Tangerine Tango is Hot for 2012!

Pantone Color Lab’s have named Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year.  Tangerine is hot in the fashion clothing and accessories industry and crossing over to home furnishings.  Trends in home furnishings and design quite often follow trends in fashion.  Look for tangerine in home stores and catalogs in everything from upholstery fabrics to home accessories.  Tangerine may appear in prints, woven stripes or solids as seen in these photographs from the Bernhardt and Drexel lines of furnishings.  Citrus colors, just as lemon yellow and lime green, add punches of color and are especially fantastic when added to rooms with otherwise neutral finishes.

Neutral, Natural, Clear and Shiny

Home furnishings markets this spring are all about furniture and accessories that are constructed of neutral colors and/or natural materials such as distressed and unstained woods.  Toned, or neutralized, color such as taupe and gray are popular.  Pops of soft blue, violet or red are common in accents.  Note that red is almost always used in moderation in a room or open space so let’s not go crazy with red which in great quantity may also make us angry or hungry. Today’s finishes are about soft, soothing and light.  

Driftwood type material or finishes would be an example of natural materials that are used in furniture and accessories.  Mirrored glass may be combined with an iron frame with a distressed cream painted finish in a cabinet piece or console.  In thinking about these two materials, the interest within the pieces are created by the contrast in distressed wood and the glossy mirrored affect of the glass. 

Along with glass and translucent items, shiny materials have resurfaced. Chrome, polished steel and shiny nickel are back in a strong way and again, mixed in sharp contrast to casual and neutral materials.  Think of a classic mid-century modern style chair with a chrome frame mixed with a more casual basic linen or cotton woven upholstery fabric.

Take a look at this table lamp which we sell in both our physical and online shoppes.  The grey wash painted finish is a soft and beautiful complement to the assembled driftwood pieces which make up the lamp.  The square proportion of the white linen shade is in interesting complement to the organic shape of the lamp base.  This lamp also happens to have a top diffuser panel in the shade to romantically cast a greater majority of light upon a table surface.  Order online or call our shoppe today to add this lamp to update your home or office interior.

http://yhst-131740249334186.stores.yahoo.net/natural-driftwood-lamp-distressed-finish.html

Home Furnishings Trends Influenced by Fashion

Have you ever wondered how new trends in home furnishings are established.  Trend in fashion, whether color, mood, shape, formality, texture, detail, etc most certainly will affect trend in home furnishings.  Trend in fashion for 2012, according to the forecasters for Winter Market at AmericasMart in Atlanta, look for:

Color: Orange Zest
Bursts of citrus across every variety of fabric and fit.
Texture: Liquid Silk
Smooth, fluid jerseys in vibrant, glossy shades and body-skimming contours.
Detail: Ruffles & Lace
Feminine trims, ruffled knits and peplum silhouettes.

In home furnishings, these trends may materialize in citrus color accessories, sleek and shapely furnishings silhouettes and/or romantic period details added to items. 

We are looking forward to attending market this coming weekend!  Why not check out the AmericasMart web site at:
www.americasmart.com

Joining your local Chamber

Today, I precariously drove through a wall of fog to our local Florida State University satellite campus in Panama City.  There was a bi-annual joint meeting of both Panama City and Panama City Beach Chambers of Commerce where many hundreds were in attendance.  It provided an opportunity for me to meet a few new local business owners.  Additionally, I learned that my business had been included in our wonderful Chamber magazine (see photo).

Your local Chamber of Commerce is a very valuable tool for the promotion of your business.  At a time when the cost of print, television and on-line marketing may be prohibitively expensive, look to your Chamber of Commerce for support and recognition.  Join and take part in their gatherings.  Some chambers offer evening workshops, monthly meet and greet luncheons or large annual meetings where the opportunity to network with other local business owners is rewarding. 

Contemporary Art in Traditional Spaces

Do you collect historical furnishings of European, American or modern styles?  Perhaps you furnish your home with traditional reproductions or a contemporary style.  Know that you do not always have to seek out art work of a tradional style or medium.  Look around your town for local artists and purchase their work.  Colorful abstracted landscapes, for example, look wonderful over traditional stained wood European or American antique cabinets in a room with neutral painted or wallpapered walls.  I have been looking around my area, coastal Florida panhandle, for notable artists and artwork.  Today, I was introduced to the work of a Teresa Cline.  She paints beautiful coastal landscapes.  Here is an example of her work from her Ocean Moods series from her web site, http://teresaclinegallery.com/.

Imagine if your favorite local shop or independently owned restaurant went out of business today!

Shop local November 26 and help your community!  Did you know that when you shop local independently owned stores, you keep 100% of your dollars spent in your community?  If you shop big box or chain stores, that number decreases to about 50%.  If you shop online, 100% of your dollars help another city/county/state unless that company happens to be located in your town.  Don’t send your money elsewhere.  Why not shop your local merchants to keep them in business and help them thrive so that they may in turn purchase good locally, pay taxes for your local services and to provide jobs for your community’s residents.  Help them help your community.  Shop local November 26!

A little tardy, but an official Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

We have recently joined the Panama City Beach (FL) Chamber of Commerce.  They were excited about welcoming us with a ribbon cutting in conjunction with Beachy Beach Real Estate, our next door neighbor.  Our fantastic customers, friends and neighbors threw a surprise Grand Opening for Cerulean Interiors LLC early this past summer.  So, we have had two openings and a great time was had by all (a general assuption) at both.  Thanks to all who took the time to be in attendance!

Cerulean Interiors LLC Grand Opening w/ Chamber of Commerce, 11/10/2011

Beachy Beach and Cerulean Invite You to Celebrate the Arts!

A flyer to promote our Arts event at our offices on November 12, 2011.

Karen Smith and Beachy Beach are joining Me / Cerulean Interiors with an event to officially introduce our companies and to show off local art talent by wonderful local artists. Join us at our offices at 22602 Panama City Beach Pkwy from 11am until 4pm on November 12th to view and purchase some fantastic art work and to visit with us all.  We are benefiting Beach Care Services of Panama City Beach who provide assistance to those in need throughout the Panama City Beach, FL area with food and shelter.