought to the big screen, we're able to see more than the Capitol couture and fashion; we're able to see their interior design style!

Of course, the interior decor of the train was the first time we got to really see something spectacular, a decadently fashioned showplace in what appeared to be a whopping 700 square foot train car. Designs like this are in the details, such as the lighting - which either IS, or is VERY MUCH LIKE this chandelier from ELTE found in the background while Peeta stares out the window at the Capitol city.

Once the team arrived to their quarters in the Capitol of Panem, (which we cannot yet find pictures or references to) we were treated to sleek, clean modern architecture, with many retro-hip and chic details to remind us that what is once in fashion, ccan always come back - and that clean, minimalist style - goes with anything.

The transition to big screen was well for most readers of the series - who noticed that even in the Capitol, they brought nature indoors with plants, and holograms of the forest in Katniss' room - along with a super fun 'pelt' furry bedspread.

Here's hoping for more stills from the movie, so we can delve a bit more into the interior design style of the 'interior stylists' of Panem. Happy Hunger Games!

Green: Lucky Interior Design?

Is green the color of luck? It's certainly associated with the American version o the holiday St. Patrick's Day, along with the four-leaf clover and pot o' gold. But what about using the cool color as the base of your interior design?
From a an interior designer's point of view, (ours in particular) green is a wonderful color. All shades of it, too - from muted gray-greens, to blue-based teal colors, to limey and pea greens that lean more on the yellow side - are quite calming and beautiful. But for some reason, to us - they seem to work better as a compliment, or accent color, as opposed to a highly-saturated focus color for a space.
Of course, one of the colors of the year for 2012 is a nice soft green color called Margarita. We'd love to use it in a design, we just don't want a margarita couch, carpet and window treatments in the same space.
We put some images out on Facebook to our fans, and the response on the green design we put out there was pretty clear: a lot of green doesn't work. Why? There were several reasons, mostly for the image we chose to ask about it was a very soft sea-foam green, and reminded respondents of a hospital room. The overall feel was sterile, 'too' cool, and there was no dynamic or pop to the room.
Green can, however - do many GOOD things in a design. It can bring nature indoors, and is well-suited for nearly any room in the house as an accent. It can bring a feeling of freshness, cleanliness and cool, light beauty to a space when used in conjunction with other colors, or not as the main focus of the room. Pair it with white, black, gray - and let it twinkle in and around the design to accent the rest.
Yellow-based greens like limes, chartreuse - seem to naturally pair with woods, and the contrast of a deep darker wood tone has an especially nice appeal.
For the softer blue-based misty greens, these bring calming effect to the space, and nearly blend in nicely with any palette.
If you're just a green kind of person, and you must have green as your focus color - pick one of those green's that's not EXACTLY green - such as an olive or gray-green. The grays and browns in these greens pull the neutral tones out of the green, and the green sort of takes the backstage. It's there - but very subtle and not overwhelming.