Runway to Room 101

Inspiration:

Image courtesy of Women’s Wear Daily (www.wwd.com)

With September behind and October ahead, this is a prime time for us to be paying attention to what sartorial trends are big for Fall. But what do clothes have to do with interior design? Let us explain.

Believe it or not, looking through your closet is actually a great way to make design decisions. The colors and textures that dominate your closet have great meaning for your home. Your clothes symbolize what shapes you are comfortable with, what types of materials you like working with, and what hues and patterns you prefer. So if you are feeling nervous about decorating, think of your favorite outfit. Start with size. A voluminous dress, for example, can materialize as large scale furniture. Slick pants and form fitting tees, on the other hand, mean you’re happier with more intimate settings or a minimalist vibe. If you like brights, use these eye-catching colors for your accessories and art. If your go-to is a tailored suit, chose clean lines for your furniture and stick to a limited color palette.

Let’s start with something basic as we explore ways to infuse fashion influences into your decor. The combination of black and white is definitely hot this season, as evidenced by the outfits selected by the celebrity tastemakers above. Whether it’s stripes, solids, or unexpected elements like Liya Kebede’s bow collar, we are loving the contrast of these staple colors.

An MK exclusive, this swirl of black dots on an ivory background is interesting without being overwhelming.

Rug available at MK Home

One of our most popular items, the Spindle Chair in black is the perfect piece to build a room around.

- Chair available at MK Home, image courtesy of Noir Furniture

We never tire of a classic Greek Key pattern.  Geometric and gorgeous!

- Pillow available at MK Home, image courtesy of Lacefield Designs

Striking fabrics can be used for upholstery, drapes, pillows, etc. Such an easy way to makeover a room!

- Above fabrics, all by Maxwell. Available at MK Home

A black rustic sideboard is versatile and handsome.

Available at MK Home

Accessorize with brilliant white flowers and you’ve completed the look!

Available at MK Home

A Step Ahead

In case you missed it, Elle Decor magazine named Persimmon the color of the moment in their trend report for October 2011. Before we receieved this edition, we released our Hot List for September, which included non other than the color orange. We’re delighted to have brought you this news before a source as influential as Elle Decor. Check out the digital version of Elle Decor’s articile here, and make sure you stop by MK Home to shop for the color you need now!

Image courtesy of ElleDecor.com

Pillow Available at MK Home, image courtesy of Lacefield Designs

Suzani Spectacular

As you may have seen, we featured an antique, hand sewn Suzani from Turkmenistan in our September Hot List. Suzanis have long been used in interior design, but we’re continuously inspired by how people creatively incorporate them into their homes.

Suzanis add color and texture to a space, and can be used as a real conversation starter. They are, after all, pieces of art! Here at MK Home we have collected several Suzanis, maybe more than one hundred! They are sourced from all over the world. Prices range from the low hundreds to the thousands, but these are worthwhile investments. With their vibrant colors and intricate embroideries, Suzanis make for timeless, exotic and unique decor.

Here is a peak at a small portion of our collection:

Suzani as Bed Spread

Suzani Shams

Embroidery

Suzani Runner

Small Stack

Design Manifest, a fantastic design blog, recently featured a post about the many uses for Suzanis. Check out the beautiful photos Here.

And for those of you new to Suzanis, Andrew Hale, a Suzani expert and author of Uzbek Embroidery, provides a great description:

Suzani represent the best type of Central Asian art. Deeply rooted in centuries of tradition but still allowing for the spontaneity of the artist. The best balance symmetry and asymmetry, old patterns with personal whimsy like nothing else I have ever seen. Just like a great jazz musician uses a basic melody as a starting point for improvisation, a great embroiderer plays off an old pattern to create something new and personally meaningful. These are things you can look at everyday for years and see something new.

Stepping into September!

September is the “It Month” in the fashion and design world, making it the perfect time to revamp your home with on-trend objets d’art. We’ve spotted your must have looks for the upcoming season! Ready-set-SHOP!

 

The Scarlett Sofa – Clean upholstery in marshmallow-colored cotton is offset by polished silver nail heads. The look is contemporary but cozy. Available in custom sizes and fabrics.

 

Orange Accessories – We are mesmerized by the addition of orange to any setting. Hermes made it a classic, but orange feels fresh for Fall in unexpected hues like vermilion and papaya. We chose leather bins and patterned pillows in a paprika shade to inject that pop of color.

 

Gold Geometric Floor Lamp – Decorate with confidence with this tall light fixture finished in gold leaf. The stately shade is sophisticated while the curvilinear base is daring, allowing this piece to complement both traditional and modern décor.

 

Suzani – For an exotic twist, layer a suzani into a bedroom or living space. We love them tucked in at the ends of beds instead of a traditional throw. Authentic suzanis are special symbols of beauty. Each has a unique design and story, making them one-of-a kind works of art.

 

Casually Glamorous Fabrics– Our latest obsession is the Cravings Collection from Maxwell Fabrics. The contemporary palette, rich plums accented by smoky grays, is an of-the-moment color combination seen in Europe, where the collection was designed.  A sophisticated chenille stripe is balanced by a masculine herringbone, while a traditional floral complements multi-colored linen.

 

English Entry Light – Faceted crystal accents add an unexpected edge to this elegant entry light. Three bulbs cast a warm glow, creating a flattering lighting atmosphere. Made of wrought iron and finished in bronze, the shape was inspired by lighting fixtures designed in 1825 for Buckingham Palace.

 

Statement Rug – Royal blue and soothing gold balance each other in this wool and silk rug. The plush materials make it soft to the touch while the symmetrical design is easy on the eyes. A perfect sensory experience!

 

For information about any of the above items, please call MK Home’s Showroom at (805) 962-8555. Happy Shopping! 

Hello World!

Welcome to MK Home’s brand new blog! We are a Santa Barbara based home store specializing in custom furniture and rugs. As our business expands, we will be sharing with you what we learn and see. This blog will publish a variety of content, but will mainly feature home design, furniture, and architecture. You will be updated on design trends, our favorite interiors, fabulous homes, product news, our store’s inventory, deals and steals, and all things noteworthy!

We welcome your feedback and look forward to sharing this experience with you.

For those of you unfamiliar with our store, please visit our website: http://mkfurnishings.com

Sincerely,

The Team at MK Home