Color and Style

White is a color!

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:33:19 +0000

Nothing is more classic than white. White is timeless and always in style, any season, any year. Like choosing any color it takes care and caution to pick white, in fact it can be challenging to pull off an all white space. With many different shades, white needs to be selected and used well.

{image Jerome Galland}

There are rules to follow when selecting white: Don’t use white to lighten up a dark room, it won’t work. There must be good light to make white look good, without good light white looks gray. White walls help highlight the object in the room, so select carefully, white highlights shapes and other colors. It also shows off all the dirt, wear and flaws on the surface. White has to be treated as a color, when it’s picked to avoid color; thinking it’s a safe and easy decision; the space can look cold, empty, cheap, and not welcoming.

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When done right an all white room is elegant, chic, and sophisticated, use different textures and sheens, natural materials and rich woods to add interest. Using different shades of white in one space can highlight architectural elements.

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White can be casual and warm when mixed with soft blues and pastel colors. Be careful when using brighter vibrant colors, white can make them loud.

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Black is white’s complimentary color and when used together it can be very exciting, contemporary, and edgy.

Some of my favorite white paint colors are: B&M Linen White, Cloud White, Designer White, AcadiaWhite.

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Summer Time Favorites

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:07:38 +0000

I love the summer months, the warm weather, long days, staying up late and of course NO homework! I love going to the beach on the weekends, and if work permits on Fridays. Here are some of my summertime favorites

Picnics at the park

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Beach Bungalows

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A Summer dinner party

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Summer cocktails on the patio

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What are some of your summer time favorites? Enjoy the short and carefree summer months

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Firoozeh Khorrami

Red, White, and Blue

admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:39:36 +0000

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Happy 4th of July!

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

Mellow Yellow

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:05:45 +0000

It is a warm and beautiful summer afternoon here in Los Angeles. The sky is blue, the birds are chirping and the sun is shining bright, reminding me of one of my favorite colors yellow. Yellow is a happy color, it’s warm and welcoming; it brightens up any space, makes a room glow and is a neutral.

{Elle Decor}

{Mario Buatta}

{Jamie Drake}

{Michael Smith}

{Mary Drysdale}

If you’re not ready to make a big commitment to yellow, how about a few pillows to change your mood!

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

John Sowden House

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:08:37 +0000

I had the pleasure of touring the John Sowden House, designed by Lloyd Wright in the Los Feliz area in Los Angeles. In 1926 John Sowden asked Lloyd Wright to design a home for him that he could entertain in. When Wright died in 1978 the house was noted as his most important work and a landmark due to it’s temple like features. A Mayan Revival style architecture, the most striking feature of the house are the ornamental concrete blocks that mark the entrance, resembling a Mayan temple and making the home feel like a fortress. The house has a small entrance with low ceilings, leading to a cave like staircase up to the grand living room overlooking the canopies of large oak trees with city views. In 2002 Xoren Balbes acquired the property and did an extensive restoration of the home. Today it’s a modern house with modern luxuries, fit for entertaining and living well.

Entrance staircase

The grand living room, furnished with Frank Loyd Wright sofas.

The house surrounds this central court yard. Originally there was a fountain in the court yard, but has long been destroyed and now houses a swimming pool. Great place to hang out and spend the day or the evening under the stars.

The old servants quarters have been converted into a beautiful modern kitchen.

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Blue and White Pottery

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:24:02 +0000

I always encourage clients to start a collection that is meaningful and enjoyable to them. When my son was in 1st grade his teacher told him three pieces of anything he liked, would be considered a collection.

Blue and white pottery is a great collectible. There is so much variety and when grouped together it makes a statement.

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It’s important though that you narrow down the kind of Blue and White pottery you would like to collect. Maybe it’s antique pottery or vintage? could be pottery that is made by a specific manufacturer? or a particular pattern.

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So do a little research you’ll learn so much about the history and art of Blue and White pottery and every piece you collect will have a story. Collections are a reflection of you, show your pride and arrange them well so they become important, and you share your joy.

What do you like to collect?

Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Monochromatic Color Scheme

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 04:26:20 +0000

Foolproof and easy to pull together, monochromatic color schemes can have an elegant and clean result in any interior design. A simple way to pull together all the different elements in any bedroom, living room or dining room.

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Here are a few pointers to use when working with a monochromatic color scheme in your interior space: Be careful that you choose the right cast of the color you are working with. All colors have undertones or casts, like yellow, green, pink or blue, when you are picking beige, make sure all your beige s, (ie paint, fabric, rug) have the same undertones or they won’t work together. Use different shades and tones of the same color to add depth.

