Tribal patterns

Tribal patterns continue to be popular in fabrics, accessories, clothing and rugs. They are interesting mixed with texture, color and traditional or contemporary decor. They also work well with Arts and Crafts and Prairie Style designs.

I saw this clever adaption of Winston Churchill's famous advice at the Farrow and Ball showroom at the Merchandise Mart yesterday. It definitely reflects my philosophy. What feels better than a beautiful, functional home? Home should always feel good and be comforting.

Don't Forget the Ceiling

Ceilings are part of a room's architecture and can be a great place to add interest or a special touch to a room. Adding a ceiling medallion, crown molding, a paint treatment or color can all do the trick. Dave Ryan is working on one of my client's homes in Western Springs in the above picture. He is adding a lighter value of shading to a medium green base color and a touch of gold wash. He also added soft gold touches to the details on the ceiling medallion. The chandelier has green leaves and the color on the ceiling brought the whole room together and made it unique.

   When adding color a soft value is best unless you have very high ceilings that feel cold and you are wanting to create warmth. Wallpaper can also be a great touch to add interest to the ceiling. Even a small toilet room is a good spot to try this trick. Gold or silver leaf is also stunning on a ceiling.