Fabric Frenzy - Fall Upholstery Preview

It’s the time of year when textile suppliers and interior designers share their newest fabrics as well as what we can look forward to in upcoming upholstery fabric trends. The exciting news - is that there are lots of new looks and exciting new patterns. 

The beauty of working with upholstery is it gives you the opportunity to keep up with the trends and quickly and easily gives your home a new look.

You can expect to be seeing:

• Lots of custom patterns that are exclusively being created by fabric designers through digital printing.
• Summer is all about neon’s and bold bright colors, (rarely do we use in interior design, however) the fall and winter are bringing a darker color palette with black and white patterns, deep purples, emerald greens, and dusky pinks.
• Velvets are back once again, this time in softer subtle styles and in burnout designs.
• Leather embossing has reached a whole new level adding weave design illusions, and punch-dot patterns with whimsical touches.
• We will find that tapestries have been simplified and scaled-down. The overly busy look is on its way out. However, many tapestries are timeless and rich - and typically work well as an accessory both with style, and quite literally with historical significance.
• Novelty forms like ransom note letters, stylized numbers, vintage album covers, urban landscapes, paper doll patterns, and dog designs. These are great, unique ideas for eclectic types, but be careful with these sorts of trends in your home as they lose favor quickly and date your design. Use these sorts of fabrics/textures in ways other than upholstery, such as framed pieces, wall art and other accessories around your home.  Remember the 'denim sofa' from the 80's? No, you don't; and thank goodness. Luckily, the moment that thing hit the market, it went out of style. 

J Douglas Design: Home Accent Today 2012 Retail Star!

Only 50 independent home furnishings retailers nationwide are honored with the privilege of being on this renowned list. The businesses selected for the list, which honors retailing excellence, have demonstrated that they operate successfully in their marketing areas, exhibit strength in merchandising, display and/or advertising, and have a positive presence in their local communities.

"There has never been a tougher time to be an independent retailer, with ongoing competition from chain stores, the increasingly significant role of online retail and the difficult economic climate," said Jenny Heinzen York, editor in chief, Home Accents Today. "The 2012 Retail Stars have taken on these challenges with a combination of clever entrepreneurship, innovation, merchandising, customer service and marketing. We are delighted to recognize these talented merchants, and, as always, encourage everyone to support their own local businesses." Home Accents Today editors focused on independent and family-run retailers, specifically those considered specialty, home accent or home furnishings stores.

The list, now in its eighth year, was compiled and narrowed down by research analysts and editors of the publication. "Those who are celebrated have created businesses that embrace the powers of excitement, innovation and creative ingenuity," said Jeffrey Portman, Sr., president and COO, AmericasMart Atlanta. "They understand that excitement equals engagement. And engagement delivers sales."J Douglas Design: Home Accent Today 2012 Retail Star!

Quick Design Tip: Fresh Branches

When it comes to home décor, one of the best things about summer is the opportunity to use gorgeous, fragrant branches to decorate the home. You can use them nearly anywhere in the home to add a splash of color, texture and shape to your design.

Here are five tips to help keep yours fresh as long as possible.

1. Make an inch long slit in the bottom of each branch and then tap the ends of the branches with a hammer. This allows water to be absorbed more easily and will extend the life of your branches. 
2. Soak the ends of the branches in lukewarm water to wash off excess bark and allow the plant to acclimate to its new environment. 
3. Add a drop of bleach in the water to keep the water from clouding and from smelling. 
4. Change water daily. 
5. Enjoy!

How To Select The Right Hardwood Flooring

The widespread popularity of wood flooring continues to grow for one simple reason: There's no substitute for the warmth and natural beauty of real wood. Wood flooring comes in dozens of styles and sizes, but there are only two basic types: solid wood and engineered wood.

Traditional solid-wood flooring is exactly what you'd expect: Each floorboard is milled from a piece of solid wood. Engineered-wood flooring is an all-wood, laminated plank that's manufactured from pieces of wood. Both types of flooring come in a wide variety of colors and wood species. The specific type and style of flooring you'll ultimately choose will depend on several factors, including price, size of the floorboards, wood species, ease of installation, type of subfloor, and the room itself.

