Twiggy’s 60s fashion style influenced Aussie label Romance Was Born’s new bold owl swift dress. In the Saturday’s Herald Sun Andy Burns quoted Anna Plukett as saying “….. The fabric silhouette and popping bright solid color palette reflects the mod era which we love”

When I went shopping yesterday I had a walk down memory lane when I spotted some Twiggy style shift dress’ in solid bold geometric designs. Giving my age away here, but I can’t help but be proud of the fact I was in England (a school girl) during the swinging 60s. What an exciting time it was. The new season of 2012 embraces a solid color palette in sleek paneled highlights accessorized with bold accessories.

Fashion concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Celebrity stylist Franco Scifilliti shared some words of wisdom in the same article. He suggested 5 ways on ‘How to get the Twiggy look’. So here they are in my own words.

1. Find a shift dress in an A-line or slightly fitted style. Solid colors or black and white (I have created the fashion concept board above to give you an idea)
2. Short capes instead of coats will add to your swinging 60s style (Oh I remember my last winter in England my best friend’s Mum made me a grey wool cape with a bright red lining I worn this over a matching short slim fitting skirt. I thought I was lovely) Large buttons or toggles are the recommended trim.
3. It is so important to choose the right accessories; opaque pantyhose (tights) in 70 or 100 denier. The best colors are bold for example red with a black outfit, midnight blue with red or white. Find some big pendants, enamel hoops; chunky jewellery is very much in fashion. For your head select a cap in the mod style. Large handbags in bold colors and geometric patterns similar to the dress styles would be right on song.
4. For your feet knee-high boots in black or in a colored suede, patent or suede platform pumps. (Don’t you just love shoes?)
5. Keep the whole look crisp and clean. Straight lines geometric shapes work best

Well that’s it I look forward to seeing how long the 60s styles stay in fashion. The great thing is they are often reinvented so even if they don’t last long they should be back soon.

Color Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

The wedding planner can then email the wedding inspiration boards directly to her client. Another option would be to use one board to show the various ideas. Wedding inspiration boards are a great way to express visual ideas.

A few wedding mood boards have been included here so you can get an idea of how professional looking wedding inspiration boards can be easily and quickly be created online at Sampleboard.com. The old saying of ‘blue and green should never be seen without a color in between’ can be put to rest this season. Vibrate blue and green work brilliantly together and are a hot color and trendy choice this season.

Color Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Wedding Inspiration Theme Boards    

If the client of a wedding planner is unsure as to what sort of theme to use for a wedding the wedding planner can create a number of wedding inspiration boards featuring different themes. The themes you can create online on the sampleboard.com website are endless.

Wedding Theme Inspiration Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

You have only to look at the wedding inspiration boards to get an idea of how to achieve this on the wonderful site www.sampleboard.com. You can play around with different themes and a mix of different themes until you come up with something special and unique.

Winter Wedding Inspiration Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

A dull, tired, dated room can easily be transformed with the interior decoration of three items. When you are fed up of the interior decor of a room you can create a new trendy look with three easy to find items. The three items can be added to any room. This is particularly easy to achieve if you have created a neutral color scheme.

Living room ideas

So how can you transform and update the interior décor of a living room with three items? What are the items? To answer the second question first the three magic items cushions, throws and floor rugs. If you have a living room or bedroom; in need of an update find three cushions for each sofa (or bed).

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Tip: If the cushion inserts are still in good condition you only need to buy or make new cushion covers

There are a number of inexpensive options. Some curtain manufacturers sell remnants of high quality off cuts at bargain basement prices. Even if you are not a great sewer it is fairly easy to make cushions. Some variety/bargain stores sell the whole package cushion inserts and covers at discounted prices. In this instance you could buy four cheaper cushions and then spend a bit more on two quality feature cushions. You do not have to restrict yourself to three cushions, five, seven or nine could also be used. Three would probably be the minimum number on a sofa or one for a chair.

Tip: Odd numbers are easier to work with when creating arrangements

The throw rug is a great way to add color, pattern and texture to a room. It is also functional it can keep you warm in cool weather. The throw selected can be in one color to match one of the cushions or a mixture of colors. It is best to match some of the cushion colors and then maybe some of the other colors in the room. The throw can be position at the bottom of a bed, or over a sofa arm on the opposite side to where the three cushions have been positioned.

Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Tip: Many interior decorators often use the magic number of three items

A colorful textured floor rug can be positioned at the side or bottom of a bed or in front of a sofa. The rug should be selected first. If you like to change the decor of your room often then there is a great range of inexpensive rugs available.  You can also invest in a quality rug. When selecting a quality rug try to find one with a few colors and a classic or abstracted design. If you selected a trendy pattern this could date.

