Gorgeous New Fall Colors!

Pantone, a standardized color system and a world renowned authority on color trends, recently released their hot colors for fall 2012.  While some are the typical fall standards such as the gorgeous dark brown "French Roast", warm "Honey Gold" and the 2012 colors of the year "Tangerine Tango", they also included in the mix some unexpected colors.  I am loving the beautiful "Bright Chartreuse", "Olympian Blue" and "Pink Flambe".

These bold and beautiful colors are not only making the fall fashions pop, but can be used in the home to give your spaces that WOW impact!

Wondering how to use these colors in your home?  Check out some great installation shots below!

I used a beautiful chartreuse, pink and ultramarine color scheme in the Lake Forest Coach House and the combination was delightful!

So, are you ready to add some color to your life?

Red, Glorious Red

When designing a space, the decision of color is extremely important as it dictates the mood of the space.  Color theorists as early as the ancient Greeks have been assigning meanings and symbolism to different colors.  White is perceived as pure, yellow as soothing, purple as royal. No color is as widely interpreted as red.  To many Eastern cultures, red symbolizes good luck.  Red is the color assigned to passion, romance, love and excitement.  It is also often the color associated with evil or danger.

Red is one of my favorite colors to use in a space.  While some people shy away from it, there are many ways to use it, whether as an accent or a dominant color, in a way that is calming, fun and just plain gorgeous!

So.... Are you ready to add some red to your home?

Spring Into a Bright New Look

As the weather in Chicago turns from gray skies to bright, vibrant colors, we can take inspiration from the cues of nature to add some joyful color to our own homes.  Depending on your level of commitment to adding color to your home, there are several ways to do this. The first way is to add colorful accents like pillows, floral arrangements and bold, colorful art.  Many people believe that once you have completed a room that it should never be changed, but art and accessories can rotate seasonally to reflect the weather, similar to how holiday decorations add a festive feeling.  Check out our One room, two seasons page to see how Deb transformed a room for different seasons.

One great place to add some bold pops of color and pattern is in a powder room.  We love bold powder rooms- they are the perfect canvas for interesting textures and cool wall treatments.  Even a home that is all neutral can add some colorful sophistication in this small room.

If you are looking to add some permanent color to your home, a great way to do so is with your kitchen backsplash.  With so many gorgeous colorful mosaics on the market- why not try one?  Our high rise city beach house project is one great example.  We used a gorgeous mosaic from Ann Sacks which incorporates several interesting stones for a subtle drama and infusion of gorgeous color.

Here are some others we love!

Wishing you a colorful spring!

Montage Collection from Pindler & Pindler

Pindler & Pindler has a beautiful fabric collection that has recently been released, Signature Exclusive Montage Collection.  This fabric collection is full of vibrant colors & fashion forward patterns. "The Montage Collection is a “montage” of simple modern and transitional contemporary fabrics with a “World Traveler” feel, which coordinate to create an exciting atmosphere that is modern and edgy." - Pindler & Pindler

Not only is this collection beautiful but is also very durable.  All fabrics have minimum of 30,000 double rubs and some are even finished with Teflon for extra durability.  These luxurious fabrics will meet your need for style and wear well, in your busy life.

Please contact us at Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group for pricing and other information on these fabrics,  info@debreinhart.com (847) 256-9510

Happy Chinese New Year!

It is no secret that my design aesthetic often includes Asian and Indian inspired designs filled with antiques and beautiful carved, painted and lacquered furniture.  It is fascinating to learn not only about the history of these pieces, but also the culture of the vendors and tradespeople I work with from day to day.  I recently purchased a beautiful Chinese coffer for a client and wanted to send it to my refinisher to have it clear lacquer coated to protect the original finish from the elements created by the modern family it was going to.

I received a response that he is a traditional lion dancer and is therefore in great demand during the new year festivities and my refinishing needs would have to wait.  This seemed funny to me until I realized the importance of the holiday and how significant his role was.  The Chinese new year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday.  In China, it is known as the spring festival, since the Spring begins at the beginning of the Chinese calendar year.  The new year is celebrated with similar excitement and fanfare to Christmas in America, with families and friends gathering to celebrate, exchanging gifts, having delicious feasts and decorating their homes and communities with bright, colorful decorations. Many Chinese also do a thorough cleaning of their homes to help wash away any ill fortune and make room for luck and good fortune.   The lion dance is performed by a person or people in a costume resembling a lion.  The dance is comprised of many movements similar to that of a lion.  This is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the dragon dance.