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January 28, 2008
Posted by: Cathy at 12:55 am
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A traditional feel. Notice brass and wood lamp, tassel fringed needlepoint pillow, floral English plate, and topiary.
I had fun in HomeGoods the other day, (although, I think THEY were happy to see me go…). I thought it would be fun to pick a couple of neutral classic pieces of furniture and just by changing the accessories, on or near them, I was able to change the style of the grouping, while keeping the same anchor pieces of furniture. The point of this exercise is to illustrate that by buying simple neutral classic pieces of furniture, they can take on any style of decoration just by changing accessories to achieve a whole new look.
A contemporary feel. Notice sleek crystal lamp with black drum shade, pillow fabric, circles and swirls, and an artistic and simple hand sculpture.
An Asian feel. Notice a carved lamp with pagoda shade, plate with Asian writing, orchid for color and bit of nature, simple solid silk pillows.
An island or safari feel. Notice palm tree lamp, leopard throw and pillow, dried grass in a basket.
A transitional feel. Notice classic shape lamp , graphic stripe pillow, contrasting colors, and mirrored frame.
Its interesting to see, just by a few accessory changes you can have a whole new feel to a room.
The trick is to keep those big pieces of furniture…sofa, chairs, occassional tables and case pieces in a classic and neutral style and color. Then, anything goes.
(By the way… I did put everything back in their right places, so when they see me coming again… I’ll be able to have some more fun !)
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1. Cathy, I bet you had a blast! Great ideas, and totally inspirational!
Susan
by Susan Smith — 1/28/08 at 9:32 am #
2. Hi Susan,
Yes, it was fun to play around with all the great stuff in there. I did let them know I was writing a blog and posting pictures on the website. I think they’re used to me by now.
Thanks again for all your support and great comments. Hope the girls are doing well.
Cathy
by Cathy — 1/29/08 at 3:27 am #
3. Hi Cathy,
We were on the same page (smile). You are so talented! This is beautiful!
Betty
by Betty — 1/30/08 at 10:35 am #
4. CATHY,
You are amazing. I love you. Come decorate my apartment. Now.
by Megan — 1/31/08 at 9:21 pm #
5. Thanks so much Betty,
Haven’t heard from you in a while. You must be busy. Hope things are going well for you my friend. Loved your Box-Table. You’re the one with the talent. Keep posting all those great ideas.
CAthy
by Cathy — 1/31/08 at 10:40 pm #
6. Hey there Megan,
I know who this is. You can’t fool me. I love you too dear daughter.
You’ll have to decorate your own Apt. because you’re way far away at college and about to graduate in April. I’m so proud of you!! Now, get off the computer and go study!!! LOL.
Love you,
Mom
by Cathy — 1/31/08 at 10:47 pm #
7. Cathy–
This was a great article! I see that you mixed brown/black in a few styles.
I’m a female law student moving into an 1880s house with sloped ceilings and skylights. I was wondering if there are any basic guidelines for making the brown/black mix a success? I have a space I need to decorate and feel like I’m mixing too many neutrals (black bed, brown chair-and-a-half, white dresser). How can I tie them together to look like a cohesive classy space?
I’ve attached a basic floorplan of my space (with some of the furniture I have available to me.) I plan to purchase HomeGoods accessories (a rug, a mirror, etc.) to tie the pieces together, but I’m feeling intimidated not knowing what types of items to search for.
by minneapolisite — 2/5/08 at 6:15 pm #
8. That was fascinating…..pretty neat designer and pretty neat store that has all those assessories to choose from…..
Coundn’t even pick a favorite style….loved the brown pillow in the contemporary setting but I’m mostly traditional….
Keep up the great ideas….love them!
by Julie — 2/5/08 at 8:57 pm #
9. Wow! I have neturals in my living room. I have used lots of textures and patterns in the same family. I love how you have changed the look with just a few pieces. You have given me the inspiration to try something different by adding color and changing the style.