Using cushions, throw rugs and floor rugs is a great way of achieving a rhythm of color, pattern and texture throughout a room.  They are a very easy, cost effective way of transforming a dull, dated and uninteresting room. And when you grow tired of them you can easily and inexpensively replace them.

Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

I have quickly created the concept boards in this blog to give you an idea of what I mean. You too can have some fun and create a visual representation of your interior decoration ideas with an interior decorating concept board right here on www.sampleboard.com. Just follow the link on the right.

Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com – concept creation online

My husband and I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day we prefer to surprise each other with wee romantic treats unexpectedly. This works very well for us. For those of you who do celebrate the day I thought I would share some thoughts from an amusing article I read in the Herald Sun Weekend magazine called ‘A Crash Course In Valentine’s Day’ by Ross Brundrett.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

I must admit I agree with Ross; Valentine’s Day is not about celebrating romance but it’s about celebrating a women’s idea of romance. Brundrett thinks it is good practice for when guys eventually tie the knot. The day after all is all about keeping your partner happy. Ross gives a few tips on how males can really make her day. Here they are in my own words. I have also added some concept boards to give you a few ideas.

• Make sure to select quality Swiss chocolates and long stemmed roses

•  It is important to plan ahead and make sure you book a restaurant for a romantic dinner well in advance

• A piece of jewellery can have more impact than just saying I love you

• If you have the skills and know your way around a kitchen then cooking her favorite meal to show your love could well be a winning move

• Setting the scene with background music is a great idea

• Serving champagne (French is always best) if you can afford it

• Women in love with romance prefer men who are well groomed

• Another way to set the scene is to decorate the space for romance. Just study the boards to give you some inspiration on how this can be done

• Inviting your mates is the biggest no no. This is a special night for two

• This romantic night cannot be spoiled by cutting it short to watch your favorite sport on the telly

• Keep the cost of the evening a secret she will love you for it

There is nothing to say the same rules do not apply to the female species when they want to celebrate by making an effort to keep her romantic male happy. After all some men are romantics at heart and some women don’t have a romantic bone in their body.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

A 1910 Queenslander | A bungalow on stilts brought up to date with interior design to create a house with contemporary flair

Many people around the world saw the devastation of floods in Queensland last year. I lived in Queensland for a few years and was horrified to see the destruction. Many of the older style houses were not destroyed. This was due to where the houses were situated and how they were built. The wonderful thing is the community has banded together to rebuild and great progress has been made. In this blog I celebrate the wonderful iconic Queenslander.

Image via View On Design blog

The Queenslander was a style of home developed in tropical Queensland Australia from the 1840’s. It had tongue and grove boards for single skin walls, sheets of corrugated iron for the roof and was built on wooden stumps.

Image via View On Design blog

Aussie timber home with corrugated iron roof on wooden stumps 

This home design was a response to the Australian climate and conditions. The style became an Aussie icon. But it was thought to be influenced by the bungalow designs of the British in India with its wide verandahs of timber poles and fret work.

Image via View On Design blog

Wide verandahs, fretwork

Queenslanders were single or double story. The vertical timber stumps were used in both. They allowed for ventilation and cooling in the under floor space. This space also provided protection from pests, made an easier build on sloping sites and allowed a natural water flow in monsoon like rains and floods.

Get the look Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Extra space under for drying clothes, cross ventilation, passive climate control

Double story Queenslanders also offered space for storage, the drying of washing and provided extra cooler and darker living spaces. The floor plan of the house allowed for cross ventilation creating passive climate control. Wide verandahs were covered with the large steep pitched roof.

Image via View On Design blog

Queenslander style adapted to different eras

During the different eras the Queenslander adapted. In the Victorian period interior decorating included wallpaper, paneling and highly decorative detailing typical of elaborate Victorian styling. The Federation Queenslander was the Australian version of the English Edwardian home.

Get the look Concept Board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Federation style, fret work gables, high ceilings and lead light windows with Aussie motifs

The features included detailed fret work in roof gables, high ceilings often 14 feet high and the window frames, doors, architraves and skirting boards were made of Queensland pine. The lead light windows were often designed in native plant, bird and animal designs; although geometric and curvilinear shapes of Art Nouveau were also used.

