March is Women’s History Month so why not make a little history of your own. One way to do that would be to finally begin that room makeover that you’ve been mulling over for some time. To help inspire you, read about the timeless design of three women who were pioneers in the history of interior decorating: Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper and Sister Parish.

ELSIE DE WOLFE

Elsie de Wolfe (1859-1950), was an actress, writer and interior decorator. She was also known as Lady Mendl after becoming the wife of Sir Charles Mendl. She became interested in interior design as a result of staging plays. In 1903, she left the theater to launch a career as a decorator. Her social connections from the theater enabled her to become an influential figure in the emerging field. Preferring a brighter scheme of decorating than was fashionable in Victorian times, she helped convert interiors featuring dark, heavy draperies and overly ornate furnishings into light, soft, more feminine rooms. She made a feature of mirrors, which both illuminated and expanded living spaces, brought back into fashion furniture painted in white or pale colors.

You can purchase this wonderful poster on Amazon.

Oil On Canvas By Bernard Boutet De Monvel
C1940 Poster Print by (18 x 24)

DOROTHY DRAPER

Dorothy Draper (1889-1969) was the first to “professionalize” the interior design industry by establishing, in 1923, the first interior design company in the United States, Dorothy Draper & Company. At the time, it was considered daring for a woman to go into business for herself. She revolutionized the concept of “design” by breaking away from the historical “period room” styles that dominated the times. She used vibrant, “splashy” colors in never-before-seen combinations. Some of her best known work was seen in the many hotels she decorated.

You can purchase her story online through Amazon:

The Draper Touch:
The High Life and High Style of Dorothy Draper

SISTER PARISH

Sister Parish (1910-1994) was the first interior decorator brought into the Kennedy White House. Her influence can still be seen in the Yellow Oval room on the second floor in the White House, the official residence of the President. Parish’s name led to some confusion, with one newspaper proclaiming: “Kennedys Pick Nun to Decorate White House.” Sister was a nickname given her by her three-year-old brother. Signature elements of the Parish look included painted floors, Anglo-Franco furniture, painted furniture, chintz, needlepoint pillows, mattress ticking, hooked rugs, rag rugs, starched organdy, botanical prints, painted lampshades, white wicker, quilts, and baskets.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.

Sister.
The Life of Legendary American Interior Decorator Mrs. Henry Parish II

WOULD THEY APPROVE?

Here are some BEFORE and AFTER photographs of rooms decorated by Decorating Den Interiors. Do you think our stylish women of history would approve of these modern makeovers?

From playroom to a beautiful, inviting room for the whole family.

In this before and after of a living room, the owners wanted to keep the yellow sofa. What do you think?

A glamorous makeover with an amazing modern chandelier.

If your home is ready for a makeover call Golson Designs today at (407) 902-3011 or contact us by email.

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March may be the month of green, but 2022 is an entire year of green. Shades of green, that is.

Paint company Sherwin Williams selected Evergreen Fog as its Color of the Year. Counterpart Benjamin Moore has named October Mist. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Sherwin Williams describes Evergreen Fog as “a chameleon color based on its undertones. The undertones shift with the color palette it’s paired with. It will appear cooler in north facing rooms and warmer in south facing rooms (which is true for any wall color). This versatile and calming hue of gorgeous green-meets-gray, with just a bit of blue. It is the perfect backdrop for bold matte black finished fixture with mixed metal accents.”

Evergreen Fog is “a simple but sophisticated wash of beautiful, organic color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade. It is soothing, subtle and a perfect shade to freshen up any space.”

Benjamin Moore’s October Mist “evokes the silver-green stem of a flower. It creates a canvas for other colors—and your imagination—to blossom. It is the perfect backdrop for fixtures with natural details like wood or the perfect complement for lighting with brass fixtures.” If you choose to accent this color with an earth tone palette, choose a room with south facing windows.

October Mist is a “gently silvery sage that quietly anchors a space, while encouraging individual expression through color.”

