“I like to use textures and patterns that are visually captivating and texturally engaging.”  Candice Olson

Devine Designer, Candice Olson, has introduced two new fabric collections that were inspired by her Canadian roots and evoke the “cool, fresh feeling of watery blues and greys set off by the warm comfort of wood tones”.

Candice has name the collections “Cognac and Mist” and “Gold Mine”.

They include a range of new textured solids in chenille, velvets and wool blends as well as
classic patterns like damasks, paisleys and stripes reinterpreted and stylized for fashion-forward
flair.

She describes the collection as being beautiful shades of  fawn, caramel and camel that intermix with blues that range from peacock to teal to mist blue for a new fresh and current interpretation.  New textures, wovens and solids are warmer to the eye, as well as to the touch.

Gold Mine Collection

Cognac & Mist Collection

DecoFabulous asks the question and does some research:

Here is a bit of trivia for the guys out there now screaming ”Not in my bedroom!!”:

”In Western culture, the practice of assigning pink to an individual gender began in the 1920s. From then until the 1940s, pink was considered appropriate for boys because being related to red it was the more masculine and decided color, while blue was considered appropriate for girls because it was the more delicate and dainty color, or related to the Virgin Mary. Since the 1940s, the societal norm was inverted; pink became considered appropriate for girls and blue appropriate for boys, a practice that has continued into the 21st century. “ (Wikipedia).

So there!! When your girlfriend or wife wants a little bit of pink in the bedroom, you can always act cool and explain to your friends why pink can also be a such a male option.  Even in Des Moines, Iowa.

Read their post here

We’ve shown some of our most dramatic products in our black and white room.  The natural drama and elegance that a black and white palette gives a room is amazing.  Black and white rooms can range from the casual class of a black t-shirt to the formal class of a tuxedo (or little black cocktail dress).

Candice Olson has used black and white to stunning effect on more than one occasion.  For example, in this living room she used a tufted camel back sofa with plush traditional lines.  Contemporary black and white fabrics on the pillows and the deep charcoal wall are then stunningly offset with copper wall art reflected in copper colored accent pillows.  The copper accent is a stunning choice from a master designer.

Pivot away from the sofa and look in the opposite direction and you see more of the dramatic black walls, black patterned fabric and zebra patterned rugs.

Black and white.  Its always sophisticated.  It might be the perfect choice for you!

It’s no secret that there is more to color than meets the eye. Color (and the method in which it is used) profoundly affects human behavior and feeling. Each color has its own psychology. Often that psychology varies from culture to culture. I will touch on both of these subjects in another blog post.

On the cusp of starting a new year, I would like to share with you a fantastic article. The Pantone Color Institute (a global authority on color) has selected the color of the year for 2010. Turquoise!! — a color that complements neutrals, reds, deep blues, greens, and yellows. Turquoise is just the color to use in a time where we are all trying to budget and think long-term when it comes to purchasing new furniture and accessories. It can be used as a pop of color with neutrals. Turquoise can be used as an accent now and be switched out down the road if you need something fresh. It can be used confidently in larger quantities knowing it will work with many color palettes as styles and tastes change.

Follow the link below to see what Joe Ruggiero is excited about for new introductions in furniture and fabric designs.  We hope you had the opportunity to meet Joe when he visited our store.  He’s truly one of the nicest people in the design community.  Joe’s furniture collection is offered exclusively in Des Moines at by Design Furniture & Design.

Joe Ruggiero Designer/ HGTV Host: The Joe Ruggiero Collection What’s New

Fall ’09 Design Trends
At by Design we’re fascinated and excited by the color and design trends that are constantly reshaping our designs and homes.  We hunt for news that we think is relevant to our customers in Des Moines and Central Iowa.  We would like to occasionally provide you with outside points of view about what is exciting and new in furniture design, furniture color trends, fabric design, accessories — everything that goes into creating a beautiful room.  Here are the six hot design trends that Metropolitan Magazine has forecast for Fall ’09 after visiting the Spring furniture market in High Point:

Glamour
The economic slump brought glamour to the fore with rich materials, sophisticated colors and stunning curves.

Metallic Leather
This new glimmering leather treatment put a shine on classic furniture shapes.

Pleats Please
In upholstery, we saw tailored looks and fashion details everywhere.

Small Space Solutions
For the pragmatists in the audience, we saw several savvy pieces for small spaces.

Green and Gorgeous
Green has finally made it to High Point, North Carolina, and you couldn’t turn a corner without receiving a flyer about green design or hearing about the latest, greatest green manufacturing technique.