Brighten Up Your Home with Lively Wallpaper

Here at Robin's Nest, we simply love color, and we believe that one great way to liven up a space is to add colorful patterned wallpaper. Even vintage-style wallpaper patterns that you may remember from your grandmother's house in the '70s are coming back into style, but of course there are all kinds of new designs that add a bold and modern twist to those familiar patterns that will make your home look anything but dated. We have lots of different styles of wallpapers here at the shop that you can order through us, and we can even recommend an installer for you!

Here are some patterns from one of our favorite sources, as well as a few homes of clients that we've brought to life with the use of these beautiful wallpapers:

These wallpapers from one of our favorite sources (photos from their website) are fresh and exciting. Even if your style is more conservative, there are plenty of wallpapers out there that use low-key colors and patterns that will still look stunning. Another suggestion is to use a bold wallpaper on a smaller area of your home-- you don't have to cover an entire room with it in order to make a statement.

 Robin Pelissier and her design team used this vintage-inspired wallpaper in this client's dining room. Since a dining room is meant to be warm and inviting to guests, family, and loved ones, using a vintage-inspired wallpaper will help make the space feel familiar and welcoming.

This wallpaper is simply stunning in the bathroom of this client's home. The silvery sheen of the flowers fits beautifully with the reflective surfaces of the bathtub and the countertops.

 The green of this wallpaper is bold and striking against the white and red stairwell, and the vertical nature of the pattern helps create added drama in this tall space.

This wallpaper is just plain fun and adorable! And the black and white striped wastebasket and tissue box? Delightful! Using bright colors (especially yellow) in the bathroom is a great way to create an added sense of soft light, since bathrooms typically either don't get enough light, or are dominated by lots of harsh light.

So come on in to our shop today and thumb through our fabulous sample books. You're sure to find the perfect wallpaper for your home =)

See the Light

Since it's such a dark and rainy day today here in Hingham, MA, we figured it would be fitting to do an entry on lighting! Lighting plays a crucial role in the overall design of a room. Too much light, and the space becomes harsh and uninviting; too little light, and no one can see your beautiful room. Not only that, but the lighting piece itself can serve as a terrific accent in the overall decor. Here at Robin's Nest, we are very excited about our lighting pieces, and can't wait to share them with you and add them to our clients' homes.

Here are just a few examples of the many fabulous and stylish lights we sell:

Finding the right lighting piece for your home not only enhances the light, but also makes a statement about the overall design of a room and mood of the occasion. From dazzling pendants to classical candelabras, you're sure to find something lovely and perfect for your lighting needs here at Robin's Nest =)

Redesigning on a Budget

It's no secret: today's economy is on a downward slope, and it's hard not to feel the effects; but just because you may be on a tight budget, doesn't mean your home has to look like it! There are countless ways to give your home decor a chic and beautiful change without breaking your bank. From simple and subtle to bold and dramatic, here are a few tips and tricks to give your home a cheap and easy makeover (without looking like it):

1) Repaint your front door a new color. It doesn't take a lot paint, and the front door is a great spot to pick if you want your home to make a new statement. (And if you pick the right color to coordinate with the rest of your exterior color scheme, you won't have to repaint anything else!) Even if the color you choose is more on the conservative side, your friends and family will still notice, since it's the first thing they see when they walk up to your house. But don't be afraid to go a little dramatic with color on your front door. Since it's relatively small in size, a bold, bright color will make a strong statement without being too overpowering-- just make sure the color you choose doesn't clash with the rest of your house. Using a bold color will also help give your home a cosmopolitan feel, since brightly colored front doors are very popular in London and the UK =)
Here are some examples:

Gorgeous!

(Photo source: Demystifying Design)

 Lovely! 

(Photo source: Charles and Hudson)

2) Get your table some fresh new clothes. A great way to dress up your kitchen or dining room is to change the tablecloth. It's super easy, and can be pretty inexpensive, depending on the fabric and brand. You can even get many different styles, colors, and patterns to match any special occasion, or just to fit your current mood. And when it comes to entertaining guests or family, dressing up your table with a nice cloth or runner not only creates a beautiful focal point, but gives an added air of fanciness for the occasion. Of course if you have upholstered chairs at your table, the tablecloth must coordinate; and an easy way to do this is to pick out one or a couple colors within the upholstery pattern. You can even take a picture or sample along with you on your tablecloth shopping journey. On the other hand, if you have all solid-wood tables and chairs, picking out a cloth will be a bit easier (though you still must coordinate with the overall decor of the room). If the finish on your table and chairs is dark, picking a bold or rich color or pattern will be striking and beautiful. If the finish is lighter or natural, picking a light color for the cloth is probably your best bet (but, again, if you bring a picture along with you while you shop, you may find something unique and bold that just so happens to look perfect-- you never know!)

Notice how the tablecloths and runners in the photos below make the entire room look finished and beautiful:

Elegant!

(Photo source: housebeautiful.com)

Stunning!

(Photo Source: Studio of Decorative Arts)

3) Flower Power-- Adding a beautiful bouquet of flowers never fails to give a space some colorful flair, and the best part is that you can spend as little or as much money as you want! From high-end silk arrangements to simply picking a handful from your garden, flower bouquets can be anywhere between pricey to completely free. Natural live flowers always look lovely, but if you'd rather have a bouquet of flowers that won't die on you, our advice would be to go for the more high-end silk arrangements (few things in this world are tackier than a frumpy bouquet of cheap fake flowers). But fear not-- even the designer brand names are likely to have small and beautiful arrangements that may be more realistic for your budget. And think about it-- they'll never die, and will always look gorgeous!