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Monochromatic color schemes can make interior spaces become boring and monotonous, no matter how you vary the hue. Bring depth and diversity to a monochromatic scheme by adding texture, sheen and pattern. You can use tone on tone patterns on drapes, sheers and velvet fabrics for upholstry. Different textures can be brought in with different materials like leather and hide, different weaves in the area rug, wood flooring and other natural materials like lime stone.

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Monochromatic does not mean beige and tan, the interior design of this pink bedroom is a great example of a monochromatic color scheme. The variation in the hue and the different textures of silk, velvet and moiré add interest and excitement.

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The use of an accent color can bring interest and movement, like the flowers on the center of this dining table.

Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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This year’s To Do List

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 06:56:00 +0000

Last year I started a new tradition; writing a post about my goals for the New Year. It seems as life moves on we get so caught up in the day to day, unless we write down our intentions and goals on paper (or blog) the year will fly by and nothing on our “To Do List” will get done. It’s also a great idea to look at all that we have accomplished and pat ourselves on the back. So here are some of last years goals that I’ve accomplished, and some new ones.

To live my life intentionally. This year I plan being more aware of habits and to live a less obligatory life – to give more of myself to what is important to me and less to what I feel obligated to.

To continue to grow my Interior Design Career – I’m now Director of Membership of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers

To incorporate more art and culture into my life. Last year I read more books than ever before, took my kids to museums and to the library more often. I have to admit most of it has come from inspirations I get from my favorite blogs.

To commit to publicity – Last year I got published in Pasadena Magazine, The Daily News, The Glendale Press and a few other local news papers. You can see the articles here. I would like to get published at least once this year.

Trip to Spain and Morocco – We did go on a trip to Italy, I did have a choice to go to Spain but I picked Italy. It was a great trip, I’ve written about it a few times.

LEED AP Certification, didn’t happen last year it’s on the list for this year.

To eat healthier and exercise more. That is a work in progress; I have my good months and a few bad days.

This year I would like to be more organized, especially with my time.

I would like to share more of my knowledge and to bring more people together.

I would like to expand my business and business contacts, I would like to be me more focused on my business.

For me this is a year of growth, in every way (except my waist line).

Have you made a list of what you would like to accomplish? I would love to hear about some of your goals for this year.

Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Happy New Year

admin — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:11:08 +0000

{image source: www.hostessblog.com, www.regnierphotography.com}

Today is a day of reflection, a time to count my blessings and be grateful. I have learned many lessons, and accomplished much. I look forward to all that I will create in 2011

Wishing everyone a year filled with joy, peace, love, health and prosperity

Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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Mudroom

admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:50:27 +0000

I don’t remember ever having a week of non stop rain here in Los Angeles. I enjoyed it very much and happy to see the sun again; especially so my out of town guests who are here for a nice vacation can enjoy the week before they all head back to the east coast. Having this much rain has reminded me of how much I need a mud room in our home. Although we don’t get as much rain here in Southern California as other parts of the country, I still think a proper mud room is necessary in Los Angeles, just as much as any other cold, rainy, region in the world.

Everyday when I come home I – in the entry, remove my shoes; I make my kids remove their shoes, and of course we always have something we have to DROP. When it’s raining we bring in the mud, when it’s cold we have to take off our jackets, and when it’s hot we have water bottles, flowers, shopping bags, and beach gear to drop off, and of course let’s not forget the back packs, and briefcase, and purse……….

The term “Mudroom” use to mean just that, a room usually off the kitchen or basement where you stored your “mud” gear (shoes from the garden, a wet umbrellas and so on) and it would help keep your house clean. Today we are designing mud rooms that some clients don’t want to get dirty. Some of the things we’d like to include are: A large sink, closet to hide gear, a bench for removing shoes, a small powder room, storage bins for recyclables, bulletin board for last minuet messages, and of course a mirror for the last look before you leave the house.

This month Veranda magazine features a lovely mudroom, not only is it beautiful with custom cupboards on the right, and individual cubbyholes, for every member of the family and blue stone floors, it’s functional and practical.

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I love this room just as much. Most homes have a corridor coming in from the garage that can become a mud room like this.

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You too can create a stylish utilitarian “mudroom” to help keep the rest of the house from getting dirty or cluttered, by just adding some accessories.

How about some hooks or a coat hanger like theses from Restoration Hardware

Outside the door place a cast iron boot scraper like this one from Smith & Hawken

An umbrella stand to hold the wet umbrellas when you walk in. This one is by Global Views

A bench to sit and put on or take off your shoes. I like this vintage one from Wisteria

Some baskets or a storage bin for all the kids stuff. I especially like this coat rack from Ballard Design

It doesn’t matter what size or shape your mud room is I’m sure it can have lots of style and function well for your home.

Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

If you would like an interior designer in the Los Angeles area to help you design the home you’ve been dreaming of; contact me here.

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