Image via View On Design blog

Single skin timber cladding, decorative screens, pressed metal ceilings, French doors, picture rails

So the typical Queenslander was of timber construction, with a corrugated iron roof. Single skin timber cladding for external and internal partition walls were also a feature. The verandahs often extended around three sides of the house. Decorative screens were used to act as protection from the sun and wind. Picket fences, palm trees and tropical fruit trees complete the picture.

Image via View On Design blog

There was a blurring between outside and outside spaces; French doors opening on to the wide verandahs accommodating this. The interior design featured ceilings usually of pressed metal, tongue and grove walls with picture rails. Open fireplaces and timber floors were also common interior design features.

Lighter Edwardian colours, off white, magnolia, biscuit, sky, eau de nil

The colours schemes of early 20^th Century Queenslanders tended to be lighter that those used in the southern states of Australian. Federation colours of magnolia, sky green, eau de nil, biscuit, off white and other shades of green and cream were likely to have been used. For example the soffit of the verandah painted eau de nil, the weatherboard painted biscuit and the verandah brackets painted off white.    

Image via View On Design blog

Restored Queenslander features with contemporary additions are blended seamlessly  

Images of the beautiful 1910 Queenslander in this blog are used with permission from the View On Design blog. The home is called Onkaparinga and is situated in Laurel Avenue, Chelmer in Brisbane. It has been beautifully restored. The original features have been maintained. For example the pressed metal ceilings, timber walls, picture rails, fretwork, timber floors, fireplaces and lead light windows. Yet the home has a contemporary feel. The old and the new have been blended seamlessly.

Image via View On Design blog

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

The original SampleBoard.com site was launched in 2010. The aim of the creation; designed by designers for designers was to digitize the process of making sample boards. The traditional way of creating sample boards took a lot of running around, time and energy. I remember days of driving around for hours in and out of the car in the Queensland heat.  I love SampleBoard because it is eco-friendly and time efficient.

              Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Interior designers, decorators, landscape designers, fashion designers and wedding planners can create design concept boards using the extensive library of images and/or easily upload their own images. SampleBoard is also a great place to interact with other designers and share ideas.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

In this blog I have included examples of my first adventures on the new sampleboard.com site. The best way to really view the changes is to have ago. Please let us know what you think we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Eclectic moodboard created by Rosena MacFadzean on SampleBoard.com

Interior Decorating – How to Do Eclectic Design Well

By K. Nichols

God save me from the “eclectic” client.

Ok, I’m kidding… sort of.

Being “eclectic” means to have an enjoyment of a variety of styles, colors, and types of objects… which is great! It does NOT mean that you can cram any and everything that crosses your path into a room and declare it “eclectic.” That, my friend, is what we call a hodge-podge… or possibly just a mess.

An eclectic room, done well, will be a reflection of your varied tastes and travels, but still have a harmonious overall feel. The eye should be able to travel around the space comfortably, enjoying the uniqueness of the displays without having them overwhelm the focal point(s).

So how do you achieve “good eclectic?” Start by determining how you want a room to feel: aged, collected over time, elegant, clean, fresh, exciting, bold, warm, relaxing, etc. Next you want to group together all the elements that will contribute to your desired overall feel, and omit the ones that will not. For example, if you are trying for an earthy, well-traveled look, you would NOT incorporate your Andy Warhol reproduction (or your Andy Warhol original, for that matter). Things you COULD include might be your antique clock collection, that bench you found up north, the oriental rug you fell in love with in India, and those pieces of folk art from your dad.

Can it be tricky? Yes, it can, especially because we all have a hard time looking at our beloved possessions objectively. A professional decorator can help you blend (and edit!) your tastes and belongings into a space that feels rich, storied, and authentically you by ensuring items are displayed in their best light, rather than competing with each other. At OnlineHomeDecorating.com, our team of professional interior decorators has created each room design with all of the elements you need for a beautiful, fully finished room, while still leaving enough breathing room to allow you to incorporate the items that tell your personal story… without losing track of the plot!

About the author:

K. Nichols is the creator of Online Home Decorating, the ONLY site on the web where you can purchase fully complete room designs, crafted by professional interior decorators.

Now, having beautiful design in YOUR home is as easy as selecting your perfect look, and instantly downloading all the information you need to recreate it exactly – item by item – at your own pace, and at whatever budget is right for you… without spending thousands to hire a designer! Browse our catalog of rooms, and get your re-do done today.