Either color presents opportunities for creativity, playfulness, nurturing and expressiveness. Why not make March the month you ponder a warm or cool green to spring some new life into a room?

Call Golson Designs today to bring new life to your space (407) 902-3011

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If you are looking for some new color ideas for your decorating, Sherwin Williams introduced four new color palettes at October’s High Point, N.C. home furnishings market. The company’s Colormix® Forecast seminar is always well attended by interior designers.

We all know color is more than just color. Sherwin Williams reminds us that: “There is so much more to color that what meets the eye. It’s a part of our identity. It moves us. It has the power to change the very essence of everything it touches. Color can set a mood, create a conversation, soothe and ground us.”

The first palette introduced is called Method—described as conveying “nature’s processes, the gentle acts of becoming, showing themselves in a collection of organic neutrals and tonal luxury.” If you like the natural order of things, with a touch of art deco, this collection of colors is for you.

Method’s nine colors are: Accessible Beige, Evergreen Fog, Urbane Bronze, Uber Umber, Woven Wicker, Shoji White, Chartreuse, Bakelite Gold, and Beige.

Why not, as Sherwin Willams puts it, create “a masterpiece of your own making,” with some of the colors in Opus. The Opus palette “of dusky deep tones and unexpected accents was created to be a new kind of classical, to set drama and emotion to art of good style, and to never, ever fade into the background.”

Influenced by modern materialism, glam industrial, theater and moody eclectic, the colors are: Cocoa Whip, Garret Gray, Iron Ore, Aleutian, Coral Clay, Naval, Samover Silver, Red Bay, and Blackberry.

For those looking for a bit of whimsy, consider the Dreamland palette. It will “set yourself adrift in a fantasy realm of pearlescent tones, new-growth greens, and lavish pinks that will create a space where fresh ideas flourish.”

The Dreamland colors consist of High Reflective White, Natural Linen, Rose Tan, Rosemary, Felted Wool. Cucuzza Verde, Lite Lavender, Rosé, and Dynamo.

“Honoring the timelessness of sleek and functional midcentury modern design, the Ephemera palette is a play on primary color. Each shade was carefully chosen to evoke the fond remembrance of what once was and the unwavering optimism of what could someday be.”

The colors of Ephemera are Alabaster, Pink Shadow, Sierra Redwood, Peace Yellow, Inky Blue, Cascades, Moody Blue, Basque Green, and Rejuvenate.

Are you ready to try some new color combinations in your home?
Call Golson Designs today at (407) 902-3011.

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An organized home has many benefits, including reducing stress, improving health and well-being and promoting creativity and productivity. Just as a cluttered home can cause constant, low-level stress, one that is orderly and tranquil can help relieve that stress. Imagine walking through your front door and feeling as if you’ve entered a sanctuary. An organized home also saves you time, money and other valuable resources.

So where do you begin? The best answer is to start with custom-made closets.

The Benefits of Custom-Made Closets

Your current home may be built with ample closet space, or you may inhabit an apartment that is woefully lacking in places to store your stuff. Many older homes have no closets at all, because at the time they were built, many people didn’t own a lot of clothing so there was no real need for storage. What few items they did have were usually placed in a trunk or chest of drawers, hung on a hook on a wall, or stored in freestanding furniture, such as a wardrobe or an armoire.

Regardless of whether you have lots of storage space or practically none, nothing beats having the perfect closets, large or small, to suit your lifestyle and unclutter your life. There are many benefits of tailoring your storage space to your particular needs and expectations.

