Pillows Make the Bed...

We wanted to add some interest to this neutral bedroom- so we just added a few pillows. I love how it turned out-- it is peaceful and fun at the same time. 

Even though there are more than five different fabrics used here, they all work together because none of them compete. The key is balance- we included a mix of large & small patterns, darker and light blues, tighter designs with airy ones and, of course, a fun solid too. Easy, right?

In the adjacent sunroom, we picked up the blue from the bedroom by using the same bold, geometric pillow on the sofa. Then, we added that fun orange bird pillow too- just to mix it up a bit. 

Adding a contrasting color lets this sunroom feel connected to the bedroom yet it still feels like its own, separate room.

To see this pillow (and lots of others) check out The Pillow Studio on Etsy. 
Enjoy!

Pillow Pick of the Week

This Monaco Blue pillow with a silver fretwork is simple yet bold and the coordinating silver piping is the perfect finishing touch. 

It compliments the graphic pattern of this Asian-ispired pillow and adds some color to the neutral sofa.  

And, did you hear that Monaco Blue is predicted to be a key color in home design this spring? Just add a few of these pillows and your room is up to date and ready for the New Year!

To see this pillow (and lots of others) check out The Pillow Studio on Etsy. 
Enjoy!

Its so Easy (that I Forget)...

Pillows are such an easy thing to change that it is easy to forget what a huge difference they can make. 

Before

After          

I updated my foyer this fall with a few pillows (and a chair!).  Okay, okay, so I painted the fireplace too... but I do think the pillows had the most impact.  They incorporate the orange, grey and green on the fireplace- I love when I finally find the prefect fabric that completely pulls the room together.

My faithful, old bench has been by the front door for years and it is perfectly functional but it was only recently that I decided to add a pillow. I can't believe it took me this long-- I love it!  It actually makes me want to sit on the bench and relax. I think I need to take a look around to see where else I could do the same...

How to Use Cool Colors This Fall

This is one of my favorite fall rooms. It is the prefect place to curl up under a blanket, read a book and catch a few bits of sunshine.

The hand-sewn, mattress-style window seat cushion looks comfortable and enticing, but what I love the most is how the orangey-red ikat pillows warm up the light blue walls.   It helps the room feel both peaceful and invigorating.

The brick-orange, flower-like tufts are both functional and fun. They give shape to the cushion, add a bit of color and coordinate perfectly with the ikat pillows.  

Try using some atypical colors when decorating for the fall this year. Adding a few cool colors will help the warm, fall fabrics pop and make the room feel even more invigorating, inviting and fun.



To see these pillows and more, visit The Pillow Studio on Etsy. Enjoy!

15 Pillows I love this Fall

I love fall. It is, hands down, my favorite season. Melissa over at The Inspired Room  is hosting a fall nesting series and it got me thinking about the things I love most about fall too-- the clean, crisp air, the vibrant colors of the leaves, and the little pops of green that have not yet left for the winter. And, once I started thinking about it, I realized how much these things influenced the pillows I made this season too. 

It is no surprise that F. Schumacher noted that tangerine orange is the "it" color of the season. I can't say that I disagree- I LOVE this color! It really adds a bit of fun to any room. And, I have paired it with blue, green, red, tan, grey and white-- it is much more versatile than I would have thought. 

 

 

And, its not just the oranges that I love this fall...  I can't help but make a few yellow and red pillows in honor of the trees I see every year in my neighborhood too. I can't take any credit for them-- but I do love driving through the canopy of colors during those few beautiful weeks every fall. 

 

And, I know many of us go for the warm tones each fall but this year I am noticing all of those little pops of greens too. I am savoring them as I know they will soon disappear. So, this year I made a few pillows with just a touch of green. I am adding a few to my house too; I think it will ground all of the warm colors and keep it interesting. I will let you know.

 

That's the simple pleasure of pillows... such an easy change that turns a breezy, summer home into a warm, welcoming fall retreat with all of the colors of the season!
Enjoy.

To see these pillows and more, visit The Pillow Studio  on Etsy.

Kelly's Bluestone Front Porch

Kelly has a beautiful bluestone front porch. These pillows were the perfect addition to add a bit of color and interest. It is amazing how a few pillows can make visitors feel welcome as soon as they walk up to the house. Who wouldn't want to sit down and relax here?

The patterns and colors are bold in both of these pillows but because the graphics are different sizes, they compliment one another perfectly.

Honestly, these blue geometric pillows make me want to sit, relax and watch the world go by. I love them!

Perfectly Paired Pillows.

Have you ever wondered how to pair graphic pillows so they feel relaxing? Just keep these three things in mind to achieve a cohesive style every time... maintain the proper balance of color, alternate pattern size and vary graphic elements.  

Color helps to ground design.  If you choose fabrics from one color family (or at least with the same tone) it will unite the patterns; it is a simple way to neutralize a few of patterns.

Once you have chosen a color scheme, select fabric patterns in a variety of sizes. Varying the pattern size allows your eye to rest; the most graphic pillow can be the focal point.

Keep in mind that the graphic elements do not need to match.  In fact, it helps make it all work if the patterns feel different too. So, if you are starting with a pillow that has embroidered flowers, add a pillow with bold geometric designs or pair a striped pillow with one that has polk-a-dots.

Here are a few examples of relaxing pillow groupings with lots of graphic punch.

Numerous graphic fabrics are pulled together by maintaining a red and tan color scheme in this pillow grouping. The geometric design is grounded by the large poppy flower while the delicately embroidered flowers on the lumbar pillow helps to soften the pillow collection. Keeping the tones similar but varying the graphic elements is a great way to help your pillows get along.

Zebra stripes can (surprisingly) be paired with other graphic colors as long as the tones are similar. Here the three patterns vary in size which allows each pillow to have its own space yet still feel connected to the others. As in the example above, keeping the colors in the same (general) family help balance the dynamic patterns.

You don't have to stick to just one color, but be sure to keep the tones similar.  In this pairing the fuchsia and green colors are both soft, almost pastel, and compliment one another well. Using a variety of graphics and both large and small patterns help to make the collection feel coordinated rather than busy.

The tangerine color on these three pillows is so bold and implactful; it makes sense to balance this color with designs that are a bit more subtle. Though strong graphic elements are used, the amount is varied as is the pattern size.  These pillows feel cohesive and well-styled.

I love the cool-toned mix of these four pillows. The peacock- blue, pleated ribbon ruffle on the white linen lumbar pillow draws attention to itself toning down the larger purple bird pillow. Add to them the giant poppy print on the pale blue pillow (which, is the perfect example of using a larger design element with a subtle color) and you get a soothing yet impactful pillow styling.