Get 5% Off and Free Shipping on All Ralph Lauren Fabrics & Wallpaper!

When we think of a classic, all-American man’s man, Ralph Lauren immediately comes to mind. Who better to provide timeless fabric and wallpaper for your home this Father’s Day weekend? Shop the sale now*!

We asked designer Sam Allen for his tips on dad-friendly decor, and he recommended making the bones of the room masculine, much like the wood paneling and mossy brown grasscloth in this study. To integrate the room with the rest of the house, he layered in artifacts like a hand-loomed ikat rug.

Mulberry Home’s new Bohemian Romance collection brims with sophisticated style, combining rich, masculine plaids and moody hues to create an effect that’s simultaneously mysterious and comforting.

For a Father’s-Day-appropriate bedroom, designer Timothy Corrigan told DecoratorsBest that he enhanced this space’s masculinity with charcoal-painted trim and classic artwork. The red diamond-patterned wallpaper has a continental, urbane 1930s feel, and the colorful area rug and neutral bedding ensure that the whole household will feel at home.

Photo Sources: Keith Scott Morton, Eric Piasecki

*5% discount valid on Ralph Lauren fabric and wallpaper orders of $200 or more through 11:59 p.m. EDT 6/21/2015. Free shipping promotion applies to all domestic orders of $200 or more within the continental United States and excludes international orders, international manufacturers’ products and expedited orders. This is not valid for members of the DecoratorsBest Trade Program. Select manufacturers are not eligible for free shipping: Alan Campbell, Andrew Martin, Boussac, Braquenie, China Seas, Clarke & Clarke, Clarence House, Cole & Son, Designers Guild, Dessin Fournir, Donghia, Ellitis, Fadini Borghi, Hill Brown, Liberty, Nina Campbell, Nobilis, Osborne & Little, Pierre Frey, Phillip Jeffries, Quadrille, Rose Cumming, Rubelli.

Summer Decor Tips: Update Your Home for the New Season

June has arrived, and we’re opening the windows and letting a warm breeze breathe life into our homes. Ready to prepare your home for summer? We’ve got a few tips!

Mix Neutrals & Bright Colors in Lightweight Fabrics

Photo by Tara Striano

Linen slipcovers in soft whites always make us think “beach house,” and we love the way designer Bennett Leifer added color with summery striped cushions.

Bennett’s tip: “I develop the palettes [for each room in a house] at the same time, making sure there is a consistency in color and texture. I then take each space in a slightly different direction to reflect how the space will be used. For example, the dining room received colorful Missoni print dining chair cushions, reflecting the fresh flowers and foods that would eventually be displayed on the dining table and kitchen counters.”

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Brighten a Dark Room with Sheer Drapes

Photo via Architectural Digest

With silk damask walls and an antique Oushak carpet, the living room in this Italian apartment is full of dark, serious decor. The sheer, billowing linen curtains let sunshine pour through the room and allow a generous view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

For your home, try putting your heavy drapes away for the season, and welcome the summer sun with a lightweight sheer replacement.

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Reduce Clutter with Minimal Accessories

Photo via Style Me Pretty Living

We love accessories as much as the next interior design junkie, but a relaxed summer room should feel easy and laid-back. Clear clutter from your room – and your mind – and try a neutral palette for a living room that’s just begging to be napped in.

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Go Low-Maintenace with Indoor/Outdoor Fabrics

Photo by Sean Dagen

As the sun gets stronger and the kids start traipsing in with wet bathing suits, your home needs a little extra durability. Indoor/outdoor fabrics have come a long way in recent years – no more stiff, scratchy textiles – and they’re a great way to protect your favorite decor items from fading and mildew.

In this kids’ bedroom, designer Cecily Mendell boldly used a variety of patterns. “I love to mix and match fabrics that you wouldn’t typically see together,” Cecily told us. “The trick is making sure they complement each other – the colors don’t have to all match. Be brave and experiment – your eye will tell you if they work.”

