Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Pillow Talk

No, this is not a secret that is being shared ina bedroom. This is a new trend in home decor and design. Use pillows to rejuvenate homes. Think as your couches, sectionals and sofas as a white canvas and start placing ecclecting pillows on them to create a paiting and the whole thing will simply talk. That is Pillow Talk.

As sofas, think leather- Top colors are Pearl White- Like a great canvas. It leaves room for so much to work with (http://www.chezmoisf.com/files/lewissmall.jpg). Then think of a color scheme and then shop for pillows to accentuate the whole room and enjoy living!

Home Design- Without Borders

I will continue to share top trends in design for early 2009. Today, I am all on design without borders. Make a home a complete travel guide, or a souvenir book from all over the world. It is what makes a home personal and without borders. It is a complete escapade even if you are confined to four walls and a few windows.

Try leather sofas or sectionals from Italy, with antique credenzas and buffets from India. Can modern meet old world? Give it a try and see (http://www.chezmoisf.com/installations.html). It is a very new trend, but it makes perfect sense. If this doesn't complete the picture, add a capiz chandelier from the philippines (http://www.chezmoisf.com/cchandelier.html).

All in all, make sure that walls are not borders! and enjoy living

Friday, January 2, 2009

Top Trends in Home Decoration and Design



Fashion trends no longer dictate the way we dress or decorate our homes. Eclecticism and contrasting style directions reign in home decorating. More and more people develop a taste of mixing contradictory furniture trends in their home decor, combining contemporary furniture with vintage finds and exotic art pieces.

Uncertain economy, the rise of natural disasters and persistent war conflicts have resulted in the further insulation of people within their home cocoons. This cocoon lifestyle has given a boom to the housewares, home decorating and furniture industry since more and more people turn to home entertainment and dinner parties instead of “going out.”

The “cocoon boom,” which originally started after September 11, 2001, transformed the modern home into a family sanctuary and hideaway. Casual living remains as the major theme with contemporary furniture today, with an emphasis on home entertaining and informal dining.







From modern furniture to accessories and dinnerware, people look for ihome decorating tems that possess a strong sense of personal style. The casual living trend in modern furniture translates into multi-functional furniture with clear non-cluttered design and extended seating furniture pieces such as extra-long and curved couches and sofas.

Modern furniture today encourages family values, promotes quality family entertainment, supports traditional values and generally helps people connect. Another noticeable trend in home décor and home decorating is a return to ‘formal’ for special occasions. People tend to make a greater effort preparing for special occasions or dinner parties and spend more time selecting dinnerware, candles, photo albums, seasonal decorations and table linen. Another important modern furniture trend for home decorating is sensuality which means luscious fabrics, soft warm colors and simple shapes.



Many furniture items are adjusted for use for the targeted group of single men. This means sleek minimalist design and an emphasis on the use of multi-media applications. Flat screen TV’s are accommodated in hi-tech entertainment centers, and flat loudspeakers are incorporated into lean, spacious sofas, covered with dark trendy upholstery fabrics. This trend is also reflected in one-of-a-kind furniture items, such as art pieces having a functional meaning. Wide use of LED lighting technology helps transform a coffee table into a futuristic object that will change colors depending on a situation.

Speaking of materials used in modern furniture today for home decorating, light woods still dominate. Oak, cherry, and birch are the most popular woods, with rattan and bamboo on the rise. Many woods are artificially stained to resemble exquisite tropical woods, for example, zebrano, mahogany, or palisander. A varnished solid front is often combined with a veneered body. Stainless steel, polished or brushed, and aluminum are used widely, often combined with innovative satin glass and boldly colored fiberglass.


In the upholstery, modern furniture designers favor refined large abstract patterns or sophisticated monochrome surfaces. Stripes and checks, as well as floral patterns are slightly out of fashion. The most popular materials are wool, cotton and leather, with wool felt gaining popularity.

The main characteristic feature of modern furniture is its understatement. Giorgio Armani, a couturier turned furniture designer says that a subtle richness, not an obvious beauty, is most important in contemporary furniture design for home decorating. Like a beautiful woman, furniture today reveals itself over time.