• Organization: A good design will incorporate your specific needs. You may require extra space for shoes, or higher racks to accommodate evening gowns. Even the size of your handbag collection should be taken into account. All of this makes it easier to organize and have easy access to what you are looking for.
• Efficiency: The closet should fit your lifestyle rather than the other way around, factoring in your routine and habits. For example, you may want a place to sit, see yourself fully in the mirror, or watch TV while you’re getting dressed.
• Personalized Design: You can design your closet based on your possessions, such as a rack for summer hats, a shelf for watches and jewelry or a spot for your collection of in-line skates or workout gear.
• Compatibility with Your Home Décor: Your closets should fit in with the design of your home, and reflect your personality and tastes. You may want it to match your room’s paint color and trim, or even the style or color of your furniture.
• Durability: You can choose the strongest, commercial grade materials and furniture-quality components that are designed to last a lifetime. If you are environmentally conscious, you can even opt for doors and drawers made from recycled or reclaimed wood, or paneling that meets rigorous emission standards.
• Lighting: You can customize your own lighting, incorporating natural light and choosing artificial sources that won’t bleach out your clothes and accessories.
• Maximization: Custom closets are a great way to maximize your existing space. The layout of your room should be taken into consideration to provide the storage you need without taking up unnecessary space.

Luxury walk in closet / dressing room with lighting and jewel display. Dresses, handbags, blouses and sweaters on hangers in the wardrobes. Hoizontal.

Closets are Not Just for Clothes

In your quest for an uncluttered, organized environment, you may want to consider custom closets and systems in every area of your home. Here are some examples for inspiration:

Master Suites – Walk-in Closets
Practically everyone fantasizes about a walk-in closet While a walk-in closet can be added to any room in the house, it is the gold standard for the master bedroom. It can serve as a dressing room or a peaceful refuge where you can comfortably begin and each day. A well-designed walk-in closet can fulfill everything on your wish list.

First and foremost, it should serve as a storage place for clothing and accessories, keeping your items organized and accessible, which can also save you a lot of time. It should have lots of hanging space for your clothes to be visible and within reach, and drawers for lingerie and other personal items. Good LED lighting and ventilation are a necessity. Custom options can include jewelry drawers, baskets, pull-out hampers and shoe cubbies. For a luxurious feel, you can add accent lighting, a triple view mirror, fabulous wallpaper and gorgeous hardware. Beyond that, your custom walk-in closet is limited only by your imagination.

Children’s Rooms
Kids grow up quickly, so it’s important to design a closet that can adapt over time as toddlers become teenagers. The ultimate kids’ closet allows for everything to be within reach while maintaining organization. Children require different types of storage depending on their age, so a combination of fixed and adjustable shelves will help accommodate items such as bigger shoes and more sports gear, especially as kids accumulate more stuff as they get older. Cubbies and pull-out baskets are particularly useful. And don’t forget to make room for the toys.

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Pantry Systems
The pantry should never be overlooked – it’s the busiest hub of most homes. Whether you’re a serious chef or are happy reheating leftovers, an uncluttered kitchen and pantry will help you stay organized. Upgrading an existing space into one that is functional will make life easier for you and your family, save you time and reduce food waste. Here are a few tips for creating the customized pantry of your dreams:

• Pull-out shelves for easy access to spices and other items
• Tiered shelves to keep cooking tools accessible
• Adjustable shelves to maximize the use of space
• Bulk storage bins
• LED lighting for dimly lit corners
• Wine racks and stemware holders
• Shelf dividers for pots and pans
• Separate storage cabinets for cleaning items
• Pet food storage
• Bins for recycling

Laundry and Mud Rooms
Because laundry and mud rooms are usually located at a house’s rear entrance, they are often used as the primary entrance for friends and family. In addition to making an attractive first impression, you will be happier if this area is neat and organized, especially during the winter months when cold-weather clothing and gear tend to pile up. There are many options for making this valuable space a model of efficiency and functionality.

Options for customized laundry and mud rooms include shelving, cabinetry, bins, cubbies, lockers, shoe closets, hooks, and benches for sitting while putting on or taking off boots. By using attractive finishes, creative lighting, great colors and attractive flooring, you can transform this often neglected space into one that really works for you and your home.