Here's a brief look at each type:

Solid-Wood Flooring
Solid-wood flooring is commonly available in narrow strips, wide planks, and parquet squares. Many homeowners choose traditional, unfinished hardwood-strip flooring in either red oak or maple because it's affordable, attractive, and they can choose the stain color or leave it natural. However, unfinished wood requires sanding, staining (if desired), and a clear topcoat finish. Prefinished wood flooring costs more than unfinished flooring, but doesn't require sanding or finishing. As soon as you install the last plank, you can nail up the baseboard trim and carry in the furniture. Remember that while wood is a renewable resource, some species take so long to grow and are being harvested so quickly that they're no longer considered sustainable. To ensure that you are buying responsibly harvested wood, confirm that it's certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or similar environmental agency.

Engineered-Wood Flooring
Engineered-wood flooring was introduced to North America in the mid-1980s and quickly became the most popular type of do-it-yourself wood floor. It's composed of three or more wood layers glued together into long planks, with a top layer composed of a thin solid-wood veneer. This laminated construction creates a floor that's much more dimensionally stable than solid-wood flooring, so it's less likely to cup, split, shrink, or warp. There are more than two dozen wood species to choose from, including both softwood and hardwood. When shopping for engineered-wood flooring, be sure the top veneer is at least 1/8 inch thick, which will allow sanding and refinishing if necessary.

The reason DIY-ers love engineered-wood flooring is that the planks snap together and "float" over a thin foam-rubber underlayment. There's no nailing or gluing, so installation is quick and neat. Plus, the planks can be laid directly over most existing floors, as long as the surface is hard, flat, and in sound condition.

Still not sure what’s right for you?
At J. Douglas Design we’re here to work with you on major interior design and decorating decisions. Our years of expertise will help steer you in the right direction.

Classic Bathroom Charm Endures

If you think bathrooms are boring when it comes to decorating then this post is for you. 

A classic bathroom doesn't have to be dull and safe. Tradition and classicism can be timeless yet updated to meet modern standards. Mixing classic with modern allows for the best of both worlds. 

A few elements of a classic bathroom include pedestal sinks, black and white floor tiles, white subway tiles, lots of white and cream and, of course, claw-foot bathtubs. There are countless contemporary options for creating a classic bathroom with a serene and elegant feel.
 
As shown above left, a little touch of industrial metal with a dramatic chandelier makes a traditional bathroom anything but boring. 

A claw-foot bathtub and Carrara-marble tile floor bring elegance to the bright white bathroom, left center.

Finally, the bottom image - shows a classic bathroom with an an eclectic edge, with Stark wallpaper adding a fun touch.

Marge Carson - A Heritage That Matters

We’re big fans of Marge Carson and it’s no secret why. ‘I won’t purchase a piece of merchandise for the showroom unless I would have it in my own home. If it’s not good enough for my house, it’s not good enough for my clients.’ – J. Douglas

Marge Carson’s line of fresh, creative and stylish furniture with high-quality craftsmanship is a perfect fit at J. Douglas Design. We only choose the best quality and most unique pieces for our showroom and to use in our interior design.

Marge Carson's fine furnishings reflect a decidedly elegant yet casual look, one with generously proportioned silhouettes upholstered with the finest, most luxurious textiles and showcasing intricate, sculpted, architecturally-based designs that are as exquisite as they are functionally distinguished.

Further defining each individual piece is their ability to customize. Old World or contemporary, formal or relaxed, they offer over 550 distinctive fabrics and leathers and 50 decorative finishes in warm, neutral color palettes. These are complimented with dozens of exquisite trims and embellishments. Their hardware is custom designed for location and item. Create your unique comfort. Think of it as décor without limits.

From their home office in California, they employ skilled artisans from around the world to hand craft fine furnishings with devoted attention to every sculpted detail. J. Douglas Design is Dallas' exclusive retailer of Marge Carson fine home furnishings and we couldn’t be more proud to offer this exquisite line of fine furnishings. One visit to our Dallas furniture showroom will convince you as it has us.

Wallpaper Making A Comeback in 2012

Bold graphic wallpaper is at the top of the must-have decorating trends expected to make a splash this year.

Throughout the years, wallpaper has been a bit of a taboo subject in the world of interior design. Majorly popularized throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, midcentury design showcased a phalanx of wallpaper putter-uppers. Over the years, wallpaper petered out as neutral colors took to the stage of wall accenture and later evolved into bolder and more daring looks with vibrant colors and textural treatments. However, with the recent emergence of modern daring looks, wallpaper is making a serious comeback in today’s design world.

Wallpaper isn’t just for stuffy formal dining rooms or outdated powder rooms. Papered walls have gotten a modern update in recent years. For those wary of committing to a wallpaper pattern, try using a decorative stencil instead. Stencils are an ideal option for decorators who are renting, since the graphics can easily be painted over.