Find your new room now at http://www.onlinehomedecorating.com OR create your own look and feel with our online moodboard creator at SampleBoard.com!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K._Nichols

http://EzineArticles.com/?Interior-Decorating—How-to-Do-Eclectic-Design-Well&id=3589206

Moodboard created by Rosena MacFadzean on SampleBoard.com

Interior Designing: Traditional Design

Author: Jamie John

Often times conveying a feeling of elegance and sophistication, the traditional design is an design style that is never out of the question when it comes to considering a particular style for your home. The concept includes classic accessories, calm colors, and antique furniture which are sometimes contemporary or even eclectic.

The Traditional Design

The traditional design has different traits and elements. One common element is the Chippendale style. This mahogany made furniture can be a great addition to your living room design or den design. With its intricate carvings and varnishing, you can never go wrong.

Another possible option is the Queen Anne style furnishings with simple lined accents that are graceful and at times curvilinear. The marked difference between the two is that the Queen Anne furnishing are characterized by shell-like carvings and Chippendales are more elaborate than the latter in that the emphasis is more on the carving. Either way, both designs are equally pleasing to the eye.

Concepts

Other basic concepts of this interior design style include:

a. Fabric – It is perhaps one of the most vital elements because it shows the intricate traditional designs like floral patterns, stripes, patterned tones, plaids, and so on. Make sure you use a flat textured fabric, like velvet, and avoid shiny ones.

b. Accessories – To achieve that traditional feel, make sure that the accessories are subtle. Elegant accessories like china vases, porcelain decorations, mirrors, classic leather-bound books, intricate frames, and the like often characterize the traditional look. When accessorizing, avoid clutter and make sure you have a proper balance between your accessories.

c. Colors – Do not use vibrant and overly saturated colors if you do not want people to perceive your interior design differently from what you intend. Traditional design settles somewhere in the mid-tone range. As much as possible, use calming colors that complement each other. The color transition must be comfortable to the eyes. For instance, in bedroom design or den design, the transition of colors from room to room should be neutral, e.g. blue-green-cream.

d. Symmetry – This is not a modern interior design concept. Your interiors must be free from clutter yet smooth and elegant. A good example of symmetry, when applied to a game room design, are two frames opposite each other in the middle of a TV set, lights adjacent to each other on the billiard table, and so on. It is also noteworthy to mention that urns need not be identical with each other.

A very unique characteristic that the traditional design possesses, unlike other interior design ideas, is the freedom. Lots of the accessories and furnishings can be selected based on personal preference, provided it goes with the spirit of the design and does not deviate from it in any way. There are even times when an owner can paint his furniture to complement the general color of the room.

The liberality of traditional design provides that personal touch of flavor to one’s home.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/interior-designing-traditional-design-4920186.html

For tens of thousands of decorating ideas, check out Design Shuffle today!

You can also create your own moodboard with the easy-to-use SampleBoard moodboard creator.

Sign up here for your free trial!

Proudly created on SampleBoard.com

SampleBoard is bouncing off the walls following the official launch party last week of the Google Umbono programme at a celebratory event in Cape Town.

‘Umbono’, meaning idea or vision in Zulu, is a Google Africa initiative to support and invest in technology development in South Africa.

We are one of four teams selected to take part in this accelerator mentorship programme for online entrepreneurs! This huge honour was announced by Nelson Mattos, VP of Googele Africa, Europe and the Middle East, in front of other top entrepreneurs, tech media and more! Sponsored by Cell C, the launch was held at the trendy Umbono offices at the Old Cape Brewery in Woodstock. It was quite an occasion!

We are more excited and invigorated than ever to spread the word about our eco-friendly, time-efficient web-based solution for creative professionals to output beautiful designs and moodboards! SampleBoard provides a creative tool plus an extensive image library to inspire and support designers in creating digital moodboards quickly and easily.

We underwent an extensive six month pitching process to be selected into the Google Umbono programme, and we are more assured than ever that there is a great need for SampleBoard’s professional cloud-based creative tool, much like Google Docs, it can be used anywhere online when the creativity strikes allowing you to access the most-commonly used image editing functionality at a fraction of the cost!

SampleBoard, as a Cape Town-based business, is also immensely proud to have been chosen for Umbono at this exciting and important time of Cape Town being selected as World Design Capital 2014. Design is a key element in our everyday lives, and SampleBoard wishes to empower and encourage its global community of designers and creatives to power the world’s creativity!

Click here to experience SampleBoard, sign up for a free trial of the pro version, Ultimate Creator…

Moodboard created by Mane Carrion on sampleboard.com

How to: Go glam – Style At Home.

Luxurious fabrics, sparkly accessories and reflective surfaces can create a space that is nothing short of glamorous!