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Related Articles:

4 Quick Ways to Update Your Home’s Decor for Summer

Bring the Sunshine In with Canary Yellow

Fun Ways to Update Your Home Decor

Prepare Your Home for Summer

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Exclusive Designer Tips for Small & Awkward Spaces from the 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Like many older New York buildings, the Arthur Sachs Mansion has quite a few unusual rooms and spaces. For this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, the interior designers assigned to those particular areas were faced with a challenge. We got their exclusive advice on how to minimize awkward angles and open up cramped quarters.

Jamie Drake’s dramatic foyer is the first thing visitors see when they enter the house, so he had one shot to make a statement. In an octagonal room with an entry door, a passage to the stairwell, and four doors in the corners, it was no easy feat.

Photo by Marco Ricca

Jamie’s tip: “When dealing with an awkward space such as a room with tricky columns or uneven walls, wrapping the room in a strong statement can make these challenges disappear. I used dramatic and rich Bordeaux paint (Farrow and Ball Brinjal) coated with a dusting of Japanese silver mica flakes on the walls and carried it right onto the closet doors, thus making them visually vanish.”

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The heart of the Arthur Sachs Mansion is a stunning staircase spanning all five floors, and designer Philip Mitchell chose to use the space to display a vast art collection. The neutral, densely-patterned toile from Mulberry Home wallpaper reads as a texture behind the pieces.

Photos by Rafael Quirindongo and DecoratorsBest

Philip’s tip: “I wanted to treat every area as a micro-gallery and imbue the sense of a passionate collector.”

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Designer Bennett Leifer was presented with a small space under the staircase. Adjacent to the kitchen, he chose to transform it into an elegant seating area.

Photo by DecoratorsBest

Bennett’s tip: “A great tip for adding luxury to a space while not overwhelming it is to select a featured wall to have a custom patterned wallpaper while coordinating the remaining walls with just the ground paper.”

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Michael Herold designed one of the smallest spaces in the house – the former laundry room – but his goal was not to be confined by it. With the large, open pattern and dark color of the Cole & Son wallpaper, the corners of the rooms blend together and create the illusion of wider walls.

Photo by DecoratorsBest

Michael’s tip: “In a small space, you don’t have to hold back from using dark colors. The most prominent color in this room is black, and it opens it up.”

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2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

The Arthur Sachs Mansion

58 East 66th Street New York City, 10065

Open May 14 – June 11, 2015

Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday evenings: until 8 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Tickets: $35

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Designers:

Alan Tanksley, Inc. | Bennett Leifer Interiors | Branca | Cathy Kincaid Interiors | Christopher Peacock | Clive Christian | David Phoenix, Inc. | Drake Design Associates | Gail Green Interiors | Greener by Design | Janice Parker Landscape Architects | Mark D. Sikes Inc. | McMillen Inc. | Michael Herold Design | Paula + Martha | Pavarini Design | Peter J. Sinnott/ Home Works | Philip Mitchell Design | Ronald Bricke & Associates, Inc. | Rottet Studio | Thom Filicia Inc. | Tilton Fenwick

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show Advertisers:

Decor | Susan Zises Green | New York’s Little Elves | Back Bay Shutter Co. Inc. | Mckinnon and Harris | Silver Lining Interiors | Ferguson & Shamamian | Geoffrey Bradfield | Stark Thomas P. Richmond Inc. | Keepitup | Kholer | Hearst | Eve Robinson Associates Inc. | Bilotta | Scott Salvator | Beauvais | Coffinier Kuu Design | The Shade Store | Penn & Fletcher John B. Murray Architect | Gold Coast Metal Works Inc. | Calder Design Group | Elizabeth Bradley Home | AKDO | Park Monceau | 1stdibs | Charlotte Moss | Design NJ | Silestone Interior Design |  Didier Aaron | Two Worlds Arts | New York Design Center | Martin Printing Inc. | H.M. Luther | James Rixner | Bernd Goeckler Antiques | Manhattan Renovations St. Charles of New York | Objets Plus New York Inc. | Bunny Williams | Daniel Barney Antiques | Visiting Nurse Service | The Decorators Club Inc. | Christopher Peacock | Drake Design Associates | Ike Kligerman Barkley | Architectural Digest | Jean Karajian | LOM Property Consulting | Maison Gerard | Flower Magazine | Farrow & Ball | Kravet HousePad | Myron | Interior Management Inc. | David Scott Interiors | Vermon

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show Sponsors:

Kholer | Interior Management Inc. | Hearst | Dacor | Architectural Digest | New York Design Center | Kravet | Elizabeth Bradley Home Farrow & Ball | Housepad | Silestone | Dekton | AKDO | 1stdibs | Christopher Guy | Pirch | The Shade Store | Polyphase

Related Articles:

Exclusive Tips from Thom Filicia & More Designers from the 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Pamper Your Memorial Day Guests with Summer-Friendly Decorating Ideas

Tour the 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Million-Dollar Decorating Ideas Real Girls Can Copy

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Exclusive Tips from Thom Filicia & More Designers from the 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Just across the street from Andy Warhol’s former residence, you’ll find a dignified mansion with a Beaux-Arts style limestone facade. This year, it’s the home of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York’s pre-eminent designer showcase. We visited last week and compiled exclusive tips from some of the designers.

Thom Filicia wanted this room, which he called “A Study in Style,” to blur the lines between the public and private space. He created two separate areas with a desk for working and a sofa for lounging and entertaining.

Thom’s tip: “The space was really about the layering of textures and materials – even though the space has a consistent color tone that makes the space feel serene and relaxed, the textures and materials create a depth and layered sophistication.”

Photo via Architectural Digest

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The Arthur Sachs mansion doesn’t have a family room, so Alessandra Branca made it her mission to ensure that the living room would be a comfortable space to relax. Many pieces in the room are in an elegant Asian style, and she also added a casual element with a slip-covered chair, modern linen sofa and paisley lampshades.

Alessandra’s tip: “Things should be owned. They should not own you. Your home should be like your clothes – if it’s not comfortable, you won’t want to wear it.”

Photo by DecoratorsBest

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Though Pavarini Design’s lounge was called “Midnight Manhattan,” the room was anything but dark. Pavarini is known for creating a dramatic effect with lighting, and in this space, a room that could have easily skewed toward gloomy and flat was masterfully illuminated with state-of-the-art LED and OLED systems.

Pavarini Design’s tip: “Everything must be dimmable to prevent glare and to set the mood. Place a small floor-mounted spotlight under a plant or behind a sculpture for dramatic effect. Vary your lighting: lamps, overheads, sconces, and task lighting to create interest in the source of light.”

Photo by Rafael Quirindongo

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David Phoenix filled this peaceful bedroom with soft shades of gray and neutral patterns. Though there are multiple prints all being used within a small space – plaids, damasks, a traditional rug – they don’t compete with each other because of their similarity in tone.

David’s tip: “I layered a lot of the same color and tone – I wanted it to be restful. In a bedroom, people should have whatever is luxurious to them. Surround yourself with things that are beautiful to you.”

Photo by DecoratorsBest

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In his “Gentleman’s Study,” Alan Tanksley honored Pavlos Papageorgiou, the husband of friend Alexa Hampton, with a subtle Grecian theme. Using creative items like a cork sculpture of the Temple of Athena at Paestum and Greek key trimmed pillows, he paid homage to his muse without going overboard into the Aegean Sea.

Alan’s tip: “The theme is a study/retreat, and in this case, not just a place to work but to relax within the same space. The furniture layout and the fabrics I chose, such as de Le Cuona and Kravet, allow its users to sink into a restful mind while escaping other hectic environments. Not overloading your eyes with too many ‘extra’ things is a gift and an important tool that many people never master, ie. send in the pros.”

Photo by DecoratorsBest

Get a similar look:

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

The Arthur Sachs Mansion

58 East 66th Street New York City, 10065

Open May 14 – June 11, 2015

Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday evenings: until 8 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Tickets: $35

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Designers:

Alan Tanksley, Inc. | Bennett Leifer Interiors | Branca | Cathy Kincaid Interiors | Christopher Peacock | Clive Christian | David Phoenix, Inc. | Drake Design Associates | Gail Green Interiors | Greener by Design | Janice Parker Landscape Architects | Mark D. Sikes Inc. | McMillen Inc. | Michael Herold Design | Paula + Martha | Pavarini Design | Peter J. Sinnott/ Home Works | Philip Mitchell Design | Ronald Bricke & Associates, Inc. | Rottet Studio | Thom Filicia Inc. | Tilton Fenwick

