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History of Design

What Kind of Fabric Is It?

Knowing your fabrics can be very helpful when shopping for your interior decorating project. If you’re familiar with styles and qualities of fabrics, you’ll know what to ask for or how to describe what you’re looking for at the fabric showroom. Here’s a helpful list of the most common types of decorating fabrics:

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French Shabby Chic Master Bedroom Makeover

The bedroom had to be practical and comfy, but also beautiful – they were ready for a romantic retreat. They already had a beautiful wool carpet with a trellis of ivy in shades of taupe, and a slipcovered loveseat in khaki cotton I had done for them years ago. One of the problem areas was a bank of large windows, wonderful for letting in light but also a problem with summer heat.

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The Tree of Life Fabric Story

The tree of life fabric motif has a long history with many ideas being centered on life, death, nourishment, protection, fertility, knowledge and spirituality. This pervasive motif has been seen in oriental rugs, art, sculptures, paintings, jewelry and different types of fabrics. The tree of life fabric pattern occurs in many variations, naturalistic, geometric and [...]

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What Kind of Rug Is It?

Most Americans refer to any wool area rug with geometric designs and flowers, as an “Oriental Rug” or “Persian Rug”. At one time the ancient Persian Empire extended from North Africa to India, and included Turkey and Armenia. The world of rugs and carpets includes over 10,000 different types, identified by the patterns of the [...]

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What is Chinoiserie?

The interesting thing about Chinoiserie is the tremendous range and variety of Oriental scenes and fantastical decorative details. Individual artifacts to make a room interesting and show off the sophistication of the homeowner.

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What is Hollywood Regency Design?

Some of the accessories are very theatrical – such as extra-tall white plaster floor lamps with palm fronds, or mirrored dressing tables and fainting couches covered in satin or velvet. Lacquered and mirrored surfaces sparkled. While it is not apparent in the old black and white movies, the interiors were often brightly colored.

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A Passion for Blue and White

A brief history of blue and white, from folklore and porcelain imported from the Orient and its influence on modern Americans’ and Europeans’ passion for the color blue.

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True British Colonial Style

“British colonial style” has become popular in recent years. Mahogany “campaign” furniture, bamboo and rattan, wicker and leather, and design elements such as monkeys, palm trees, and ticking stripes have invaded our homes. But what does “British colonial style” really mean? Where and when did it orginate?

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