Spring has sprung — officially! I am normally late to change out my closet but with the recent bout of beautiful and dare I say, steamy weather (thinking a cold snap may still happen), I think I’ll be on time changing out my wardrobe this weekend. Similarly I may be changing out my “walldrobe” with new Slipcovers for my walls. I’m deciding what and in which colors I want to use. There are sooooo many choices with Casart coverings.

Seasonal wardrobe via Simplify & Thrive

This got me thinking about all the bright colors abounding, flowers and cherry blossoms that unfortunately, will probably not last after this stormy weekend. Just like this ritualistic, seasonal clothing exchange, we look for ways to change our interior space to coincide with the seasons we see changing around us. It’s a way to give a fresh start, celebrate spring and life in general.

We resonate with those who also welcome in the change. Would you rather go to a cold mountain getaway and use a fireplace to stay warm while bundling up under blankets in a dark wood log cabin this spring break or would you rather go here, The Saguaro in Palm Springs?

Wow, I love these pops fun colors proudly displayed on their exterior building. This is a new hotel offering on Jetsetter, which just takes me away with their pictures. Actually, we have enjoyed traveling with them too.

All the shelter magazines have lightened up as well. Just look at Mary Douglas Drysdale’s fresh take on using a bright green in a classical interior paired with Maryanne Pollack’s fun blue and green painting in this month’s Traditional Home. Her design not only is a perfect blend between modern and traditional but is uplifting with its bright, unusual color – something new for spring time.

Besides all of the 10 different Mary Douglas Drysdale’s Signature Colors for Casart coverings, you may want to consider other Casart offerings when changing your “walldrobe” like 35 subtle or bold colored stripes and marine theme patterns from the Karen Robertson Collection.

Karen Roberston Collection Oyster Stripe (available in 3" - 24" w and 35 colors)

Let me suggest some decorative Wallfinish colors that transition nicely into spring: Blue Lapis Colorwash, Green Faux Padded Harlequin, and Rose Faux Linen, all seen below, but there are a lot more to choose from and you can always Customize your own color if you don’t like these:

Casart colorwash in Blue Lapis

Green Harlequin Casart paired with bolster pillow from Banana Fish

There are bold botanical and nature theme elements and patterns – perfect for accent walls -  with Flower Power or a softer impression with Quill:

You may want to think about bringing in the beach with seashells on stair risers, as trompe l’oeil door panels or even patterns on walls and other surfaces, like behind bookshelves or furniture fronts. Small changes make just as big an impact sometimes as a complete conversion.

Casart Faux Plaster Scallop Shell Panel

Casart Starfish StairRiser in blue

Casart Starfish Pattern, Light Sand

And finally, how could I not end with butterflies. I’m so pleased to see them everywhere now and maybe even soon for my own walldrobe.

Happy Spring!

– Ashley

Where do you get your inspiration from? You don’t have to be an artist or designer to be inspired. We use inspiration in our daily décor arrangements from why do you choose to put a certain lamp next to a certain piece of furniture, to paint color or wallpaper patterns? We want to know so please post your inspirational pics with us on Facebook –  and Pinterest — anything that inspires — not just interior design.

Interior design form often follows fashion. Pantone’s color mix prediction for fashion has a mixture of light and dark, subtle and bold, neutral and bright. As Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, a “balanced palette has something for everyone.”

I also thought fashion designer,  Rachel Roy’s quote was insightful.

I think we’ve used nearly every one of these colors in our new Peacock Pattern Collection — and without even knowing about this color prediction. Our inspiration came from exotic spice names and our New Orleans French heritage — a mix of Paris and Persia blended with Peacock of course. I have been wanting to do a peacock oriented design for a long time and I was surprised to see so many peacocks at last fall’s High Point Market, so what better time? We like the fact that you can transform your space into something exuberant and other worldly without having to travel far to do so. We also like that our patterns are based on traditional damask and quill schemes but made modern with their layout, scale and color combos.

I attended a Martyn Lawrence-Bullard lecture last week where he was talking about his inspiration for his new textile collection for Schumacher. He was inspired by his trip to to Istanbul, with rich patterns layering of neutrals with vibrant color. He is known as one of the star decorators on the Million Dollar Decorators as well as being a decorator to the stars — celebrities of the like of Cher, Elton John and Cheryl Tiegs, with whom he got his start. He describes his style as using color palettes that mix but do not match but work together. If you’d like to see more of his work, you can in his new book Live, Love & Decorate, published by Rizzoli just as Mary McDonald’s Interiors book. It was disclosed during the lecture that Mary McDonald is also working with Schumacher to unveil her own collection soon. It will be interesting to learn about her inspirations for this line.

Don’t forget to share with us your inspirations on Facebook and also on our Pinterest Boards. I’m sure in doing so, they will inspire others.

– Ashley

It seems like Vintage has seen a resurgence but I was unexpectedly surprised to see vintage typewriters being offered on One Kings Lane recently by a company that I had not heard of, Kasbah Mod.

I’m a practical person, so I got to thinking, “What’s their use?” Yes, they are functional but have more of a decorative quality than useful in today’s contemporary, computer-oriented world, even though these are completely rebuilt, artistically designed models with the original 1873 typewriter technology. Regardless, I think a reflection to the past is a good thing. It reminds one of where and how far we have come and pays tribute to design that tends to outlast time.

Here are a few that stood out among the group.

This reminded me of a search I did recently for an old time book strap, the kind I remember from the 70′s and 80′s. For the life of me, I could not find anything that was easy to use or not made in China or Japan. Here’s what I found.

I was looking for something not as complex, just one band. Although I like this one better, I still could not find the one-band, simple  book strap that I remembered.

I finally found what I was looking for with Book Band It made in Indianapolis. Too much time had gone by and I needed it to hold my file folders together so I could clear away 2011 and start 2012′s office organization, that I resorted to what I had on hand — 3/4″ wide velcro. Actually, this was not a bad idea and long lasting as it comes in a roll from Home Depot, but I’m not sure where it is made since I threw away the container a long time ago. Another idea would be to go for a left over, no-longer-worn belt.

This proved the point that vintage can sometimes be hard to fine but we also try to make it easy on Casart coverings by reintroducing a retro Flower Power design and more vintage paintings from the Katherine Collection this week. Stay tuned.

Casart Flower Power

Here are two previous posts that discuss using old, vintage items that you may also enjoy reading: Everything Old is New Again and Old Hollywood Style.

– Ashley