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show Advertisers:

Decor | Susan Zises Green | New York’s Little Elves | Back Bay Shutter Co. Inc. | Mckinnon and Harris | Silver Lining Interiors | Ferguson & Shamamian | Geoffrey Bradfield | Stark Thomas P. Richmond Inc. | Keepitup | Kholer | Hearst | Eve Robinson Associates Inc. | Bilotta | Scott Salvator | Beauvais | Coffinier Kuu Design | The Shade Store | Penn & Fletcher John B. Murray Architect | Gold Coast Metal Works Inc. | Calder Design Group | Elizabeth Bradley Home | AKDO | Park Monceau | 1stdibs | Charlotte Moss | Design NJ | Silestone Interior Design |  Didier Aaron | Two Worlds Arts | New York Design Center | Martin Printing Inc. | H.M. Luther | James Rixner | Bernd Goeckler Antiques | Manhattan Renovations St. Charles of New York | Objets Plus New York Inc. | Bunny Williams | Daniel Barney Antiques | Visiting Nurse Service | The Decorators Club Inc. | Christopher Peacock | Drake Design Associates | Ike Kligerman Barkley | Architectural Digest | Jean Karajian | LOM Property Consulting | Maison Gerard | Flower Magazine | Farrow & Ball | Kravet HousePad | Myron | Interior Management Inc. | David Scott Interiors | Vermon

2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show Sponsors:

Kholer | Interior Management Inc. | Hearst | Dacor | Architectural Digest | New York Design Center | Kravet | Elizabeth Bradley Home Farrow & Ball | Housepad | Silestone | Dekton | AKDO | 1stdibs | Christopher Guy | Pirch | The Shade Store | Polyphase

Related Articles:

2014 Kips Bay Decorators Show House: 4 Exclusive Designer Tips on How to Use Metallics

Hamptons Designer Show House 2014: Tips from the Designers & More!

Jamie Drake Picks His Favorite Rooms from Four Decades of the Kips Bay Show House

A Look Inside the Kips Bay Show House

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Bring the Sunshine in with Canary Yellow

How to Mix Bold Patterns to Express Your Individuality

Interior design today, like fashion has no rules. It’s all about expressing yourself in your own unique way. Here are some tips to help guide you to fulfilling your creativity.

The bright suzani print on the chairs ties this room together. Taking its cue from the circle in the print, the drapery fabric has a yellow background and its embroidery plays on the circular motif.

Tip:  Use an accent color from the main pattern for a complimentary color.
         Subtly use the same motif around the room.

Get the Look:

Schumacher

S Harris

Fabricut

Jaipur

All of the colors in this vivacious room emanate from the imaginative painting. The black and white wallpaper is dense and intricate which blends well as a backdrop for the artwork. The white ground of the embroidered yellow drapery works well with the solid orange chairs and hot pink throw pillows.

Tip:  Use artwork as a focal point for a room and select colors from the painting.

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York

Pindler & Plinder

Stroheim

Peking

A strong repetitive wallpaper makes a statement on the walls whereas the complimentary color blue in the rug serves to ground the room. Both patterns are united by their colors with white lines.  Blue and Yellow are two of the primary colors and are a tried and true combination.

Tip:  Combine 2 strong patterns by using complimentary colors with similar designs and the same scale.

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Stroheim

Jaipur

Stout

Stroheim

The gray and yellow ethnic fabric on the sofa is the dominant pattern for this space. All pillows and colors revolve around it. The pillows are smaller scale designs with some of the same colors. Although the floor pattern is large, it showcases the love seat.

Tip:  Harmonize with a large pattern using smaller scale prints in the same colorways.
         Use a two toned large pattern to act as a background for the multi-colored one.

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Kravet

Duralee

Jaipur

Jaipur

Related Articles:

    

Bring the Outdoors In with the New Country Casual Look!

Happy Earth Day! The Eco-Friendly Cheat Sheet for Textiles

©2015 DecoratorsBest | 767 Lexington Ave #505. New York, NY. 10065

4 Designers Share Tips on Creating Stunning Neutral Rooms

Neutrals are timeless and a wonderful option as the foundation of a room. Learn to layer monochromatic textures or introduce pops of color like a pro with these exclusive tips from top interior designers.

