Dabbieri Blog

The Resurgence of Wallpaper

Making its comeback in home design is the once frowned-upon use of wallpaper. Many homeowners associate wallpaper with the tedious task of removing it from walls, but those horrid memories are of the past, and since then, wallpaper has made drastic improvements in quality, design, and application.

While paint is typically flat, wallpaper is not, and adds dimension and character in an instant. Not only that, the addition of wallpaper is an easy way to transform your room without spending the time or money on a drastic makeover. Wallpaper can be patterned, textured, abstract, or geometric, giving you full control of the look that you're going for.

For those hesitant, you can still make an impact by using it on the back of cabinets or a bookcase for subtle pizazz, or, incorporate it into the design of your entryway or stairwell. This makes for a sophisticated first impression when guests enter your home.

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Lucy Penfield)

For a big statement, bring a funky design or geometric pattern to your walls, as this will serve as a great conversation starter. For a lasting impression, choose a striped wallpaper, and if your room has architectural beauty, such as vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, or intricit detail, consider wallpapering your ceiling with a delicate pattern!

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design)

How would you design with wallpaper?

The Timeless Navy Blue

Navy blue: a timeless color that can be used various ways when aiming to evoke a variety of styles. Whether you're going for a nautical, preppy look, or an elegant, trendy look, navy blue is your go-to color. This shade of blue is great when used as an accent color in your room, or even better when it takes center stage in your home design.

Navy Blue & Cotton White

While navy blue can be paired with almost any color and look fabulous, the optimal pairing is with a crisp white. When used together, these two colors enhance your room and allow each color to pop individually and really make a statement. Consider incorporating a blue and white nautical striped rug, or chairs in a blue and white geometric or trellis pattern to add character to your room.

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Lisa K. DeFrances)

 

Navy Blue As A Neutral

To use blue as a neutral, add it as an accent color in a piece of art, pillows & throws, or even a larger piece of furniture. When paired with fellow neutrals such as white and soft brown, the three colors work together to give your room a soft, welcoming, and airy feel.

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Lisa Schmitz)

In which manner would you incorporate navy blue into your home design?

Designer Spotlight: Angie Gardeck

Based out of Algonquin, IL and coming to us from her local IDG showroom, Carlson's Fine Rugs & Floorcoverings, is Angie Gardeck, owner of New Perspective Design.­ After receiving her degree in economics in 1987 and interior design in 2002, Angie created her full-service interior design firm to fuel her passion of creating beautiful rooms for others.

At New Perspective Design, it is Angie’s goal to create a dream space for her clients that is as beautiful and distinctive as it is functional. She uses this approach when it comes time for bathroom remodels, kitchen renovations, space planning, custom designs, and much more!

Her team uses detailed computer renderings to allow clients to envision their new room before the construction even begins. Through this process, Angie and her team save time, money, and allow for a completely customizable design to suit her client’s needs.

For more information: http://www.newperspectivedesign.com/

The Great Dining Room Debate

The dining room. Once a standard in home design, is now a topic of debate. With the growing shift in having an open-concept kitchen, tying together both cooking and eating, there has been less of a need and want of the formal dining room in one's home. But which is better? While there are pros and cons to both styles, only the homeowner can make the right choice for their family's lifestyle.

The Impact of a Busy Lifestyle

As times change and people get busier with their lives, more and more people are either eating at their kitchen island, on the coffee table, or worse, standing up. Being on the go constantly results in people or families not having a strong need for a formal dining room, so for these individuals, a kitchen island that can double as a kitchen table is perfectly ideal.

Open-Concept vs. Formal Dining Room

An open-concept kitchen is casual and modern, perfect for those that either don't have a need to host dinner parties, or that simply enjoy talking to others while cooking.

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Lucy Penfield)

For those families that find quality in sitting down to dinner together, or hosting dinner parties for family and friends, the traditional route of a formal dining room is ideal. Not only does it allow for conversation and a peacful meal, but it keeps with the specific roles of each room. The kitchen stays the kitchen, and the dining room stays the dining room.

(Photo Credit: IDG Featured Designer Lucy Penfield)

Which do you prefer... the open-concept kitchen or the formal dining room?