I agree with Betty, you are a talented lady. I can connect because I have the feel and you give me the inspiration.
Thank you,
Mary
by Mary — 2/6/08 at 11:42 am #
10. Hello Minneapolisite,
Thank you so much. I did not get the floorplan. Could you upload it in “Customer Finds” in the right side bar at the top of the page. I can look at it there. In the meantime, a few ideas about pulling your bedroom colors together. All of the colors you have are all good neutrals and work fine together. Now, go to the next step. A few things you might do…
* Paint your walls with a little color, a soft shaded green or blue, #2 or 3 down on the paint chip.
* Add a solid white/cream bed cover (duvet,comforter,coverlet) to balance the white dresser.
* Add pillows on the bed in brown (chair color), green or blue (wall color) and black (bed color).
* Add a throw over your brown chair in the wall color, (green or blue).
* Add an area rug with the black, brown, white and blue or green in it.
* Add a black lamp on the white dresser.
* Add art with black frames and thick white mats.
* Add long brown drapery panels with white banding or borders.
Many or all of these additions should pull the room together nicely. You have a good start, just continue to the next level. Cross over colors from one area of the room to another.
Good luck in law school.
Its kind of like Law… if you don’t have all the pieces of evidence, the story doesn’t come together or make sense. When you have the evidence, the case is solid and complete.
Hope this helped a little.
by Cathy — 2/6/08 at 1:23 pm #
11. Thanks so much Julie,
Love to hear from you. Yes, HomeGoods is quite a store. Nothing quite compares, and I shop alot for my clients. Glad you liked some of the pillows in the post. The variety and quality were quite nice, as was everything.
So glad you dropped in to say HI. Write again soon.
LYC
by Cathy — 2/6/08 at 1:48 pm #
12. hello i just want to know if you know any one who is resonable Interior Designer. i’m looking for some one who can decorte my house from color to furniture every thing plz email me
by nina — 2/6/08 at 7:39 pm #
13. i’m looking for a Interior Designer plz help me out
by nina — 2/6/08 at 7:51 pm #
14. Hi Nina,
I’m not sure where you live but there are many good designers to help you. If you’re on a budget, you might ask an interior design student to help you. Ask your friends or neighbors if they know a designer they would recommend. Or pay for a consultation and space plans and you do all the work. There are many ways you can negotiate with a designer to get help within your budget.
Good luck!
by Cathy — 2/7/08 at 2:44 am #
15. Hello again Minneapolisite,
I did see your great floorplan in “Customer Finds”, thank you. For the size of room your plan looks as good as possible. I tried to rearrange it differently but yours is fine as long as the door clears your bed. I wasn’t sure where your windows were so I think your fine. Its funny how I mentioned to bring in the blue/green and thats what you had. Can you add your teal or agua color to your walls? You can go a shade lighter to keep it from becoming too dark, especially with your dark trim. I do like the brown drapery idea against the blue wall color. Add some large art work, as I said with the big white mats and black frames. Can you add a tall green tree in behind your chair and “uplight” it from the floor. Put a lamp on your dresser and desk. You could add a shot of tangerine color with a pillow on the bed. I like your round area rug, does it have the colors of the room? I think your doing great, just pull together all those other elements, but don’t overdo. Know when to stop. There is a fine line between just enough and too much.
Good luck and keep moving ahead.
by Cathy — 2/7/08 at 3:25 pm #
16. Cathy–
Thank you so much for the ideas! The rug is a find from HomeGoods last spring. I currently have it in the foyer of my townhome, but plan to either take it with me when I move to my temporary place–or perhaps find a new one at HomeGoods this weekend! The rug I have is a little more muted than I’d prefer, but it matches my muted aqua bedsheets.
The room doesn’t have any windows, actually–it only has an enormous skylight in the vaulted ceiling. The room also has a loft, but I can’t even begin to describe it. I’ll be back in March with pictures of the loft space and another plea for help!
