What is IKKAT? IKAT?

 

Right now Ikkat is the absolute “must have”  fabric/pattern in the interior design world. It is showing up everywhere and on nearly everything from shoes to sofas! The word itself means “to bind.”

This collage was on design sponge.

 

Wikipedia gives us this definition: Ikat, or Ikkat, is a dying technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft fibres.

Actually the process is really NOT like tie-dye because the fibres are dyed before they are woven into fabric.  The color variation exists in the threads first.  When something is tie-died the fabric is bundled (tied) together and then dyed. Take another look.  This collage is from

Haley on home design

 

What a beautiful technique!

And old – very old! Some antique patterns come from South America, India, as well as in the caucuses. If you decide that you are in love with these rare and hand-made delicacies be prepared to spend some serious cash. To make a proper Ikat fabric is labor intensive and time-consuming, hence the large price tag.

 But if you are like me and really love the look of variation in colors and geometric patterns, as shown above in the collages, many companies produce look-alike knock-offs.  And, as far as I can tell, either spelling – one K or two, is correct.

This shows a piece of original IKAT fabric.

 

We have several gorgeous Ikkat patterns available for sofas and chairs from vendors like Thomasville and Norwalk.  All  the fabric lines ( Kravet, Robert Allen, Fabricut, etc) offer  a tempting aray of colors and patterns. Obviously adaptable down through the centuries, the design characteristics of Ikat can be playful, loud, subtle, soft and or sophisticated.

Photo from style-files.

 

Once you fall in love with these patterns you will want more, more, more!

So what is Ikat?

The quiz is coming! 

But, no worries.  You know all about it now.

Ikat shoes from Zazzle

Enjoy the wonderful weekend everybody!

 

Dianne Ross

Interior designer / Phelans Interiors

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Hot Las Vegas Furniture Market says: Stay Cool.

Hey! Happy hot summer days everybody!

 I love it when the sun shines and we have wild colored zinneas in bloom under cornflower blue skies!

 

So, you might expect a blog about HOT colors today, but alas you would be wrong!

Today,we are going to stay cool. We are going to tone it down, keep it sleek, and admire tones almost without any color at all. The company Brownstone has introduced this collection at the Vegas market. It’s just too gorgeous to keep it under wraps. The finish is silverleaf.

 And  the details are delightful! Here a touch of zen, there a touch of French curves, and all done with an editor’s eye.

Here is what the company has to say about the collection they have named “Fairmont”.

 

Brownstone introduces the Fairmont Collection with this sneak preview of our first showing of the Fairmont collection, a unique collection of silver leaf case goods.

We’ll  be showing this group for the first time at the Las Vegas Furniture Market this August 1-5.  Be sure to visit us in showroom A100 if you plan on attending, and to see the craftsmanship on this group.

This group is NOT production at this time, but if we receive a good response at Vegas then we will most likely have stock around Nov-Dec.

The smouldering bling of  the silverleaf finish is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day, wouldn’t you agree?

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Grey and Yellow: New color buddies

Hi FRIDAY!

No reason, really, to say that.

I just think it sounds like fun!

As my readers know, if I had to scale it down to admitting only one obsession, I would cave at color.

 

Desire to Inspire photo

 

So today you will be treated to this up and coming color trend:

Grey and yellow

Charcoal and butter,

Flint and Gold,

Fog and Sunbeams,

Well, you get it . . .

Charming, edgy, AND classic!

Jan van Eyck photo

Candice Olson has stunning new fabrics in her spring/summer collections that highlight grey and yellow pairing. and, yes we have them in our showroom!

Here is one she calls Kiley!

What do you think?

Do you like this new look?

Do you think it is trendy or here to stay?

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

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“Boho Chic” – Finally a real trend!

I have been waiting for this trend to make it’s way into the home furnishing market! If you have a bit of gypsy color in your blood, then you will love this new collections from  Norwalk Furniture:

                                                              “BOHO CHIC” 

 Street Art, graffiti, celebrities, and even some “1960’s cop-an-attitude” come together to create this mischievous, sophisticated look.

Nothing is too cute here, thankfully. Norwalk did a great job of keeping the look just gritty enough to stay on the edgy side. 

If you like what you see here, you will love the “real deal”!  Watch this video and then come on down to the store! See you soon!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/9s9DHn_Iccg

 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

PS  Norwalk is an American company – made in Ohio.

Interior Design 2011 – What’s In?!

So, if you are one of those with “IDS” , or as we say in this business,          Interior Design Sickness, you can’t help yourself – you must read on.

 

Is it circles or squares for 2011?

Yes!

 Kravet fabrics

 

 

 

Is it black or espresso?

Yes!

Thomasville bench 

 

 

Is it clean cut and linear or fanciful quatrefoil??                                                    Modern or traditional for 2011?

Yes!

 

Thomasville  Metro sectional 

Kravet fabric

 

Is it Adrenaline or Xanax?

Yes!

 

 

 

 

 

First dibs

 

Greek key bench

The answer is YES!

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

STILETTO: Heel? Dagger? or Table?

Stiletto!

