One of my favorite fabric and wallpaper companies, Quadrille Home Couture based out of New York is worthy of mention especially as Fashion Week gets underway here in Ottawa.  Quadrille has exquisite patterns, typically large in scale and bold in color not to mention are hand-printed so are of exceptional quality and truly unique.  For those who are not familiar with this company, perhaps you might remember the sofa from the movie "The Devil Wears Prada".  The Melinda pattern in black and white linen is very fashion forward!!

 

 

The photo of the chair below highlights another of Quadrille's fantastic fabrics - Island Ikat in Royal Blue.  Much to my surprise and delight, Quadrille has chosen to feature my work, the playroom of the Colonel By residence, in their editorial portfolio!

 

 

 

For the full link click on:

 

http://quadrillefabrics.com/editorial_pages_a/editorial_html/Island_Ikat_Chairs_Tanya-Collins.html

 

Are you wondering how this playroom came together?  Let me step you through the decorating process.  The client's bookcases and drapery were existing and slated to stay while an antique Louis Style daybed used in another part of the house was repurposed for this room.  The client was originally inspired by Quadrille's Ikat fabric after seeing it in Elle Decor magazine and since we both loved it, decided that it would be the jumping off point for the whole color palette.  I sourced out, re-upholstered and re-shaped 2 vintage swivel tub chairs wanting to juxtapose furniture pieces that were more retro, curvy, and modern in styling with the client's traditional and clean lined Louis-style daybed.  The daybed was re-upholstered in indigo velvet with contrast piping in vanilla velvet to complement the royal blue ikat.  This is an example of mixing furniture pieces together of varying periods.  It also illustrates how one bold printed fabric can add drama and impact to what would otherwise be a conventional room.  The playroom walls were painted an "unexpected" shade of purple to honor the two girls who spend the most time in this room (purple being one of their favorite colors) not to mention to continue the chic yet bold styling consistent through the rest of the house.  Gold floor lamps designed by Jonathan Adler for Robert Abbey were added to warm up the cool tones.

 

I happen to be using Quadrille's hand-printed wallpaper in the Java Java pattern in yellow in a powder room in one of my latest projects.  Stay tuned!  For those of you interested in purchasing Quadrille's fabrics or wallpapers here in Ottawa, you can check out their collections from my shop page at:

 

http://tanyacollinsdesign.com/shop.html

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Inspiration is all around you - translate fashion to your home's decor!

I splurged on this Coach handbag while on vacation as I love the color story of beige gold, silver hardware and lilac purple.

I admit my decor inspired my fashion first.  The handbag just happens to share the same color palette as my bedroom - classic, restful and soothing in a fresher way than all beige.  I think the lilac makes the beige sing.

How do you translate inspiration from fashion to home decor?  Let me step you through the process.  Try varying the shades of an accent color to create depth within a room.  In this case, the purple hue is the accent color of the handbag and so too is it in my bedroom.  Note that the ceiling color (paint - matte), sheets (cotton), drapes (silk) and bench (velvet) all vary in shades of purple and in texture.  The walls, mirror, and capiz shell light fixture have that same beige-gold glow as the leather of my handbag, and the silver metal accessories of the room (drapery rods, dresser knobs, lamp base, and clock) mimic the silver hardware on the handbag.

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Having come across some photos of a weekend get-a-way with girlfriends to New York City last spring, I was reminded of my experience lounging in the drawing room at the Crosby Street Hotel.  Kit Kemp's interior design is a source of inspiration to be sure.  The use of varying shades of pink and red with grey is one of my all-time favorite color palettes.

The integration of wide plank unfinished wood floors, rough plaster vases, highly polished silver metal lamps, ethnic pieces, quirky dog portraits, modern lighting, and classical furniture is so well done!  The overall organic, earthy, ethnic vibe done in a modern fresh way is certainly not typical of a hotel drawing room.  The unexpectedness in the bold choice of color and the eclectic mix of textures is perhaps what I love the most.

I particularly love the printed drapery fabric as shown above, that is repeated on the wing chairs in the next photo.  The wool patch-work upholstery on the sofas and the Indian armoire in the corner is also worthy to note.

In this shot, I am really fond of the color and styling of the button tufted velvet sofa.  Note how the wing chairs instantly become "hip" when a colorful print is applied!   The African stools used as coffee tables are so fresh in white!  This hotel drawing room provides a great visual example of how non-neutral colors and bold patterns can lend a fresh, contemporary effect to interior spaces.  

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