I love your design ideas and so appreciate your advice! I’m looking forward to your next guerrilla HomeGoods expedition.
by minneapolisite — 2/8/08 at 11:04 am #
17. Your welcome Minneapolisite,
Hope there was some advise you could use. Yes, I’ll be back terrorizing
HomeGoods again… all in the name of design and pursuit of decorating bargains. Good luck and I’ll look forward to hearing from you again…(just shorten your name a little). LOL. Take Care.
by Cathy — 2/8/08 at 1:26 pm #
18. I am looking for a new bedframe and couch if you could send me any sales on these items that would be great! I was also wondering if you had a home goods in Fenton? Thanks for everything have a great day!
by Michelle — 2/17/08 at 9:27 pm #
19. Have you ever seen a trunk utilized as an end table. I am looking for something in the browns and distressed, but couch/chair height. Please advise as you seem to have a lot of knowledge….
by jodi — 2/19/08 at 4:33 pm #
20. Hello Michelle,
I can’t help you with a bedframe. Keep your eyes open for sales in your area. Try rental furniture stores, used or consignment furniture stores might have them. As for couchs, just look for sales and closeouts in your area. If you’re looking for a HomeGoods near you. Go back to the home page and click on locations for a HomeGoods near you. Good Luck with everything.
by Cathy — 2/19/08 at 5:35 pm #
21. Hi Jodi,
Yes, I’ve seen trunks used as tables. They make great sturdy tables with a big bonus…extra storage. You said you want a distressed/aged one. You could check antique stores, consignment or used furniture stores, garage sales, flea markets, or go online and Google…antique trunks. Reproduction trunks can be found in stores like HomeGoods, Marshalls, Pier One from time to time. Keep your eye’s open and the right one will turn up.
Thanks for writing.
by Cathy — 2/19/08 at 5:46 pm #
22. Cathy,
You remind me so much of my Mom ! She is an interior designer and I have to say, she has rubbed off on me very much so. What you did in the store to show how you can simply change the accessories to give a completely different look in a room is what my Mom does all the time. She taugh me early on to buy quality pieces that can be given a differnt look very easy. Like you, she is also surprised and proud when she comes over and sees what I have done. Recently, I found myself doing it at her house when she changed something I didn’t like. Funny!
by Lynn — 2/26/08 at 8:02 pm #
23. Oh, you’re so sweet Lynn,
(Something a Mom might say) … It sounds like you’re listening to your Mom real well , and following in her designer footsteps. She sounds very insightful and right about purchasing good quality classic neutral furniture. As you can see it lends itself to a variety of styles. I’m sure she’s very proud of you and all you’ve learned from her… makes us Moms so Happy. I bet you have a lovely home. Kiss your Mom and tell her “well done”. (You remind me of my daughter…her middle name is Lyn and is graduating from college soon..yes we are proud.)
Its been great to chat. Take Care and “eat your vegetables”!
by Cathy — 2/26/08 at 9:29 pm #
24. Back to Mary at # 9
Sorry I missed you,
Thank you so much for your nice comments. It sounds like you have a nice neutral palette to work with. Find a style you like and add some color. It will look great. Then in a few years, if you tire of the look and color, simply change a few things and get a new look, but keep all your classic pieces. You’ve got the right idea to work from.
Thanks again for your nice thoughts.
by Cathy — 2/26/08 at 9:56 pm #
25. Thanks for submitting a comment to Openhouse, the HomeGoods blog.
We understand that you have been trying to locate a coffee table. As an off price retailer, we make every effort to keep our prices low, and our costs down, so that we can pass these savings on to our customers. For this reason, we do not provide a service of tracking merchandise, In addition, we do not have the privilege of ordering specific merchandise from our vendors. To locate the coffee table, we suggest that you continue to check with the stores in your area directly. We would be happy to provide you with store locations in your area. If you would like a store list, please call our Customer Service Department directly at 1-800-888-0776.
Thank you,
Katie
HomeGoods Customer Service
by Katie — 3/12/08 at 4:04 pm #