Brian Cummins photo

The Italian word “stiletto” comes from the Latin stilus meaning: “a stake; a pointed instrument”(from Wikipedia).

A stiletto heel is a long, thin, high heel found on some boots and shoes, usually for women first being introduced in the 1930’s… It is named after the stiletto dagger(also Wikipedia).

Interestingly, the  high heeled shoes were first introduced in Italy, as was the dagger by the same name.

 

Now comes Thomasville! 

Using a metal with soft undertones of both gold and silver, they have styled a collection of tables to live up to the name, Stiletto!

With its classic retro look these tables will add an edge to your casual, centemporary, great room or living room. If it’s  glamorous Hollywood and girlie that fits your definition of stiletto or if it’s more cutting edge and masculine, it doesn’t matter – the Stiletto  collection will work! 

The striking Stiletto collection of tables are on our show room floor, so come and check them out!

You see,  it doesn’t matter if your defintion is to  strut it,  to stab it, or to  add a layer of some smart bling , the very idea of Stiletto is sharp.

 

 Take one more step.

Add the functional and ornamental Stiletto collection to your well dressed home.  

 

   Dianne Ross

Interior Designer / Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Candice Olson here in Cedar Rapids!

Everybody loves Candice Olson, right? 

 But where can you find her products?

Right here in Cedar Rapids!

Phelan’s Interiors has been a long time partner with the Norwalk Furniture Company, and Norwalk has been a long time partner with Candice Olson!

 

Stacie Reid, Interior Designer at Phelan’s,  had the chance to meet Candice at High Point Furniture Market last April!  Lucky lady!

 

 

When you see Candice planning a room design on her T.V. show (Divine Design) and she is looking at fabrics and selecting sofa styles, she is working with Norwalk Furniture.  Norwalk manufactures Candice’s sofas and chairs right here in the United States!

 

Did you know she also offers a fabulous line of lamps and chandeliers?

And, guess where you can find those pretties?

 

 

Right again.

Right here at Phelan’s in  Cedar Rapids!

Because delivery time is approximately 8 weeks, if you want your custom made Candice Olson sofa or chair in your home for the holidays, come in soon!

Phelan’s Interior’s  is having several Candice Olson promotions between now and Christmas, so stop in and check out all of her “divine” goodies!

 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer / Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

New Kitchens as Living Art

Trends in kitchen are about to go crazy with things that are clean, sleek and even more convenient.  The kitchen is about to launch itself as a functional piece of living art!

Countertops are being reduced!  What???

They are being replaced with floor to ceiling cabinetry. Are you ready for this?

I am thrilled!

I am really ready to see something, not only fresh in kitchen design, but logical. Right, I said logical!

Today I am sharing some very simple, state of the art kitchens –  done in black and white. Black and white isn’t a new thing, of course – except now we are seeing both colors in combination, rather than all black cabinets or all white cabinets, or some combinations of wood and black and/or white.

I am more thrilled!

Go Modern photo

The upper cabinets (white) have lift up doors. The back splash  and cabinet fronts are glass and the lower cabinets are drawers.

 

Here is the whole kitchen.

Go Modern photo

Talk about Bling for the home!

Is it even possible to keep getting  more thrilled? 

 Because I am!

 

 Modern European photo

Notice the microwave and ovens are placed in cabinets that almost resemble former entertainment centers. The color is vanilla bean.

Out with jicky-jacked (Ok, I made up that phrase, but it works) cabinets and in with linear horizon lines.

Out with having superfluous kitchen do-dahs on the countertops and in with the generous storage, accessibility and privacy of pantries.

More emphasis is on storage, which translates to order and cleanliness!

Which then translates to BEAUTY!

aka: Living Art

I can’t get much more thrilled than this!

Imagine the sheer joy of having a functional, storage galore, organised, clean, uber-artsy  kitchen?!

European Design photo

 

Hold on to your frying pan, friends, because it is about to happen all over the country.

Next week I’ll post some more traditional (or classic ) designs for those of us who don’t live in contemporary homes.

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer / Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Blue COBALT Blue

Hi everybody!

Today is another COLOR day. YAY!

photo of Charleston’s Rainbow Row

 

 

Blue is struggling to make a comeback. “Spa” blue is is still a strong look but it is a pale aqua color.

 

I am talkin Blue!

COBALT BLUE

Check it out!

Dianne Ross’s photo-art

 

Dianne Ross’s niece, Rachel!

Dianne Ross’s work place  in the snow . . .

Be on the look out for this electric color. It will zap high voltage energy right into any setting.

 Cobalt is coming!

 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer / Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

2010 – TURQUOISE!

 

 “Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2010″ Turquoise:

 

 

Lucky for me, Pantone LLC declared Pantone 15-5519 Turquoise as the Color of the Year for 2010.

Lucky, because I love the entire blue-green spectrum.

It is flattering to everybody.

 

Each year Pantone Color Institute®, creates standardized color palettes used in the graphics, design, cosmetics and fashion industries. As per the color experts, the color turquoise evokes a soothing feeling of a tropical paradise, and positive, relaxed energy.

 

 

Beautiful.

 

I love it.  I love it.  I love it!

 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer / Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634