Neutral rooms are a wonderful back drop for personal accessories in various colors, tones and patterns. Charlie’s Stripes shows a wide array of color design and texture yet stays in neutral color tones. As are all of Pillow Galleria designs, Charlie’s Stripes is an UPCYCLED design pillow with a multitude of pieces of various silks and trimmings…some given to the designer, some from previous design jobs or previous seasons.
When we think neutral we often think black, brown, and gray. Charlie’s Stripes teaches us many colors in our world can be used as “new neutrals” such as beige/gold, gray, navy blue, brown and rust.
This photograph from Architectural Digest shows us a very basic neutral room. What if we embroidered on our definition of neutral to include the styles and tones in Charlie’s Stripes?
paint the walls a very soft neutral gray with an ivory/beige ceiling or ivory/beige walls and a soft neutral gray ceiling marrying the two together.
delete the strong statement of the star medallion above the sofa and add other collectible pieces using other neutrals creating more interest and a point where colors come together.
relocate the smaller pillows from the sofa to the two side chairs at the coffee table…moving pattern around and adding more interest. Relocate Charlie’s Stripes to the sofa and add a few additional pieces from the “new neutral” group we have suggested above.
choose lamps on either side of the sofa of about the same height but not the same design with varied shades and finishes….the similarity in height will make them seem like a pair.
color can come from accessories…flowers and plants on the coffee, books, collectibles from your journeys and things important to you.
continuing with the organic feel, how about a large terra cotta pot (and saucer so the floor is protected) in the corner….medium height, about the height of the floor lamps with room to grow will make a great mid height level considering such tall ceilings
When you are working with neutrals, open up your mind and invite other tones to join. Remember, you are one with your environment…you can create your space.
Recently the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) did an article on a new and hot trend which has begun in the ready-to-wear (clothing design) industry and is rapidly moving into our home furnishings area. It’s called UPCYCLING! Designers are reworking old, used, or leftover fabrics into new styles of designer clothing.
Upcycling often requires labor-intensive and time-consuming reconstruction and piecing together which adds to the cost. “It actually requires more creativity and ‘out of the box’ thinking to re-imagine an existing item and create something spectacular from it” explains a professor at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
Polo Ralph Lauren, Missoni, Victor and Rolf, are among some of the designer labels that are upcycling vintage fabrics. Many seasonal runway shows include these newly created designs as limited editions. The purpose is to extend the life of fabrics and clothing that might otherwise be discarded in landfills.
Many designers are repurposing second hand clothing creating a luxury one of a kind look. Why is this so important? Fashion and Home Furnishing trends change very quickly and many of the unwanted pieces end up in the land fill…..bad for our environment.
Designers for Viktor & Rolf are quoted in the WSJ article saying “We feel strongly about this approach. To create something beautiful from older or unused pieces makes sense with all of our ecological problems. Designers are now taking various fabrics in creative and ingenious ways to create new designer looks.”
PILLOW GALLERIA’S ARTFUL PILLOW DESIGNS ARE A SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF UPCYCLING
Autumn Moon – Front
Pillow Galleria’s Autumn Moon is a prime example of upcycling. The entire pillow is constructed of upcycled designer fabrics that fit together perfectly as a new creation. Some consumers will pay more for garments made of old clothes and fabrics because they are one of a kind…a unique piece of art. Pillow Galleria’s designs are based on the same premise. There is an individuality to upcycled products – everyone likes to have an original, a one-of-a-kind item.
Autumn Moon – Back
New trends keep our industry interesting and exciting. Upcycling, the unique and new trend offers additional benefits for sustainably and the environment. Pillow Galleria will be creating more artful one of a kind designer home furnishing pieces with the new environmental trend of upcycling. We invite you to follow us discovering our new and creative home furnishing products utilizing upcycling!
About the Artist: Paula Albinson
My home is my sanctuary and every time I rearrange a room or buy a new accessory, especially pillows, the room takes on a new look and a new personality. I have combined my love of design, exquisite designer fabrics and trims creating a truly one of a kind, handmade pieces of pillow art at Pillow Galleria.