Ask The Expert: Going Global WIth J. Douglas Design

J. Douglas Bradford, owner of his namesake furniture and accessories showroom, J. Douglas Design, has a reputation for stocking a vast variety of uniquely divine pieces that keep his clients coming in on a regular basis. With that in mind, Bradford has a handful of design predictions that will have his followers right on trend. With the recent resurgence of patterns and textures influenced by global design elements, he says. “Creating an atmosphere with a taste of other cultures and a very unique style is easy, and each influence can have a different effect on your interior space.”

For furniture, “rich, ethnic-inspired pieces,” Bradford says, add an unexpected touch of exotic and luxurious elegance. He suggests using wall hangings and antique blankets to add pattern, texture, shape and definition to your walls or sofa and chairs. His global outlook foreshadows the use of Moroccan and Indian-themed fabrics, prints and textiles in furniture. Aboriginal, Native American and African tribal patterns, he says, are stunning when used sparingly and correctly. “Never go overboard with pattern, use pattern to accent your space, not dominate it, Bradford advises. Asian, South American and European-inspired pieces are steadily gaining in popularity as well.

For full article on the Design Guide click here.

The Fashion World Inspires Interior Design

The world of interior design has always been influenced by the runways; we see inspirations from the Spring and Fall fashion shows finding their way to interior spaces very soon after their debut.   As early as only five years ago, the lag from season to showroom would be months and years. But with the increase of social media and the instantaneous sharing and immediately availability of styles, colors and designs - this gap is closing rapidly resulting in a instant merge of the minds when it comes to incorporating trends together.

Over the last two years or so, we've seen a huge decrease in the amount of time it takes for the collection and designer to translate their hits and misses from the runway to the reporters, photographers and bloggers who share these things with the world.  Smart and ambitious interior designers are always waiting in the wings to pull ideas into their furniture showrooms and home designs.

You will see color trends, patterns, textures and 'styles' that grace the fashion shows shining in the homes of those with savvy interior designers.  So if you want to know what the hottest home trends will be - watch for Fashion Week and designer collection trends on the runways to get a great idea of what you could do in your own home to keep up with the latest and greatest in interior design. 

A Brief History Of Interior Design

Studying the history of interior design is important and can be either a resource for imitation or for stimulating new ideas. We call it - 'inspiration'. Interior designers are no different from other artists - the difference is that our canvas is your home. Come with us as we journey across time to take a brief view of this fascinating topic…

The history of interior design draws upon several different fields of study. It is based in architectural history, but incorporates elements of the decorative arts, including furniture, metalwork, glass, ceramics, and textiles.

Let's begin with prehistoric and indigenous design. Interestingly, modern art has been strongly influenced by native art. While modern design may not have been as deeply influenced there are often similarities (such as repetition and pattern) between design by indigenous peoples and modern work as seen in weavings such as rugs, blankets, pottery and baskets.

Then there are the ancient world influences of Egypt, Greece, Rome and others. Tombs found in Egypt have yielded up a wide range of objects which have given us a glimpse into Egyptian daily life. They suggest spaces with only minimal furniture, lively color in wall decorations and woven materials as well as the treatment of columns as strong decorative elements. We see similar architectural elements in Rome and Greece, but two distinct styles, and an distinct evolution of architectural know-how. The ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum have shown us that ancient cities were not unlike ours - and were most certainly full of 'decor'. All of the ancient civilizations mentioned made use of wall paintings, sculpture - and furnishings accessories of all sorts.

Next, we'll jump to the Middle Ages, where we find early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic design influences both in architecture and in design elements. From there history takes us into the Renaissance and Rococo - rich with its Italian, European, French and English influences. Neoclassicism gave us Empire and Regency styles.

The North American age was first influenced by Colonial, Federal and Gothic revival design. And who doesn’t love the Victorian Era with it’s Arts and Crafts, Shaker and Adirondack themes.

At the Turn of the Century we were steeped in Art Nouveau and in the Twentieth Century we were blessed with Eclecticism, Frank Lloyd Wright, De Stijl, Art Deco, Post-Modernism and Hi-tech.

As history is still writing itself, we are excited to see how Twenty-First Century interior design will play out as it is continually being influenced by the past, present and future.

Got Style?

A style, or theme, is a consistent idea used throughout a room or space to create a feeling of 'completeness'. Have you discovered your favorite design styles? Most people choose their interior design style for very personal reasons - for a lot of people it is simply a matter of taste. A designer develops a home architecture and interior design for a customer that has a style and theme that the prospective owner likes and mentally connects to.

Some themes often follow period styles. Examples of this are Louis XV, Victorian, Feng Shui, International, Mid-Century Modern, Minimalist, English Georgian, Art Deco, and many more. The evolution of interior decoration themes has now grown to include themes not necessarily consistent with a specific period style allowing the mixing of pieces from different periods.

Each element should contribute to form, function, or both and maintain a consistent standard of quality and combine to create the desired design.

Maybe you are inspired by your travels. A summer holiday to Tuscany? Backpacking in Asia? A trip to France? A relaxing week on a tropical beach? These are all good interior design themes to choose from, as your room will always remind you of your wonderful memories and make you feel happy and relaxed when you are in it.

Whether you have a favorite design style or two in mind or working with a blank slate, J. Douglas Design is here to help you implement the perfect theme and make sure that you’ve got style!

The Art of Working with an Interior Designer

Working with a interior design professional can be both exciting and intimidating. However, doing so can give your home continuity, function, and beauty without going over your budget.

Designers can save you money in many situations by allocating resources wisely, choosing durable, high quality furniture, eliminating decorating mistakes, and increasing creativity on your project.

Eliminate the fear factor and create a good experience by taking a few steps to prepare in advance:


1: Decide on a budget.

2: Collect color swatches you like.

3: Make your own project design file with pictures to illustrate what you like and what you don't like.

4: Think about the furniture pieces you hope to keep.

5: Be inspired!

For inspiration, visit model homes and stand in the rooms asking yourself questions like:

-How does this room make me feel?

-Are the colors too light or too dark for me?

-Is it too formal, or not formal enough?

-Do I like white carpeting, or would I rather have something darker and more anchored?

-Is that striped wallpaper crisp or just annoying? (likely the latter?)

-Is the furniture warm, dark, white, or colored?

- What do I like (or dislike) about it?

Other sources of inspiration include museums, auctions, antique stores and television design shows.

Next, communicate well and describe your vision. Listen. Talk. Listen. The more information you can give to your designer the better.

Doing your homework and teaming with a good interior designer can turn your interior into a beautiful, functional living space with a creative and unique flair - without cost of unnecessary mistakes.