The Rural Voice, 2002-03, Page 46Home Decorating
Home Furnishings Market visit finds evergthing old is new again
Patti
Robertson
operates '
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
There is nothing like a great
revelation ... like a Tight bulb
suddenly being turned on, the shades
being raised and the blinders being
removed. And that is exactly what I
experienced upon visiting this year's
Toronto Home Furnishings Market.
Touring the show, to my dismay, I
found very little that I could say was
new ... and as disappointment was
setting in the light bulb was turned on
and it dawned on me — you know
what? I've been in this business a
long time!
I've worked hard training myself
in period styles, themes and
furnishing layouts, fabrics,
wallcoverings, and accessories in
every conceivable combination and
possibility of application to date. I've
made it my business to differentiate
between a fad and a trend and what
will work for my clients, their style,
preference, and budget. It's hard to
pull the wool over this gal's eyes ...
and as a result it's sometimes hard to
"pump me up". I'm not easily taken
in by yet another alluring colour or
pretty piece of fabric. I now have
achieved a level of knowledge and
expertise in the decorating field to
know exactly what is what and where
and how it will work best. So, let me
share with you from my enlightened
point of view what's new for 2002.
The red colour family is coming
on very strong in every conceivable
combination from furnishings to
wonderful fabrics and wallcoverings.
Red, incorporating and melding with
the power packed hues of yellow and
orange, are certainly eye catching and
dynamic. This trend is coming to us
courtesy of the Moroccan landscape
so one also sees a wide variety of
42 THE RURAL VOICE
accessories from this area along with
those from the Middle and Far East.
All of these hold great impact and
can add spice to our decor when
carefully mixed in with our
possessions. A word of caution:• just
because it's new does not necessarily
mean it's right for you!
There is still a very prevalent
amount of sage -toned greens and
mustard hues being offered and when
integrated with coral and plum
colourations things really get exciting
and up the ante of one's decor.
Accessories are reaching volcanic
proportions as the consumer is being
offered a wonderful and yes, exciting,
array of goods from around the
world. As hubby Ward observed,
lamps have become miniature pieces
of architecture and sculpture and the
lampshades often boast hand painting
and detailing.
Although mirrors come and go on
the home decor scene they are always
a great buy and can always be
relegated to the bath or bedroom
when the trend passes but for now
mirrors are hot! Mirrors are being
offered in every conceivable shape
and size and the frames are to die for.
Speaking of frames, picture frames
are the most dazzling and ornate that
we've been offered in many years
and the matting of artwork is very
textural and multi -layered and the
colour choices are endless.
Chrome and brushed nickel,
pewter and tinware are hot, hot, hot.
This is a big bonus for anyone
working on their kitchen or bath
where more often than not, chrome
has been used for the faucets, and it's
great to have the versatility of being
able to buy fashionable towel bars,
soap dispensers, and lighting fixtures
to co-ordinate in optimum, style and
colouration to match.
While I'm on the topic of
accessories, it's interesting to note
that with the notoriety that
Afghanistan is receiving, we are now
being offered and have created a
market for Afghani rugs, shawls and
accessories. How's that for Western
consumerism.
Furniture, in the form of accessory
pieces, is more prevalent than even
last year. These little gems add
infinite interest to one's decor and
round out a room's corners with flair
and usefulness. Beautiful small -
scaled side chairs, nesting tables,
wine tables, magazine racks, trunks
and hassocks, are all back in style.
Most exciting is the hand -painted and
decoupage pieces, and admittedly fun
are the funky little folk art and
fantasy painted pieces that add pure
whimsy to a decor. As always I
suggest using restraint as one or two
of these pieces will add plenty of
interest and it's always advisable to
purchase the best one can afford for
longevity and value.
Multi purpose, "action furniture"
for both the home and office are
increasingly available enabling us to
use our smaller -scaled spaces to
optimum. Not only are the
convertible pieces now widely
available but we're being offered a
variety in styling, grades and finishes.
So, if one prefers to have Queen
Anne styling throughout a home it's
now easy to incorporate it into the in-
home office furnishings.
Today we are a multi -cultural
family, living a fast -paced life
brought forth by media frenzies and
technology. We are educated and
alert and forever looking for the next
purchase. Manufacturers are reading
our desires and quickly producing all
the bits and pieces we demand for our
homes and lifestyles. All this
availability means we the consumer
have a bigger job of educating
ourselves as to what is new, what will
suit our need the best and fit into our
budget and allow for longevity and
use and the styling we desire. In
general, we need to know how to get
the biggest bang for our buck.
Thankfully we can turn to
tradespeople in the home scene
market, touring furniture and
decorating stores and talking with
knowledgeable staff. There are great
publications available and of course
HGTV! Whatever method of
education you choose, have some
fun...it'll reflect in the levity of your.
home.0