Navy - My Old Frienemy

I used to hate navy. I made fun of my friends for wearing it or buying anything that was navy. I was still stuck in associating navy with its awful BFFs of the nineties: maroon, hunter green and anything that resembled mauve. For the record, I still abhor maroon, hunter green, and mauve. I do not see them ever making a comeback. Navy, however, is the comeback kid. Love it, want it, need it - clothes, accessories, and in interiors. I heart navy. My love affair with navy started about 2 years ago and I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.

Here are my predictions for the future of this fabulous color:

It is now being featured a lot with the 2012 color of the year Tangerine Tango (see a look from Ann Taylor Loft's spring 2012 line below). Right now this combo is mostly in clothing but it is also a wonderful combination for interiors. Throw in some gold sconces and I'm in heaven.

   

Dare I say I predict navy is a frontrunner for color of the year 2013? I'd take those odds in Vegas baby. Just in case you're wondering, my next guesses are kelly green or a pure lemon yellow.

So here's how I see navy moving forward:

- Continuing to be used as a neutral base for more fun bright colors. I'm loving it with hot pink, kelly green, and lemon yellow. Hot trend emerging! (Referenced above in my humble opinion).

- Trending away from the traditional nautical use of it. This is classic and never trendy, however I don't think it's very exciting anymore.

How to use it now:

Use it in a rug. Nothing else in the room would have to be navy. Just a quiet navy Persian-ish or graphic contemporary patterned one. The rest of the room can be neutral - khakis, whites, stones, etc. Of course then I'd put a hot pink throw pillow on the couch - ha!

Paint your powder room ceiling high gloss navy. Hang a sparkly crystal chandelier in either brass or chrome. It's my own little version of Van Gogh's “Starry Night”. 

                     

        

The possibilities are endless! So happy to have introduced you to my new best friend.

Please let me know your thoughts! Make comments! And most importantly, hire me if you need help :)

Margaret

An Affordable Idea for Built-in Bookcases

Hang a set of small mirrors or coordinating artwork on the back of your built-ins. These mirrors were $8 each! I like this octagon shape because everything else is very square. Round or a small sunburst would also be great. I also hung these on a good 'ole thumb tack so I would not leave a nail hole in the wood in case of a change in accessories later. 

Decorating bookshelves is one of my specialties. Message me if you need help with yours! Email me from here or my Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harkness-Interiors/270399219691010

This? Right here? THIS is what I do.

Check out my looks for less. I DIE over this table. It is for sale if you live in Charlotte. And I love these lamps so much I’ve decided to keep them. However, I’m still using them to demonstrate how I can help you decorate on a budget without looking like you’re on one! I go about town and pick up these incredible pieces for great prices for my clients. I’m now starting to sell some here and there on my own. Keep your eyes on this blog for more deals coming up and message me if you want me to help you get the look for less.

Don't judge me on my picture taking skills. Gotta work on that!

Here’s the stats on the table:

Harkness Interiors price: $199 plus tax (Charlotteans only)

Measures 17 ¼ “ in diameter and is 24” high. 

The top has a bevel edge mirror.  The first person to message me and set up a time to pick it up will get it. I only have one.

Here’s the expensive version! This similar table retails for over $500!!  

http://www.amazon.com/Burgess-Side-Table-Light-Walnut/dp/B006RK9HM4

And here is my brand new set of 2 fabulous gold shell/mother of pearl look lamps – I would have sold for $225 for the set. The linen drum shade has a very light gold metallic thread woven through. So Fab! Perfect for your living room, bedroom, entry or dining room! These can go anywhere. Measure 24 ¼ “ in total height. Base is 8” diameter and drum shade is 15” diameter. 

 



This similar style sells for over $1,100! People are crazy! 

http://www.shopefd.com/https/shopefd.com/images/products/thumb/1102.5-2.aspx

Make Your Own $3 Boot Trees

Ok I know this isn’t interior design. But I think this is so stinkin’ genius that I just had to share. And if you know me, you know if I can find a way to make something myself, that’s what I’m going to do!

I love my tall boots but hated the way they always flop over, yet I never felt like shelling out $20/pair for real boot trees for all my boots.  So here’s what I did! I bought:

-  2 large individual water bottles ($1 each)

- 1 bag of glass pebbles from Michael’s (about $1)

- After drinking the water and letting the bottles air out for a day or so, drop half the pebbles into one   

   bottle and the other half into the other bottle

-  Put down in your boots!

 

Not to toot my own horn, but...

I’m gonna! I’m on the Home & Garden design team for the Charlotte Observer newspaper and they featured me today on how to use Tangerine Tango (the 2012 color of the year) in interiors.

My personal favorite part is my practical way to use this bold color (mostly because I loooooove DIY projects):

Buy a few 8x10 and 5x7 frames that come with a white mat in them (you can get these at Michael’s, Target, etc.) and paint the mat tangerine. Stick to either a solid black frame or a funky gold frame. Pop in some of your favorite black and white photos and you have some new, current, and affordable accessories. Once you get tired of tangerine, just replace the mat. I've featured images of this idea below. 

Read the rest of my answers in the paper here. 
NOTE: This article seems to have been taken off their website. Here's the page to read the rest of my answers:

I've also done a room board with some fun and affordable items featuring tangerine.

Welcome!

Yes, I now have a blog. Along with everyone else and their grandmother. Ha! But honestly, I think you're going to love Harkness Interiors. I specialize in AFFORDABLE CHIC. I’ve found in this bad economy that people still want to decorate, it just has to be on a budget. I love finding the look for less and that's what my company and this blog is all about! 

There aren’t many interior designers that work by the hour without retainers or who don’t sell high-end furniture and make tons of commission. That’s where my service comes in! I can pull together your grandmother’s dining room table with contemporary art and add decorative items found from Marshall’s. If you just need a 2-hour consult or a whole house done, I’ll work with you as little or as much as you need. If I had to pick a show on HGTV that is most like me, I’d say the High Low Project. 

Another unique way I’m doing business is by selling “room boards”. In this age of Internet shopping and sites like Pinterest, there is a desire for people to do a lot of the work and shopping themselves, they just don’t know how. You can see these types of boards I create and sell on my Facebook page. I create the room and if you want the product information to shop the room, I charge a $25 fee for all the links to products from that room. Or for $250 I can create a custom board just for you based on your needs and style. I can work with you over the phone and Internet and I can even provide scale room drawings if you send me measurements.

You can see my room boards at my Harkness Interiors Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harkness-Interiors/270399219691010

I’ve owned my own decorating business here in Charlotte for over 2 years. I work out of my house while also being a stay-at-home-mom to 2 young girls. So I know about being on a budget! I have a few great affordable and easy DIY home projects as well. So keep your eyes on this blog....lots of fun to come!

Margaret