Sweet Pad.

By the time you read this, this will have already been “one of those weeks”.  You know, a week filled with twelve-hour workdays.  By Sunday I’ll be feeling like my brain looks similar to a fried egg.  As a matter of fact, I’m already half way there. 

Therefore, I will be enticing you this week with a column on the importance of fashion’s presence in not only your closet, but throughout your home as well.

This topic comes to mind naturally for me this week, since I’ve been spending quite a number of hours lately working on some fun interior projects that, until now, were completely out of my element. 

For those of you who don’t know, I do have some credentials for talking about interior spaces.  I have a degree in Interior Design, have studied a little bit of historical architecture, and also worked as a Designer & Product Development Assistant at Decorator Industries before their unfortunate closing in 2009.  My style is fairly unique to, well, basically myself.  I love hitting up yard sales and thrift stores, turning something old into something new with a little paint and/or new fabric.  I would describe my style as eclectic chic, sort of a mash-up of artsy do-it-yourselfer meets modern whimsy.  That probably didn’t paint much of a picture for most of you, so I’ll be sure to include an interior photo of my house so you can try to envision just how crazy I really am. 

My living room.  I upholstered the green chair and made the pillows.

As it turns out, I’ve been privileged enough to be working for someone with an equally insane sense of style, just from another century.  Where my style is a little edgy, his style is traditional and almost skeletal at times.  As if the sense style being from another century isn’t enough for me to wrap my brain around, the materials and fabrics that I’ve been given to work with are also upwards of two hundred years old.  What does a two hundred year old piece of cotton or silk look like, you ask?  Well, it looks like its two hundred years old.  Most of the materials I’ve been working with are riddled with holes and hundred-year-old patch jobs.  Much of the work consists of preparing the fabric, meaning patching or reinforcing small pieces that then have to be joined into larger pieces to then create an actual slipcover or pillow. 

The most challenging part for me (strangely enough) in this whole process has been to color outside the lines so to speak.  The strange thing about working with fabrics from the 1800’s is that nothing really matches.   Think about it, fabric was quite pricey, so literally anything that even remotely matched was used in patching and repairs.  While I’ve been trained to try to pattern match seams and patches to make them look almost invisible to the naked eye, I have been forced to relearn and revisit my technique to put these mismatched pieces on display more or less.

This got me thinking about interior design and what a great design is really comprised of.  After all, there are so many different styles and tastes out there, so what are the important factors in creating a look that is uniquely you and reflective of your life and personality?  Design is all about space, light, colors and textures, and personality.  Incorporating all of these successfully should give a room a sense of harmony and cohesiveness.  Here are a few tips and tricks on designing your own personal space using all of these abstract ideas:

1. Space & Balance:  For most of us, space and balance are probably the two most important components of our interior designs.  Since many of us actually live in the spaces we design, having a functional space is key.  Start by choosing a style of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial, and go from there!
2. Light:  Depending on the space you’re working with, the correct lighting can set the tone for how a space is used and perceived.  For instance, Northern facing windows are important in an artist studio to provide the best natural lighting scenario.  On the other hand, incandescent lighting can be added to provide emphasis to a focal point and create a little drama in a space.  Since most of us are not lighting specialists, be sure to ask for assistance at a lighting showroom!
3. Color & Texture:  Probably the easiest way to alter the mood of a space, color and texture add major flair with minimal effort.  For a calming experience, choose a soothing shade of green or blue to paint your walls.  To liven a space, choose a warm hue of yellow, orange, or red.  To add texture, get creative with soft furnishings and fabrics treatments.
4. Personality:  Meaningful objects add a personal touch and make the space uniquely yours.  Bookshelves offer a great space to add trinkets and personality as bookends without getting cluttered.

The home I've been sewing at.  Incredible!!!

I can honestly say that I look at some of the designs that I’ve recently been a part of helping create and they are truly breathtaking.  While I would have never envisioned such a creation in my wildest dreams, they are absolutely works of art. I cannot take credit for any of the actual designs whatsoever (I’m a seamstress on this project, though I’m frequently referred to as Queen Bee as well as various other nicknames that allow me to feel much more important than I really am), I can say that I’ve really enjoyed bringing a female perspective to things and helping to “soften” some of the space with a little color in an otherwise monochromatic (white) palette.  Unfortunately I’m one of those annoying types that always has an opinion about everything, so I’m constantly throwing my two cents in.  Most of the time I’m shot down, but I have had a few small victories with some fabric selections.  In case you still can’t imagine the differences I’ve been speaking of, here’s a photo reference to cogitate.

For more fashion wholesomeness, check out my store at www.goodnpretty.com and blog at www.purplezebrashop.com.  Coming soon to The Purple Zebra:  Sewing classes!  Stay tuned for more info.  For column ideas and comments, email me at goodnpretty@gmail.com.