Color | Beautiful Habitat Design & Decoration

Carpet Trends in 2013 | Ask the Designer

May 9, 2013 | by beautifulhabitat | in Ask the Designer, color, Colorado, Denver, Flooring, Tips1 Comments

I was recently asked to advise on carpet decisions and I am simultaneously selecting carpet for my own house. I thought I’d share these tips and trends with everyone.

New wall to wall carpet is a big ticket item and a decision that most of us do not take lightly. The lifespan of your carpet may likely be longer then most of your furniture. There are also so many styles, colors and brands. Here are a few tips and trends to keep in mind if you’re in the market for new carpeting.

Carpet Trends as I see them (at least in the Denver market) in 2013:

Dark and Bold

Carpet colors have gone considerably darker than over the previous decade and more. In the late 1990′s and through the early 2000′s light carpets ranging from ivory to beige to tan were hot. The lighter colors helped to keep a space more open and bright, while simultaneously shrinking into the background. On the down side, those lighter colors are harder to keep clean. There has been a shift to darker carpet tones, whether a chocolate brown or a charcoal gray. And bold carpet colors are appearing too.

Interior Designer Tips

Bold Interior Design

Gray

Gray is hot everywhere – furniture, fabrics, flooring, books. It’s quickly replacing beige, tans, and browns as the hot neutral. Don’t panic if you’re surrounded by browns. They are neutrals, and a good neutral will always hold their own.

Texture

Texture and patterns are making a comeback in carpeting. This is usually created with a combination of looped and cut pile stands, creating a design and texture although the material and color are the same. And I say making a comeback, because I distinctly remember the patterned carpet of my youth. The looped valley’s and higher cut pile made interesting obstacles for my toys circa 1983. Textured and patterned carpet creates a great look and adds interest to an often overlooked surface. It can actually become a focal point in the design, rather than a bland surface on which to place furniture.

Interior Decorating Tips

Bold Inteiror Design Choices

Plush never Fails

If you are afraid to commit to a texture or worry that this trend may not have the lifespan that you want, plush carpet is always a good bet.

Interior Decorator Tips

Do you have a design or decorating question? I’d be happy to feature your question and provide guidance. Ask here or on the Beautiful Habitat Facebook Page.

Beach Bathroom Quick Makeover

January 31, 2013 | by beautifulhabitat | in bath, Bathroom, Beach, Beautiful Habitat, Before and After, Coastal, DIY, lighting, Spa, Window Treatment, yellowNo Comments

Fun beach theme bathroom

As I mentioned last week in How Do You Spa?, for many years my friend and I would frequent a spa with a coastal/beach theme. In many ways I associate a beach theme with relaxation and pampering. When there was an opportunity to create a beach theme in one of my bathrooms, I did, but I added more fun than spa.

This is a bonus 3-piece bathroom in our home. It’s a bonus in that we don’t need the extra shower on this floor, but we do use it more as a powder room.

Beautiful Habitat

The beach theme all started with the things we inherited in the house – a simple vanity and shower tiled in travertine.

Beautiful Habitat

The jumping off point for a beach theme came from the Travertine tiles, which reminded me of sand.

The builder-basic mirror and lights were beyond boring and there was nothing beachy, relaxing, or fun in them.

My first order of business was to add interest to the lighting. I painted the basic fixture silver with a can of spray paint and creatively engineered the galvanized buckets over the glass. TaDa – Beach lighting! I added colorful accessories which, together with the fun new lighting, take the focus off of the boring, frameless mirror.

Interior Designer Boulder CO Beautiful Habitat

The toilet has it’s only little nook, which also needed a little something beach-inspired. My vision was to build a mini beach hut in the nook out of corrugated metal. I envisioned the corrugated metal behind the toilet and wrapping around the 2 sides, with a sloped roof and a marine-inspired light. These photos are a bit of the inspiration.

While I was getting the toilet-nook-beach-hut design in order, I did install one piece of corrugated metal wall treatment behind the toilet as a place holder, along with a beach print we picked up on a trip to St. Thomas. (Now just envision the metal wrapping around and above – so much fun)

You’ll notice that I refer to the toilet plan in past-tense. It “was” because we are now moving. I’m a little sad that my toilet beach hut will never be realized. it was going to be adorable. However, I’ve enjoyed the beach bathroom for the last 5 years. it was a quick and easy makeover to an otherwise bland space.

Have you done anything fun in your space? Share your fun rooms with us here or on Facebook.

Gold Is Making a Comeback | Love It or Leave It?

December 4, 2012 | by beautifulhabitat | in Accessories, Bathroom, bedroom, color, Dining, Gold, lighting, Love it or Leave It, mirrorsNo Comments

Gold and brass finishes are creeping back into Interiors. It started with a few small features – a mirror here, a brass knob there, gold leaf inside of a lamp shade. Now the moves are getting bigger and bolder. Gold. Shiny, shiny gold. It’s making a comeback in Interior Design and Decor. Will you love it again, or are you going to leave it?

Hudson Valley Lighting

Source Unknown

Gold. Love it or Leave it?

7 Ways to Modernize Your Home’s Entryway | Guest Post

October 18, 2012 | by beautifulhabitat | in color, Foyer & Entry, Guest Post, lighting, mirrors, pink, TipsNo Comments

Many of us use our homes as blank canvases to express ourselves through art, furniture, and home décor. Some people like to renovate their entire homes all at once, while others prefer to go one room at a time. Where we choose to spend all of renovation efforts is a reflection of where we enjoy spending time. Some people like to spend hours pampering in the bathroom. Other folks want to build fully equipped home entertainment centers. Still others pour their hearts, souls, and dollars into conjuring up the bedroom of their dreams. And you can’t forget the homeowners that spend as much time on their own abodes as they do for their pets – doghouses get renovations too!

But no matter which room you decide you want to invest the most time and money in, you should be careful not to forget about your home’s entryway. After all, the entryway is the first thing your guests see when they walk through your front door. The good news is that updating your entryway is fun, easy, and often inexpensive. Here are seven different ways you can modernize your home’s entryway.

1. Create an interesting focal point – Sometimes an entryway can be entirely transformed with just the hanging of one great piece of art or a stunning, large mirror. TJ Maxx always has some unique pieces at fair prices. A small investment can make a big difference, entirely changing the area from ho-hum to modern and new.

Interior Design Tips Source: www.simpledesignideas.com

2. Paint the entryway a new color - When you first moved in, you probably focused your painting efforts on the rooms in your house, possibly forgetting the hallways and entryway. Spruce the area up with a new coat of paint in an unexpected hue. Just be sure you coordinate the new paint job with any existing furniture and décor you are keeping.

Interior Decorator Tips Source: www.housebeautiful.com

3. Update your doormat - Some people love doormats, other people loathe them but if you use one, it needs to be replaced every now and again. Use a doormat as an opportunity to breathe fresh air into your entry area. Try something unexpected like bamboo or even plastic. Doormats are often inexpensive so consider getting a few different ones and changing them according to your mood.

Foyer Design Source: www.houzz.com

4. Switch up the lighting – Light fixtures are easy to replace and can make a big impact on the look of the room or area. Find a light fixture that inspires you and see what happens! You might find yourself spending time in the foyer from now on instead of the living room! And light fixtures also tend to last for years and years, so they are a good place to invest.