2008 COLOUR FORECASTS
            Article by: Darlane Rogers-Wardle
            decorator0689@ontariodecorators.com 
            www.ontariodecorators.com
                      

            Honours graduate from the Interior Decorating Program at Humber College. Aside from being a Certified
            Interior Decorator, she is also a Certified Home Stage/ Redesigner and a Certified Colour Consultant. 
            She is a member in good standing with OntarioDecorators.com. Darlane is available for Colour
            Consultations, Staging, and Redesign.

Each year,  home design experts gather to create a colour palette that will influence all areas of design which includes paint colors, fabrics, carpet, laminate, furniture and lighting, an influence that typically spans two years.  This team draws upon a variety of sources: from research groups, colour marketing associations, exhibitions, and design influences from the worlds of fashion, technology, architecture, music, nature, and popular culture.  Here is a look at what the experts are saying will be found in our homes as we finish this decade.

 ECO INFLUENCE:
Green is the new “neutral” color in response to our increasing awareness of all things environmental.   Botanical green choices will embrace the concept of bringing the outdoors to the inside using hues of fern, palm, pine, moss, and sage.   You will see them used as the main attraction or paired with clear blue or aqua, emulating a sense of outdoor-friendly living. Sandy tans and warm browns reminiscent of soil, sand, stones, and deep rich earth in many tones and shades will also provide nature-imbued colour choices in today’s homes especially in bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.

ELEGANCE:
Black and white is once again the colour of elegance and sophistication.  Coupled with metallics, or the high-sheen of gold and silver accents, you will add just enough ‘bling, bling’ to give your space that classic look of another era.  Just be careful not to overdo or you will cheapen your overall look.  To further this sparkle, add mirrors, crystal lighting, and rich fabrics, and to amp up your wow factor, add a punch of drama with the addition of a passionate red in your artwork, pillows, and small accessories.  Master bedrooms and living rooms are two areas that will lend themselves to this sophisticated elegance.

Asian Influence: 
Because of the upcoming Olympic Games in China, we are going to see a lot of Asian influence in 2008's colour palette.  Injecting the vibrant hues popular in both China and India, expect to see clear reds, strong jade greens and bright yellows that will absolutely reverberate when displayed against a backdrop of the more environmentally-inspired neutrals. Look for these Asian-inspired jewel tones in resplendent fuchsias, purples, turquoises, oranges and greenish gold’s and browns.  This colour palette can add significant pizzazz to any kitchen, but if you are not ready to be this bold with an overall look, consider using these vibrant hues as accents to inject a spunky energy  into your more neutral rooms.    

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            "Ways to Refresh your Decor" 
            Article by: Darlane Rogers-Wardle
            decorator0689@ontariodecorators.com 
            www.ontariodecorators.com      

             Honours graduate from the Interior Decorating Program at Humber College. Aside from being
             a Certified Interior Decorator, she is also a Certified Home Stage/ Redesigner and a Certified 
             Colour Consultant. She is a member in good standing with OntarioDecorators.com. 
             Darlane is available for Colour Consultations, Staging, and Redesign.




Exterior:  
           - Trim back those ornamental grasses that looked charming until the first snow bent them to the ground. A
             quick snip will clean up the look and save you some time in the spring.
           - You may need to clean up your Christmas urns by removing dead greens and removing anything that suggests
             that it is still Christmas. 

Foyer:
           - If you have a hall carpet it probably needs a good cleaning.
           - Edit your hall closet since it probably became pretty disorganized with the comings and goings of all your
             holiday visitors.
           - If you have a hall console, place some potpourri in a decorative bowl on the bottom shelf. 

Kitchen:
           - Get new placemats and coordinating napkins for the table or island. 
           - A bowl of fresh fruit, such as lemons or fresh flowers, could be placed on the island or kitchen table for a
             pleasant sight and scent. 
           - Trim any scraggly plants or replace with a new plant.
           - Change or add a carpet at the sink area. 

Living Room/Family Room:
           - Examine what you have hanging on your walls. Sometimes people have art hanging on every inch of  space,
             but that is not the best practice. If you fill every inch, your eyes have no place to rest. If a wall is less than 36
             inches wide, it shouldn't have any art on it at all. So, decide what should really stay. 
           - Repaint your ceiling in a colour that is a lighter tint of the wall colour. 
           - If you are a collector, don’t spread these things all around the room.  
           - Instead, group them in a cabinet or on a shelf (there is no need to display them all).
           - Add a mirror to enhance the size of your room, but make sure it reflects something worth looking at – across
             from a focal point (fireplace, etc.) or reflecting a great outside view 

Dining Room: 
           - Add a table runner to the dining table. 
           - Add some crown molding and/or wainscoting.
           - Create a focal point for built-ins by painting the interior a contrasting colour to highlight its contents. 

Bedrooms:
           - Some new bedding can transform the whole look of your bedroom. 
           - Add some elegant pillows or add a zing with pillows in a punch of colour. 
           - Change your ceiling light or change the lampshades on your bedside lamps. 
           - Replace your bedside rugs. 

Bathrooms:
           - New sink and/or fixtures can make a huge difference.
           - Update your light fixtures. 
           - Put some ‘showy’ towels out in a complimentary colour; ikewise with any bath mats. 
           - Edit the number of personal items you have on display. 

Go ahead and add a new coat of paint to any room and don’t forget the trim and ceiling! 

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           Article & Photo By Carion Fenn
      
           decorator5694@ontariodecorators.com 
           www.ontariodecorators.com 
            
            Carion Fenn loves design! Owner of Carion Fenn Interiors, she has earned considerable recognition with
            media appearances on City tv, Chtv, Tv one, Rogers, Cfrb1010, and Flow 93.5 FM. Ms. Fenn has also
            appeared as a feature designer in the following print media: Styleathome.com, Sympatico/MSN, Dream
            Homes and Condominium, and Loulou Magazine. Carion has quickly establised her reputation as
             a passionate leader, design writer, and medica personality. 


     All about Orange- (Carion Fenn) - Styleathome.com 
     Decorator To The Stars - (Carion Fenn) - LouLou Magazine
    Condo Lifestyle - (Carion Fenn) 
    EcoDesign - (Carion Fenn) 
   Cool Jobs - (Carion Fenn) - happygrrls

Incorporate décor in your lifestyle! Interior Decorators are known to be the masters of illusions, creating different spaces with varying budgets. More and more consumers want to get the “decorator’s touch,” but are restricted by budgetary and timing constraints.

When decorating your home, you should ensure that you stay within your own means. Plan carefully and find your affordability level. The hottest trend is personalizing your space. Using colours, patterns, and textures, create a unique scheme that says you! A transitional scheme is HOT among consumers who are looking to update their space but want to incorporate the “old” with the new. No, “old” doesn’t mean that a product is dated or worn and should be thrown out. “Old” can be a sentimental piece or a treasured antique. It could be something given as a gift, perhaps from the college years.

Though we all update our spaces over time, why get rid of something sentimental or in good condition? Simply adding in a few different elements to enhance a space can really create that fabulous designer look! 

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VIDEO LIBRARY

Decorating on a budget - Carion Fenn
 
     

Carion Fenn Divine Restoration
 

City TV Commercial (Carion Fenn) by Producer Darryl Jay


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