Home Office Solutions
With so many of us now working from home, a separate space that is comfortable, private and quiet is a priority. No matter the size of your space, from an entire room to a carved-out niche on the stairway landing, custom storage and organization systems can help with your productivity and ability to function.

Solutions to home office space management include custom cabinets and shelving, cubbies and binds, wire management, closets and filing drawers designed for your specific needs and tastes. And don’t forget the need to make it Zoom-worthy, so fill it with beautiful colors, finishes, furniture and accessories.

Garage Storage
A garage tends to be the place where everything gets stashed, mostly because it’s largely out of sight. This can lead to a constant, inconvenient mess. Think of how much time you will save by keeping your work tools, sports gear, garden accessories and other equipment organized.

Solutions include custom wall cabinets, shelving of all kinds, countertops, bins, baskets and closets. You can maximum this extra space with the creative use of organizers that address your specific needs.

Are Custom-Made Cabinets Worth the Investment?

The answer is a resounding yes! You will get exactly what you want, which includes a design that blends with your taste and existing interior décor. They are the perfect solution to uniquely configured spaces, such as sloping roofs, and small spaces, where every inch counts. Custom solutions are made from premium quality materials and are more durable, lasting as long as you live in your home.

Customized closets are one of the best investments you can make in your home. They will increase your home’s aesthetic appeal as well as its value. With the right design – and designer – you will be able to recoup as much as 85 – 100% of their cost.

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Leather upholstery is perfect for many applications. It has a longer lifespan than fabric, it ages well and is easy to clean. Leather is particularly good for people with allergies because dust particles don’t get trapped in it.

Leather furniture is generally more expensive than fabric upholstery. One of the reasons for this is that hides are seldom cured in the USA because of the noxious chemicals used in the process and instead are sent all over the world. Italy is known for producing high quality leather and is a producer of many lines of leather furniture.

A Product of Nature
No man-made material can compare with the natural beauty and feel of genuine leather. Leather is a product of nature.

Aniline
The most expensive hides are those that look rough and unrefined with scars from scratches, bug bites, wrinkles, and even brand marks. This is genuine leather that has pores and breathes just like our skin allowing the leather to quickly adjust to your body temperature.

Only five out of every hundred hides is chosen to be aniline dyed. The skins are soaked in translucent dyes so that the natural marks are not obscured. These are not defects but the hallmarks of nature.

For those who like order, tidiness or balance, aniline may not be for you. In addition to the natural markings, the leather will stretch with continuous seating and soak up spills creating more “natural” marking.

Semi-Aniline
The next prized category is semi-aniline leathers. Out of a hundred hides perhaps fifteen are selected for this process. They usually exhibit some of the natural markings of the range but are not as extreme. Most hides are touched up by a process called micro-pigmentation which results in a combination of the soft feel of aniline leather with the protective benefits of a light finish. The darker the leather, the fewer imperfections will be seen.

Protected & Pigmented
As many as eighty out of a hundred hides fall into this category because they have too many marks and blemishes and require heavy buffing to remove them. The surface of the hide is given a protective topcoat of opaque dyes or paint that minimizes any remaining marks and then sealed with a clear topcoat to protect and enhance the stain resistance and increase the durability of the coloring. This is the leather that you see often in modern upholstery, car upholstery and clothing.

These leathers generally have good uniformity of color and have the least dye-lot variation but remember that with leathers, the sample you see in a showroom or from your decorator may not be an exact replica of what you’ll receive. Due to the finish of these hides they may be prone to damage from scratching which will tear the protective top coat.

Care & Maintenance
Proper cleaning and conditioning on a regular basis will help prolong the life of your leather. Products specifically developed for the type of leather being purchased will help prevent damage caused by drying as well as oil and dirt build-up. My recommendation is to install a humidifier into your existing H-Vac system – it won’t be just the furniture that will benefit!

Call Kathie Golson at (407) 902-3011 to find out how she can work with you on your residential or commercial interior design project.

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