Here are a few bouquets from one of our favorite sources, and a few examples of pieces we've used in clients' homes:

 

These beautiful arrangements come in so many different colors and sizes and styles, it's easy to find the perfect fit for your home.

In this photo (taken by Eric Roth), the pink and orange hues of the tulip bouquet match perfectly with the rest of the room.

 And in this photo (taken by Julie Panzetta), the red bouquet acts as a striking complement to the green shades of this space and commands attention despite its small size.

4) Throw around some color. Adding colorful throw pillows and blankets to a living space is an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your current decor. This is especially helpful if you have a mostly neutral or muted color scheme. Not only will the throws add bright new points of interest, but with a neutral canvas, your color options for the throws are almost endless. You don't have to reupholster your entire living room! Yay! The more throws you put together, the bigger the impact, so you can go as subtle or dramatic as you please. Of course some throws can be quite expensive, but thankfully cheap throws aren't always like cheap fake flowers-- there are plenty of beautiful throws out there that are sure to fit within your budget. 

Last week, we wrote an entry here about the wide variety of throw pillows and blankets we offer here at Robin's Nest that are completely customizable to fit your vision. To avoid overloading you with a million pictures of pillows, here's just one that speaks volumes about the power of colorful throws:

This beautiful space was designed by Robin Pelissier and her design team. Aren't these pillows so chic and cheerful? =)

5) Rearrange what you already have. Talk about inexpensive-- this tip won't cost you a single penny, because you're only using what you already have! Are you sick of looking at the same handful of mantle pieces? Are your wall hangings starting to bore you? What would that armchair look like in the other corner of the room? Rearranging your furniture, accent pieces, and other decorations can freshen up a room in an instant. Switch out your current decorative pieces for ones you may have in storage (or you can even trade pieces with a friend if they're trying to redecorate on a budget as well). Take that area rug out from under the coffee table, put it in an open space, and watch it transform into a new point of interest in a new location. Move your furniture from up against those walls and try positioning them at an angle (or at least up against a different wall). With this tip, the possibilities are endless, totally up to you, and 100% free of charge!

So if you're tired of your same old decor, but your budget isn't what it used to be, don't worry! These are just a few tips that are sure to help give your home a fresh new look--- with minimal harm to your wallet. =)

Skin Is In

Animal skin, that is! Animal print fabrics, rugs and upholstery are as popular as ever these days, but beware-- Animal prints can either look really fabulous, or really tacky. You have to make sure it's incorporated into your space the right way if it's going to look as great as possible. If you're using a lot of animal print in a room, try to keep the scheme of the rest of the room relatively simple; and if you do have a complex scheme of colors and patterns, using animal print minimally as small accents works best.

Here are just a few examples of our many successes in using animal prints in our clients' homes.
Did we mention that some of these pictures are at least 7 years old?? For this entry, we dug into Robin's archive to show you all just how timeless her design work really is (and how animal print, done right, is timeless too!).

Notice how the small animal print accents in the 2 rooms above coordinate perfectly with all the other colors and patterns used.

This beautiful fur throw (above) adds a point of interest to this mostly neutral room without being too distracting from the clean and simple beauty of the space.

Too much animal print next to a bold color can be visually dizzying, but as you can see in the photo above, these small cushions are a perfect touch next to the rich red walls.

So fear not the animal print, for here at Robin Pelissier's Interior Design Studio, we can help you use animal print to make any room in your house classy and chic =)

Bold, Bright Pillows Are In

...and as always, we have spotted this trend and brought some great designs to our clients' homes as well as our shop in Hingham, MA. If you love bold splashes of color, these pillows are the perfect touch; or even if you prefer more neutral tones, their striking patterns will still make a statement. It's up to you, because most of our pillows are completely customizable =)

Here are just a few examples of the pillows we have in our shop and ones that we've used in clients' homes.

 

 

 

 

As you can see in the photos above, all of our pillows are fun, chic, and command attention. Use a few to add colorful accents, or group many together to create a beautiful focal point in any room. Either way, these pillows are sure to speak volumes about your fabulous sense of style =)

Design Work of Robin Pelissier and Her Design Team

Take a look at the beautiful transformations we made to this stunning waterfront home.

Natural light is a beautiful thing to have in any home. White is the main color of this room, which helps maximize the light, and adding a splash of color makes the room warm and inviting.

Looking at these colorful accent pieces, how can you not feel happy and loved? =)

 Next, we transformed the foyer and stairwell and gave it a sleek and sophisticated look. The white banister contrasts beautifully with the black railing, and the carpeting ties it all together. Using clean lines and geometric patterns is a great way to add a sophisticated flair to any room or space in your home.

The color and woven pattern of the wall paper is subtle and ties in perfectly with the look of this space.

 Adding artwork to your walls is a great way to lead the eye upwards and to add a warm and personalized touch.

And who says an interior designer can't work on an outdoor living space? We used these beautiful and sculptural woven lounge chairs as a relaxing focal point for the deck.

 Gorgeous view! Can't you just picture yourself relaxing in these chairs with a tall glass of lemonade?

 

Adding some potted plants and comfy outdoor pillows to this sitting area helps tie in the natural scenery as well as create a comfortable space for entertaining guests or relaxing with your loved ones.