Designed by Matthew Patrick Smyth, this awkward space under a stairway became a special sitting area. The rich aubergine color on the chairs, moldings and banister ties this area together.

Matthew’s Tip: “ Visually light furniture was used to keep the space full but uncluttered.  This creates a cozy nook without the usual built in feel.”

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Fabricut Fabric

York Wallpaper

Robert Allen Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Campion Platt layered this study in many neutral textures. The unique wall treatment creates depth to the room and the marble coffee tables add a sleek streamlined look. The dense fringe on the cushions also enriches this room.

Campion’s Tip: “I like camel light tones that are rich in texture but neutral in color to help bridge other contrasting elements of a room to ease the eye from one vignette to the next.”

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Schumacher Fabric

York Wallpaper

Robert Allen Trim

York Wallpaper

Ellie’s Tip:  “When using neutrals, such as camel, we like to layer textures and introduce a range of materials to give a neutral room depth.  In this “party barn” game room in Colorado, natural wood beams, a sandstone mantle and whitewashed wood paneled walls create a warm and inviting environment.  We kept many of the fabrics and materials neutral, using a cozy beige chenille on the club chairs, embroidered pillows in a camel cashmere, and a neutral brown leather on the ottomans. But, we always feel that it is important that neutrals are not boring- so we livened things up with pops of red in the large scale plaid on the sofas and red leather banquettes to make the space feel more dynamic and exciting.”

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York Wallpaper

Greenhouse Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Jaipur Rug

Photo by: Ron Rosenzweig Architectural Photography

A strong pattern is the focal point for Lisa Erdmann’s balanced living room. Surrounded by neutrals and brightly colored throw pillows everything is planned to support the dominant ikat rug.

Lisa Erdmann’s Tip: “Tips for working with a color scheme are to start with a lead fabric and pattern that the clients loves. It becomes the dominant voice in the room and the other items need to support and add to it.”

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DecoratorsBest Wallpaper

Kravet Fabric

Jaipur Pillow

Peking Handicraft Pillow

Timothy Corrigan’s Exclusive Decorating Tips!

Designer Timothy Corrigan certainly knows a thing or two about decorating. He’s been deemed “today’s tastemaker,” by Architectural Digest and boasts a slew of celeb and royal clients. Check out these exclusive, must-know decorating tips and beautiful rooms from the designer himself!

Timothy’s Tip: “Blue and white is a perennial favorite of mine, and you can do it in different interpretations. In my own bedroom, I mixed a beautiful creamy/sandy/gold color with a ‘sagey’ blue-green and it is the most soothing combination. It’s difficult to drag me out of the room because I feel so comfortable and creative there.”

Photo by Eric Piasecki

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Surya Area Rug

Beacon Hill Fabric

Fabricut Fabric

Cole & Son Wallpaper

Timothy’s Tip: “I like using traditional patterns that are either colored in an unusual way or that are somewhat over-scaled. I tend to use solid fabrics on the larger items (sofas, for example) and the printed fabrics on chairs, drapes or pillows. Always mix larger patterns with small patterns so that you don’t have too many prints fighting for the eye’s attention.”

Photo via Schumacher

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Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Timothy’s Tip: “Symmetry and well-scaled rooms are frequently overlooked in the initial architectural development. When I encounter rooms that are just ‘off’ I try to balance them out by adding visual weight or elements to the other side of the space in an effort to provide some psychological balance.”

Photo by Alex Bailhache

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Karastan Area Rug

York Wallpaper

Andrew Martin Wallpaper

Kravet Fabric

Timothy’s Tip: “The most common design mistake people make is not starting with a good furniture plan. If you don’t get the bones right when maximizing the space in terms of scale, passage/flow and placement, no matter how beautiful the furnishings are, the room won’t work for all of your needs. Get the basic structure right and then you can figure out how to make it look good.”

Photo by Eric Piasecki

  Get  a Similar Look:

Karastan Area Rug

Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Related Articles:

Exclusive Designer Tips: How To Use Bold Colors & Prints

Timothy Corrigan’s Los Angeles Home

Designer Tips: How To Enhance Your Home with the Color Grey

Q & A with Timothy Corrigan

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